Grey’s Anatomy Just Closed a 20-Year-Old Loop — And You Probably Missed It

Miranda Bailey has been at the heart of Grey’s Anatomy since the medical drama’s very beginning, but a plot problem from season 1 was solved at last in season 21. Besides Meredith Grey, Bailey has been the Grey’s Anatomy character who has grown the most over the 20 years that the medical drama has been a staple on ABC.

Starting from Grey’s Anatomy season 1 as a resident, Bailey grew into a capable general surgery attending, progressing to the point of becoming chief of surgery. Losing the residency program in season 18 led Miranda to prioritize her health, but Grey’s Anatomy season 21 proved that her most recent role was in her destiny after teaching interns for many years.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Proved Bailey Really Cares About Her Interns

In Grey’s Anatomy’s 20 years, part of Bailey’s job had always been to impart knowledge to the Grey Sloan interns. Both Bailey’s and Webber’s speeches to the interns in Grey’s Anatomy’s first season became iconic, and Bailey was always there to keep an eye on Meredith, Cristina, Izzie and George. However, things are remarkably different in Grey’s Anatomy season 21.

If MAGIC’s residencies prompted Bailey to always check whether the interns were doing things right, supporting them when necessary, it was clear that Bailey was doing it because it was part of her job and nothing more. However, losing her job as surgical residency director changed Bailey’s perspective in Grey’s Anatomy season 20’s ending.

Bailey spent season 21 pushing Grey’s Anatomy’s new class of interns to progress, trying to inspire their growth as surgeons instead of scaring them straight like she did with Meredith, Cristina, George and Izzie. Glimpses of Bailey’s focus being on the interns could be noticed with previous classes, but it wasn’t as systematic as with the last class that graduated.

Bailey truly came through for Simone, Lucas, Jules and Blue. She even coached Mika, despite that meaning losing her, as leaving Grey Sloan was what she needed. By Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s ending, it was clear that Bailey had not only made them better doctors, but also supported them every step of the way, something that didn’t happen with MAGIC.

How Bailey’s Career Always Pointed To Residency Director Being Her Destiny

The key difference for Bailey has to do with her role between Grey’s Anatomy seasons 1 and 21. At the medical drama’s beginning, she was just a resident with a duty to look out for interns, but as a residency director, Bailey shapes every aspect of their education.

Bailey’s ambition brought her to be Chief of Surgery, but that role only gave her more problems, without being rewarding. Shaping the future class of surgeons, along with working as an attending, instead reminds Bailey that her job is truly making a difference, being more important to her than the higher status associated with the chief position.

Grey’s Anatomy season 21 was full of challenges for Bailey as she had to regain the residency director position after standing up to Catherine for Lucas. However, this only made her a better advocate for her interns.

It will be interesting to see Bailey interact with Grey’s Anatomy season 22’s new class of interns, as they will surely cause as many troubles as interns historically did at Grey Sloan. It will nevertheless be easier this time, as Bailey will have Simone, Lucas, Jules and Blue to rely on in Grey’s Anatomy season 22, as residents she shaped.