Grey's Anatomy Reinforces Derek Shepherd Replacement With A 20-Year Story

3 hours ago 16

Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd in Grey's Anatomy season 4

Published Oct 24, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

Antonella Gugliersi (she/them) has been a feature writer for Screen Rant since 2021. While studying for her bachelor’s in Economics & Management, they started writing about movies and TV shows for Turin-based The Unconventional Mag. After a brief internship at TPI, she decided she wanted to pursue journalism and graduated with a degree in International Journalism from Brunel University.

Warning! SPOILERS ahead about Grey’s Anatomy season 23, episode 2 ahead.One character’s choices in Grey’s Anatomy season 23, episode 2 highlight his being Derek Shepherd’s replacement in the worst possible way. More than 20 years since Grey’s Anatomy began, a handful of original characters still walk the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital halls, while the rest either died or moved away. Between the setting remaining the same and the medical drama still centering on residents, some storylines are bound to be repeated. However, one in particular confirms a character as Derek’s most suitable replacement in Grey’s Anatomy season 23.

Given how epic Meredith and Derek’s relationship had been throughout Grey’s Anatomy, and how it made its earliest seasons unforgettable, it’s easy to understand why the medical drama would try to recapture its magic. One relatively recent couple, whose will-they-won’t-they dynamic introduced in Grey’s Anatomy season 19 quickly monopolized the medical drama, came close to embodying the characteristics that set Meredith and Derek apart. This led them to become MerDer’s replacement because of how complicated their romantic relationship had been from the get-go, and how, even when apart, it was clear they still had feelings for one another.

Lucas Adams and Simone Griffith spending the vast majority of Grey’s Anatomy season 22 apart didn’t help them seem any less meant to be together. Between his connection to the Shepherd name and her traumatic past with Grey Sloan, Lucas and Simone mirror MerDer in Grey’s Anatomy with uncommon ease. Still, Lucas behaving like Derek in the worst way possible has little to do with Simone in Grey’s Anatomy season 23, episode 2.

Lucas Adams Pursuing Dani Spencer Mirrors Derek's Choices In Grey's Anatomy Season 2

Niko Terho as Lucas Adams and Jade Pettyjohn as Dani Spencer in Grey's Anatomy season 23

After Simone established she was dating Wes Bryant in Grey’s Anatomy season 23’s premiere, Lucas seemingly accepted that there couldn’t be anything between them. His behavior towards Dani Spencer hinted at Lucas having moved on from his feelings for Simone, in theory. However, his relentless pursuit of Dani, even when she iced him out to punish him for his terrible behavior in Grey’s Anatomy season 22, showed Lucas at his most charming, unwilling to let the matter go.

Despite promising not to lead Dani on and to ask her out when she sobered up, Lucas couldn’t have been telling the truth. After all, only one episode before, Lucas had reiterated his interest in Simone, catching her in the most compromising position, while also satisfied with leaving her flustered. Lucas’s lies about leading Dani on leave a particularly bitter taste because he hooked up with her after Katie died in Grey’s Anatomy season 22, as his grief swallowed him whole, resulting in him not treating those who supported him fairly, including Dani.

ChronoLogic

Rearrange the movies into the correct US release order.

Lucas pursuing a relationship with Dani while having feelings for Simone takes a page from Derek’s Grey’s Anatomy season 2 story. After Addison Montgomery’s iconic arrival in Grey’s Anatomy season 1’s finale revealed that Derek had a wife and didn’t tell Meredith, season 2 began with Meredith furious until Derek explained the circumstances in which he left for Seattle. Meredith and Derek’s relationship was once again an option in Grey’s Anatomy season 2, but by then, Derek had decided to give his marriage with Addison a chance, despite still clearly having feelings for Meredith.

Why Lucas's Behavior Proves He's Even Worse Than Derek In Grey's Anatomy Season 23

Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd and Kate Walsh as Addison Montgomery in Grey's Anatomy

Derek’s decision not to leave Addison wasn’t wrong per se, although it’s easy to wonder whether he would have come clean with Meredith had Addison not forced his hand. At the time, Derek was also trying to give his and Addison’s marriage a chance, and he couldn’t really control having feelings for Meredith. However, continuing to choose to be with Addison when he had feelings for Meredith made everybody miserable, not letting Meredith move on while also condemning Derek and Addison to an unhappy marriage.

In comparison, Lucas’s behavior feels more opportunistic. Despite presenting himself as an option for Simone by admitting he didn’t regret hooking up with her in Grey’s Anatomy season 22’s finale, Simone still chose to prioritize her relationship with Wes, which had just turned into something serious. Only then did Lucas decide to make pursuing Dani his purpose, choosing to do that instead of trying to face his feelings for Simone.

This makes Lucas’s behavior worse than Derek’s. After all, Lucas chose to ignore his feelings for Simone, knowing he didn’t have a chance, and redirect his interest to Dani, whom he already knew had feelings for him. While that might doom Dani to have her heart broken once again by Lucas, it also promises juicy mayhem in Grey’s Anatomy season 23, in line with its trailer’s pledge to center on romance once again.