Something's terribly wrong with Dr. Richard Webber, and his friends and fellow colleagues at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital are determined to figure it out on the upcoming episode of Grey's Anatomy.
Richard (James Pickens Jr.) behavior throughout Season 16 has been a lot different than usual, to say the least. The renowned surgeon has unraveled at the seams a bit, displaying forgetfulness and, at one point, working out of the messiest office we've ever seen on Grey's—a stark contrast from the neat and organized Richard fans have come to know and love. Then there was that one time when he was weirdly experiencing tremors in his hand.
However, the most significant—and bizarre—display of a not-so-together Richard came during last week's episode when the doctor not only imagined a rendezvous with his soon-to-be ex-wife Dr. Catherine Avery (Debbie Allen) but he also botched his big PATH Pen reveal at a medical conference. Webber was supposed to introduce a new medical device he designed that can detect cancerous tissue. Instead, he got up on stage and proclaimed to have a cure for cancer before showing drawings of smiley faces and doodles before a large audience of sophisticated surgeons.
The display was nothing short of outlandish, but more than that, it officially signaled to Richard's colleagues that something was not right. And so, when Grey's Anatomy airs Season 16, episode 20 no Thursday, figuring out what's wrong with Richard and how to save him will be at the top of everyone's agenda.
"A 65-year-old male suffering from memory lapses and erratic behavior. I am talking about Richard Webber," Dr. Miranda Bailey (Shondra Wilson) said in the episode sneak peek. "This is not the Richard Webber you know and love. He is our number one patient."
Saving one of their own will undoubtedly be an emotional task for the doctors, and the pressure will mount atop of everyone, even Catherine, who wanted to be as far away from Richard as possible just a few episodes ago. "You need to work harder and figure it out," Catherine barked on her son Dr. Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) in the clip.
Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), perhaps Richard's most faithful student, is especially determined to fix whatever is affecting her mentor. "Richard I can fix you because you are the one who taught me everything I know," she said.
Not everyone at the hospital will have their hands full with Richard's problem, though. On a different floor, doctors Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and Atticus "Link" Lincoln (Chris Carmack) will find themselves working together to save a woman who can't stop singing after having surgery. Meanwhile, Dr. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) will have to help Dr. Tom Koracick (Greg German) when an estranged family member shows up at the hospital.
Grey's Anatomy airs on ABC on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.
