Note: The following contains spoilers for “Grey’s Anatomy” Season 19 Episode 11.
ABC touted Thursday’s episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” as the start of an intense two-part event for the long-running medical drama. With a season-long storyline on women’s reproductive rights coming to a head, the return of Kate Walsh as Addison Montgomery, and a life-threatening cliffhanger, the hour was given in spades.
The hour also marked a major milestone for longtime cast member Kim Raver (who plays newly appointed chief or surgeon Teddy Altman), as she turned TV director for one of the most important episodes of season 19. stepped on the chair.
Titled “Training Day”, the episode revolves around the staff of Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital, led by fan-favorite Dr. Dr. Addison Montgomery is preparing to host a symposium for out-of-state OB-GYN physicians. Doc, who was a series regular on “Greys” in seasons 2–4 and then leads the cast of the spinoff series “Private Practice”, continues to appear in this season as the show follows Row V’s flip. Is. Wade, and how doctors like Addison are fighting to make sure women still get the care they need.
Viewers last saw Addison in this season’s first episode, when she decided to take her expertise on the road to help train and treat patients in need across the country. Thursday’s episode revealed that her work has made her a prominent public figure, prompting both celebration from her supporters and unrest from anti-abortion advocates.
When news of Addison’s arrival at the hospital is leaked on social media, an angry mob protests outside the hospital’s clinic and it turns violent. Aside from a minor injury to Dr. Benson Quan (Harry Shum Jr.), it looks like things are over before time runs out.
The final moments of the episode show the doctor attempting to leave the clinic through a side entrance at the end of the day, when all seems calm. Then one of the OB-GYN residents and Addison begin talking, and the student tries to confess that he accidentally leaked the news of her arrival. But just as he and Addison try to pick up some papers from the road, time runs out as a car drives into the two doctors and hits them – knocking both doctors unconscious and their lives hanging in the balance Is.
“I really wanted that moment where everyone is taking a deep breath, like the calm after the storm, and then this big thing happens,” Raver told TheWrap about directing the shocking scene. “Someone said they saw (the scene) and liked it, screamed out loud and then burst into tears because it was so shocking, which I love. That was my intention.
Keep reading for more from Raver on his directorial debut, and what comes next in Part 2, out Thursday, March 30.
TheWrap: How did it feel knowing you were helming such an important Season 19 episode for the first time?
Kim Raver: It was very exciting. I mean, to get an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” first. I think everyone just assumes, “Oh, you’re on Grey’s, you can do whatever you want.” But it is not so at all. I saw Chandra Wilson directing and of course Miss Debbie Allen. And, you know, Kevin McKidd. I had executive produced a little bit and I co-directed with my husband (Manuel Boyer) .. and so it started percolating. And I feel so lucky that I have all these amazing women here in Shondaland, because it’s like, I think if you see other women doing such big, amazing things, it makes you think. does, “Oh, well, maybe I should try.”
I talked to Debbie Allen because she’s an executive producer, and she’s in charge of hiring all the directors and we had a conversation about it, and it was like three years ago, and then, you know, I Shadowed it and it was like, it was really kind of in the making, you know, right? And then he shadowed her and it was like an incredible masterclass in directing. And I was watching them and trying to imbibe as much as I could.
Then he gave me an episode and when I read it I was like, “Oh, my God, this episode is huge,” I think for “Greys” and Shondaland, and (showrunner) Krista Vernoff, Meg as well. Volume speaks. (Marinis), the author, and Debbie Allen that they confided in me. They gave me like a really important link and believed that I could do it. Everyone was wishing me success.
How was it going on the journey to direct this episode?
I got the episode at Thanksgiving and I think I told my kids, “We’re not having Thanksgiving this year.” (laughs)
I was kidding, we got over it. But it wasn’t really like me, you know, cooking a whole big dinner with my mom and my sister. I was really, you know, heads down, preparing every day. I was up at 3:30, 4 in the morning because I was so excited. And you know, the adrenaline rush of it.
And then to be able to act in it, it did a great job in my mind. I love its full multitasking. As an actor, you come up with a creative idea for your character. But as a director, you’re looking at the whole big picture and the vision, and bringing it all together for that one vision. To be able to collaborate in a different way with a bunch of actors that I love working with as an actor, Chandra Wilson, Kate Walsh, Jim Pickens. Everyone was so receptive and so helpful too.
As you take on the role of this director, we also get to see that Teddy has really settled into his role as Chief of Surgery. What was it like playing and watching Teddy achieve this milestone, and then settle into it so well?
I love the way my real life and my story of Teddy’s, you know, were connected in a way. I was getting this new role as a director and leading, you know, a great company of people, and Teddy is trying to find a new voice in this role.
I also really love it because I think Teddy went through a place where she was making really bad, crappy personal life decisions. And I know the fans must have felt the same way. But that’s also like Shondaland and the beauty of Shonda Rhimes and Krista Vernoff. Life is messy, we mess up, we’re not perfect, and they address that as writers and storytellers, and I think it’s very relatable and I love it.
This season tackles the topic of women’s reproductive rights and the crisis going on across the country since Roe v. Wade, which was overturned in a very authentic way. And that comes in the first part of this two-part event. How do you feel about the way the show has addressed the issue this season?
I think it’s really important that we, as creatives, don’t hold back from raising our voices and touching on very important topics. I get that people won’t always agree on things, but I think it’s important that we’re discussing it. I think Shonda isn’t afraid, and she’s never been afraid, and neither was Krista Vernoff.
I think as the season progresses, we’re going to see both sides of the issue so that both sides have an understanding of what the issues are. If this episode starts a conversation between people and we can move to a better place, then I think we’re doing our job.
Let’s talk about the cliffhanger. Addison is one of the most beloved characters in the “Greys” universe and now her life is in danger. How did you approach that final scene as a director?
I know these characters are very cute. And so, I wanted to be very careful about how I told that story. I created that cinematically, as they were, you know, it was written in the script as just one line… so I had to design that part. And what I really wanted was, you know, I don’t know if you saw this other show where I was 24, but it was like, “Oh, the storm’s passed and everything’s kind of calm ,” and then this kind of heartbreaking moment and then after that you still don’t know what’s going to happen.
So it was really important to me to create that tension that we don’t know, because I think there’s something really dramatic about that. We’ve gone through so much in this episode that I really wanted to have that moment where everyone takes a deep breath, like the calm after the storm, and then this big thing happens. Somebody said they saw[the scene]and liked it, screamed out loud and then burst into tears because it was so shocking, which I love.
That was my intention. Not only for the shock value, but it’s really telling the story of what these doctors are really doing now. And so I wanted it to be a very intense experience.
Part 2 will air next week (Thursday, March 30) and Kevin McKidd directed that episode. What can you tease about what comes next?
It’s just a roller coaster of excitement. Kevin had beautiful ideas that he executed and it really…the whole ensemble comes together in such a wonderful way. And it’s such a heartwarming moment.
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 PM ET/PT on ABC.
