Once upon a time, there was peace in the Kingdom Calzona. Even though they had consciously uncoupled, Callie and Arizona had found a way to rule the kingdom together, but separately. All that is about to change. It was nice while it lasted, heh?
Let’s talk about guns
This week’s major case centered around a little boy who was accidentally shot by his best friend. Grey’s also used the episode to make a commentary about responsible gun use, which felt a little PSA-ey at times, but was an important discussion to be had.
At Meredith’s house, it’s a family affair with Zola and Bailey being impossibly cute and perceptive, Meredith rocking a plain white button down, and Maggie and Amelia becoming a major fixture in their lives. Amelia mentions that the kids pick up on everything, which comes into play later in our story.
Two frantic moms rush into the ER after hearing their sons were involved in a shooting. It’s not until the boys reach the ER that the identity of the injured boy is known. They hurry him in, and everyone gathers around, obviously very affected by this tragedy, Maggie in particular. It brings April and Jackson together too, and April promises to let him know how her prenatal appointment goes the next day. Baby steps.
Brandon, the little gunshot victim, has severe injuries and will need surgery ASAP. Owen and Amelia are interrupted by the boys’ babysitter who finally explains how Brandon got shot: they were playing with Brandon’s mom’s gun and the other little boy, Peter, accidentally shot him.
In Brandon’s OR, Owen, Amelia, Alex and Jo all work on their little patient, who is at serious risk of being paralyzed. Talk turns to owning guns, and Jo admits she has one at the house. This is news to Alex, who is firmly against it.
Maggie decides to take it upon herself to question the already traumatized babysitter about how the boys were able to access the gun. After some interrogation, the babysitter tells her she was making them lunch when it happened, not being negligent. Riggs pulls Maggie away from the uncomfortable scene.
Brandon’s spine is compromised, and there are two surgical options they can go with, neither of which is a sure thing. She finds Brandon’s mom to ask what she’d like them to do, and it starts a fight between the two moms. Brandon’s mom blames Peter for the accident, but Peter’s mom reminds her that she’s the one who had the gun and didn’t keep it safe enough. She tosses around the word “murderer” as if Peter isn’t sitting right there, beyond terrified. Amelia sees his anguish.
While operating on Brandon, Alex tells Jo that he wants the gun out of the house. Maggie and Riggs watch the surgery from the theatre, and Riggs asks Maggie if she’s okay. She starts talking about her nieces and nephews and how worried she is that something will happen to them. “Family messes you up,” he tells her in his Riggs way.
Unfortunately, after Brandon’s spinal cord is exposed, he goes into heart failure. The only way to revive him is via the paddles, but that will all but guarantee paralysis. Let without much of a choice; Alex uses the paddles. Afterward, Amelia and Alex have the difficult task of telling Brandon’s parents that he won’t walk again. Owen fills Peter’s family in on Brandon’s condition, and Amelia walks over to talk to Peter. In all the chaos, no one has been trying to help this other little boy. She tells him when he starts to feel bad, to tell himself that he didn’t mean to hurt Brandon and that it was an accident. Like a mantra. A soul saving mantra.
When Alex arrives home, he finds Jo sitting on the bed with her gun. She explains that when she was a teenager, living in her car, it was the only protection she had. Now, life is different, and she doesn’t need that kind of protection anymore. Alex finally gets it.
On their way home, Maggie breaks down in front of Meredith. She tells her sister how her heart aches to think of anything happening to her nieces and nephews, and doesn’t know how Meredith does it all. Meredith tells her that you have to learn to push all those fears aside, and just get through it. It’s not easy, but who said love ever was?
Speaking of family, Owen finally gets to the root of his anguish about his sister and Riggs. He was the one who told his sister to get on the plane. All this time, he’s felt responsible for her death. Amelia wraps him up in a hug, and maybe one day, he’ll forgive himself too.
April realizes through all of this tragedy that maybe it’s time to focus on kindness and peace. She invites Jackson to be there for her appointment the next day.
Ben wants back in
Now that he’s been suspended from the residency program, Ben is bored as hell and chomping at the bit to get back to work. He and Jackson have become buddies so Ben can at least confide his plans to re-apply to be an anesthesiologist.
He scores an interview with his old boss but neglects to tell his wife about it. Ruh-roh.
After he gets the job, a beaming Ben finally tells Bailey. Bailey wants him completely suspended for six months, but Ben thinks she’s trying to derail his career. She gives him an ultimatum-take the job or keep their marriage. That’s pretty brutal, Bailey. Guess what choice he makes.
Steph takes a chance
Remember Kyle, the famous guitarist that recently had brain surgery and fell very much in like with Steph? They’ve been getting pretty hot and heavy with the sexting. Have you ever accidentally sent a sext to the wrong person by mistake? Yeah, it’s okay to admit it. Well, that’s what Steph does, and the recipient is Meredith. Luckily, Mer takes it in stride. She even ribs Steph pretty good about it.
