Meredith’s love life seems finally settled in Grey's Anatomy
season 21 after Derek’s death, but the potential return of one character could cause disruption in Meredith’s life. Among Grey’s Anatomy’s most shocking deaths of a main character, Derek’s ranks high because of how heartbreakingly it was brought forth, with his saving all his patients before dying because the surgeon on call didn’t order the tests that could have saved him, and because of how it massively impacted Meredith. For some time, dating felt impossible for Meredith, reeling from the loss and the fact the love of her life had died.
From a Post-It note wedding to a lot of breakups, Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd's romance had a tumultuous timeline on Grey's Anatomy.
Eventually, Meredith started dating again and even formed major romantic relationships. However, they all felt like the relationship potential was untapped. Indeed, Meredith’s relatively long bond with Andrew DeLuca fizzled out after Andrew realized Meredith didn’t love him as she did being a surgeon. Cormac Hayes, Nathan Riggs and Atticus Lincoln were all considered possible romantic partners for Meredith, but all their relationships or attempts at such with Meredith were somewhat unfulfilled. Nick and Meredith’s relationship is the first to hold up compared to her and Derek’s, but one character potentially returning in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 could disrupt it.
Nathan Riggs' Return Could Poke Even More Holes In Meredith & Nick's Romance
Grey's Anatomy Seasons 19 & 20 Already Showed Their Many Problems
Among Derek’s replacements as Meredith’s love interests, Nathan Riggs was the first to appear in Grey’s Anatomy season 12 precisely for that reason. While Meredith and Nathan eventually connected, their relationship was truncated the moment Owen’s sister and Nathan’s ex-fiancée Megan was found alive overseas, making it impossible for Meredith and Nathan’s connection to be explored as Megan’s return evidently trumped what they could have had. Martin Henderson not excluding a possible return to Grey’s Anatomy as Nathan Riggs thus makes him a potential disruption in Meredith’s life and relationship with Nick, even more so after Nathan and Megan’s breakup.
Nathan’s arrival could exacerbate [Nick and Meredith’s problems] by offering an alternative, effectively being among the ones who got away.
Meredith and Nick’s relationship is stabler than ever in Grey’s Anatomy season 21. Meredith’s outburst about Bailey’s health in season 20 forced her also to admit her feelings, thus prompting Meredith to be open at last with Nick. This strengthened their relationship, but Grey’s Anatomy season 19 and 20 already showed their problems, including Meredith’s tendency to keep Nick in the dark about her Grey Sloan issues. Her refusal to admit her feelings led to Nick almost abandoning her multiple times. Nathan’s arrival could exacerbate them by offering an alternative, effectively being among the ones who got away.
Grey's Anatomy Ruined Riggs' Perfect LA Ending When It Unnecessarily Separated Him & Megan
Meredith & Riggs Couldn't Happen Because Megan Was Revealed To Be Alive
Henderson addressing how he would only return as Nathan in Grey’s Anatomy if the story truly warranted it excludes a comeback solely to spread discord between Nick and Meredith. His return could nonetheless be worthwhile, as coming back in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 or even later could finally tell Nathan’s side of his breakup with Megan, something unbelievably cruel that the medical drama sprung on Megan and Nathan after Nathan’s Grey’s Anatomy exit perfectly included his and Megan happily ever after, trying to build a life together with Farouk in LA.
Between how Megan and Nathan parted ways overseas and their complicated history that also involved Owen blaming Nathan for Megan being deemed missing in action, Megan and Nathan rekindling their romance was an unexpectedly joyful happily ever after.
While Megan’s return had the downside of leaving Meredith and Nathan’s possible relationship unexplored, it was a massive opportunity for Megan and Nathan’s relationship. After everything they went through in their past, including Nathan’s betrayal and Megan getting on the helicopter that was downed only because she was angry at him, Nathan and Megan’s reconnection and wish to build a life together was a message of hope and second chances. Season 18 revealing his and Megan’s offscreen breakup thus felt especially cruel, making Nathan’s return to Grey’s Anatomy necessary even just for giving him the chance to say his piece.
