#greys 20x03

[forbescaroline]

dynamics i've been wanting to gif: mika & jules - grey's anatomy I've never had a relationship that feels like this. So, like, easy and electric.

[laureala]

AMELIA AND RICHARD in Grey's Anatomy 20.03

Well sometimes I pop bubble wrap.

[masoncarr2244]

[hotticuslincoln]

Link in the Grey's Anatomy Season 20 Promo

[calzona-ga]

PRESS RELEASE | Grey’s Anatomy 20x03 - "Walk on the Ocean"

[sweetwerewolfruins]

Grey's Anatomy monologues 20x03

In 1963 Dr. Thomas Starzl performed the first five liver transplants , one patient bled to death on the operating table the other four died within days as a result the operation was considered to dangerous to be performed on humans and liver transplantation was suspended world wide for the next four years it wasn't exactly an auspicious start for a surgery that has saved countless lives.

progress doesn't happen overnight and set backs are all but inevitable, sometimes it can make you feel like psysofis endlessly pushing the same boulder up the same hill , but where would we be if Dr. Starzl hadn't persevered to perfect the Liver Transplant? If he had let the setbacks win. As tempting as it can be to throw in the towel , sometimes you have to take the obstacles as they come and find a new path forward

[promosbrasil]

Grey's Anatomy 20X03 Promo “Walk on the Ocean”

[monmelia]

Monmelia Analysis Part 1: Challenge, Timing & Soulmates (20x03)

Fourteen years ago, my love for shipping began with Brittany and Santana from Glee. They were my first ship—foundational to my experience as a closeted teenager—and while they might not have been perfect, they were everything I needed at the time.

Now, in my thirties and confident in my sexual identity, I didn’t expect to feel that invested in a ship again. I’ve enjoyed seeing other wlw couples on screen, but none ever stirred the same level of attachment—until Monica and Amelia from Grey’s Anatomy (Monmelia) came along. Their dynamic brings me back to those early days of following every hint of a storyline. Watching them, I find myself excited by the possibility of watching a meaningful, slow-burn romance unfold.

I love writing, and I love analysing, so I figured while Monmelia are still in their early stages, it’s a good time to start up an analysis blog of my own. Back in my Brittana fandom days, I used to love reading stuff like this, soaking up all the content I could get and living off the mere breadcrumbs the writers gave us. This feels no different. I plan on writing a blog per episode (where they feature) and just giving my potentially delusional but hopefully insightful thoughts on all of their interactions/scenes etc. But like I said, I love analysing, so if there’s anything I miss that you want me to analyse, just ask! I’m excited to go on their journey with them, so if you’re reading along too, enjoy, and hopefully the writers are kind to us!

So taking it back to the start of Monmelia, all my feelings and observations are below.

As a long-running character on the show it makes sense to start with Amelia. She seems to be a controversial character amongst the wider Grey’s fandom, but having binged all of her Private Practice backstory and really getting to understand her, she’s undoubtedly one of my favourites. She’s loyal to her loved ones, resilient to the core, super caring and incredibly misunderstood. Her history with love has been pretty tumultuous, and I, like many others, just want to see her settle down and find her person. 

“I have fallen in love so many times in my life, and it feels like a roller coaster. It feels thrilling and consuming and sickening and desperate, and this did not feel like that. This... I think I felt seen? I felt known. And, I didn't fall in love... I kind of slid into it, like two puzzle pieces that just kind of fit.” - Amelia Shepherd (18x20)

Taking Amelia’s own analysis on her love life into consideration, it’s safe to say her relationships have always been somewhat chaotic. Despite best intentions, the relationships haven’t provided the grounding stability she so desperately needs. At the point when Amelia makes this observation she is talking about her relationship experiences prior to Kai Barley. Relationships that were fuelled by passion and urgency, often amplified by her own emotional struggles and history of addiction, which brought both intensity and instability into her romantic life.

Amelia’s reflection on her relationship with Kai highlights a different kind of connection—one based on mutual understanding, acceptance, and emotional safety. She highlights the feeling of being “seen” , indicating a love that acknowledges her as a whole person, flaws included. It suggests a level of emotional intimacy and stability she hadn’t experienced before, where she feels accepted rather than overwhelmed. The metaphor of “sliding into” love, like “two puzzle pieces that just kind of fit,” captures a sense of natural compatibility, a relationship that feels right without force or drama. A kind of love that is comforting, subtle, and enduring, contrasting with her prior experiences that were more about immediate intensity.

We of course know that this relationship with Kai didn’t work out for Amelia in the long term, but I think it’s important to discuss, as it shows Amelia’s growth in her concept of love. Instead of chasing exhilarating but destabilising relationships, she finds herself pursuing a love that feels effortless and affirming—a connection that brings peace, mutual respect, and a sense of belonging, rather than an overwhelming rush of passion. However unfortunate it is that it didn’t work out, it still feels like a turning point in Amelia’s personal journey with love. 

