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Grey’s Anatomy: Has the Pac-North storyline been completely underutilized?

By Alexandria Ingham

GREY'S ANATOMY - "It's Raining Men" - After Meredith inadvertently stirs up negative press for Grey Sloan, she tries to make things right with her former colleagues, jeopardizing her community service hours. Station 19's Ben and Vic bring a young woman into the hospital, and Jackson stands up to Koracick when he goes too far with a patient's family. Meanwhile, Bailey receives unexpected news; and Owen finds himself at Pac-Gen North, which Alex sees as a recruiting opportunity on "Grey's Anatomy," THURSDAY, OCT. 17 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Kelsey McNeal)KEVIN MCKIDD, JUSTIN CHAMBERS, ANDY COHEN
GREY'S ANATOMY - "It's Raining Men" - After Meredith inadvertently stirs up negative press for Grey Sloan, she tries to make things right with her former colleagues, jeopardizing her community service hours. Station 19's Ben and Vic bring a young woman into the hospital, and Jackson stands up to Koracick when he goes too far with a patient's family. Meanwhile, Bailey receives unexpected news; and Owen finds himself at Pac-Gen North, which Alex sees as a recruiting opportunity on "Grey's Anatomy," THURSDAY, OCT. 17 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Kelsey McNeal)KEVIN MCKIDD, JUSTIN CHAMBERS, ANDY COHEN /
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Grey’s Anatomy had the chance to bring something exciting with the Pac-North storyline. Now it looks like the storyline is done. Has it been wasted?

Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 had the chance to bring something new and different. By introducing the Pac-North storyline, we got a chance to see a group of doctors attempt to turn a failing hospital around. And with the right team, it was looking possible.

Now the show has brought an end to that storyline. Everyone is back at Grey Sloan Memorial. Have the writers wasted a potentially awesome storyline?

There may be a reason for getting rid of the storyline

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Let me start by saying that losing Justin Chambers from the cast may have certainly led to the decision to get rid of the storyline. This was a storyline for Alex Karev, giving us a chance to see him not just as Chief of Surgery, but the man to make a failing hospital amazing. We got to see him in a different light and do something worthwhile.

I totally appreciate that Chambers felt the need to leave the series. I’m not complaining about that, and have appreciated the way he’s still being mentioned, hinting that nobody really knew if he was permanently leaving or not at first. However, it doesn’t take away from how the writers have chosen to handle the Pac-North storyline.

It would have been possible to keep the storyline in with Webber, Hunt, and Maggie all helping to turn the hospital around. Mentions of Karev texting or emailing them would have helped to keep him part of the team running things from afar.

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Grey's Anatomy
GREY’S ANATOMY – “Nothing Left to Cling To” – Meredith, Richard and Alex must deal with the consequences after Bailey fires them from Grey Sloan for insurance fraud. After disappearing in the fog, Jackson helps a man in a dangerous situation, as his relationship with Maggie comes to a new crossroad. Meanwhile, Tom gets new responsibilities at the hospital that throw the doctors for a loop on the season premiere of “Grey’s Anatomy,” THURSDAY, SEPT. 26 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Kelsey McNeal)JUSTIN CHAMBERS, JAMES PICKENS JR. /

Catherine’s toddler tantrum undermines everything

I have little respect for Catherine Fox as a character. I love Debbie Allen, but Catherine is throwing a toddler tantrum just because she’s not happy. Instead of helping to turn a hospital around, she’s closed the hospital purely to spite Webber.

It’s undermined everything Karev and co. have been working at. What’s the point in Webber doing anything if Catherine is going to step in and act like a spoilt brat because of it?

And it’s all led to a wasted storyline at Pac-North. Even without Karev, the storyline could have been excellent. It would have allowed good doctors to do amazing things. We’d have seen them innovating and helping young interns become great doctors. There was also a chance to split the cast in half, allowing for more character development, which has been difficult with such a large ensemble cast.

Seeing Pac-North get turned around was refreshing and exciting. They were some of the most interesting parts of the medical drama, because we got back to focusing on the medicine and the saves. Back at Grey Sloan, most of the focus is on the relationship drama. I miss the older episodes where there was a good blend of medical and relationship in every single episode. That’s something Pac-North offered, and now it’s done with a click of the fingers.

dark. Next. 5 major questions for Grey's Anatomy with Justin Chambers' exit

What do you think of losing the Pac-North storyline? Has it been wasted or did you get bored of it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 continues on Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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