Grey’s Anatomy Fall Finale: Jo’s Heart Fails as She Prepares for Emergency Birth
The fall finale of season 22 of Grey’s Anatomy packed a punch with Jo’s emergency C-section, unexpected romances, and a surprising breakup.
In the episode aired on Thursday, November 13, Jo (Camilla Luddington) and Link (Chris Carmack) found themselves in the hospital after Jo’s water broke a whole seven weeks early. Though she wasn’t in labor, signs of potential heart complications prompted a consultation with Winston (Anthony Hill).
Winston discovered that Jo’s heart muscle was weakening and enlarging, jeopardizing her ability to carry the twins to term. Jo faced two options: medication, and if that proved ineffective, a surgical procedure involving a pump implanted in her chest.
After trying the medication, Jo was ultimately compelled to undergo surgery as her condition deteriorated. During the operation, Jo’s heart began to fail, and there was no heartbeat from either baby, leading Winston to perform an emergency C-section. Jo’s survival remained uncertain, and the trailer for the upcoming season hinted at possible tragedy.
Meanwhile, in another storyline, Teddy (Kim Raver) and the kids caught Owen (Kevin McKidd) in bed with Nora (Floriana Lima). Although Teddy eventually accepted the idea of Owen dating, Nora broke things off because Teddy was her doctor, complicating matters.
In another turn of events, Simone (Alexis Floyd) enjoyed a pleasant day with her former fling Wes (Trevor Jackson) while working on a case. Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.) achieved a milestone in his love life when a shift with Kavita (Anita Kalathara) led to them sharing a kiss in the elevator.
Viewers must wait until January 8 to see how all these storylines unfold. Jo’s alarming health crisis follows Link’s brushes with death earlier this season, and fans initially feared a tragic bloodbath stemming from the season 21 hospital explosion.
“I’ve spoken with some of the cast, and they understand it’s a cliffhanger typical of Grey’s Anatomy; they know to expect the unexpected every year. They embrace that. They believe in keeping our narratives exciting and innovative,” said showrunner Meg Marinis in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in May. “However, over the last two seasons, we had to slim down the cast a bit due to industry-wide budget cuts, and everyone feels strongly about their favorite characters.”
She added: “If we can stir up strong emotions among the writers, we know we’re on the right track. A story feels less satisfying if no one is saddened by a character’s departure; it’s designed to invoke feelings, so I anticipate some disagreements. But I’ve changed my mind on certain matters in the past.”
Grey’s Anatomy will make its return to ABC on Thursday, January 8, at 10 p.m. ET, with the following episode available for streaming on Hulu the next day.