Admittedly I’m not a huge fan of Amelia’s relationship with Kai, and I feel Kai led Amelia on and that Amelia looks at the relationship through rose tinted glasses when making that statement, but my own personal feelings aside I want to look at the relationship focusing solely on Amelia’s part in it. Because although Amelia describes it as a love that doesn’t make her feel desperate, we see her exhibiting needy behaviour towards the end of the relationship when Kai is moving to London. As soon as the move is announced, Amelia’s sole focus is on finding a solution to help Kai stay, without taking Kai’s desires into consideration.

“From the minute I told you about London, which is the biggest career opportunity of my life, you have made it about you. There were no words of encouragement or congratulations. No acknowledgement of how hard I worked for this.” - Kai Bartley (19x15)

And listen, I get it. It’s not that Amelia is being intentionally selfish, it’s that she’s so crippled by her deep fear of abandonment, an issue that has shaped her relationships and reactions throughout her life. For Amelia, the prospect of losing someone important triggers a defensive, almost desperate response to hold on tightly—a reaction that often leads her to prioritise her own emotional needs over her partner’s happiness and success. And again, it’s not that she doesn’t care about Kai’s success, but the abandonment is at the forefront of her brain, and so all she can think about is providing solutions to prevent that from happening.

Another layer to this dynamic is Amelia’s tendency to seek validation and stability through her relationships. She craves reassurance that her partner will stay, particularly after facing so much upheaval and loss in her life. This leads her to focus on her need for closeness, security, and continuity in the relationship rather than allowing space for Kai’s achievements and aspirations to be celebrated. Her behaviour in this situation highlights a recurring struggle to balance her own needs with those of her partner—a theme we’ve seen in her past relationships as well.

I guess my overriding point here is that I don’t think Amelia has met a partner that has been a true equal for her yet. It’s been more about how they’ve made Amelia feel, and less about how Amelia has added value to their life. She frequently looks to her partner to provide validation, security and love instead of doing the inner work necessary to cultivate this herself. She becomes attached quickly, often without considering her partner’s needs or how she can contribute positively to the relationship. 

For instance, with Owen, Amelia’s trauma and issues around motherhood led her to rely on him for emotional support, but she struggled to communicate openly, which hindered any real connection. Her fear of vulnerability meant that instead of showing up for Owen in the way he needed, she frequently pulled away, avoiding conversations about her trauma, motherhood, and her real needs.

Similarly, with Link, Amelia found someone steady and reliable, and she leaned on him during a time when she was navigating pregnancy and the uncertainties of motherhood. Yet when the relationship demanded a deeper level of self-awareness and mutual support, Amelia’s insecurities resurfaced, leading her to withdraw. She questioned whether she wanted the stability and family structure Link offered, revealing her ambivalence and a lack of personal clarity. Rather than growing with Link, Amelia leaned on him as a source of comfort and stability without fully committing to the relationship or working through her underlying issues.

And then with Kai, whom Amelia felt “seen” and “known” by, her attachment quickly became about what Kai could do for her emotionally, providing her with a sense of affirmation. When Kai’s career goals and reluctance about parenthood clashed with Amelia’s desires, her initial reaction was to convince them to stay rather than supporting Kai’s achievements or seeing things from their perspective.

And this dynamic illustrates a common theme for Amelia: she seeks out relationships as a means of avoiding loneliness, filling emotional gaps, or validating her self-worth. The result is often an imbalance where her needs take precedence, leaving little room for her partners’ needs or her own personal growth. 

For the record, I love Amelia, and I’m absolutely not saying she’s the problem in all of her relationships. Believe me I could talk at length about the various failings from her previous significant others, but this blog is focusing on Amelia and Monica, and so I think it’s important to reflect on where she’s at when Monica comes into the picture. 

Because what I want for Amelia more than anything, is to see her confront her traumas and insecurities independently and build her self-worth from within rather than relying on a partner to provide this for her. I want her to do the work so she doesn’t need to be dependent on others to feel whole. And then I want her to find a lasting, healthy love who challenges her and embraces her flaws, and loves her for exactly who she is. And I want her to do that for them in return, and to show up for her partner in ways I know she’s so capable of (because duh, she’s so damn loyal and caring and loving), because her own insecurities will no longer be in the way.

And this is exactly what I think Monica is going to be for her. And it’s the reason why I love them so much and why I plan to analyse every little moment, because call me delulu, but I’m so sure the arc is setting them up for this dynamic. I’m sure that Monica is going to be Amelia’s end game, and she’s going to enrich Amelia’s life in ways we can’t even imagine right now (and vice versa).

And I’m sure of this, because we’ve already seen snippets of this, because at the time of writing this they’ve just aired 21x05 which was so pivotal to their story IMO, but this is an ep by ep blog so more on that later.

