Review Of 13x24 “Ring Of Fire”

Review of 13x24 “Ring of Fire”

I can’t write this.  And I’m sorry.  I absolutely love writing these reviews.  It is so much fun to take a deeper look at the episodes and discuss them with you guys.  But it’s not fun anymore.  So many of you have written me to tell me how much you enjoy reading my reviews and that I often give you a different perspective on things, so I apologize if this is a disappointment.  But the show was a disappointment, too.  We have loved this show and these characters for years, and season thirteen tried its best to destroy many of them.  And maybe it succeeded.  

Jackson, April, and Maggie - I really thought they wouldn’t go there.  Not only because Jackson and Maggie have zero chemistry, but because the uproar from the fans has been deafening.  I understand not wanting to let fans control the show, but I don’t understand deliberately writing stories that the fans hate.  There is no way that Shonda, Debbie, the writers, and the actors don’t know how the majority of the fans feel about this and they are choosing to ignore it and assuming we will still watch because we hung in there for this awful season. That is disrespectful to the fans and to the actors.  I know that not everyone agrees, but I would argue that Jesse and Sarah are keeping most of the fans watching. And poor Kelly is just playing Maggie getting thrown into different triangles.  And for what?  Maggie is already a difficult character to like.  Putting her in between Jackson and April will only make that worse.  Kelly is capable of so much more.  I have said all season that this is bad writing and continuity, but it is also lazy.  They are writing easy story lines.  These are stories that I would expect from a novice writer in the first few seasons of a show, not from season 13 of Grey’s Anatomy.  The show has shown us they can write better stories, so this is a conscious choice not to.  We aren’t interested in love triangles and crushes.  These are doctors who have grown and grown up over time, but instead of showing that, they are making them play pass the STD.  We are invested in these characters and we want them to be happy.  All of them.  They can be happy and still have good stories.  Yes, the writers would have to get more creative, but that is what makes good television.  In 13x23, Maggie was throwing sad eyes at Mer and Riggs for having a conversation and now, just hours later, we are supposed to believe she suddenly has feelings for Jackson.  That is lazy.  Japril were used for ratings.  Debbie baited us with the pictures and she knew it would work.  And now they are trying to keep us watching season 14.  I never thought I would say this, but at this point, I’ve decided to stop watching.  Maybe I will change my mind, but honestly, the show doesn’t deserve the loyalty the fans give them.  I hope they surprise me and fix it but I am no longer hopeful. I have read so many comments on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, and even the ancient Grey’s message boards that some people still use, and the majority of fans are in agreement.  The finale was terrible.  We got a Japril/Maggie triangle, no Jolex, no Jo and basically no Alex, Griggs are probably over after a season of a painful triangle with Maggie, Ariliza is maybe over (not that I care), Stephanie left (Jerrika may be the smartest one of all), and Omelia held hands.  That was what they chose as the season thirteen finale of one of the most-watched and loved shows in television history.  Honestly, it’s embarrassing.  

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