'Grey's Anatomy' tackles abusive relationships & Jo finally breaks – Screener

Greys Anatomy has never shied away from tackling heavy topics and on Thursday nights (Feb. 23), episode entitled Back Where You Belong, a seemingly simple kidney transplant from a loving mother to her ailing son Chris, quickly turned into a much darker situation when the boys father shows up And bothmother and son instantly recoil with a combination of fear and anger at his sudden presence.

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As the doctors learn, the two patients fled almost a year prior, after years of domestic abuse, when the womans husband finally went after their son. A divorce precluded by the fact that theyve been hiding all the while, her son getting sicker means thattechnically none of the Grey-Sloan staff can force the man to leave the hospital.

Though Jo (Camilla Luddington) couldnt have known any of this when she sweetly led the man into his victims hospital room, she quickly goes into a downward spiral of panic, guilt and PTSD from her own abuse. Weve seen over the years the way Jos attempts to getaround her past can sometimes backfire she is very open about some things, like being homeless, but other things she likes to shove down, likethis abuse and more often than not she ends up sabotaging herself. But it seems shes starting to see that too, thanks to the stability and support of her work family and her desire to figure things out with Alex (Justin Chambers).

Jo breaking down, finally allowing herself to admit that shes not okayis actually a step in the right direction. Shes been pretty tough to take over the last season her inability to tell the truth, wherever it comes from, has negatively effected every person who tries to show her love. It nearly killed Karevs career, and could have literally killed Deluca (Giacomo Gianniotti). Its far past time for Jo to face her demons if she doesnt, the pain will continue to slowly eat away at her every day until theres nothing left.

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Chris transplant surgery gets even more complicated once the mothers spare kidney dies, before Jo or Stephanie (Jerrika Hinton) can operate on the boy now there are two people here, with one working kidney between them, anddeciding what to do with itis impossible. Theres no precedent, everybodys in a tizzy about whos in authority anyway thanks to the Minnick Civil War currently underway, and interim Head of General Surgery Dr. April Kepner (Sarah Drew) is the last person you want under that kind of pressure, obviously

But then Chris abusive father gets a blood test, and proves a match the doctors realize they now have the extrakidney that means both mother and child can go on living a normal life. But Jo throws several fits about it, finally explaining in a way that putsher history into context, but alsogives her a moral authority, in a way, to help guide these decisions while the mother and son are under anesthesia.

As Jo cries, talking about that woman waking up and finding out that her husband had controlled her made decisions for her, about herbody and her son we see a new side to Jo: A raw one, not just in the usual way or in the sense of her coping mechanisms, but a version of herself that is so threatened and angry about this story, sickened by it, that shes nearly forgetting who its about at all. Its persuasive she knows what shes talking about, and if there were any other way, the other doctors would comply.

In the end, Jo hisses into the mans face as hes being prepped for surgery, Youre using this as a way to worm your way back into their lives, which is the best assumption if you want to stay safe. Shes fairly dark in this moment, pending over him on the table like he bent over herearlier in a menacing move that was half of what sent her down the rabbit hole: Its good to see her empowered, even good to see her a little cruel, but its not too easy to look at.

But when he swears thats not it that he just wants to do this one good thing, since he cant ever take back what he did in the past, or even properly apologize it doesnt matter if she believes him, because it doesnt matter if its true: By donating the kidney anonymously, he can help the boy without asserting control over them, and hell be free to leave them in peace once again.Jo throws him this option as an act of contempt, but we have ever reason to believe he takes her up on it:

When Chris mom wakes up from surgery, Jo tells them a kind stranger happened be a perfect match and made the donation. While technically she tells the truth, its a white lie and the first time one of Jos lies have ever had a positive effect on those around her. The mother cries tears of joy just thinking that there are such kind people in the world. And of course, there are her sons kidney just doesnt happen to have resided previously in any of them.

Ignoring their problems is something each and every doctor at Grey-Sloan does very well, and especially by burying their issues in their patients health issues and traumas, the better to try and heal them from the outside. Jo is a damaged woman, whose self-protective measures were once not only helpful, but crucial to her survival. She knows as well as anyone that once she stops pushing everyone away, and accepts their help, she might come out on the other side but knowing and believing are two different things.

Its a leap shes going to have to make, if were going to get our confident, cutting, wittyDr. Wilson back raising other people up with her gifts, instead of destroying everything in her path.

Greys Anatomy returns with new episodes on Thursday, March 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

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'Grey's Anatomy' tackles abusive relationships & Jo finally breaks - Screener