But in essence, we already saw growth from Amelia in changing her concept of love during her relationship with Kai, but with Monica I feel we’re going to see even more growth in terms of a truly balanced partnership due to the fact Amelia is going to shift the emphasis of finding fulfilment via someone else.

Because when we meet Monica in 20x03, Amelia is already working towards being in that space. She light-heartedly tells Meredith that she’s got a cat because she’s given up on finding a human soulmate. This is important because it shows that since her fairly recent breakup with Kai, Amelia has opted to do something for herself that will meet her emotional needs, outside of a romantic relationship. It would be easy for Amelia to seek happiness from a meaningless rebound or jump into another relationship, but instead she decides to heal and directs her energy on doing something for herself.

The other important factor of that scene is the timing. And timing is something I feel will be discussed a lot in this blog. Just as Amelia is talking about giving up on her human soulmate, we get our first proper introduction to Monica as she beeps her horn at Amelia. In the context of the scene, she beeps because Amelia has taken her parking spot, but I can’t help but think that this is foreshadowing. As viewers we see Monica beep loudly right after Amelia’s statement of giving up on love, as if to say “Don’t give up yet, I’m right here!”. When someone honks their horn at you, it’s often startling and unexpected, much like Amelia’s romance (or crush for now) with Monica is. I don’t think Amelia is planning on finding love. She’s healing, seemingly working on herself and has declared she’s given up.

It’s apt (but also always the way it happens because there’s no better time for a relationship than when you’re hyper focused on yourself) that Monica would come in at this time. Nothing can convince me that the timing of Amelia announcing she’s given up on her soulmate coinciding with Monica’s first scene isn’t significant.

I could further deep this by analysing the fact Monica is distracted on her phone. She’s not paying attention until Amelia takes her spot. She only notices the spot becomes free when Amelia takes it, and then she gets all mad at her. It could possibly foreshadow the wider dynamic of Monica being too distracted by her divorce to pursue anything with Amelia, and perhaps like with the parking spot situation, Amelia will have to do something to get her attention (not necessarily intentional) and prompt Monica to realise her feelings and make her notice. It would be an interesting future parallel if this plays out. Of course this is all just speculation and we have no idea where the writers are going to go with this. And do I think the writers put this much attention to detail into callbacks and parallels? No. But I definitely think there’s a lot of intentional set up between these two. The soulmate line at the very least. And Amelia stealing Monica's parking spot like she's about to steal her heart.

Then we get to the scene in the hospital and both Monia and Amelia are surprised to find they’re working together after the earlier parking incident. Amelia is visibly embarrassed and it shows in her demeanour, and there’s clear tension in the air, but they put it aside to care of their patient. Monica immediately challenges Amelia, she talks over her during the consult and it clearly catches Amelia off guard and causes her some frustration. Monica is new to the hospital, so it could be that she’s trying to establish her authority. It sets a precedent of tension for them in their first few scenes, but more importantly it sets a precedent of Monica challenging and pushing Amelia further than she’s used to being pushed.

We see this dynamic explored further when they’re discussing surgical options for their patient. Amelia immediately dismisses Monica’s idea and Monica retorts by telling her to take a minute to think about it. Though Amelia is initially defensive to the suggestion, and Monica is seemingly unfazed by Amelia’s admission that she’s the Chief of Neurosurgery (plus the fact she doesn’t know Amelia), we can surmise that Monica is instantly confident in Amelia’s surgical abilities. She’s confident enough to challenge her and push her boundaries, and she knows she can get more out of Amelia. When we translate that to a future romantic relationship, it’s a good dynamic to have, and I think Amelia would really benefit from a partner who isn’t afraid to challenge her and push her to go deeper than she’s used to going. 

When Amelia is reluctant, Monica notes that impatience must be her thing. From the minute I heard this I assumed it was going to have deeper meaning to their arc, and knowing what we know now about Monica going through a divorce and not being ready for a serious relationship, I’m sure this is going to be significant for them. My initial thoughts at this point are that it’s going to be a slow burn and Monica isn’t going to be ready for a relationship for some time. They’ll undoubtedly grow closer, and Amelia is going to inevitably feel some impatience waiting for the relationship to progress. Perhaps she’ll even move on herself. I feel like this comment from Monica will for sure be a future parallel in which Amelia just needs to be patient to get her girl.

Amelia later confides in Richard that she is being pushed by the new peds surgeon to consider an alternative option that has more risks. Could that be foreshadowing Monica pushing Amelia to consider alternative options to love with more risks? Because with soulmate love, of course comes more risk of being hurt. He also notably points out that Monica is a boundary pusher, and draws comparison between her and Amelia. This has to be symbolic and perhaps a sign that both of them are going to push boundaries and open up new depths in each other.

