'Grey's Anatomy' Season 17 Episode 8: Does Link have a drinking problem? Here's why he hid alcohol from Amelia

What has led to Link's new dependence on alcohol?
UPDATED MAR 19, 2021
James Christopher Carmack plays Atticus 'Link' Lincoln in 'Grey's Anatomy' (Instagram/greysabc)
James Christopher Carmack plays Atticus 'Link' Lincoln in 'Grey's Anatomy' (Instagram/greysabc)

Meredith Grey has been battling for her life on the last few episodes of 'Grey's Anatomy', leaving her family in a state of upheaval especially her three young children. Keeping the home fires burning while Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) is in the hospital is sister-in-law Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) and her partner Link (James Christopher Carmack). Link who is normally the epitome of optimism finally seems to be worn down in the latest episode. It seems the challenges of looking after Meredith's three kids and the new baby that he and Amelia share are getting too overwhelming.

While Link is normally the sort who deals with stress by strumming a tune on his guitar, now seems to need a drink to go along with that guitar playing. Amelia a recovering addict, however, has no clue that Link has now started to need a drink to get by. When she discovers a bottle of alcohol hidden, she confronts Link about it. Link gets defensive and tells her he kept the bottle hidden out of respect for her, due to her struggles with addiction.

Amelia says not everyone needs to turn to alcohol to deal with stress. Link says in her case having a drink is simply not an option, in his case it is. It's an option he feels he needs to take because overnight he has become responsible for four kids.

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James Christopher Carmack and Caterina Scorsone star in 'Grey's Anatomy' (ABC)

Link then says sometimes he just needs to go to the garage and play his guitar and have a drink. That doesn't make him a bad guy. He then storms out but tells Amelia that he will come back because he's a good person. When he finally comes back, Amelia tells him that she's not angry about the alcohol. She just wants a relationship where they don't keep secrets from each other and know all the sides to each other. Amelia then asks Link for a hug, he says he reeks of whiskey, to which she replies she'll hold her breath.

Now that Maggie's (Kelly McCreary) boyfriend Winston (Anthony Hill) seems to be bonding with the kids, let's hope Link has another set of hands to help him out. But will that be enough to get Link back on track? Will Amelia now be tempted to use alcohol as a coping mechanism as well?

You can catch new episodes of 'Grey's Anatomy' on Thursdays at 9|8c on ABC.

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