Steph’s on Meredith’s rotation, so they meet up with their patient Sheila, who is having a benign tumor removed, but is more concerned about meeting her internet boyfriend for the first time. He’s tall, handsome and perfect! That seems totally legit, right?
Sheila’s all a twitter because her beau is at the hospital, with flowers no less. When a man, who looks nothing like the photo she has, shows up claiming to be James, Sheila freaks out. Who can blame her? She’s been catfished! James is weirdly surprised by her reaction, and Meredith has to escort his lying ass out.
As they wheel Sheila to surgery, she can’t believe she was duped by this guy. Steph comments that some people just seem really good on when you aren’t face to face. Lo and behold, Kyle appears, being charming and making Steph squirm. She tells him to leave since she’s working, but Meredith’s enjoying the hell out of this little exchange.
In surgery, Meredith asks Steph why she’s being so squirrely about Kyle. They seem to have a good thing going via text, but Steph is worried that the reality of it will be a disappointment. It’s really not about Kyle-it’s about her.
After Sheila’s surgery, James tries to explain himself to Meredith and Steph. It’s the classic Catfish tale, but it gets a little funky when they find out Sheila told him that she was probably dying. Looks like James isn’t the only liar. While they hash it out, Meredith sends Steph away to finally have that date with Kyle.
For their date, Kyle takes Steph to his recording studio. At first, she’s put off by it, but then realizes that he’s trying to share an important part of himself with her. She lets her guard down, and the two finally kiss for real.
Arizona draws a line
Callie is like a giddy schoolgirl when she arrives at a coffee shop to talk to Arizona about her plans to move to New York with Sofia. Callie’s already found an apartment and brandishes some pamphlets for schools for Sofia to attend. This only pushes Arizona further into frustration about the way Callie is handling all of this. Callie isn’t treating her like an equal partner in their parenting, and even as Callie backtracks, it’s pretty obvious that she’s already made up her mind. This is just a courtesy with Arizona. Sorry, Callie, that isn’t going to fly.
Their discussion continues back at the hospital, and things start to get more heated. Arizona puts her foot down, and Callie brings up the fact that Arizona moved a ton as a kid, and she turned out okay. Callie, you have to bring it better than that.
Callie finds Penny to vent about the Arizona sitch, and like a good gf, she’s all ears. She does, however, stand down when it comes to advising Callie. This is an issue for Callie and Arizona to work out, and Penny is going to wait patiently on the sidelines while they figure it out. That’s actually mighty mature of Penny, who could have easily jumped on the “Arizona sucks” bandwagon. Penny is nothing if not rational, though. It’s in this moment I like her the most.
Richard finds Arizona to see if she’s willing to give up a resident, and feeling like she’s always being shit upon, she snaps at him. When he calls her on it, she opens up about what’s happening with Callie. Richard thinks that hiring a lawyer may have been hasty, but Arizona isn’t about to let her rights be trampled on. He advises her to take a breath and think about Sofia, and she agrees.
Callie bounds over to Bailey to let her know that she’s moving to NYC with Penny and in talks with Columbia and NYU. Bailey is rather shocked by the whole thing, especially when she finds out the offers aren’t for Ortho Chief positions. Basically, Callie’s taking a demotion to move in with Penny. “You’re giving up your career to chase tale cross country?” Bailey doesn’t mince words, and Callie is offended.
Arizona gets a call from one of the schools Callie suggested for Sofia in New York, and it’s the straw that breaks her back. When Callie finds Arizona later in the NICU, she tries to be all smiley and butter Arizona up, but all bets are off when Arizona reveals she got a call from the school. Callie has already made up her mind. This was never going to be about a compromise or a real discussion. Arizona hands Callie her lawyer’s card, and so it begins.
Here are some of our favorite #GreysGays tweets from “Trigger Happy.” Next week looks like it’s going to be a Calzona heavy episode, so I hope to see your epic tweets next week.
Yes, Callie, Arizona hired a lawyer because you’re acting like she’s not your child’s legal parent. UGH. #GreysAnatomy #GreysGays
– Tracy Levesque (@LilJimmi) April 22, 2016
When I said I want more Calzona screentime this was not what I meant #GreysAnatomy #TGIT #greysgays
– Curious Dorks (@CuriousDorks) April 22, 2016
That episode, it’s also about parenting. It’s very hard to be a parent. Be careful of what you are saying & doing. #GreysAnatomy #GreysGays
– Audrey (@pamplemoussee76) April 22, 2016
Angry Arizona is such a turn on. I hate that she’s fighting with Callie but….#GreysAnatomy #GreysGays
– Leksa, feva en otaim (@ShanLaShawn) April 22, 2016
This custody argument between Calzona is seriously giving me Bette and Tina flashbacks#GreysGays
– Makayla (@mlwoot01) April 22, 2016