Monica’s pushing works and Amelia figures out an alternative option. Yay for cute girlfriend knowing her full potential.

“Finally!” Amelia says as Monica and Blue enter the room.

“You do know we were waiting for you, right?” Monica flirts playfully responds.

The delusional deep thinker in me wants to say that this could be another potential foreshadow into their arc. Because although we know Monica isn’t going to be initially ready for a relationship with Amelia, it could be that the dynamic switches and in true Grey’s style, Monica will realise she’s ready just as Amelia has either started to move on (albeit casually) or maybe she’s just decided to stay single and focus on herself (which tbh would be huge growth for her), Basically, by the time Monica comes around, maybe Amelia just isn’t going to be available anymore (whether that be emotionally or physically). So when they finally get it together, it could be that they both had to do an element of waiting but in different ways. So for Amelia it’s like “Finally!” since she made the first move, but maybe it’s actually Amelia who delays them actually being together, hence Monica’s “You do know we were waiting for you.” But again, this is all just speculation. It could just be that the scenes are what they are at face value and there’s no deeper meaning. But I definitely think all this talk around patience and taking time has to mean something. There’s too many references to it.

The whole episode centres on Monica influencing Amelia to take time and have patience, and the success that follows when she does that, so it’s interesting to think how this could apply to a romantic relationship between them. It’s even more pivotal given their dynamic, and the obstacles between them on both sides (Monica’s divorce and Amelia’s own issues she needs to work on).

Time is clearly going to be of the essence for them, and I kind of hope that if they do go down the route of Amelia holding them up getting together that it’s because she’s decided to work on herself as opposed to her moving on with someone else, because that would be the ultimate growth for her. For her to have Monica finally want to date her but for her to be strong enough to say no until she’s ready and healthy in her own self, just like how Monica waits to date Amelia until she's ready and had dealt with the issues that came with her divorce. That would be symbolic of the message in this episode around patience and timing and how taking the alternative longer route can lead to the more successful ending, so I hope that’s what this episode was foreshadowing.

If Monica and Amelia could translate the way they work together, communicate and find solutions as effectively as they do in surgery to a romantic relationship, I’m telling you, they’d be a dream team!

“I’m thinking you’re much more effective when you take your time.”- Monica Beltram (20x03)

Could that quote from Monica be in relation to the context of the episode with Amelia finding an alternative option to the surgical procedure? Yes. But the deep thinker in me wants to believe it foreshadows Amelia either  a) Taking her time in waiting for Monica to come around by being her supportive friend during her divorce in the meantime, b) Taking the time to work on herself before pursuing a relationship with Monica, just like Monica has done with her by not jumping into anything.

Or it could be both?

Or neither.

Even the lighter scenes in this episode feel meaningful. Whether it be the bashful back and forth of “go ahead” when they reach for the same scrub brush, the persistent challenge from Monica or the lingering glances during surgery, there’s a clear set up of underlying tension right from the start with these two.

After a successful surgery, they’re told they make a great team, and Monica glances at Amelia. Before Amelia can fully acknowledge this, she hears the door slam and Monica has left. Perhaps a metaphorical sign of things to come with Monica not being ready to embrace everything between them?

But I can’t help but agree that Monica and Amelia are a great team, and as you can probably tell by my ramblings, I think that their dynamic at work could absolutely extend to a romantic relationship. 

And I’m optimistic enough to say I think this could be the relationship that Amelia needs. But also, one that Monica needs. And I’m excited to find out more about Monica as a character. But ultimately I think it will be a relationship that is going to equally push them both to grow. A relationship that’s all about challenge and timing and patience, but most importantly, about soulmates.

So Amelia, I hope you haven’t given up on finding your human soulmate. Because Monica is right there!

I hope you enjoyed reading my ramblings, I try and make it as cohesive as possible I swear. I’ve already started writing up my thoughts on 20x04 so I hope you stick around for that, and for whatever else the Monmelia journey brings!

[nellie-elizabeth]

Grey's Anatomy: Walk on the Ocean (20x03)

Man, lotsa juicy drama in this one.

Cons:

I thought Winston having a subplot about giving up on his marriage with Maggie was a little weird and unnecessary. I legit hadn't realized we were supposed to think they were still trying to work on their relationship. Maggie left him and Winston seemed pretty firm on what that meant. Or am I misremembering?

The main catastrophe of this episode features a man who gets extravagantly injured trying to imitate the jet-setting adventurous behavior of his wife's ex-husband, in order to prove to himself and to her that he's cool enough. I felt like thematically this was kind of basic and didn't really connect to the characters as much as I wanted, and then the poor wife at the end when she shows up and learns that her husband is dead... she wasn't the strongest actor, unfortunately. The crying needed some work.

