Grey’s Anatomy recap: When is it time to cross the line?

On this week’s Grey’s Anatomy, the doctors struggle with tough moral decisions that may challenge them to consider what it means to cross the line.

As Meredith Grey pontificates in the opening and closing monologues about learning to say “no” and trying to figure out when is the right time to cross the line or abstain from it,  several characters at Grey’s Anatomy are struggling with tricky situations all on their own.

Maggie deals with an ethical quandary regarding an old rival, Meredith tries to balance her family and romantic life in a way that makes everyone happy, and Owen and Amelia may have their happy new life blown to pieces by unexpected visitors.

When cornered in such complicated dilemmas, one must ask themselves if there is ever a right time to cross the line, and if so, when?

For a love triangle?

A stunning patient named Lucille is admitted to Grey-Sloan with her two male companions. One is her best friend and one his her husband. Seeing as her situation eerily mirrors Teddy’s own in some ways, it’s no wonder the meeting leaves her head spinning.

Inadvertently, she offends the man she’s currently dating, Koracick and winds up at his hotel doorway by episode’s end. Owen and her are just friends, she promises, for what seems like the millionth time since Teddy has set foot on this show. Also if she’s sticking around she should probably get a more permanent place not in a hotel, right?

For a son?

Well Betty, er, I mean Brittany’s parents have finally appeared. A little too late since Brittany has run away again. This time she leaves both her foster parents and her biological parents in the lurch.

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Things threaten to take an ugly turn for Owen and his son, Leo. After learning about Amelia’s own addiction problems, Brittany’s parents are adamant about taking Leo home. They immediately assume they can be the guardians since Leo is related to them by blood, but it’s not going to be so easy. Owen is Leo’s legal guardian now and he’s not just going to hand Leo over without a fight. Things could get ugly and likely will if Owen’s flared temper is of any indication.

For your sister?

Meredith wants to take Andrew up on his offer to go on a real date after their previous rendezvous, but before that can happen, she wants to clear the air with Maggie. After all, I don’t think anyone wants a repeat of the awful Riggs triangle storyline, in-universe or out.

Eventually, she does get Maggie’s blessing. I mean I barely remembered that Deluca and Maggie were once a thing and by the looks of it, she didn’t either. Once that’s settled, there really is nothing standing in the way of Meredith and Andrew becoming an item, and she takes him out. I hope this becomes a legitimate relationship and not just a brief fling!

For an enemy?

Is it ethical to operate on someone you hate and at times, wished dead? That is a question Maggie must grapple with this week as a woman from med school that tormented her back in the day shows up at Grey-Sloan to get help on a damaged heart valve deemed inoperable by many.

Maggie wants to help because she doesn’t want to be the person who lets someone die purely because she hates them, yet she also doesn’t want to be the one who lets someone she hates die on the operating table. “There’s a word for that, and a jail sentence.”

Ultimately, a little sisterly guidance from Meredith puts things in perspective. They’re one of the top hospitals for a reason. Just because there isn’t a protocol for a procedure in place already, doesn’t mean one can’t be created. With Meredith’s assistance, they manage to save Kiki’s life.

Odds & Ends

• Koracick: My money is on a “throuple”.
• I was happy we got to see some bonding from Meredith and Maggie this week. I love their relationship and it’s always nice to watch them support each other. I’m glad this Deluca thing doesn’t appear to be an issue for the two of them as I’d hate to see them butting heads over something so petty again.
• Bailey tells Alex she’s proud of him in a typical Bailey way. But it is amazing to see how far Alex, Meredith, Bailey, and Webber have all grown since the pilot episode. Particularly Alex and Mer, who began as interns.
• I liked Grey’s addressing the gun safety in other countries (Scotland, in this case) versus how it is in America. It wasn’t entirely subtle but then, this is an issue that has far surpassed the time for subtly.
• The Link x Meredith thing sure didn’t last long. I expected the writers to entertain it for longer but Meredith doesn’t even apologize about standing him up on-screen (It’s only mentioned in a brief throwaway line by Jo).
• Jackson’s fatherly advice to Owen is that when Leo decides he loves something enough to need it every night, “buy 10 of them.”

A new episode of Grey’s Anatomy titled “I Want a New Drug” airs Feb. 21 on ABC.