The question of how much is too much seems to go through the mind of every TV producer when it comes time to craft a new story for an already beloved character.
Not for Shonda Rhimes. The Grey’s Anatomy’s creator appears to have an endless well of plot twists for the doctors. Now on it’s 13th season, the show is the gift that keeps on giving.
The first episode picks up with DeLuca, a resident, being taken into the hospital. It’s made obvious that he’s in terrible shape, with several broken bones and both of his eyes swollen shut. He’s accompanied by Karev in the ambulance, who helps the trauma team work on him. Slowly, the other doctors realize that it was Karev who beat DeLuca up. Meredith tells him that it is her duty as a doctor to report him to Dr. Bailey, but of course she doesn’t. What kind of prime time drama would it be if she did?
We also catch up with Kepner, who is still in the hospital after her makeshift cesarean section and trying to navigate her relationship with Jackson, who is no longer her husband but the father of her daughter. There are also little bits of Amelia and Owen trying to get used to married life.
The premiere leaves off with Karev turning himself in and being hauled off to jail. Episode 2 has him in court getting charged with felony assault which plays on everyone because ethically the hospital can’t employ a pediatric surgeon with a record. He worked for years to reform his behavior but seems to be slipping back into his old ways even making mistakes with his patients. At the end, he’s moved to work in the clinic where he can’t be a liability to anyone.
The faithful fans were left wondering, is this the beginning of the end for one of the few remaining original characters? If it is, that might be pushing the story over the edge. Christina left, Derek died, Callie moved, and the show might lose its mojo without so many of the characters that made it great. It might be too much but if precedent is anything to go by, Grey’s can go far as it wants. After all, it is no stranger to crazy and far-fetched plot themes.