Pros:

I kind of love the Teddy and Meredith scenes because Teddy and Meredith aren't like... good close best friend family forever? They're just two people who have known each other and have people in common, and I felt like the actors brought that energy in a way that was refreshing. They're colleagues, and yet there's also that deeper level of camaraderie there. When Catherine shows up, Teddy covers for Meredith and then gets brought into the secret of the research Meredith and Amelia are doing. Looks like Teddy is going to be able to move some discretionary funds their way, so that's exciting stuff!

I'm loving Levi getting some screentime, especially because it also highlighted his friendship with Jo! That really is one of my favorite relationships on the show these days, and we truly don't see enough of it. I gotta say, Nico really behaves like a jerk for not telling his partner that Levi is his ex, but at the same time, I think Jo is right: Levi's hurt feelings aren't about having feelings for Nico, it's about seeing his ex move on and take these big steps in his life. Their conversation at the end was great, it had that difficult bittersweet intimacy of exes who used to know each other really well. Nico is able to tell the story of how they're having a kid, and they can joke around a bit, showing how well they still know each other. Two moments I really loved was Levi knowing how big a deal it would be for Nico to leave the pizza behind, and Nico's soft reaction of delight in learning that Schmitt is Chief Resident. Also... the "Levon" thing made me laugh. We need more Levi subplots please! Find him some love!

And then let's turn to the various intern plots.

I really liked Blue's story again this week, he's still shaping up to be a fave. This new surgeon lady looks like she might be a great mentor for him, and also maybe an enemies-to-lovers situation for Amelia? Jury's out on that, but I would not be mad about it, tbh. But I love that Blue needs to keep getting that lesson reinforced about his demeanor with the patients. He knows his stuff medically, but he also needs to listen. Working in pediatrics really makes the case for how these things all blend together. It was the young patient's mother who noticed something off and decided to take her daughter in, thus saving her life!

And then, Yasuda vs. Lucas... dang, Adams, I was rooting for you! Just last week, I was saying that his anger with Simone was totally justified and I got why he was being such a grump, but this week, he really crossed a line for me. I thought the moment when he failed to say something to Bailey was interesting, that felt like the kind of believable dick move that someone makes in the moment and then it's too late to change it, but for him to dig his heels in later with Yasuda, after being an asshole and leaving her on her own all day? Wow, seriously not the thing. I was totally on Yasuda's side and was annoyed at Simone for daring to accuse Yasuda of not trying to move on. She's the one who has been playing nice and trying to be everyone's friend! Yeesh!!

And then we see that Lucas has moved out of the house. I have a feeling we're going to have to deal with a certain threshold of moping Adams as we work out the issues going on here. I hope Yasuda just lives her best life and crushes it and doesn't let Lucas's nonsense slow her down. Or Simone's either, honestly. (As a side note, loving Simone's hair in this ep, she looked fantastic.)

I think I'll stop there - lots of moving pieces, most of them compelling enough to keep my interest. Loving the opportunity for more Levi, more of the interns, less Owen/Teddy, less Jo/Link... for those reasons, this episode is a win for me!

9/10

[televisionpromos]

Grey's Anatomy 20x03 "Walk on the Ocean" Promo - Meredith and Amelia work to secure funds for their research while Amelia finds herself at odds with a new attending. Levi runs into someone from his past, and Owen gives Winston advice. Lucas ditches Mika, forcing her to treat a patient alone.

[masoncarr2244]

[monmelia]

Monmelia Analysis Part 2: Elevators, Gem Crush & Growing Closer (20x04-20x06)

First of all thanks to anyone who engaged with the first blog! The fandom is pretty small at this point so I really wasn’t expecting anyone to see it, let alone interact with it, but it’s good to know people are enjoying it.

So picking up from where we left off with 20x03 where we see Monica and Amelia meet for the first time, I’m going to analyse 20x04 and 20x06 in one post since they don’t have as many scenes in these episodes. Their first scene in 20x04 is an infamous elevator scene (or lift as we say in England, but for the purpose of this blog I'll say elevator). 

We know that elevator scenes in Grey’s are poignant, and they’re often used as settings for major emotional and narrative shifts between characters, such as declarations of love, confrontations, or moments of deep personal realisation. Over the years, elevator scenes have become a recognisable element of Grey’s storytelling, so we the viewers associate these scenes with some of the most iconic moments in the series, making each new elevator scene carry emotional weight and nostalgia, especially as new generations of characters carry on the tradition.

And to think about it on a deeper level (as I always do, which if you read these blogs regularly I’m sure you’ll come to realise), it makes sense why the writers choose elevators as the setting for such catalyst moments, beyond the obvious nostalgic reasons:

Intimacy and Privacy: The confined space of an elevator forces characters into close proximity, creating a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that amplifies emotional moments. The characters are in a hospital bustling with people, so the elevator becomes a rare place of solitude where characters are compelled to confront their emotions without interruption.

