Within the GREY’S
ANATOMY universe that Shonda Rhimes created, there are years and years of backstory
for many of the characters. But besides the previous 12 seasons of GREY’S,
there’s also PRIVATE PRACTICE. After several crossover episodes between the two
shows, Amelia Shepherd made her way to GREY’S and became a series regular in
season 11.
SPOILER ALERT: Don't read further if you haven't seen GREY'S ANATOMY season 13, episode 5 yet
SPOILER ALERT: Don't read further if you haven't seen GREY'S ANATOMY season 13, episode 5 yet
With
Shonda and her team dipping into the enormously rich pool of backstory for
other characters, it was only a matter of time before Amelia’s past would be
brought up and explored through present circumstances. Even if you didn’t watch
PRIVATE PRACTICE, it’s already clear that Amelia has a history of substance
abuse and addiction, which we’ve seen her battle with even on GREY’S. However, with
this week’s episode, Amelia’s backstory is brought up again, when she suspects
that she might be pregnant. It comes up when Meredith tells her and Maggie that
she didn’t have to tell Derek when she found out she was pregnant the second
time, because he was already dead by then. Later Amelia recalls how even she
was in a similar situation when she found out that she was having her late fiancé,
Ryan’s baby.
By the
end of the episode she finds out that she’s not pregnant, and while Owen tells
her that they can try again, she’s speechless. Something about her silence told
me that she was more relieved than disappointed, and understandably so. Anyone
who saw how her last pregnancy went down would understand how scary the thought
of carrying another child would be for her.
In case
you didn’t see her story on PRIVATE PRACTICE, but would like to get the essence
of what she’s been through and how it informs the person she is today, you can
still just see these few episodes of PRIVATE PRACTICE, and know Amelia Shepherd
a little better:
PRIVATE PRACTICE
Season 5, episode 6 – "If
I Hadn't Forgotten..."
Season 5, episode 7 – "Don't
Stop 'Till You Get Enough"
Season 5, episode 8 – "Who
We Are"
Season 5, episode 9 – "The
Breaking Point"
Season 5, episode 16 – “Andromeda"
Season 5, episode 17 – "The
Letting Go"
Season 5, episode 18 – "It
Was Inevitable"
Season 5, episode 19 – "And
Then There Was One"
Season 5, episode 20 – "True
Colors"
Season 5, episode 21 – "Drifting
Back"
Season 5, episode 22 – "Gone,
Baby, Gone"
Of course there are many
other episodes that you can watch to know Amelia better (the complete seasons 3
to 6 of PRIVATE PRACTICE). However, the list above are the episodes relevant to
Amelia’s suspected pregnancy in this week’s GREY’S, as well as any future
pregnancy for her. We know that Caterina Scorsone is pregnant in real life, so
I think it’s safe to assume that Amelia will have a real pregnancy storyline in GREY’S ANATOMY at some point this season.
