Although Denzel Washington is arguably the greatest living actor, but far fewer people know his directing skills. In addition to directing four feature films over two decades, including Antwoine Fisher, The Great Debates, Fences and A Diary for Jordan, even Fewer people know that Washington directed a single episode of the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. And not just any episode, “The Sound of Silence” is often considered one of the most captivating chapters in Grey’s Anatomy Story.

While Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) received a touching farewell at the conclusion of season 20, it has been reported that Pompeo will return for at least seven of the 18 planned episodes of season 24. With Grey’s Anatomy season 21 about to debut on ABC on September 26, 2024, reliving one of Pompeo’s finest hours on television under Washington’s underrated direction is the perfect preparation to see just how far the title character has come.

What is Grey’s Anatomy about?

One of the longest-running television shows in history, Grey’s Anatomy is a popular medical drama by Shonda Rimes and Michelle Lirtzman. It aired on ABC in 2005 and The series is about the personal and professional exploits of Meredith Grey and her colleagues at Seattle Grace HospitalWhile many staff members come and go, the dramatic core of the series revolves around Meredith navigating her daily life in a high-pressure medical environment while also searching for happiness outside of the hospital.

With 432 episodes over 20 seasons and counting. Grey’s Anatomy has won four Primetime Emmys and two Golden Globes, cementing its reputation as one of the most popular television shows of the 21st century. Throughout the series’ run, several talented directors worked on the series, including famous film and television actors such as Eric Stoltz, Adam Arkin, Peter Horton, Tony Goldwyn and others.

However, none surpass the caliber of the A-list great Denzel Washington, who has many Grey’s Anatomy Fans probably won’t know that one of thethe popular medical dramasmost praised episodesWhat’s even more fascinating is that Washington and Pompeo did not get along well during the filming of The Sound of Silence.

What happens in The Sound of Silence?

Considered one of the Grey’s AnatomyOne of the series’ highest-quality television episodes, “The Sound of Silence” is the ninth episode of the 12th season, which aired on ABC on February 11, 2016. Following a mid-season cliffhanger, “The Sound of Silence” served as the premiere of the second half, immediately escalating the conflict and increasing the dramatic tension. As the plot progresses, Meredith is brutally attacked by Lou (Dohn Norwood), a violent hospital patient who needs a neurological examination..

The attack is the result of a seizure that causes Lou to lash out with extremely aggressive violence, leaving Meredith brutally injured and unconscious. Dr. Penny Blake (Samantha Sloyan) finds Meredith almost dead on the floor and calls for help. Meredith’s colleagues rush to treat her wounds immediately. When she comes to and sees the whole unit taking care of her, Meredith is shocked to learn that she can neither speak nor hear because of the beating she received.

The title “The Sound of Silence” refers to Meredith retreating into the depths of her mind because she can’t hear anything other than her thoughts.. The episode is told from her perspective as she rests in bed and recovers. Her jaw is wired shut and she relies on her staff to help her understand. As she begins to recover, Meredith regains her hearing and begins to heal. However, she is unwilling to accept an apology from Lou, just as she is unwilling to forgive Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) for her past behavior. But after a frank conversation with Dr. Webber (James Pickens Jr.), Meredith realizes the folly of her behavior and finds the strength to silently forgive Lou in front of his family.

Subplots include Dr. Karev (Justin Chambers) proposing to Dr. Wilson (Camilla Luddington) while Dr. Avery (Jesse Williams) serves divorce papers on his wife April (Sarah Drew). But nothing tops the harrowing drama of Meredith’s attack and the trauma she experiences afterward. In addition to the performances, Stacy McKee’s script and Denzel Washington’s direction give the episode a special touch.

Praise for The Sound of Silence

With an IMDb rating of 9.2, “The Sound of Silence” is the highest rated episode ofthe acclaimed medical dramaSeason 12The episode was praised for Pompeo’s emotionally charged performance, Stacy McKee’s excellent script, and Washington’s artistic direction in his television debut. According to TV Line’s review:

“We gave up trying to predict the impact of the Emmy Awards a long time ago. But we will say nonetheless that if there is any justice, Pompeo’s outstanding work should at least earn the lead actress the nomination she has so long deserved.”

According to The AV Club, Washington’s direction was spot on and “told only from her perspective, it’s a powerful episode for her (Pompeo).” Pompeo agreed with the critics, Entertainment Weekly tells:

”
It’s definitely the (best) thing I’ve ever done on the show.
We’ve never had anyone of his caliber run our show. His charisma, he completely changes the energy in the room. Everyone is just at their best. (He’s) incredible. Let’s just say I’m a huge fan. It’s a dream come true.”

Pompeo and Washington’s feud on set

Although Pompeo praised Washington effusively in 2016, she described a feud with the director on set in a 2021 episode of her podcast Tell Me with Ellen PompeoIn conversation with Patrick Dempsey, Pompeo said Washington had a problem with their improvised dialogue during a sceneWhen Washington confronted her on the issue, Pompeo launched into a territorial tirade, shouting:

“Listen, you wanker, this is my show. This is my performance. Who are you telling? You barely know where the bathroom is.”

Although things were cleared up and the episode was completed, Pompeo later claimed that Washington “has no idea how to direct television.” Washington claimed he could not remember the incident when asked, saying, “But between him and Pompeo, everything is fine” (speaking to Variety). Although Washington could easily have pointed to his two Oscar statues as proof of his famous talent, he let his resume speak for itself.

While Washington may, in Pompeo’s estimation, have no idea how to direct television, “The Sound of Silence” remains one of the Grey’s AnatomyThe best episodes ever produced. The ten minutes of total silence that Meredith experiences are among Washington’s most inspired directing moments and allow Pompeo to deliver one of her best performances in the long-running medical drama.

Grey’s Anatomy can be streamed on Hulu and Netflix.