Symbolism of Transition: Elevators physically move between floors, symbolising transitions and changes, both personal and professional. They represent a space where characters are in between places—just as they might be between life-changing decisions or personal growth. For example, Meredith and Derek’s relationship featured several pivotal moments in elevators, reinforcing the idea that they were constantly moving, both emotionally and in their complicated relationship status.

Emotional Tension and Release: The elevator serves as a place where tensions that have been building elsewhere in the episode can come to a head. The enclosed setting heightens the stakes, and characters often reveal truths or make decisions they might not have made in an open setting. The vulnerability of an elevator scene lets characters’ emotions take centre stage, leading to honest interactions that resonate with audiences.

Through these elements, the writers turn elevators into spaces where some of the show’s most memorable, heartfelt, and transformative moments unfold. And what do we get right at the start of Monmelia’s arc? An elevator scene. Or, an almost elevator scene, because Amelia opts to take the stairs. In cultivating feelings of nostalgia, the writers do a good job of paralleling such scenes, and we can draw comparison between 01x02 with Meredith and Derek and 15x06 with Meredith, DeLuca and Link. 

Just as Amelia does in 20x04, Meredith opts to take the stairs to avoid tension and being trapped in an intimate setting with potential love interests. It’s interesting that Amelia is happy to take the elevator with Owen, a character who she already shares a romantic history with, but as soon as Monica arrives she opts to take the stairs despite having already spent time waiting for the elevator. This suggests that despite barely knowing Monica, something about her stirs something up in Amelia already.

Narratively it could just be that Amelia just feels annoyed by Monica at this point due to the tension between them we’ve seen so far, but metaphorically we know that these scenes foreshadow romantic connection due to the previous parallels, so Amelia taking the stairs definitely means something.

Another scene that could be compared is one with Derek in 04x13, in which he finds himself stuck in an elevator with Addison, Meredith and Rose. When Mark gets into the elevator, he quips, “I bet you wish you’d taken the stairs.” This moment is layered with humour and tension as Derek’s romantic entanglements are uncomfortably visible in one confined space. The elevator becomes a metaphor for Derek’s life at that point—he’s figuratively “stuck” in his emotional entanglements and unresolved feelings, especially in relation to Meredith. It’s a space where his past, present, and future love life collide, reminding him of the complications and choices he must confront. Mark’s comment metaphorically hints that Derek’s romantic choices, which have brought him to this point, might have been avoidable had he approached relationships with clearer intentions or self-awareness.

In 20x04, Amelia’s decision to take the stairs may point to Monica, but Owen’s presence as the other character in the scene could be intentional if we compare it to the scene with Derek. Given Amelia’s history with Owen and her developing interest in Monica (however subtle it may be at this point), this choice could be symbolic of Amelia’s evolution and her need to distance herself from complicated romantic and professional entanglements. 

The parallel highlights two siblings who have both had their struggles with love and growth, but unlike Derek, who was physically confined by the elevator with his past, Amelia proactively chooses to “take the stairs,” symbolising her desire to break free from patterns that have historically complicated her relationships and kept her “stuck”. By avoiding the elevator, she avoids the forced intimacy and tension that the space would bring, signifying a newfound self-awareness and control over her choices. 

Not only does this parallel emphasise the generational growth in the Shepherd family, it shows character development for Amelia, which is something I highlighted as being significant to her in finding long-lasting love in my last blog. So if there’s one thing I can say I love about Monmelia so far, it's that we’re seeing growth from Amelia already. Rather than seeing her dive in head first into a new relationship, we’re seeing her make decisions based purely on herself. Her will to take the stairs implies a conscious choice to separate herself from old dynamics and patterns, showcasing her readiness to approach new relationships with clarity.

Another thing that I highlighted in my last blog was the way that Monica challenged Amelia, despite barely knowing her. I think this is somewhat of a fundamental dynamic between them because of their contrasting personalities. Whilst Amelia is a character we know to be impulsive and emotionally intense, Monica seems to be the opposite of that, so her personality innately balances out Amelia’s.

Monica approaches things more realistically, and this is evidenced in the scene where they are discussing the foetal surgery being cancelled. Monica instantly gets the mother’s fears, acknowledging how daunting the procedure sounds. She’s understanding and non-judgemental, indicating her ability to balance clinical detachment with genuine empathy. We can see how she respects the patient’s through her pragmatism.  

In contrast, Amelia’s reaction is marked by her disappointment, as she believes the surgery offers the baby the best chance. Her frustration reveals her dedication to high-risk procedures and her drive to use her expertise to make a difference, despite the inherent challenges. Amelia’s emotional investment emphasises her need for meaningful impact, an important part of her identity as a surgeon.

