GayTV Recap: Grey's Anatomy (Episode 16x12)

This week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, appropriately titled "The Last Supper," took a handful of the show's characters out of the hospital as they dealt with personal dramas. One of the two main storylines of the episode belonged to Levi (played by Jake Borelli). He began the episode still recovering at home from his hospital stay two weeks before. While playing chess with his boyfriend Nico (played by Alex Landi), Levi complimented him on his bedside manner as the two shared a kiss after Nico handed him a glass of water.

They were then interrupted by the abrupt arrival of Levi's mother Myrna. She informed Levi that his uncle Saul was in hospice care and had very little time left. Levi was shocked, wondering why she had waited so long to tell him. Myrna reminded him that Saul never got along with anyone in the family, except oddly with Levi. He remained upset that she had let her differences with Saul prevent Levi from seeing him. She suggested he hit the highway quickly, if he wanted to visit the man.

After Myrna left the basement, Levi seemed to grow more upset, concerning Nico. He asked him if he was okay and Levi explained to him that his uncle Saul never got along with anyone in the family. He never had a pleasant word to say about any of them, but he had a soft spot for Levi. He was resigned to make the trip to visit Saul in hospice, and Nico went along with him.

The couple arrived at the hospice to find Saul (played by Richard Portnow) giving the medical staff grief. He insulted Levi, surprising Nico who remarked that he thought Levi was his favorite. Levi explained to him that insults were how they expressed love. Saul's doctor recognized Levi as a fellow doctor from Saul's stories and she informed him that Saul was experiencing heart failure. She left them alone to visit.

Levi shared a warm reunion with his uncle, as Nico watched. Levi was surprised that his aunt Gertie wasn't there with him, but Saul told him that he urged her not to bother visiting. He changed the subject to Levi, wondering why he was still living in his mother's basement, given that he was a hot-shot doctor now. Levi told him that he wanted to work through some things with his mother before just leaving on bad terms. Saul wondered about those bad terms and urged Levi to tell him what was going on that he was hiding.

Levi told him that his mother found out some new information about Levi which she thought was okay, only if he kept it quiet. Saul pressed Levi to tell him what had changed. Levi then introduced Saul to Nico. He urged Nico to come closer as he told Saul that Nico wasn't just his friend. He was his boyfriend.

Levi revealed to Saul that they had been together for months and he loves him. Nico extended a hand to Saul, saying that it was an honor to meet him. Levi turned back to look at Saul, only for the machine alarms to go off, as the older man flatlined. Levi called for his doctor, who pronounced the man dead. Levi was left floored, proclaiming that his gayness killed Saul, as Nico comforted him.

In a panic, Levi explained to Nico that because of Jewish tradition, he couldn't leave his uncle's body all alone before it was prepared for burial. That meant that they weren't going anywhere. Later, his aunt Gertie arrived, wondering why the body hadn't been taken. Levi said that it was a busy day at the hospice, but since Gertie was now there, she could stay with her husband.

Gertie revealed that she & Saul agreed that upon death, it would be the end of them. She shared a brief goodbye with Saul, as Levi watched curiously at the lack of affection. She told Levi that Saul was a good man, and she knows Levi is a good man as well. She departed, leaving Levi confused and disappointed.

Levi and Nico attempted to play cards in the room, while their wait continued. When Nico suggested they at least go get something to eat, Levi shut him down, knowing he couldn't give up on tradition. The two were surprised by the arrival of another man (played by Peter Strauss), who introduced himself as Daniel. He came in to see Saul and Levi was curious as he watched the man openly weep at Saul's bedside.

Levi went to introduce himself, only for Daniel to reveal that he knew exactly who Levi was. He talked about him being a doctor and getting over the teasing nickname, "Glasses," that he had at the hospital before he proved himself. Levi was shocked, realizing that Saul talked to Daniel about him. Daniel said he talked a lot. When he interrupted Levi's introduction of Nico, he revealed that he knew who he was as well. Levi was surprised to learn his uncle Saul was aware of so much of his life. He was even more shocked to learn from Daniel that Saul always had excellent gaydar, leaving Levi speechless as he understood Daniel's reveal that Saul already knew Levi was gay.

After sharing a greeting with Nico, Daniel then surprised Levi by revealing that Saul was the love of his life and that he was Saul's. Levi brought up his wife Gertie and Daniel explained that Saul & Gertie never asked questions in their marriage. They took each other for who they were and they never told anyone. As they laughed over memories of Saul, Levi felt guilty but Daniel said Saul wouldn't want to punish him, unlike Levi's mother, who he never trusted because of her blind loyalty to their parents and their views on homosexuality.

Levi still felt bad for leaving, even if Daniel was there with Saul. Daniel revealed to him that he had been trained on the Jewish tradition of preparing a body. He offered to teach Levi how to do it. Levi didn't want to put the burden on Daniel, knowing how much he was grieving, but Daniel said he would be honored. While reciting prayer, the two worked together to clean Saul's body.

As they continued, Levi got sidetracked by some nagging emotion. He expressed his frustration to Daniel, wondering why Saul continued to live his true life in secret. Why did he pretend with Gertie instead of building a life and home of his own with the man he loved? Daniel made Levi realize he was taking for granted the things that were possible in the world today. It wasn't that way for Saul. Levi knew that and apologized, but Daniel said Levi's mindset gave him hope. Daniel revealed that Saul loved him for decades, but there was something inside him that wouldn't let him see that hope. Daniel told Levi that he would have gladly married Saul, but he couldn't build a life with a man who was ashamed of a part of himself.

Levi promised that he would never take things for granted again. Daniel said that he didn't think it was a coincidence that Levi was here with Saul at the end of his life. He told Levi that Saul knew who Levi was, all of him, and there was a part of him that wanted to make sure Levi understood that it was okay to be who he was and to live the life he wanted. On behalf of Saul, Daniel reminded Levi that he had the freedom that Saul never gave himself. Overcome with emotion, Levi cried. The two men finished preparing the body together.

Inspired by his experience that day, Levi returned to his mother's home with Nico. They packed up Levi's belongings. Levi's mother Myrna came down, surprised by what she saw. Levi told her of Saul's passing, to which she had no response, which left Levi annoyed. Levi told his mother that claiming she accepted him but refusing to tell anyone, even in their family, about him being gay was not acceptance. He couldn't do this anymore.

Levi said he didn't want to end up in a hospice somewhere on his death bed being visited by people that he couldn't love openly the way he wanted. Myrna accused Nico of putting Levi up to this, knowing how upset he was over Saul. Nico told her that wasn't true, though he also told her that he agreed with everything Levi was saying. Levi told his mother that he loved her but he was moving out.