Twenty-one seasons is enough to make your head spin, isn’t it?
Grey’s Anatomy, one of TV’s longest-running successes and a record-breaker in its own right, will enter its 21st season this fall.
Talk about job security, at least for the show’s most senior cast members.
But as you can imagine, running a show over the course of nearly two decades means a lot of changes have to be made to keep things fresh.
Between storylines coming to a natural end and cast members leaving on their own, each season of Shonda Rhimes’ smash hit has come with cast shakeups.
So far, we know that a couple of beloved characters won’t be sticking around for the long term: Jake Borelli and Midori Francis have confirmed they will be exiting the show, so we’re saying goodbye to Levi Schmidt and Mika Yasuda.
Related: Grey’s Anatomy Season 21: Everything We Know So Far
We’re expecting a return to a longer season this year after season 20 was cut in half due to production delays resulting from Hollywood strikes.
And with several big cliffhangers looming over us since the Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 finale, the next installment has a lot of ground to cover.
In the meantime, we’re taking a look at the cast returning for Season 21, starting with those who have been with us since the Grey’s Anatomy series premiere.
Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey
As the show’s namesake, Meredith has been the main character and major staple on the show since day one.
The show has evolved quite a lot in recent years, making her into more of a background character, and allowing new generations of doctors to shine.
Truth be told, we’re not entirely certain how much of Meredith we’ll be seeing in Season 21.
Ellen Pompeo has long since left the show as a series regular, showing up in far fewer episodes than normal since that bombshell announcement.
She’s largely been absent so far this season, but something tells me that we’ll keep seeing her face around the hospital.
Considering her name is in both the show’s title and on the hospital’s sign, it seems a little unbelievable that we could ever truly say goodbye.
Last season, she and her boyfriend Nick (Scott Speedman) finally seemed to figure their issues out, deciding in the finale to buy a home and settle down in Boston.
It’s the happy ending we’ve always wanted for her after everything she’s been through, so even if it means she’ll spend less time in Seattle, we’re just glad she’s thriving.
Pompeo is set to star in a new Hulu original called Natalia, following the true story of a family who adopted a child that they began to suspect was actually an adult.
Depending on Pompeo’s schedule, chances are high that Meredith will be away a bit more next season.
Hopefully, there’s still plenty of time for her to show up when she needs to.
Given the drama with Catherine Fox last season, it seems highly likely that Meredith will have to step in to smooth some things over.
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey
Grey’s Anatomy might survive without its titular character, but there’s no universe where it could do without the incredible Miranda Bailey.
One of the only original cast members remaining, Chandra Wilson has always brought her A-game to this role, stealing the scene every time she’s on screen.
Miranda is an attending and the former Chief of Surgery who took a step down to focus on her family and well-being.
She and her husband, Ben Warren (who has spent the last six years starring on Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, Station 19) share three children.
Thanks to the Station 19 series finale, we know that their oldest two boys will go on to graduate from college and their daughter will grow up to join the same firehouse that Warren has just left.
But despite knowing that the family will have a beautiful future, it’s still exciting to know that their stories will be focused back on Grey’s Anatomy.
Bailey has been struggling a lot, especially lately, with fears about Ben getting hurt on the job, and it’s made it difficult for her to focus at work.
Her big project these days has been whipping the new intern class into shape, of which she’s done an excellent job.
Now that the interns have passed their exams, we can’t wait to see what Miranda does next.
The finale showed her laying it all on the line to threaten to leave if Catherine fired one of her interns, so tensions are already high.
Since Ben will return to the hospital to finish his surgical residency now that Station 19 has come to an end, we have to wonder how working together will impact their relationship.
It has made things complicated for the two of them in the past, so we’ll see how things play out as they return to work in the fall.
James Pickens Jr. as Dr. Richard Webber
Ah, Dr. Webber. He’s a fan favorite, to be sure, and one of the best characters on the show.
But is this man ever going to retire?
It seems like he may be facing some sort of cognitive decline, which might actually push him to lay down his scalpel for good.
But given that his wife is spiraling into some literal villain and he’s likely going to have to deal with the fallout, Webber will have plenty to focus on outside of the operating room.
Plus, he’s always been a teacher and mentor since the show began, so we expect to see him embody that role a bit more going forward, too.
After saying goodbye to his daughter, Maggie, when Kelly McCreary left the show during Season 19, Richard has been in need of family connection. Let’s hope he gets it in Season 21!
Jason George as Dr. Ben Warren
The doctor is in!
In a move that shocked literally no one, ABC announced that Jason George would be returning to Grey Sloan after Station 19 closed its doors for the last time.
We couldn’t be happier to have Dr. Warren back at the hospital.
He’ll need to finish his residency, but he’ll slide right back into place as the “dad” of the group, bringing with him years of experience he now has as a first responder.
His presence will also do wonders for Miranda’s peace of mind, and maybe his friendship with Webber will get a nice renaissance that we haven’t seen in a while.
