This couldn’t have been more evident in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 18. While the main medical cases didn’t directly involve Meredith, with her only being in town to discuss selling her Grey Sloan’s shares back to Catherine to finance her research, she quickly reinserted herself into the action to protect her family. Meredith’s intrusion partially calmed the situation in OR 2, leading Amelia to save Dylan and Jenna’s threats to be neutralized without loss of life. The events in Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s ending thus made one difficult realization about Meredith more evident, despite her living far from Seattle.
Meredith Has A Much Bigger Presence In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Than Previous Seasons Since She Left
Meredith’s Alzheimer’s Research & Seattle Family Make Her Story More Prominent In S21
Unlike seasons 19 and 20, Meredith’s role is more prominent in Grey’s Anatomy season 21. It may not seem that way as Grey’s Anatomy season 19 included Meredith’s sendoff episode, with the lead-up to that having to justify her departure from Seattle and Grey Sloan Memorial, making her quite central to the story, along with her sisters and Meredith’s children, especially Zola. However, Meredith was central to Grey’s Anatomy season 19 only until her exit episode, “I’ll Follow the Sun.” After that, her story and research took a major step back, not being discussed until the season 19 finale.
After the shocking reveal of Meredith’s direction for her Alzheimer’s research in season 19’s finale, Grey’s Anatomy season 20 included more of Meredith because she chose to continue her research as it was, hiding it from Catherine. This had repercussions for all the Grey Sloan Memorial doctors involved, including Amelia, her research partner, and Teddy, who secretly funded Meredith and Amelia’s research. Although her Alzheimer’s research was a major story in Grey’s Anatomy season 20 for all the characters involved, Meredith appeared materially less due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes reducing Grey’s Anatomy season 20 episode run to 10.
Meredith’s push for autonomy from the Fox Foundation in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 greatly impacted her relationship with Richard, who saw her pull away and perceived it as Meredith refusing to be Grey Sloan Memorial’s future.
While Pompeo appeared only in seven episodes of Grey’s Anatomy season 21, which is less than the eight in Grey’s Anatomy season 19, Meredith’s story was spread out more evenly, and her presence had a bigger impact on the medical drama’s story. Not only had Meredith’s Alzheimer’s research become a point of contention with Catherine and something difficult for Meredith to progress alone, but Meredith also returned to Grey Sloan Memorial for a patient, which in turn let Grey’s Anatomy further one of Meredith’s strongest bonds.
Meredith’s centrality to Grey’s Anatomy proves she’s still the show’s protagonist, with the reduced number of episodes she’s in not impacting her importance. This is seen in other characters, like Richard’s acknowledgment of students coming to Grey Sloan to hear Meredith talk, but especially in the way Meredith’s key storylines still influence Grey’s Anatomy’s overall direction and how the medical drama relies on Meredith’s involvement in major crises. This couldn’t be more evident than in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, where Richard and Meredith’s fight was one of the most prominent developments.
Richard looking out for Meredith has been a theme throughout Grey’s Anatomy, and their clash over Catherine’s case highlighted their long history, how important it was for them, and how it shaped both Meredith and Richard’s storylines.
If Meredith’s research could be forgotten in Grey’s Anatomy season 19 after she moved away, her storyline in season 21 as Catherine’s doctor and also a thorn in her side couldn’t. Meredith’s choice to keep Catherine’s privacy and not tell Richard about the procedure brought back her peculiar relationship with Richard to the center of Grey’s Anatomy. Richard looking out for Meredith has been a theme throughout Grey’s Anatomy, and their clash over Catherine’s case highlighted their long history, how important it was for them, and how it shaped both Meredith and Richard’s storylines.
What To Expect From Meredith’s Story In Grey’s Anatomy Season 22
Meredith’s Research, Job As A Surgeon & Connections In Seattle Can Be Her Story’s Focus
Meredith acknowledging how important Seattle and Grey Sloan Memorial are to her in season 21’s finale is a turning point for her story and Grey’s Anatomy season 22. So much happened to Meredith at Grey Sloan, with her story inextricably linked to the hospital. However, before Meredith’s move to Boston, her relationship with Grey Sloan could not be fully appreciated, as there was never an alternative to that in Meredith’s life. Moving away made Meredith realize how much of what she took for granted in her life, like surgery or being around her loved ones, she missed.
Meredith’s new outlook will inevitably influence her story. With Pompeo scheduled to appear in seven episodes of Grey’s Anatomy season 22, the medical drama has the chance to use the episodes to update audiences about her Alzheimer’s research. However, it can also celebrate Meredith’s long history in the institution, having her interact more with the residents through her patients, and the higher number of cases she can have based on her choice to split her time between Seattle and Boston.
[Grey’s Anatomy season 22] could bring back Meredith’s heartwarming sisterhood with Amelia beyond their research, or focus on her bond with Bailey.
Making Meredith’s appearances at Grey Sloan feel more natural compared to seasons 20 and 21 can also let their focus move to include her relationships with her loved ones, while still working at the hospital. Grey’s Anatomy season 21 saw Meredith and Richard’s bond be the focus, but season 22 could bring back Meredith’s heartwarming sisterhood with Amelia beyond their research, or focus on her bond with Bailey, making Grey’s Anatomy season 22 further highlight how Meredith is still the beating heart of Grey Sloan Memorial, even from afar.
