Yasuda’s Grey’s Anatomy Ending Revealed Just How Badly The Show Has Wasted 1 Major Character Return

Grey’s Anatomy has always been known for its changing roster of doctors. Many Grey’s Anatomy cast members have left never to be seen again, but if they’re lucky enough not to get killed off, there’s always a chance for some to return. Dr. Mika Yasuda (Midori Francis) started at Grey Sloan with a lot of energy and confidence. She was one of the smartest and brightest in her year, and on track to top her residency, but then her sister got sick.

With the amount of time off she had to take off to take care of her, and trying to catch up on her work, burnout inevitably set in. Viewers watched her pull a double shift and an all-night surgery which led to the car crash that killed her sister. She had clearly had too much on her plate, and falling behind wasn’t an option for this ambitious young surgeon, but the fact that Dr. Helm (Jaicy Elliot) wasn’t involved in any way in this storyline was a wasted opportunity.

Yasuda’s Burnout Ending Was Set Up 2 Seasons Before Her Exit

The first 18 seasons glorified workaholism and dedication to their careers

Mika Yasuda was one of the five new characters who joined Grey’s Anatomy in season 19 and brought a lot of excitable energy and a very strict work ethic. Eager to do more, help everyone, and learn as much as possible, Mika had so much potential as a surgeon. Her paths with Taryn crossed when they met at Joe’s and developed a deep attraction.

As the two started dating, Helm noticed a lot of the same things that she had been previously dealing with. Working all hours, never having enough money, and being part of a rat race can have very serious consequences. As she tries to warn Mika about the dangers of burnout, she immediately gets shut down as the young intern wants to put in all the hard work. That was about as deep as the writers went with this theme.

Helm and Mika continue their romance, but when the former becomes her boss, the boundaries start to blur. As Taryn tries to protect her girlfriend, she inadvertently affects her career negatively. She’s given a lot of grunt work and is passed up on the more challenging surgeries, much to Yasuda’s dismay. This seems like a call back to how Helm was treated after making her own mistakes in the ER and could have been a bigger storyline in the last two seasons.

There was certainly more that could be explored here, as it felt that Helm’s return was only there to serve some romantic purpose for the new cast member. When the two eventually broke up, not much heed was paid to any of the issues that they’d discussed. Helm’s character was cast aside yet again and relegated to a very low-impact supporting role.

Grey’s Anatomy Hasn’t Known What To Do With Helm For Too Long

She would support Levi but was criminally under-utilized

Taryn Helm was a welcome addition to season 14 as part of the B-team, with a fiery attitude and a big crush on Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). Viewers hadn’t had a character like her yet, and whenever she was given more substantial material, the actor soared. The pandemic storyline is what really gave Elliot a chance to flex her acting skills. The beginnings of her burnout were evident, as she struggled with loneliness and isolation. Yasuda displayed similar feelings, especially as she felt the heavy financial burden, which mirrors both characters’ arcs.

After Helm experienced a tough time in the OR and her confidence was severely knocked, Bailey’s (Chandra Wilson) assistance helped her pull through, but she failed to offer the same to Yasuda. After another trauma with Levi (Jake Borelli), it becomes too much for a young resident to handle. As the team lost a patient, any confidence or feelings of hubris were knocked out of them. This tie to Levi seemed to be the main thing the writers held on to about Helm.

Levi had a mental breakdown, and stepped away from the program, while Taryn was left with trying to pick up the pieces. As she grappled with her loyalty to her friend and loyalty to medicine, the pressure most certainly took its toll. With so much to deal with already, the news broke of the Residency Program being reviewed. With this enforced probation, came additional stress and uncertainty. Job stability was all up in the air, and Helm had to deal with the possibility of moving to a different hospital and perhaps even a new specialty.

Highlighting this issue was a rather big deal for Grey’s Anatomy. After all, one of the driving factors of the show was the unbridled ambition of the characters. When the program was officially shut down, Taryn had just experienced another tough loss in the OR. As is expected in the soapy melodrama of the show, a lot happens to these characters, and it’s rather surprising any of them manage to get out of bed, let alone thrive.

When the Residency Program is reopened and Schmidt seeks out his friend so they can resume their learning, Helm officially decides that enough is enough. It was quite rare to see one of the doctors seemingly quit the profession that had been their dream for so long. It’s at this stage of her life that she crosses paths with Mika.

Yasuda’s Season 21 Exit Looks Terrible For Helm

Previous burnout led to a tragic death and the loss of a resident

When Midori Francis’ departure from the show was announced, viewers were curious as to how this would be handled. Would the character be killed; would there be a chance of a return; and how many tears would end up being shed were only some of the questions being raised. It turned out that she wouldn’t be the one to die, but her sister would.

With a tough cancer diagnosis, Mika tries to navigate work while caring for her ailing sister, who means the world to her. Helm has no notable involvement in any of this, despite not only being the alleged advocate for self-care but also Mika’s residency coordinator and ex-girlfriend. At least one relevant scene could have tied their plot points together in some way.

As the story of the Yasuda sisters unfolds, and the other interns help their friend out, Taryn’s main role is to support Levi on his departure storyline. In the “Night Moves” episode of Grey’s Anatomy season 21, where Yasuda was clearly floundering, Helm’s only job was to be upset about her friend leaving. There was no scene of Helm petitioning the attendings to help, or carving out a plan herself on how to help manage this situation, which is what she should have been doing.

What To Expect From Grey’s Anatomy After Yasuda’s Exit

Grey’s Anatomy’s Yet-To-Be-Confirmed Season 22 Has A Few Options

There was so much potential to utilize this character in a better way, especially in the aftermath of Mika’s accident, which is harrowing to watch. While the episode had a lot going on already, even a solitary scene of Helm reacting to the situation would have shown some sort of acknowledgment. Francis does some of her best work at the very end of the scene when she learns about Chloe’s death, while Elliot does nothing.

Yasuda’s last episode shows just how much she was impacted by the tragedy as she struggled to get back to work. Helm was still not part of this storyline, instead, it’s Bailey and Jules who are the most involved. With so much overlap in experiences and an actual previous romantic connection, there was a lot that could have been done with these two characters.

With more care and attention paid to Helm, there could have been more to explore. Hopefully, after the loss of two members of the cast, Dr. Taryn Helm will finally get her moment in the spotlight in Grey’s Anatomy season 22. Whether it’s addressing Yasuda’s accident and subsequent departure, or at least a glimpse into how this has impacted her on a personal level, Grey’s Anatomy has the opportunity to right a wrong that’s been two seasons in the making.