Amelia Stepping Away on Grey’s Anatomy Allows for Growth

The explosion at the end of Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 left the hospital broken.

Not only was the building heavily damaged, but members of staff and a patient lost their lives, and one of those was a doctor Amelia Shepherd was friends with.

Monica Beltran wasn’t with us long on the show, but she certainly made a mark, and she will be missed in Grey’s Anatomy Season 22.

Of course, she’ll be missed by some more than others, and this death was a catalyst in Amelia’s decision on Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 2.

She needed to step back and ask Richard Webber if she could use up the vacation days from the last four years to take a sabbatical.

Caterina Scorsone Is Off for Eight Episodes

The arc was written in to allow Grey’s Anatomy to write Amelia’s character out for the next eight episodes.

According to Deadline, the decision is financial.

We’ve all heard it time and time again, and it’s happening across the networks.

TV shows are struggling with budgets, and the best way to address this is by offering guaranteed minimum episodic appearances, rather than requiring actors to be present for the entire season, as was done in the past.

This means we see characters written out for an episode or two, and there’s usually a one-line explanation thrown in.

Well, this time, the exit needed to be explained for the long term, as Caterina Scorsone is being written out of the next eight episodes, which is why the sabbatical was needed for Amelia.

While we can all complain about budget cuts and what they’re doing to our favorite shows, this could be a blessing in disguise for Amelia’s character.

It’s Time for Growth

When it comes to Grey’s Anatomy characters, they’ve become stagnant in a lot of cases.

Amelia is one of those who hasn’t really changed since she first appeared in the series, even though much of her earlier attitude was blamed on a brain tumor she didn’t know she had.

Amelia regularly takes death hard, and she can lash out rather than work through her feelings.

If she’s not lashing out, she’s shutting herself off from the world, and that’s exactly what she did in Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 2.

It’s become something that we expect with her character, but that’s not necessarily a good thing.

If someone were like this in real life, we’d be encouraging our friends to consider how they can change their reactions to situations.

We’d want them to find a healthier way to deal with loss, and we’d push for them to open up in a safe space and take time off when it’s necessary.

This is what Grey’s Anatomy has a chance to do for Amelia, as she realizes that she can’t just switch one addiction for another.

When she gave up drugs, she turned to work, and now her work is becoming a problem mentally.

She needs to find some healthier coping strategies, and the best way to do that is to step away from the triggers and the nightmare situations.

Now It’s on the Writers

Now we’re relying on the Grey’s Anatomy writers to develop and grow the character.

The show has done a wonderful job of showing character development in the past.

Just look at the way Alex Karev went from jock to Peds head (and we’ll ignore the exit storyline for the purpose of this) or the way Jo went from a whiny brat to a caring friend and mother.

It’s time to discuss this with Amelia, highlighting the issues her coping strategies have created.

She knows that she’s struggling with this loss, and it’s not just because of Beltran’s death on Grey’s Anatomy.

Amelia feels like she deserves some of the blame, doing a surgery that she shouldn’t have done in the first place, leading to a child with locked-in syndrome and a mother desperate to fix her.

Can the Writers Take Full Advantage of This Opportunity?

It’s understandable that she takes on some of that responsibility, but she can’t shoulder it forever, as she’s not the one who chose to hold an operating room hostage with the gas canister.

As she finds ways to deal with the grief and the guilt, we could see an Amelia who knows herself better and focuses on healthier relationships with everyone in her life.

Grey’s Anatomy has an excellent opportunity with Amelia being gone for eight episodes, making it a realistic time to get that sort of help. Now, the writers need to take full advantage of it.

Grey’s Anatomy continues on Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.

Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives. Do you think this sabbatical will be good for Amelia’s character? Or will the show fumble it? Let’s discuss!

Share your thoughts in the comments, and keep reading if you’re moved to do so. Independent voices need readers like you.

TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps.