For the last 14 or so years, Grey’s Anatomy has steadily chugged along and provided millions with their weekly dose of drama set in a hospital. After over a decade and the coming and going of several well-known actors, you’d think the show is running out of steam at this point.
But it turns out we need Grey’s Anatomy more than ever because the show just tackled the issue of rape and sexual assault in one of the most powerful episodes ever seen on TV.
Stand with us. #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/KYKTnvzFRt
— Greys Anatomy (@GreysABC) March 29, 2019
The episode, titled “Silent All These Years”, revolves around a rape survivor named Abby (Khalilah Joi, who deserves all the awards for her performance) who is admitted into the hospital after signs of abuse and is taken care of by Dr. Jo Karev (Camilla Luddington).
Rather than sanitise sexual assault, “Silent All These Years” realistically showed just how survivors should be treated, the trauma they’re going through, how rape kits are administered, and sparked a conversation about assault that everyone needs to have.
Everything from Abby’s fears and reactions – she clutches Jo’s hand when she sees a man, she fears her rape kit will be ignored by police – to the empathetic way Jo and Abby bonded was respectfully portrayed and frightfully real.
It all culminates in the episode’s most powerful scene in which Abby is wheeled into surgery after the kit is administered and is met with the hospital’s women, all of whom are silently offering their support and solidarity.
You are not alone. #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/QoDzqRbawr
— Greys Anatomy (@GreysABC) March 29, 2019
Running concurrent to Abby’s powerful storyline is the theme of consent, and that is depicted brilliantly in one of the episode’s final scenes where Ben teaches his stepson Tuck about how to respect women and that “no means no.”
These conversations are needed. #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/pJeK5rO9by
— Greys Anatomy (@GreysABC) March 29, 2019
Needless to say that “Silent All These Years” struck an emotional chord with many viewers and prompted a big response on social media.
This will go down as one of the most powerful scenes in tv history #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/hnJprpMUxs
— Kow. (@thefantegod) March 29, 2019
I've watched #GreysAnatomy from the very beginning.
I've been a loyal fan+believer in how well they tell medical+personal stories.
Tonight's episode was the very best+@ the same time..in a way the very worst+the purest, most honest, most caring story they've told #YouAreNotAlone https://t.co/FLcp7IADNc— SeasonOfTheWitch/Bitch Ⓥ??♻️????????♀️ (@DolphinsDancer) March 29, 2019
I hope every survivor hears this, believes this. Thank you @KimRaver for saying it — and for being so solid and true. I hope doctors look to Teddy Altman and ask themselves: How can I be more like her? #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/Vx5nSEZoo8
— Elisabeth R. Finch (@erfinchie) March 29, 2019
“You know the tequila I drank will make it my fault, and whoever did this to me, whatever he drank, that’ll be his excuse.”
This scene shattered all of us. @KhalilahJoi you were brilliant. Thank you for your powerful performance tonight. #GreysAnatomy
— Mindy (@mindymilburn) March 29, 2019
Sequence in tonight's #GreysAnatomy is proof of how storytelling can educate, inform, inspire,&connect. Brava @KhalilahJoi for such genuine work, @erfinchie for writing with deep care to the assault. Holy wow to @msdebbieallen (pioneer since the 80s, STILL–STILL pushing bounds!) pic.twitter.com/8F9KGrhf5T
— Vic Mahoney (@VictoriaMahoney) March 29, 2019
Given all the unsettling violence towards women that is still occurring in 2019, Grey’s Anatomy‘s unflinching exploration into sexual assault, domestic violence, and consent is a powerful way to bring these issues to the forefront.
There is much to be done but educating people and getting the conversation rolling thanks to things like Grey’s Anatomy is definitely a positive sign.
If you need someone to talk to, you can call Lifeline on 131114.