Monica’s calm, rational acknowledgment of the surgery’s risks offers a complementary perspective to Amelia’s drive and determination. The scene shows how Monica’s grounded nature challenges Amelia’s intensity, potentially guiding Amelia toward more self-awareness and patience. This interaction serves as a stepping stone in developing both their professional and personal relationship, illustrating how they might balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses in emotionally charged situations. 

As the episode progresses we see additional layers to their competitive rivalry as they dispute over Lucas. This underlines the tension in their relationship, but it’s not purely antagonistic. They are both clearly dedicated to their patients, and while they may clash, there’s an apparent mutual respect that’s developing. Whilst Amelia appeared to back down and listen to Monica in the previous scene when the surgery was cancelled, it’s the opposite here, with Monica relenting to let Lucas work with Amelia. This foreshadows a supportive yet challenging relationship, with each willing to push the other’s boundaries but also knowing when to surrender. Amelia’s authority and confidence, paired with Monica’s unflinching pragmatism, creates a layered relationship that promises further complexity in both professional and personal spaces.

We later see Amelia complaining about Lucas which Monica overhears and confronts her about. I find it interesting how much Monica seems to insert herself in Amelia’s business. She’s merely passing and heading home after a long day at work, anyone would think she’d be in a rush to get out of there, but instead she slows and navigates her attention to Amelia. She’s engaged enough to hear what Amelia is saying, and inserts her opinion. This symbolises two things to me. 1. Monica is somewhat invested in Amelia and 2. She’s not afraid to call her out (which I’ve probably touched on enough already in terms of Monica constantly challenging her).

It’s a short scene between them, but it’s also a scene that I feel subtly moves them along, because whilst we’ve seen the challenging side of their dynamic play out before it’s the first time we see a shift into territory that showcases more support. Monica opens on this by finding out the reasons that Amelia is upset with Lucas. However small the gesture is, it seems meaningful that Monica wants to stick around and understand Amelia’s frustrations from a place of genuine curiousity. She surely has better things to do now she has finished work, but she stays and listens to Amelia as she opens up about the fact Lucas is her nephew and she’s finding it hard to live with him. 

The scene is a catalyst to a conversation that’s more personal and not focused solely on work, further expanded when Monica offers Amelia a ride home. It’s a friendly gesture that suggests Monica is open to supporting Amelia outside of work boundaries. Although Amelia declines, this moment subtly builds trust, as Monica demonstrates her willingness to be there for Amelia beyond professional interactions. 

From Amelia’s perspective, her obvious awkwardness and nervous refusal suggests an underlying hesitation to engage with Monica on a more personal level. This reluctance mirrors her earlier decision to avoid the elevator with Monica, indicating a pattern of keeping emotional distance. By declining the ride, Amelia maintains control over the boundaries between her and Monica, perhaps out of a mix of vulnerability and professional caution.

We do have to consider as part of this though, why the need for boundaries in the first place if Monica is just a friend? It’s clear that something about Monica makes Amelia set these internal rules with herself right from the offset.

This repeated avoidance could symbolise Amelia’s ongoing struggle with intimacy and her cautious approach to new relationships, especially as she processes her past relationship challenges. Choosing not to rely on Monica here subtly suggests that Amelia isn’t yet ready to open herself up, even in small, casual ways, indicating a slow-burn tension between her desire for connection and her instinct to remain guarded. Not only does this reinforce Amelia’s growth within herself before rushing into relationships, it’s a potential foreshadow of their dynamic at large. Knowing what we know with the more recent episodes when Monica doesn’t pursue Amelia’s offer of going on a date (a whole separate blog on this later) it’s possible the storyline is going to go down the route of Amelia being quite guarded after what she perceives as a rejection, thus having to learn to become more comfortable stepping into a space of trust and support with Monica. We can safely say that even in the beginning, their storyline has the foundations of a slow burn, will they/won’t they etc.

Monica’s response to Amelia’s conflict with Lucas is indicative of her steady, supportive nature, highlighting her ability to maintain perspective even in a demanding environment. She indirectly compliments Amelia by stating “his aunt just performed groundbreaking surgery and he can’t even enter labs correctly.” which is likely an attempt to soften Amelia’s frustration and remind her of her own achievements. Amelia is too concerned about Monica’s labs being messed up to recognise the praise, but Monica does make sure to directly congratulate Amelia before she leaves.

Overall the scene depicts the evolving friendship between Amelia and Monica, moving from competitive friction to a bond of support. Monica’s empathetic response and practical advice reflects a deepening understanding of Amelia’s personal challenges, while Amelia’s openness about her relationship with Lucas shows she’s becoming more comfortable around Monica. Not comfortable enough to be in an enclosed space like a car or an elevator, but we’re getting there! 

