7 Things To Remember Before Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Returns In 2025

The midseason finale of Grey’s Anatomy season 21 left many storylines hanging when it aired in November 2024, making it imperative to remember the biggest twists before its return with season 21, episode 9 in 2025. The first part of Grey’s Anatomy season 21 started with a focus on Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital’s mass firings after Meredith chose to make her Alzheimer’s research findings public, effectively beginning a war with Catherine. Part 1 didn’t get to explore Meredith and Catherine’s standoff over Meredith’s research, but her return in season 21’s part 2 can finally bring that story front and center.

Several of the narratives developed in the medical drama’s part 1 focused on Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s major character exits of Mika Yasuda and Levi Schmitt, giving them fitting departure storylines and clearing the way for season 21’s part 2 to focus on the developments teased ahead of season 21’s return, like Meredith and Catherine’s fight or even Ben’s return to medicine. However, Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s spring premiere has to return to the questions its winter finale left unanswered, including the safety of two central characters, the puzzling fate of a patient, and the ending of multiple romantic relationships.

7. Lucas’s Life May Be In Danger After The Robber’s Gun Fired In The Midseason Finale

Adams & The Robber Fought For The Gun After Gladys Swung A Bat At The Latter

Lucas and Jo’s errand turned dangerous the moment a robber entered the convenience store in the middle of Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 8. While he tried his best to first hide himself and Jo from the robber and later complied with his orders, Lucas still found himself in a physical altercation with him after Gladys swung a bat at the robber and missed, leading to him trying to reach for his gun. Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 8 ending with the two embroiled in a fight for the gun as it fired leaves Lucas’s wellbeing up in the air.

Lucas potentially getting shot in the fight with the robber has major implications for various characters. Indeed, his aunt Amelia could find it difficult dealing with Lucas’s situation, given she had seen her father being gunned down in a convenience store as a child. Lucas being wounded would also greatly impact the other interns, who are still reeling from Mika barely making it out alive from her car crash, and especially Simone, who is romantically involved with him.

6. Richard Is Still Mad At Meredith For Not Telling Him About Catherine’s Procedure

Meredith Chose To Respect Catherine’s Wishes & Richard Hasn’t Forgotten That

Catherine’s worsening health was introduced as early as Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s premiere by her collapse in front of Meredith that forced their fight to be interrupted so that Meredith could treat Catherine. Every proposal of a treatment Meredith had for Catherine got shut down, making Catherine’s consent to the biopsy pivotal. Catherine’s consent hinging on Richard and Jackson not knowing about her health nonetheless drove a wedge in Richard and Meredith’s relationship when he discovered about Catherine’s worsening condition.

With Meredith’s last appearance in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 coinciding with episode 3, when Richard called her out for not telling him about Catherine’s biopsy, the medical drama has yet to repair their relationship. Grey’s Anatomy has long presented Meredith and Richard’s bond as unbreakable, making their fight in season 21 unlike anything before, as the two had always supported one another through thick and thin. Meredith returning in the spring premiere brings her fight with Richard back to the forefront of Grey’s Anatomy season 21.

5. Jo Started Bleeding During The Robbery In The Midseason Finale & May Lose The Twins

Jo’s Pregnancy Is In Danger After The Convenience Store Robbery

Jo’s surprise pregnancy was set up in Grey’s Anatomy season 20, but it began standing out in Jo and Link’s storylines only when she eventually shared the news with him. Learning they were expecting twins destabilized Jo, not knowing how she could continue to parent Luna, succeed in her OB/GYN residency and take care of the twins, but she was happy about their family getting bigger. The robbery distressed Jo enough to start bleeding unexpectedly, threatening Jo’s life and her twins.

Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 9’s trailer showed Bailey prepare Link for the worst regarding his and Jo’s twins, hinting at them possibly losing them both or one of them, something for which Link would have to find the strength to support Jo. Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s midseason finale nevertheless didn’t go into detail about what Jo bleeding meant, making it an important detail to remember ahead of the medical drama returning as season 21, episode 9 will have to reveal what happened.

