Grey’s Anatomy is Wasting Potential by Not Centering Amelia Shepherd

Over the previous twenty years, dozens of characters have come and gone on Gray’s Anatomy.

I’ve liked tons of them; I’ve hated a couple of of them, too.

However one major character has been criminally underdeveloped, underused, and misunderstood for years, and it’s time we talked about it.

Amelia Frances Shepherd, M.D., F.A.C.S.

The factor about Amelia is that she’s one thing of a polarizing character, and I feel that largely stems from the truth that Gray’s Anatomy has carried out nothing to honor her backstory.

I’ve talked with these Gray’s followers who dislike Amelia, and the consensus appears to be that she’s boring, noncommittal, and underdeveloped.

However those that have additionally seen Gray’s Anatomy’s first spinoff sequence, Non-public Observe, know that Amelia has a complete historical past that the flagship present has all however brushed below the rug.

Non-public Observe launched Amelia in 2010 throughout its third season, and she or he joined the principle solid by the next yr. 

As soon as Non-public Observe ended, the character moved to Seattle and put down roots, formally turning into a recurring character on Gray’s Anatomy in 2013.

I’m not going to let you know her total backstory intimately as a result of we’d be right here for days if I attempted, however I do assume some highlights are essential sufficient to say.

At first look, Amelia Shepherd seems to be like one thing of a nepo child.

She’s the youngest sister of world-famous neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd (whose specialty she targeted her profession on, too).

She has three different siblings, all of whom are medical doctors. 

Her mom was a nurse within the Navy, whereas her father was a small enterprise proprietor.

However trauma began early for Amelia, and for some motive, the hits continued to return for many of her life.

As a result of, you recognize, watching her father get murdered in entrance of her when she was 5 years previous wasn’t sufficient, apparently.

A Lifetime of Ache and Struggling

Gray’s Anatomy has briefly proven particulars of Amelia’s historical past with dependancy, however it was on Non-public Observe that the darkish story performed out.

If I cried a pair dozen occasions watching Amelia hit all-time low after which beat the chances, that’s my enterprise.

Gray’s followers know that Amelia misplaced her father at a younger age, and her brother’s dying was a serious plot level for the present, however aside from a few delicate mentions, her different losses have hardly ever come up.

Right here’s a nutshell evaluate of the largest traumas Amelia confronted in lower than three seasons on the spinoff:

• Her shut buddy acquired a terminal analysis and tasked Amelia with serving to her die on her personal phrases.
• She relapsed on medication, a interval that almost price her her associates, her profession, and her life.
• Whereas in mattress subsequent to Amelia, her fiancé died of an unintentional drug overdose after taking medication they’d obtained utilizing Amelia’s prescription pad.
• After her fiancé’s dying, Amelia discovered she was pregnant along with his child. 
• Earlier than she might wrap her head round how devastating that was, her child was recognized with anencephaly whereas in utero — that means her child could be born with out a mind, and his situation was incompatible with life.
• After giving delivery, Amelia held her child for 43 minutes and named him Christopher earlier than sending him away to donate his organs.

Amelia Has Overcome the Odds

Clearly, this record doesn’t even contact on the issues she’s been via since beginning on Gray’s Anatomy full-time.

Regardless of the frankly weird and disturbing variety of severe tragedies Amelia has suffered, she has grown right into a steady, sort, and profitable lady.

She’s had a son, Scout, whom she co-parents amicably together with her ex. She’s the chief of neurosurgery at Gray Sloan.

Given her backstory, you’d assume she’d be one of the lively and attention-grabbing characters on the present.

So why do the writers preserve pushing her to the background?

The alternatives for growing Amelia’s character are just about limitless.

She’s canonically queer, having had significant relationships or crushes on folks of all genders.

Romantically, her potential is broad open.

Her lengthy, dynamic historical past on the present, and extra broadly, within the Gray’s/Non-public Observe universe, makes her the proper candidate to switch Meredith because the present’s lead.

So why haven’t they carried out simply that?

As a substitute, the writers have moved away from the thought of a lead in any respect, generally making the present really feel disjointed because of this.

Amelia Shines When It’s Her Time

I don’t deny that in previous seasons, Amelia has been given a couple of essential storylines.

Her relationship with Kai Bartlett, the present’s first major non-binary character, was groundbreaking.

Her time mentoring Betty/Brittany, the teenager mother scuffling with dependancy, was a strong reminder of how far Amelia has are available her personal journey.

And, in fact, her friendship with Richard has been an enormous a part of his story, lastly having somebody on the hospital who understands his previous and presents a pleasant ear of assist when wanted.

It’s not simply that it’s been years since Amelia has been a focus of the present; it’s that even when she was, she appeared to exist to additional different Gray’s Anatomy characters’ storylines.

Apart from her personal mind tumor and the one she miraculously took out of Nicole Herman (Geena Davis), what number of tales has Amelia had that had been nearly her?

Amelia’s Tales Revolve Round Everybody Else

We hardly ever see her together with her son, Scout, who is usually as a substitute getting used largely to indicate how Hyperlink and Jo navigate parenting collectively.

Her first son, Christopher, hardly ever will get a lot as a passing point out.

She by no means speaks of her personal losses except it’s to tie into one thing taking place with one other character, most just lately with Lucas within the comfort retailer.

Hopeful followers (myself included) have been eyeing Amelia’s interactions with new peds surgeon Monica Beltran (Natalie Morales), in search of a slow-burn romance between the 2.

However midway via Gray’s Anatomy Season 21, we’re no nearer to seeing the 2 division chiefs collectively.

Whereas the remainder of the season is undoubtedly already meticulously mapped out, my honest hope for Amelia is that she’ll be dusted off and delivered to the forefront by the point the credit roll on the season finale.

With a historical past like Amelia’s and the unbelievable expertise that Caterina Scorsone brings to the desk, it’s actually a waste to cover this character below all her potential.

Inform Us How You Really feel!

What say you, Gray’s followers?

Do you assume Amelia deserves extra display time, or is it higher to concentrate on different characters because the present goes on?

Let’s chat within the feedback!

Gray’s Anatomy will return on Thursday, March 6, at 10/9c on ABC. 

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