Grey's Anatomy Round Table: Incompetent Alex or OOC Jackson, Which was Worse?
Jasmine Blu
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Grey Sloan Memorial has a new Chief, for now.
On Grey's Anatomy Season 15 Episode 3, Alex's first day as interim chief did not go smoothly. Richard is in dire need of a new sponsor, and where the hell was Jackson? Better yet, who the hell was Jackson?
Join TV Fanatics Stacy Glanzman, Paul Dailly, Rachelle Lewis, and Kim Russell as they discuss "Gut Feeling."
What are your thoughts about Alex's first day as Chief?
Stacy: I wasn't a fan. I understand that it's his first day, and he's inexperienced, but they didn't need to make him look like a moron. Alex has proven time and time again that he's a smart, capable doctor.
Yes, he's going to stumble and make mistakes, but I don't buy that he would confuse a monthly budget with a quarterly one, or that he wouldn't take more time to consider how he spends the money.
He's smart enough to know people might try to take advantage of him on his first day, and he should have at least told them he'd consider their proposals. Bailey gets the blame if she didn't train him before throwing him in the deep end.
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Paul: I agree with Stacy. Approving everything, and then realizing the money was for the quarter was rather absurd. I get that there would be teething problems with his new role, but it wouldn't have hurt for the creative forces to make it all a little more believable.
Rachelle: I agree with both Paul and Stacy, I was not a fan. I feel like they made him look like Alex from 15-years ago, and he has grown way too much to be perceived that way. They should definitely show him in an adjustment period with stumbling blocks, but the budget fiasco was not believable to me.
Plus, wouldn’t Bailey have gone over the closer with him. Also, the OR board, Alex has been around long enough to understand how the scheduling should be done, I don’t buy he would mess it up so badly Bailey had to fix it.
The one part I did like was Alex standing up to Richard, as well as him firing Dr. Roy. Those two moments showed he is the right man for the job because he did not waiver. Alex took charge of both situations, and they were both great scenes.
Kim: I don't know if they were making him look inexperienced or if they were making it look like he wasn't taking the job seriously. There were a few times he stood up, like when he made Webber leave the O.R. and when he fired Roy.
I feel like Bailey didn't give him a clue on what to expect, but maybe they just didn't show that part. Oh, and I agree about the O.R. board. He knows (they all do, really) how the board works and how to organize it. He wouldn't have messed that up.
Was Richard out of line while working the case with the shop teacher? Do you think he's in need of a sponsor?
Stacy: Yes on both accounts. People are not supposed to be stressed out on the operating table! The way he acted in there was completely out of line.
I didn't have as big of a problem with him testing his theory with water, but it probably wasn't the best way to go about it. He clearly needs a new sponsor. He has a lot of pent-up feelings to deal with, and he can't keep taking them out on patients.
Paul: Oh yes! He's hanging by a thread, and although it worked in his favor by the end of the installment, it could have been so much worse. He needs a sponsor, or he runs the risk of reverting to his old ways.
Rachelle: Richard was so out of line with the shop teacher. The OR is no place to badger a patient, ever! Once he realized he might be wrong about the shop teacher, he should have talked to someone before testing his theory.
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He needs a sponsor immediately. If Richard continues without a sponsor, his bad judgment, anger, and his repressed feelings are going to put his patients, his career and maybe his own life in jeopardy.
I think it will take him a while to realize he needs help, especially considering the way the episode ended with him and Link patching things up. I am not sure he truly understands how his actions affected his colleagues and the patients that day. After all, he did find the root of the shop teacher’s problem.
Kim: He went too far in the operating room with the shop teacher, although he knows what he's talking about better than everybody else. Instead of assuming the guy was a drunk and acting on that assumption, he should've done a little digging.
He would've found out what he found out afterward, that the guy wasn't a drinker. I get that he's not happy Bailey didn't leave him in charge, but he should've given Alex a heads up on his theory before testing it.
And, yes, he needs a new sponsor. It's not good for him to be by himself so much when Catherine is gone. Plus, going to the bar is too tempting. Where's Amelia? They're supposed to be supporting each other through their respective recoveries.