I’m fully prepared that Ben will have a hard time initially with the transition, but I’m also thrilled that we get to keep this piece of Station 19 close to our hearts over at Grey Sloan.
Kevin McKidd as Dr. Owen Hunt
If Owen Hunt has no haters, then I am dead.
I have never been able to forgive this man for how he treated Cristina Yang.
Specifically, when he screamed at her at a baby’s birthday party for having had an abortion on Grey’s Anatomy Season 8 Episode 12.
Sorry, not sorry; I hold a grudge.
He’ll be back for more shenanigans with his wife, Teddy, who is also the worst, and unfortunately for us all, we’ll have to put up with whatever the writers have in store for the two of them.
I’m going to continue to hold out hope that it’s something diabolical, and we’ll get to say goodbye to this guy for good.
Kim Raver as Dr. Teddy Altman
Teddy has been through a lot, I’ll give her that.
Having lost not one, but two, relationships to tragic deaths, it’s hard not to feel some sympathy for her. Her best friend and secret lover died on 9/11, and later she lost her husband tragically during surgery.
But she still has a long history of cheating on her partners, and that’s a difficult pill to swallow.
So far in the season, she and Owen are experiencing some tension in their marriage, the effects of which should start becoming clear in the second half of Season 21.
Caterina Scorsone as Dr. Amelia Shepherd
Amelia Shepherd is a criminally underrated character on Grey’s Anatomy.
Her story started on the Grey’s universe’s first spinoff, Private Practice, where she worked alongside Dr. Addison Montgomery in a co-op medical practice in Los Angeles.
Her backstory is devastating: a recovering addict who lost her father to a violent crime, her fiance to an overdose, and her newborn baby to a rare brain abnormality, Amelia eventually moved to Seattle to be closer to her brother, Derek, and his family.
Then she lost Derek, too, prompting her to deliver one of the saddest lines in Grey’s Anatomy history.
Amelia: Every man I’ve ever loved has died, including my baby. So thank you, universe.
🔗 permalink: Every man I’ve ever loved has died, including my baby. So thank you, universe.
In the past few seasons, Amelia has been unlucky in love but has given birth to a beautiful child she shares with Atticus Lincoln.
Season 20 teased a relationship with newcomer Monica Beltran, but who knows if that will actually go anywhere given the state of the show’s LGBTQ+ representation.
Debbie Allen as Dr. Catherine Fox
Catherine is in her villain era, and we’re not sure what to make of it.
Season 20 ended with the boss of all bosses slashing employment out from under most of her best doctors.
She then came face-to-face with Bailey and a room full of interns telling her that they would walk out if she fired Lucas, which she planned to do.
In Season 21, we’re wondering if Catherine will get a redemption arc, or if she’ll continue to spiral.
There’s also the fact that she’s living with cancer, so will the writers bring that back to the forefront of her story?
It’ll be interesting to see how she handles herself going forward, and what role her husband, Richard Webber, will play in it all.
Camilla Luddington as Dr. Jo Wilson
Poor Jo has been through it, hasn’t she?
Abandoned at a firehouse as an infant, abused by her first husband, and abandoned again by her second husband (we’ll never forgive you for that, Alex Karev), Jo seems to finally have the life she deserves.
She’s somewhat happily partnered up with her best friend, Link, and the two of them form a blended family: Jo’s daughter, Luna, and the son Link shares with Amelia, Scout.
After a pregnancy scare and ultimately deciding to wait on having more children, the Season 20 finale revealed that Jo is, in fact, pregnant.
Sometimes you have to wonder if there’s nothing more interesting a show can do with a female character. It’s either traumatize her or get her pregnant.
Now that the fall finale has revealed a potential stress-induced problem with her pregnancy, we can’t help but think, “I told you so.”
Chris Carmack as Dr. Atticus “Link” Lincoln
Survivor of childhood cancer, golden retriever in a man’s body, lovable himbo: we love to love Link.
His relationships on the show have been complicated, but he’s usually been a pretty incredible partner.
Even now, he maintains a good co-parenting relationship with Amelia while shacking up with Jo and raising their kids together.
Of course, he doesn’t yet know that baby #3 is on the horizon, but we can’t imagine him having a negative reaction to that news, even if it takes him a minute to get used to the idea.
Grey’s Anatomy isn’t exactly known for giving women perfect and uncomplicated pregnancies, so if I had to bet, I’d say Link will have his work cut out for him as a support partner to Jo during her pregnancy.
Will he propose to Jo and finally get the marriage he’s always wanted? We’re rooting for you, kid.
Anthony Hill as Dr. Winston Ndugu
If I’m being honest, I’m surprised Winston hasn’t already been written out of the show.
His relationship with Maggie Pierce was good for some drama, but without her, he’s offering little to the show.
In Season 20, he connected with Beltran, which was a disappointment for those of us who hoped to see Beltran with Amelia.
Suffice it to say that whatever direction the writers take Winston in going forward is likely to either be boring or annoying.
Hopefully, they can find a way to make him less sulky and more of a person that other people want to be around.