4. Mika Yasuda Hastily Left Grey Sloan Memorial (& Jules) Due To Chloe’s Death

Everything At Grey Sloan Reminding Mika Of Chloe Motivated Her Departure

Mika was ready to return to work in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 8’s beginning, but her crisis as Bailey tried to restart a patient’s heart quickly highlighted how everything reminded Mika of Chloe at Grey Sloan Memorial. Jules convinced Mika to talk with Bailey about possibly getting more time off, but the talk had the opposite effect on Mika, who realized the best thing she could do to move on was to leave everything connected to Grey Sloan behind.

Mika’s exit from Grey’s Anatomy season 21 was effectively concluded with her leaving in the winter finale, but everything happened so fast that the consequences of her departure have yet to be seen, besides Jules confronting Bailey about not caring about them as interns. While Mika’s departure will likely affect all the interns, nobody would be more heartbroken by it than Jules, who had fallen for her, especially after they had finally decided to get together unambiguously in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 6.

3. Blue Finally Admitted His Feelings For Molly & Kissed Her

Molly Rediscovering Her History With Blue Changed Their Dynamic

Blue had always been hesitant to admit he knew Molly when she landed in Grey Sloan’s ER to avoid having to share their tragic past and the painful truth she didn’t remember him with anyone after he had to tell Lucas in season 20. Molly’s insistence in trying to find out the truth eventually led to Blue telling her and even kissing her. Just like Blue couldn’t stop thinking about Molly returning into his life, Molly couldn’t stop thinking about their kiss, but Blue admitting his feelings in season 21’s midseason finale was a major course change for him.

Indeed, Blue prided himself in not getting attached to anyone since getting to Grey Sloan, but his connections to all the other interns told a different story, especially after he opened up about his mother and clearly started to develop feelings for Jules, despite never admitting it. Blue being finally open about what he felt thus marked a major shift for him, hinting at Blue’s relationship with Molly potentially working this time round because of it.

2. Teddy & Owen’s Relationship Is In Danger After Cass & Nora’s Arrivals

Teddy & Owen Are Unwittingly Drifting Apart After Easily Connecting With Cass & Nora

Teddy and Owen’s relationship has been through various rough patches from the moment they were both introduced to Grey’s Anatomy, and their problems in season 21 are arguably far from the worst they had, with Teddy loving Owen unrequitedly at one time and cheating on him at another. However, Grey’s Anatomy season 21 hinted repeatedly at Teddy and Owen’s inevitable breakup, and finding it hard to meet halfway while clicking more easily with newcomers Cass and Nora only reiterates how something must change or Teddy and Owen’s marriage will inevitably end.

Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 8 ended with Cass unwaveringly supporting Teddy and Owen noticing their undeniable connection, even if Teddy rejected Cass. Similarly, Owen chose to spend time with Nora instead of going back to the hospital. Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 9 will undoubtedly continue both storylines, making the various thorny moments in Teddy and Owen’s relationship important to remember.

1. The Heart Of Winston & Amelia’s Patient Didn’t Restart Despite The Surgery Going Well

The Midseason Finale Ended With Jackie’s Fate Looking Ominous

Amelia’s latest impossible case involved Winston in more ways than one, as her patient Jackie immediately recognized him as the guy who ghosted her mother Skye before even considering letting him become one of Jackie’s doctors. While everything surrounding how Jackie, Skye and Winston knew one another was amusing, especially as the exchanges all happened under Simone, Blue and Amelia’s watchful eyes, it’s Jackie’s dangerous situation that needs to be remembered ahead of Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s return.

Indeed, Amelia had specified more than once how Jackie’s condition was difficult and clipping her aneurysms was near impossible, but she still succeeded by Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 8’s ending. However, despite it being a successful procedure, Jackie’s heart hadn’t restarted after she was supposed to come out of bypass. This puts Amelia and Winston in a terrible position, as they already shared the good news with Skye, but there is still a risk Jackie might die when Grey’s Anatomy season 21 returns.