Warning! SPOILERS about Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 3 ahead.

Meredith and Amelia’s Alzheimer’s research being in limbo refocused Amelia’s attention on a difficult surgery, mirroring and honoring one of Derek’s cases from Grey’s Anatomy season 20’s mass firings and not focusing every moment on the Alzheimer’s research. The case Teddy brought Amelia in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 3 turned Amelia’s day around because of the positive outcome they achieved beating the insurmountable odds.

Although Derek and Amelia had already spent some time together at Grey Sloan, working simultaneously as neurosurgeons in Grey’s Anatomy seasons 10 and 11, their relationship was always complicated. Indeed, while Amelia had always been a formidable neurosurgeon in her own right, she often felt like she was in Derek’s shadow, even if Derek brought her to Seattle to take over his old job. Derek’s death nonetheless made things difficult, simultaneously making it impossible for Amelia to work through her Derek-related confidence problems as he was alive and making her feel bad about the findings of her and Meredith’s research.

Amelia's Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Case Mirrored Derek's "Perfect" Tumor In Season 6

Derek's Impossible Surgery Saved Isaac's Life In Grey's Anatomy Season 6, Episode 7

If Amelia’s recent mentions of Derek have always been in relation to her groundbreaking research with Meredith erasing Derek’s Alzheimer’s work, Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 3 finally gave Amelia the chance to push the surgical boundaries in a similar way to how her brother did only 15 years before. The impossibility of Rhiannon’s surgery greatly differed from Isaac’s in Grey’s Anatomy seasons 6, episode 7, but it still saw Amelia put her patient’s wishes first, just like Derek did when he approached his “perfect” tumor without cutting the cord in “Give Peace a Chance.”

Operating on Isaac cost Derek his job, as Richard fired him once he realized Derek disobeyed him to try the impossible surgery.

Derek’s revolutionary surgery on Isaac was successful, as he removed the “perfect” tumor without leaving Isaac forever impaired, just like he asked him. However, it briefly cost Derek his job, as Richard fired him once he realized Derek disobeyed him to try the impossible surgery. Amelia’s approach and outcome were diametrically opposed, as not only the boss had brought her the case, but Teddy also wanted Amelia to try everything for her patient, helping her become a reference for pregnant patients whose cases other neurosurgeons had said no to, making Amelia’s name even greater in Grey’s Anatomy seasons 21.

Amelia Makes Up For Destroying Derek's Research With Her Surgeries In Grey's Anatomy Season 21

Taking On "Impossible" Surgeries Truly Lets Amelia Follow In Derek's Footsteps

Considering “impossible” surgeries to which other neurosurgeons already said no makes Amelia effectively follow in her brother Derek’s footsteps after her groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research with Meredith destroyed the findings of those who came before them, including Derek. While Amelia and Meredith already rationalized that Derek would want them to continue their promising research even if it disproved his work, giving a chance to risky cases can make Amelia feel closer to Derek, as he wouldn’t back down from a challenge, especially if that was what the patient asked.

With Amelia and Meredith’s research temporarily stalled by Catherine’s liver lesions, Amelia can return to make a name for herself as a neurosurgeon, this time following her big brother’s example. This could help Amelia finally come out from the Shepherd name’s shadow in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, bringing her closer to her brother Derek by honoring his work as a surgeon, even if another part of Amelia’s job effectively made Derek’s findings obsolete like her and Meredith’s Alzheimer’s research seemed to do in Grey’s Anatomy.

Grey’s Anatomy season 21 releases new episodes every Thursday at 10 pm ET on ABC.