This episode marked the final regular appearance of Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd.
Upon its original broadcast, "You're My Home" was watched by 8.33 million viewers in the United States, ranking #1 in its time-slot, and earned a 2.3/8 Nielsen rating in the 18–49 demographic.[1] The episode received positive reviews from television critics, with high praise for Pompeo and Scorsone's performances.
Plot
The episode opens with a voice-over narration from Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) reflecting on the theme of the fragility and resilience of home and family.
With only five minutes to get April Kepner's (Sarah Drew) patient from the car to the operating table, Stephanie Edwards' (Jerrika Hinton) interns work together to clear a path through the hospital. Meanwhile, Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) approaches Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) to ask if it's okay for Meredith and her children to move in with them temporarily. Jo, however, mistakenly believes Alex is hinting at starting a family with Meredith, sparking fears of being replaced in her relationship with him. Once Alex clarifies the misunderstanding, Jo decides to take control of her future by purchasing a fixer-upper home for her and Alex.
April and Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) confront the growing divide in their relationship. April, yearning for meaning, wants to return overseas to work in war zones, but Jackson presents her with an ultimatum: if she leaves, their marriage will not survive her absence.
Meanwhile, Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) informs Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) that she will be nominated as the next Chief of Surgery, only to be met with resistance from Catherine Avery (Debbie Allen), sparking conflict between them. Their tensions escalate until Meredith steps in, reminding them that, amidst their arguments, she is dealing with the pain of Derek's death. Her words encourage Richard and Catherine to find a compromise: Bailey will still be in the running for Chief, but against a candidate chosen by Catherine. With their issues resolved, Richard and Catherine get married in the hospital’s chapel.
At the reception, held at Meredith and Derek’s house, Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) confides in Meredith about her parents' impending divorce, and explains that she hadn't mentioned it earlier because her problems felt insignificant compared to Meredith's. Meredith reassures Maggie that her feelings matter and that they will always be there for each other. The episode concludes with Meredith, Maggie, and Amelia "dancing it out", accompanied by Richard, Catherine, Bailey, Ben, Owen, Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) and Jackson.
Release
"You're My Home" was originally broadcast on May 14, 2015, in the United States on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). The episode was watched by a total of 8.83 million viewers, marking an increase from the previous episode's 7.74 million. In the key 18-49 demographic, the episode scored a 2.1/8 in Nielsen ratings.[1]
TVFanatic gave a positive review, stating, "It's a satisfying ending that would actually work well for a series finale, if you don't count that last strange black-and-white shot of Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) dancing. The point is, there aren't any cliffhangers. We didn't end with a need for extra tissues. The doctors all working together for a perfect plan, all based on perfect timing, is intense and powerful."[2]
The season was praised for bringing the focus back on the central character Meredith Grey portrayed by Ellen Pompeo.
The A.V. Club highlighted Shonda Rhimes' ability to create compelling disasters and catastrophes, stating, "When it comes to creating disasters and accidents and catastrophes to weave her cast around, no one does it better than Rhimes. The compelling medical maladies and advancements offer a ready framework for the doctors’ soapy emotional situations to cling to."[4]
TwoCentsTV gave a mixed review, calling the episode "unmemorable", and stating, "Odds are you don’t think of the one where Meredith fudged the Alzheimer’s trial, took Zola home, and Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) wouldn’t return her calls. Sadly, this finale will probably be solely remembered as ‘there were episodes after Derek died that year?’"[5]
BuddyTV gave the finale a positive review, writing, "'You're My Home' proved to be so bright and shiny. This is an episode that nearly could have served as a series finale, though we know that is not the case. Most of our beloved surgeons are in a shockingly good place as Season 11 draws to a close." The site also praised Meredith's character development, adding, "Meredith, who can be selfish but has suffered great personal loss in Derek’s death, stepped up to the plate for others. When you consider how this character has grown over 11 seasons, it really is amazing. Kudos to Pompeo for her fine work. She's actually done the impossible, because I actually care what happens to Meredith Grey in Season 12."[6]
TV Equals highlighted the emotional aspects of the episode, particularly the bond between Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone), Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary), and Meredith, writing, "I’m not exactly a fan of doctors breaking out in tears in the operating room, but I liked how Amelia and Maggie’s conflicts culminated in a nice moment of sisterly bonding and dancing it off with Meredith at the end."[7]
Entertainment Weekly gave a mixed-to-positive review, stating, "This felt like… well, a regular old episode. And that’s not what I expect out of a Grey’s season finale. This isn’t to say it was bad, because it wasn’t." The site praised the April Kepner-Jackson Avery arc, noting, "I didn’t used to like April (Sarah Drew) and Jackson (Jesse Williams). But over the seasons, I’ve come to appreciate their relationship and all its complications."[8] The review also commended Meredith's character development, saying, "At its core, Grey’s is about relationships—ones that persevere, ones that don’t—and it warms my heart to see Meredith finding strength in her relationships with friends and family."[8]
E! Online also gave a positive review, adding, "Tonight's finale felt like any other standard Grey's Anatomy mid-season episode... until the last 5 minutes, when she managed to slip in 1 scene that totally wrecked us all over again. Derek's final phone call to Meredith, those were the perfect last words, and because of that, they were the cruelest last words." The site also celebrated Jo's confession of love to Alex, saying, "Jo finally said 'I love you' to Alex! These two deserve the happiest of endings."[9]
TVOvermind was mostly positive, commenting on the hopeful tone of the finale despite a difficult season, writing, "After all of that loss, the show opted for a more hopeful season finale, even if there were some low points."[10]
The Daily Fandom noted, "The finale didn’t really feel much like a season finale (more like a series finale, to be quite honest). I’m at peace with how it ended though. It showed how everyone was moving on, whether it be together or heading in new directions altogether." The site also praised Scorsone's performance, calling her "phenomenal."[11]
Related Research Articles
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