First off, I admire your patience with your answers to all the asks, thank you for your thoughtful replies.I have seen lots of frustration and disappointment with the Maya/Carina storyline/airtime in s4 so far on Station 19 and I find it fascinating and strange at how quickly people are forgetting the covid pandemic isn’t just a storyline, it’s real life for everyone right now, including the cast and production team. (That’s a general observation – not one I’ve ever sensed you to have through your responses BTW). That we have had any onscreen, close physical contact nevermind actual physical intimacy that requires the actors to kiss etc is a huge luxury. I don’t know what the exact rules are for the acting industry in the USA at the moment, but in the UK the rules are still strict for actors and were even stricter earlier in the year (at around the time the episodes just broadcast would have been filmed). And just this week Tom Cruise has been widely (and positively) reported about for making sure that the severity of the risks are to the industry and how much effort is being put in by those that can have shows/films in production right now to keep the industry alive for when it hopefully gets a little bit easier.And yes, it’s frustrating to see our favourite story lines within ensemble shows get a ‘lesser’ spotlight than others, especially when the others are the heteronormative, ‘mainstream’ ones.We have no idea what plan A was for s4 – it’s a casualty of covid, twice over. First because the broader narrative was adjusted to accommodate it, almost like the introduction of an additional series member to the ensemble. And second because they have to come up with stories that can be told through scenes filmed in ways that the cast, crew, studio etc are prepared to do because they feel they can do them safely.COVID kills, still by the thousand, every hour and day now, 9+ months after the first lockdowns and shelter in place orders etc. So much of life is unrecognisable for so many because of it, because they have lost people they care about, jobs, homes… And things taken for granted 10 months ago are almost forgotten about, condemned to ancient history because they just can’t happen safely.Yet we have new episodes on TV, made by people who were prepared to hug and kiss and put themselves as elevated risk of catching a seriously scary disease because it was something they could do to help us all, collectively feel like life still goes on.(we could have ended s3 at episode 15 and still be waiting for s4 to start filming….yet we have French Toast that’s better than sex!) Personally, I’m just so glad that we have had Maya and Carina on screen again in 2020 and that the storyline has survived COVID in the real world. Yes, it would be great if it was more and different and all the things as fans we always want. And hopefully it will be nearer that by the end of s4’s whole arc. And if it isn’t? I think I’ll cross that bridge when it comes. Hopefully at a point in 2021 when COVID-19 is no longer a main cast member of our lives… On screen and and in real life.

Thanks, anon! Press publish.

I’m kidding, but can you imagine. :p Um, hmm, okay, well, I do get your point, and have, as I’m sure you noticed, brought it up myself, that we don’t know what might have been without covid or how it changed things, and I didn’t even think about something like, for example, if Carina has a scene with Andrew, she may not be able to easily have one with Maya, just in terms of sharing bubbles and whatnot, as happened this week.

But as you mentioned yourself: “it’s frustrating to see our favourite story lines within ensemble shows get a ‘lesser’ spotlight than others, especially when the others are the heteronormative, ‘mainstream’ ones.” THAT’s what’s bothering people, where actors are sharing more screentime, getting more intimate, when they’re part of m/f couples. Stefania and Danielle have obviously done whatever was necessary to share scenes, so why are they still so short and few? This seems more a writing choice. Having Maya talk to Andy about her anger at Carina’s items in her apartment instead of with or in addition to Carina, that’s a writing choice where not much else would even need to have changed, involving the rest of the plot or actors.

And while I’m grateful for the episodes and bit of screentime, if they come with a reminder of those inequalities, that stings. I do try to approach things in good faith and have other things to occupy me so haven’t let it bother me much but the differences are noticeable and I get why people aren’t happy with it. 

to that grey’s anon talking about the timeline: i very very highly doubt the shows communicate enough to be on the same timeline. 8 days for grey’s could be 8 weeks on s19 they follow a general timeline but not the exact same one.

