Grey’s Anatomy returns tonight with a look at Cristina’s paths less traveled. What awaits her in the future? Find out in our recap!
Cristina Yang and Owen Hunt. One of the classic Grey’s Anatomy “Get together or move on” couples. For Cristina Yang, her future is starting to look bright with the promise of research, but a bit lacking in love. In a split episode, Cristina explores two possible options for her future while a patient chooses his life or death.
Asking Once: Cristina repairs an impossible heart injury only to discover the patient’s spine is severely broken and the decision to live is up to him. In instance one, Jason decides to have the vent removed. Cristina leaves the room and sees Owen standing by the elevator. She barges past Avery, who slams his hand in a doorframe, and confesses her undying love to Owen right in the hallway.
There is no reason for them to tiptoe around what they both want. When they are together, Cristina convinces herself that she can be a different person. They move into a large home, get a dog, and even raise some maternal instincts in Cristina. Seriously, she dresses the dog, Mrs. Rodriguez in sweaters and enjoys his company.
Aside from their adorable phase, Owen brings her some life changing news at a board meeting in the future that determines Avery is no longer able to practice surgery due to his hand injury. Owen is moving to Germany to head up a military medical unit with Terry. Her career, her research, her home, are not in his vision for their future. Cristina decides that the only way to keep Owen in the country is to give him what he really wants and she never wanted, a baby.
Flash forward to a baby bumpin’ run in between Cristina and April until it is time for the birth. Cristina looks to Meredith to admit that she made a huge mistake immediately following her labor. Fast forward to a few more week’s into baby Theo’s life, and Cristina’s dismay over the wailing infant is growing. As Theo begins to venture around and climb playgrounds, Cristina realizes there is no more room in her life for distractions. One split second and Theo is injured on a concrete block. Cristina decides to give up phase three of her project to Ross.
Owen sees the change in her, but is overwhelmed with the joy of his son. So much so that when Bailey turns seven, Cristina shows up to the party in a wrap dress with a very pregnant belly. Flash forward one more time to the Avery reward reception, where Cristina offers the award to Ross for his work completing her project. Alone, she sobs in the bathroom at the end of it all.
Asking Twice: Cristina asks Jason, “Do you want me to remove the vent?” This time Jason replies, no. Empowered that her patient is choosing to survive with her repaired heart, Cristina again passes Avery as his hand is slammed in the door and asks Owen to celebrate her success. Naked. In bed.
Inevitably, the conversation of their relationship hits a place where Owen wants more and Cristina simply wants them to be an “us.” Cristina informs him that if he wants more, he can get that somewhere else with someone else. Realizing there is no way out, Owen sticks around Cristina. Jason, the patient, returns to the hospital years down the line to participate in Callie’s project. As he tires out the sensors and walks again, his body shuts down.
Distressed over the entire situation, Jason’s wife seeks out Cristina who cannot be bothered to get away from phase three of her research. Owen begins to realize that he will not be able to break away from his love of Cristina, but the person he wants her to be will never exist. Instead of taking the high road, Owen spirals into depression and alcoholism.
Oh, at the same time, Dr. Bailey has her own TV medical show. While Owen’s future seems a bit far fetched, Bailey the reality star is perfectly acceptable. At the future Avery awards, Cristina paces around until Ross arrives. Meanwhile, Owen reaches a breaking point at the hospital and is deemed unfit to work by April at an emergency board meeting, following an allergy attack of a minor under his watch. Owen’s dismissal is pegged against Cristina’s fourth Avery Award.
“Sorry, I have to ask one more time”: Cristina asks Jason one more time about the removal of the vent. The final time, Jason agrees to have the tube removed. Cristina walks out of the room and spots Owen at the elevator. She hesitates for a second before warning Avery to watch his hand in the doorway. Meredith asks her for her help with something and Cristina starts to say no, before Owen smiles and gets into the elevator. Cristina turns away from Owen, his part in her future, and tries a new path.
Stray Observation:
•Did anyone else see Avery’s hand injury as a call back to Burke? Huh? Anyone?
Watch Grey’s Anatomy season 10, episode 18, “You Be Illin’,” Thursday, April 3 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
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