Episode #
Title
Release Date
1
If Walls Could Talk
September 26, 2024
2
Take Me to Church
October 3, 2024
3
I Can See Clearly Now
October 10, 2024
4
This One's for the Girls
October 17, 2024
5
You Make My Heart Explode
October 24, 2024
6
Night Moves
November 8, 2024
7
If You Leave
November 15, 2024
8
Drop It Like It's Hot
November 22, 2024
9
TBA
March 6, 2025
Grey's Anatomy returns to ABC at 10pm on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
Grey's Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.
Release Date
March 27, 2005
Cast
Ellen Pompeo
, Chandra Wilson
, James Pickens Jr.
, Justin Chambers
, Kevin McKidd
, Jesse Williams
, Bokhee An
, Camilla Luddington
, Patrick Dempsey
, Sara Ramirez
, Jessica Capshaw
, Sandra Oh
, Caterina Scorsone
, Sarah Drew
, Kelly McCreary
, Kim Raver
, Jason George
, Eric Dane
, Giacomo Gianniotti
, Jake Borelli
, Katherine Heigl
, Jerrika Hinton
, Chyler Leigh
, Chris Carmack
, T.R. Knight
, Debbie Allen
, Jaicy Elliot
, Anthony Hill
, Kate Walsh
, Greg Germann
, Isaiah Washington
, Aniela Gumbs
, Martin Henderson
, Payton Silver
, Gaius Charles
, Tessa Ferrer
, Stefania Spampinato
, Alex Landi
, Scott Speedman
, Mark Saul
, Nicole Rubio
, Richard Flood
, Ryder Goodstadt
, Steven W. Bailey
, Adelaide Kane
, Alexis Floyd
, Harry Shum Jr.
, Midori Francis
, Niko Terho
Character(s)
Dr. Meredith Grey
, Dr. Miranda Bailey
, Dr. Richard Webber
, Dr. Alex Karev
, Dr. Owen Hunt
, Dr. Jackson Avery
, Nurse Bokhee
, Dr. Jo Wilson
, Dr. Derek Shepherd
, Dr. Callie Torres
, Dr. Arizona Robbins
, Dr. Cristina Yang
, Dr. Amelia Shepherd
, Dr. April Kepner
, Dr. Maggie Pierce
, Dr. Teddy Altman
, Dr. Ben Warren
, Dr. Mark Sloan
, Dr. Andrew DeLuca
, Dr. Levi Schmitt
, Dr. Izzie Stevens
, Dr. Stephanie Edwards
, Dr. Lexie Grey
, Dr. Atticus Lincoln
, Dr. George O'Malley
, Dr. Catherine Fox
, Dr. Taryn Helm
, Dr. Winston Ndugu
, Dr. Addison Montgomery
, Dr. Thomas Koracick
, Dr. Preston Burke
, Zola Gray Shepard
, Dr. Nathan Riggs
, Dr. Knox
, Dr. Shane Ross
, Dr. Leah Murphy
, Dr. Carina DeLuca
, Dr. Nico Kim
, Dr. Nick Marsh
, Intern Steve
, Paramedic Nicole
, Dr. Cormac Hayes
, Derek Bailey Shepherd
, Joe
, Dr. Jules Millin
, Dr. Simone Griffith
, Dr. Benson Kwan
, Dr. Mika Yasuda
, Dr. Lucas Adams
Creator(s)
Shonda Rhimes
, Michelle Lirtzman
Seasons
21
Writers
Shonda Rhimes
, Julie Wong
, Jen Klein
, Tameson Duffy
, Meg Marinis
Directors
Rob Corn
, Kevin McKidd
, Debbie Allen
, Chandra Wilson
, Allison Liddi-Brown
, Jeannot Szwarc
, Tony Phelan
Custom Image by Yeider Chacon.
English (US) ·