Hmm, right, but I’m guessing since they share characters and similar events, one would assume they’re roughly similar. Still, you’re probably right, aside from those events they’re probably fine handwaving most things. People don’t watch these shows for accuracy. 😛

And another anon (the original anon who asked):

I meant that since Meredith fell into a coma on Grey’s Anatomy, it’s only been a few days from then to the winter finale. I thought they were moving week to week in their timeline, like how the show comes on week to week. But I may be wrong regarding Station 19? The timeline of it all is confusing to me because I usually only watch Grey’s Anatomy.

Well, right, I think in terms of that, it could be pretty quick, but it’s not as if Carina and Maya have actually done much since Meredith fell into a coma? The big step was to move in together and that was at around that time, with the month before, they did highlight that in the same Station 19 ep before making the decision.

And another anon:

When does Station 19 usually air? 

In terms of which timeslot, Thursdays at 8pm Eastern, before Grey’s…but when in the season, I’m not sure. I know covid’s messed with the schedule before the hiatus, not theirs but Grey’s, so to continue the same storylines they had to start together but usually Station 19 starts later in fall or even spring. Feel like Wikipedia probably has the answers on this one.

Before Maya’s mom walked in, Maya was a pretty good girlfriend to Carina. Why is it the assumption that she is 100% a bad girlfriend now?

Well, she was pretty rude when Carina first visited her, but all right, fair enough, that was the one time, and at that point they weren’t girlfriends yet (as far as Maya thought) but okay. But I don’t see how Maya’s mom entering and setting that whole chain off changes what DOES happen, that is entirely on Maya? 

But it’s not that the assumption is about her alone, or that she’s all bad, it’s just that the huge thing that did happen, the fighting, the cheating, that hasn’t really been resolved, so it’s still lingering against her and in this new season, all we’ve seen is her inviting Andy to stay with them without talking to Carina and then being unfairly short about Carina’s stuff. It’s more about the writers continuing to show Maya’s issues without any balance, Carina’s response and possibly even her own issues. Nobody’s perfect all the time, but we don’t get to see any of that, just each time Maya has an issue, it’s the show itself highlighting that.

On Grey’s Anatomy it’s been 8 days since episode 1/2(Meredith wakes from her covid coma and they tell her this) and as they did two crossovers with Station 19 already, it’s been 8 days for them as well. That makes how fast Maya and Carina moved even more ridiculous. I thought it had been a month or a few weeks but since they’re still in April of this year, barely anytime has passed since everything happened and they haven’t discussed anything, really. I hope there’s a time jump in March.

Hmm, I’m not sure what you mean? Grey’s ep 1 and 2 were already several weeks after the season finales, time for the pandemic to get going, plus, Station 19′s first ep alluded to the few weeks Marina hadn’t seen each other, and maybe add a bit of time for the “just getting back to normal” for them or whatever, so isn’t that the month you thought they were getting since everything down?

Maya needs therapy, and I wouldn’t even mind if they rushed through it, as this show likes to do. As long as they do something. I really wanted more for Carina, at the very least a bit of insight to her thought process. I don’t get why they didn’t give us a flashback as to how they got to a better place. It would have been perfect in showing more of who Carina is. We get so much of Maya and sure, it’s her show, but if Carina is going to be with her, we need to know who she is as well.

Right, we don’t need the literal therapy sessions over months, just show she’s trying and making changes.

I think they just don’t know how to write them getting to a better place, lol, how do you gloss over all that, there’s so much they’d need to go into and it feels like they’d rather just shift that to their current and future relationship. And definitely, a relationship isn’t just one person, it does a disservice to it and even Maya to have her partner be such a mystery.

Regarding that last gifset with Andy and Maya. Sometimes I get so mad at or annoyed with Maya, but then Danielle gives Maya that sad puppy dog look with those big blue eyes and I’m just like well sh*t, I forgive you too. Let me hug you. I understand why Carina has a hard time getting mad at her. I know there are bigger issues, but seriously, Danielle plays a killer puppy dog look.

