Kaicie Boeglin
Opinions Editor
Shonda Rhimes’ Grey's Anatomy and the Stacy McKee spin-off Station 19 are two shows that exemplify and analyze real life without any extravagance. These shows attack racial stigmas and show the hidden realms of reality on film. There are storylines that crossover between the two shows. The most recent plot course has viewers at the edge of their seats and realizing the true nature of America's broken system.
The end of December left fans in the middle of an intense story. Starting in Grey's Anatomy, Dr. Deluca suspects a patient of being sex trafficked but no one supports him. The sex trafficaker then leaves the hospital freely. Dr. Deluca’s patient returns claiming he was correct, but then two more girls come to the hospital with a similar story. The difference is these two girls were African American. The two most recent episodes of these shows smack reality in the face with awareness of social issues.
The first appearance of the girls Jada and Shanice is on Grey's Anatomy, however their story is on Station 19 in the episode “Out of Control.” The man who kidnapped the girls was an older white male who -after the fact- claimed Jada and Shanice broke into his house. Jada’s mother tracked her daughters fitness bracelet to the man's house but the man claimed he did not have the girls. The off-duty firefighters of station 19 believed the mother when police refused to listen to her. These girls were locked and chained in a basement closet and were ultimately found due to their resourcefulness.
“Out of Control” is an episode in itself that attacks sex trafficking, police brutality and the exploitation of black females. Although the story of the two young females plays out in the December 17 episodes of Station 19 and Grey's Anatomy, the bigger plot of racial profiling and unity between first responders was put on pause.
Station 19’s “Out of Control” demonstrated racial injustice on black first responders after they saved the two females. Not all first responders respect one another or work together. Perspectives are seen from the eyes of an interracial couple, single black parents and various different first responders. The police and firefighters are shown to be on different teams: one in support of a rulebook and the other in support of human life. Police on the scene in the episode “Out of Control” attempt to turn the two kidnapped girls from victims to convicts. This instance causes a spiral of effects that result in almost every black character arrested on false charges. The very last minute of this episode left viewers disheveled.
Fans know that these shows have no fear in supporting social causes and creating a rift for change. Visualizing information the news refuses to or rarely acknowledges makes each episode consist of an ethical message. The recently released episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 present what it looks like to take accountability; what it means to stand up for what you believe in; how to change one’s perception and interpret a situation from every angle.
Viewers need to watch Station 19's “Out of Control,” Grey's Anatomy’s “No Time for Despair,” then Station 19's “Train in Vain,” ending with Grey's Anatomy’s “Helplessly Hoping.” Regardless of if a viewer has knowledge on either show, these episodes need to be watched for their educational excellence. Together these shows are combating social issues other series don’t know how to go about.