Winston and Maggie.Photo: ABC
This post contains spoilers from Thursday’s episode ofGrey’s Anatomy.
Grey’s Anatomycontinues to address social issues in powerful ways.
During Thursday’s episode of the ABC medical drama, the doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial worked to save the lives of patients injured during a peaceful protest in support ofBlack Lives Matterwhile one of their own experienced racial profiling at the hands of law enforcement.
“What was it out there?” Jackson asked.
“It was beautiful,” said Richard. “First, it was frightening and it was messy but it was still beautiful. There were young people handing out water and masks. It was organized. There was a feeling in the air. You have to put yourself on the line to be part of it. But good trouble lights you up.”
Chandra Wilson.ABC
“Music off, hat off, hands on the wheel,” a visibly nervous Winston said as the police officer approached his car. While Maggie (Kelly McCreary) was on speakerphone with her future husband, Winston asked the officer, “Can you tell me you why you pulled me over?”
“Winston are you there? I can’t hear anything,” Maggie said as she listened to Winston’s interaction with the officer.
“I’m going to need to turn off your phone, sir,” the officer said.
“It’s just my fiancé,” Winston said.
“Are you failing to comply?” the officer responded.
As Winston hung up the phone, Maggie began to panic and questioned her fiancé’s safety.
RELATED VIDEO: Chandra Wilson Says She Will Continue to Star on Grey’s Anatomy ‘Until the Wheels Come Off’
“They had me get out of the car and take my mask off,” he told her. “They had me do a DUI test. And they checked the trunk. They checked the car. They unpacked all my stuff. The police dog sniffed it over. The dog sniffed me. They let me go. I’m good. That’s why it took so long.”
“Why?” Maggie asked. “Were you swerving on the road?”
“No, my bike rack was obscuring my license plate and then they saw me,” he said. “It turned into one of those things, I guess. Maggie, I’m a little bit shaken up right now. I don’t know if I’m good to drive yet. I’m not good. I’m not okay yet. I’ve just got to breathe.”
Winston and Maggie.ABC
At the end of the episode, and as Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) continued herlong battle with COVID-19, Richard reflected on the emotionally exhausting series of events.
“Now every day I take a new oath,” he said in a voiceover. “I pledge to help build a world worth living in. And never stop believing that world can exist. Not today. So far from today. But someday.”
ABC
This isn’t the first timeGrey’s Anatomyhas addressed social issues.
The episode touched on another social issue during a heartfelt conversation between Jackson Avery and Webber.
Jessica Brooks/getty images
In a July interview with the Television Academy, executive producer Krista Vernoff revealed that the medical drama was going to tackle the global coronavirus crisis in season 17.
“We’re going to address this pandemic for sure,” she said. “There’s no way to be a long-running medical show and not do the medical story of our lifetimes.”
“Every year, we have doctors come and tell us their stories, and usually they’re telling their funniest or craziest stories,” Vernoff explained of the show’s writing process.
“It has felt more like therapy,” she added. “The doctors come in and we’re the first people they’re talking to about these types of experiences they’re having. They are literally shaking and trying not to cry, they’re pale, and they’re talking about it as war — a war that they were not trained for.”
Grey’s Anatomyairs Thursdays (9 p.m. ET) on ABC.
To help combat systemic racism, consider learning from or donating to these organizations:
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
