"Grey's Anatomy" kicked off Season 8 with Chief Webber firing Meredith. No need to worry, though. By the end of the show, the circumstances had flipped. Guilt makes you do foolish things. It could have been what made the chief offer that false confession, but will anyone believe him? Will they really accept his lie? If so, will he lose his job?
Meredith lied to help Chief Webber's wife
The chief didn't switch the trial protocols, but he had the most to gain. Why wouldn't the board believe he lied? His wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She was losing her memory and needed whatever healing the trial medication had to offer. A placebo would have done her no good at all, so Meredith switched the data to guarantee Adele got what she needed. Her actions may have been all tangled up with emotional issues over her mother's Alzheimer's, but in the end it was all about Adele. No matter how wrong she was, no matter if Meredith lied, the lie benefited the chief's wife. That makes his story to the board untrue but believable.
Speaking of Meredith's mother....
The chief has a boatload of guilt over that long term affair with Ellis. He broke up the Greys' marriage, and he owes Meredith for that. She's told him in the past she didn't want anything from him. She told him she didn't need a father figure. After that confrontation, the chief stopped trying to help her; but after losing her husband, her job and her baby, she needed somebody. The chief felt it was his job to do whatever he could.
The board has to believe the chief's lie
If he confesses to wrongdoing, they have to believe him. After all, he is the chief. He has a longstanding record of leadership. Why would he lie? Of course they will believe him.
Chief Webber is not likely to lose his job
He's been sick. He's been a drunk. He's had an affair with one of the hospital's finest surgeons, and still he's on the job. Chief Webber has been around a long time, so he's likely to get one more chance. Besides, the previews for next week show Webber on the job and talking to the surgeons. At least he'll be back next week, and it's possible he won't get fired at all.
He might not get fired but...
The chief's dedication to duty has been an ongoing source of irritation for his wife, almost as much of an issue as Ellis Grey. Adele expected her husband to retire long ago, but he's been plugging away. Now that she's sick, she needs him more than ever. Even if he doesn't get fired, it's time for Chief Webber to go and he knows it. He might as well make it a noble exit.
More by this contributor:
'Grey's Anatomy' Season 8: A Mom for Jackson, a Love Triangle for Miranda, and Shame for Meredith
'Grey's Anatomy': Poor, Poor Adele Webber, the Other Good Wife
'Grey's Anatomy': Meredith is a Mommy/Doctor Now, She Needs Some Advice
Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Join the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own articles.
