Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s return put a spotlight on Ben’s story after his handling of Grey Sloan’s incoming patients during the heat dome, hinting at its biggest Station 19 storyline finally being tackled in the medical drama. Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 9 had many things it needed to tackle after the winter finale left several stories without an end, putting the lives and the relationships of some characters in danger. A major but less immediately threatening development involved Ben at last, after Teddy placed him in charge of the ER management so that she could focus on her patients.
Ben’s refusal to close the ER despite Teddy’s direct orders already put him in stormy waters in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 8, as thinking about what was best for the patients effectively let Ben put second what benefitted Grey Sloan Memorial. While his expertise should have helped Teddy, it ended up weighing on her even more, as Ben wasn’t the help Teddy had wanted, despite being an expert first responder. However, it’s their evident conflict in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 9’s ending that brought back one of Ben’s central Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy storylines to the front.
Ben’s Proposal Highlights How He Continues To Operate Like A First-Responder
Ben Chose Medicine In Station 19 Season 7, But He Still Thinks Like A Firefighter
Station 19 season 7 saw Ben first feel a burden because his injury wouldn’t let him be an active firefighter and then more interested in treating patients he found on a scene instead of running inside burning buildings. While the reason Ben got drawn into firefighting was seeing the crew help patients on the scene having a much bigger impact than the doctors later, his experience by Station 19 season 7 shifted his interest, leading him to want to follow his patients even past the moment firefighters usually handed them over to hospitals and doctors.
This wish informed Ben’s life-changing decision to go back to medicine and leave firefighting for good. Ben’s decision being motivated by his love for medicine should have made it easier to adapt to life at Grey Sloan, but Ben’s refusal to close the ER in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 proved that wasn’t the case, with his mind set on following first responders’ rules instead of a doctors’. Ben’s proposal to have Grey Sloan draft emergency plans for natural disasters showcased his wish to make saving lives more efficient, but that wasn’t what was required of him as a surgical resident.
How Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Can Solve Ben’s Professional Problem
Recognition Of Ben’s Expertise Can Help Grey Sloan & Him As A Doctor
The constant in Ben Warren’s career was always his need to change it. Starting as an anesthesiologist and only later deciding to pursue medicine and surgery more specifically, Ben was an intern for the best part of Grey’s Anatomy. Station 19 being announced as a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff made it possible to focus on Seattle’s firefighters through Ben’s change of career, and every one of Ben’s career switches were heavily justified by his inner journey. Still, Ben’s unique professional journey presents just as many challenges as it does opportunities.
Even if Ben wasn’t the one to follow [the project of revising emergency plans] closely, it would make the hospital more ready for when the next disaster strikes and use all of Ben’s connections, letting Grey’s Anatomy season 21 channel what made Station 19’s group the best.
While Teddy is right in reminding Ben that his resident spot is not permanent and he should focus on making it so instead of devising plans to better equip Grey Sloan Memorial to respond to climate disasters, Ben’s background makes him the best to spearhead such a project. Even if Ben wasn’t the one to follow it closely, instead delegating it to someone still a first responder, it would make the hospital more ready for when the next disaster strikes and use all of Ben’s connections, letting Grey’s Anatomy season 21 channel what made Station 19’s group the best.