Heh, I get exactly what you mean, that last moment is honestly why I giffed that scene. That particular clear eyed look Danielle has, it’s SO effective. 

But also, that’s literally why I imagine it’s easy to forgive Maya, because she does look like she feels bad and doesn’t deserve better and carries this self-loathing and man, please let her get some therapy, S19.

Maya saying i love you seemed as if she was just reminding herself that she loves Carina and not to be angry at her more than anything else. Plus there is no growth going on in their relationship, Maya never talks to Carina the conversation she had with Andy should have been with her instead. She is still rude to Carina and she doesn’t try to explain herself to her and i can’t believe they never dealt with Andy moving in situation. It’s getting on my nerves how everyone gets screentime but them.

Ah! I see what you mean, like that, but the end result is the same thing, right, Maya making an effort?

Do agree that she needs to talk to Carina, I think we’re ALL agreed that there needs to be way more digging deep into their issues. Hopefully we’ll get more after the hiatus like they promised.

Thoughts about Carina calling Italy still her home? I mean she has been in Seattle for a couple of years now and even moved in with Maya. Shouldn’t Seattle be her home now?

Oh, I don’t know, that sounds very normal to me. For someone who grew up in a different country and still has family there, it could take even longer than a few years to call it home. I’ve been living where I am almost 10 years, I certainly don’t consider it home. It takes a lot to change that instinctive first thought of all your attachments to a new place, even with her brother and job and Maya here.

This is just an idea but I have a feeling that they are slowly moving carina away from Greys. Camilla who plays greys says that Jo will have a career change. She has been seen with 2 births already. I think she will switch to OB who knows then what Carina will do.

Oh, you think so? I haven’t watched Grey’s in a bit but that would be sad for Carina, unless she makes up for it in a similar role in Station 19. She genuinely does seem to love her job so while I would welcome any change where we see more of her in general, I hope it’s not at the expense of this.

I’ve noticed that Maya tends to immediately apologize whenever Carina calls her out. It’s just something that’s stood out to me. I agree that the I Love You seemed more for Maya, especially with how she said it and what we know she feels about Carina in her space. My other observation is that a lot of people seem to want Maya to go to therapy. What do you think about that? I’m on the fence.

Yeah, actually, you’re right, so maybe that isn’t really a sign of growth, heh, though it’s a…nice thing in itself, I guess.

Now that I think about it, that’s effectively been their whole relationship, Maya reacts badly to something, Carina calls it out, Maya apologizes, Carina accepts, they make out. I wish Carina had the space to react badly, the screentime and plot arc, really, like, I’ve said this before–or maybe I said it’s easy to love a character who’s only allowed to be perfect, but in the same vein, it’s easy to be perfect when you don’t get the opportunity to be anything else. 

To be clear, I love her, I love her kindness and goodness and willingness to forgive and fight for those she loves, but she’s not really making the CHOICE to do so, right? Doing anything else would require them to actually give her that screentime. Like in this last ep, she’s just like, don’t be sorry. Why not?? But if she had the time and was still like, nope, I get that you react like this for a reason and that you regret it so I’ll move past it and instead am going to focus on this other stuff, that’d be quite different, right. Versus just, welp, my minute for this ep is up, we gotta resolve this and move on.

And yes, lol, 100% Maya should be going to therapy! I know this show loves doing exposition drops through friends ranting to each other, but as that one post said, therapy isn’t just talking. Your friends can’t provide you everything that therapy does, and like, you don’t need to have severe issues to go, you can be fine and go to get in the habit of talking things out and figuring out coping methods and basically to stay fine, but Maya’s issues ARE severe! Her friends and partner can’t give her what she needs for figuring how to unlearn her whole LIFE before now, there’s so much she has to deal with. And abuse like that doesn’t affect just one thing, it’s not just one area of her life, it’s who she is as a person, there’s nothing left untouched that’s her alone. She absolutely should be going, yes.