As we go to 20x06 we see the support and vulnerability between them expand even further with the Gem Crush scene (probably my fave s20 scene of theirs). It’s the first time we see Monica in a more unguarded light, as opposed to her usual manner of calm and composed. Even the way she is sitting showcases her vulnerability, with her legs crossed like a child. She zones out and immerses herself in her game, suggesting she needs a mental escape, hinting at the emotional toll her work takes on her. It’s as if Amelia immediately picks up on the fact Monica isn’t okay as she stops to talk to her. The same Amelia who ordinarily seems to avoid being alone with Monica, feels compelled to be there for her in a time of need. This is significant, as it’s the first time we see Amelia remove the boundaries she’s created for herself to place herself in what could be determined as an intimate setting with Monica.

As their conversation unfolds and Monica reveals that she recently lost a patient, we see from the detail she goes into that she’s sharing a deeply personal and emotionally raw experience with Amelia. This openness is Monica’s first significant step in revealing her own humanity, breaking down the professional facade she usually maintains. Her vulnerability in discussing this patient loss allows Amelia to see a more intimate side of Monica, bridging the gap between them in a way that’s beyond their typical competitive or professional interactions.

It’s a step further than the growth shown in 20x04, because it’s a situation that involves more emotion, and it’s the first time we get to see Amelia step up into a supportive role, when it’s typically Monica calming or guiding her, often offering grounded perspectives that help Amelia navigate professional and personal challenges. Here, however, the roles are reversed. Amelia is the one who listens and provides comfort, showing her capacity to be there for others without centering her own experiences or emotions.

I’ve highlighted before my thoughts around Amelia’s past relationships, and how they often reveal her tendency to lean on others for stability. This moment signals a healthier balance in Amelia’s relationships. While she is accustomed to being the one in need of reassurance and comfort, this dynamic shift with Monica highlights her ability to provide it as well. It’s a sign of her ongoing healing, suggesting that she’s learning to be present for others, independent of her own emotional needs.  

By simply sitting with Monica as she processes the loss of her patient, Amelia demonstrates a new level of empathy and emotional strength. Instead of offering solutions or shifting the focus, she just listens, allowing Monica to share her pain. This act of companionship ultimately strengthens their bond, marking a transformative moment in Amelia’s journey toward more balanced, supportive relationships.

My favourite part of the scene is when Monica invites Amelia to play the game with her. It’s a small but deeply meaningful gesture that speaks to the growing intimacy and trust between them. Typically reserved and focused, Monica rarely lets down her guard, especially in a professional setting. By inviting Amelia into her personal space of relaxation—a rare moment where she’s vulnerable and off-duty—Monica signals a willingness to be seen as a complete person, not just as a surgeon or authority figure. It's significant that she feels Amelia's presence as a comfort to her, and wants her to stay and continue to provide that feeling.

This allows Amelia to see a side of Monica that few others likely see. It’s a signal that she’s comfortable enough to let Amelia witness her coping mechanisms, her quiet moments, and her ways of dealing with the heavy emotional toll of her work. In turn, this invitation represents an implicit trust in Amelia, positioning her as someone Monica feels safe with, even in her moments of vulnerability.

For Amelia, accepting the invitation marks a reciprocal moment of companionship, allowing her to connect with Monica in a low-pressure, non-professional way. Their shared activity becomes a space where both can unwind, momentarily shedding the weight of their stressful job roles. This seemingly simple invitation thus deepens their bond further, highlighting that their connection is evolving from professional respect to genuine companionship. 

And so honestly, this scene feels like a turning point for me, and sets a precedent for the events that unfold in 20x08, which I’ll discuss in my next blog. It’s significant seeing them share that space and time together, and if we think of elevators representing a confined space that amplifies tension, intimacy, and sometimes forced confrontation, the space they share to play the game represents a relaxed, open, and emotionally safe space where Monica and Amelia can connect.

It’s a stepping stone to the transition, the tension, the drama, the potential romance that comes with an elevator scene. They’re not ready for that heightened intensity yet. Instead, they’re beginning in a comfortable, open space where they can bond without pressure. This is particularly important for Amelia who we know is very guarded and who up until this point we have seen as quite avoidant towards Monica.

So I’ll end this by saying I love take the gem crush scene because it fits them right now, and it’s important to their story, and IMO it’s just the start.

Thanks for reading :)

[spunkycute]

Sissofis*!

Grey's Anatomy monologues 20x03

In 1963 Dr. Thomas Starzl performed the first five liver transplants , one patient bled to death on the operating table the other four died within days as a result the operation was considered to dangerous to be performed on humans and liver transplantation was suspended world wide for the next four years it wasn't exactly an auspicious start for a surgery that has saved countless lives.

progress doesn't happen overnight and set backs are all but inevitable, sometimes it can make you feel like psysofis endlessly pushing the same boulder up the same hill , but where would we be if Dr. Starzl hadn't persevered to perfect the Liver Transplant? If he had let the setbacks win. As tempting as it can be to throw in the towel , sometimes you have to take the obstacles as they come and find a new path forward