Jackson abruptly left and barely gave Maggie a heads up. React.
Stacy: What was that? That seriously irked me. I know Jackson is experiencing something brand new for him, but that doesn't mean he would lose his sense of decency.
It was completely out of character for him to disappear without talking to Maggie about it first. If he didn't want to explain himself to everyone else, fine, but she deserved better.
Paul: That was such a bizarre twist and one that I struggled to take seriously. It's like one step forward and two back with this show nowadays. Didn't he flip out that April did something similar when she questioned her faith? Maggie should not have been left in the lurch like that.
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Rachelle: I was completely confused by the news Jackson just left. How do you go from asking someone to marry you, to leaving them a voicemail that you have left town? It makes no sense at all.
Even if he was mad at Maggie for walking out on the marriage proposal, Jackson never just walks away. It was so out of character, but I am hoping as the story unfolds fans get a better understanding of his actions because it makes so sense him leaving.
Kim: I don't get why he left. He's got some big questions? OK. Don't we all? He should've at least said goodbye to Maggie face-to-face.
If he needs time, that's fine, but you don't just disappear. Maggie would've completely understood and told him to take all the time he needs because she's like that.
How do you feel about the potential Meredith and DeLuca 'ship being hinted?
Stacy: I don't like it. To be honest, DeLuca is not one of my favorite characters. I don't hate him or anything, but if he left the show, I wouldn't miss him either.
I just don't see any chemistry between them. I would love if Scott Speedman came back, but if not, I still like the idea of her dating someone outside of the hospital. It would be a refreshing change of pace.
Paul: I don't know, to be honest. It was out there when the pre-season teasers showed them kissing. They're not a pairing I would have expected to happen, but if there's a decent tale of love, then I'm all for it.
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Rachelle: I am not sure how I feel about this potential pairing. First of all, he dated her sister, which makes it hard to believe Meredith would even consider going out with DeLuca. Even if Maggie gave her blessing, which is probably would be based on her trying to push DeLuca and Amelia together, the pairing is iffy at best.
I just don’t believe DeLuca is the guy who is going to be her next great love after Derek. I think Meredith needs someone completely new. I agree with Stacy; it would be nice to see her meet someone who had nothing to do with Grey Sloan.
Kim: At first, when I saw it in the teaser, I was like no way! Now, I don't know. I don't see anything serious between the two. He's not mature enough, so they don't match that way.
I can't see him stepping into her three-kid family. I could be wrong, and if he can step up and be good to her, then fine, but she doesn't need just a roll in the hay. Does that saying make me old?
Who was the MVP of the episode?
Stacy: I'm going to give it to Jo. She stood up to Bailey, which is never easy. She gave up a huge opportunity to stay at Grey Sloan, and Bailey wasn't giving her the attention she deserved.
Paul: I'm going to go with Maggie. She felt the weight of Teddy's secret while being blindsided by Jackson, and she still managed to do her job.
Rachelle: I have to go with Maggie as well. The pressure of knowing Teddy is pregnant got the best of her. She fought with Owen, pushed Amelia to date DeLuca, all while dealing with Jackson leaving.
Despite all the drama in her life, she saved her patient's arm and proved she is awesome at her job regardless of the obstacles in her life.
Kim: I'm going with Amelia. She put up with Maggie the entire day with her setups and handled it all while staying calm but firm. She handled Tom and his shenanigans (nothing new), and she was open with Owen at the end about the happenings of the day. She didn't let anything get to her and went about her business.
Over to you Grey's Fanatics! What do you think? Hit the comments!
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Jasmine Blu is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. She is an insomniac who spends late nights and early mornings binge-watching way too many shows and binge-drinking way too much tea. Her eclectic taste makes her an unpredictable viewer with an appreciation for complex characters, diverse representation, dynamic duos, compelling stories, and guilty pleasures. You'll definitely find her obsessively live-tweeting, waxing poetic, and chatting up fellow Fanatics and readers. Follow her on X.
