Grey’s Anatomy Season 13, Episode 8: flashbacks, love triangles, and a new consultant

Grey's Anatomy's 13th season is proving to be one of the show's strongest seasons. With the recent episode "The Room where it Happens", this decade-long program proves that they still have some tricks up its sleeves.

Taking place in an OR, the episode revolves around Meredith (Ellen Pomeo), Webber (James Pickens, Jr.), Stephanie (Jerrika Hinton) and Owen (Kevin McKidd) operating on a patient. During the operation, Webber uses one of his new teaching techniques by asking the other doctors to give the patient a name. This allows the doctors to have a personal connection with their patients.

Hinton, in her interview with TV Guide, sheds more light on the idea. According to her, the viewers have seen the doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital having personal connections with their patients, yet they are forced to fight it. In the said episode, however, they are encouraged to do so, and it shows the benefits of establishing that personal touch.

The ABC medical drama will also show doctors experiencing some flashbacks while working on the patient. Meredith goes back to the day Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Stephanie recalls growing up with a chronic illness, and Owen reflects on an interaction with his sister. Hinton describes the scenes as "super theatrical", with set pieces and shadowboxes specifically made for the episode.

Regarding her character, she shares that Stephanie will be showing a side audiences have never seen in the character before. While she knows that she needs to fight for the patient, she is also fighting against her younger self. Growing up without anyone standing up for her, Stephanie sees the need for the patient to be stood up for. She takes ownership of the situation, which is something that can't be taken lightly.

News Everyday also adds a subplot regarding April (Sara Dew) and Jo's (Camilla Luddington) ex-boyfriend having a relationship, as well as a love triangle between Alex, Jo and Andrew may be brewing.

Marika Dominiczyk, played by Eliza Minnick, makes her first appearance as the hospital's newly-hired educational consultant.

With the 13th season premiere airing last September 22, this long-running series is gearing up to its mid-season finale, and is expected to return on January 2017.