Since George O'Malley (T.R. Knight) is a goner, that means Season 6 of Grey's Anatomy starts off on a bit of a low note. What could possibly lift the spirits of Seattle Grace?

Romance!

It looks like Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) are getting even closer this year, according to the former, although something arises from his past that may throw a wrench in the matter. Certainly feels like we've heard that before ...

In a new interview, McKidd reveals how George's death will affect everyone in the hospital, especially Hunt, who was instrumental in helping O'Malley become the hero.

Here are Kevin McKidd's answer to some burning Grey's Anatomy questions ...

Q: How does it feel coming into Season Six of Grey's Anatomy?

A: Kevin McKidd: It's nice to be full-time right from the start.

Q: How is George's death going to affect everyone?

A: I think it affected Owen Hunt a lot because he kind of mentored him and got him up on his feet as a trauma surgeon. He really felt that George O'Malley was going to become the next star head of trauma at the hospital. He didn't encourage George to join the army, but he certainly thought it was an honorable and great thing to do, so I think it's really hit Owen Hunt a lot.

In the same token, Owen is used to losing colleagues, and that's part of coming from Iraq and working as a surgeon in a war zone. He's become very assimilated to that, so he's got a better [grieving] mechanism than others in the show. I think he actually becomes a rock for people because he's so used to dealing with loss and grief of war colleagues.

Q: Do the producers have plans to replace George? Is someone new going to step in?

A: I don't know the answer to that one. They haven't said. But I know there are a couple of new interns coming in. It'll be exciting to see who shows up.

Q: How is Cristina and Owen's relationship going to develop this year?

A: It's going to get quite complicated in the sense that I think they have gotten over the whole trauma of his past, but then his past comes back again at some point to haunt him.

Someone comes to the hospital that he was connected to in his past, not his ex-fiancée, but it's somebody we didn't expect. I think it could get a little tricky, but still exciting and interesting. Hopefully it will bring them closer together in the long run.

Q: Bottom line: We should be rooting for Cristina and Owen this year, right?

A: Absolutely. They had a rough time last year, and they deserve some happiness this year. Whether they get it, I don't know.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.