His friendship with Richard will probably be important going forward, depending on what we’re about to see the latter go through, so we’ll hope for some character improvement for Winston.
Adelaide Kane as Dr. Jules Millin
If Adelaide Kane looks familiar to you, you may have seen her face on TikTok.
Her rise from social media star to Grey’s Anatomy regular has been quick and exciting.
We know relatively little about her character’s backstory.
She has a brother who pretends to be a doctor but is actually a fraud preying on vulnerable people on the internet, and she was raised by hippies who left most of the “adulting” to their daughter.
Millin has proven herself to be a good friend and a capable doctor.
Most recently, Jules’s storyline has been plagued by heartbreak as she said goodbye to Mika after a whirlwind romance.
Niko Terho as Dr. Lucas Adams
Can anyone say, “nepo baby?”
Okay, fine, we love Lucas, but it’s true: he’s the son of one of the late Dr. Derek Shepherd’s sisters, and given the events of the fall finale, medical talent isn’t his only family legacy.
All we know is that his mom is not Amelia, but it hasn’t been revealed yet which sister is his mother.
We won’t find out until next year whether Lucas survived the apparent gunshot he suffered, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that he’s okay.
His relationship with fellow intern Simone Griffith is too wholesome to end so tragically.
Harry Shum Jr. as Dr. Benson “Blue” Kwan
Speaking of mental health, Dr. Kwan revealed during Season 20 that he’s dealt with depression and suicidal ideations, which was a huge moment for his character.
Blue is an interesting character with a complex history.
Having had to focus on taking care of his mother, he was unable to attend medical school in the United States and instead went to a less prestigious school outside the country.
He has held some shame about that but ultimately showed that he doesn’t regret deciding to prioritize his family.
His ex-fiancee, who showed up last season to shake things up for Kwan, has recently returned after leaving her partner and seems ready to strike up a new version of their relationship.
Personally, I think Kwan is setting himself up for being hurt, but we’ll see what happens.
Alexis Floyd as Dr. Simone Griffith
Griffith’s history at Grey Sloan goes all the way back to her birth.
The young doctor was born at the hospital and sadly lost her mother during childbirth.
She was raised by her grandmother, who now suffers from Alzheimer’s, and Simone has bonded with Meredith a bit over their shared trauma.
Griffith had a tumultuous on-again-off-again relationship with Lucas, and she ultimately left her fiance because of her conflicted feelings for her colleague.
But eventually, Simone and Lucas figured it out, and their scenes together have been sickeningly sweet ever since.
Heading into the new season, there will be plenty of drama to go around for all of our young doctors.
Natalie Morales as Dr. Monica Beltran
One of Season 20’s most exciting new cast additions was Natalie Morales.
You’ve seen her in smash hits like Parks and Recreation, Dead to Me, and White Collar.
She joined Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Monica Beltran, a recently divorced member of the LGBTQ+ community and Grey Sloan’s newest Chief of Pediatric Surgery.
Early in her time on the show, it looked like there would be an enemies-to-lovers storyline between Beltran and Amelia, but that seemed to be put on hold after Beltran turned down Amelia’s request for a date.
Instead, Beltran hooked up with Winston, a fact Amelia recently discovered but had very little reaction to.
Who Beltran will end up with remains a mystery, but we’re excited to find out (as long as it’s Amelia).
Scott Speedman as Dr. Nick Marsh
It took a long time for Meredith Grey to find love after losing her husband, but it seems she finally has.
Nick started as an organ transplant patient whom Meredith treated and initially shared a connection with, but they went their separate ways for quite a while.
He eventually returned, and the two have had some drama, but Season 20 showed them figuring things out.
Nick has followed Meredith across the country more than once as she pursued her career goals, but it looks like they might be finally ready to settle down in Boston for good.
Scott Speedman is set to star in Teacup, a horror series coming to Peacock, and we don’t yet know what that means for his Grey’s Anatomy character.
If we had to guess, he and Meredith will make a couple of minor appearances throughout Season 21, leaving plenty of time for Pompeo and Speedman to focus on other projects.
Jaicy Elliot as Dr. Taryn Helm
Despite having relatively little personal drama as of late, Dr. Helm is still a staple on Grey’s Anatomy.
Elliot has been on the show as Helm since Season 14, and her character has been well-liked by most fans.
During Season 20, though, she acted mostly as background filler for other characters.
Her relationship with intern Mika Yasuda (which was entirely inappropriate considering Helm’s position as Chief Resident) fizzled out.
Helm appeared on Station 19 a few times, even getting the honor of telling Dr. Carina DeLuca that her IVF cycle worked.
We’ll see if Season 21 is kinder to Helm, especially since she just had to say goodbye to her best friend, Levi — maybe the writers will give her something more exciting to do next year.
Sophia Bush as Cass Beckman
In one of the most high-profile cast additions to the show in years, Sophia Bush joined Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 as a trauma surgeon currently working at Seattle Presbyterian.
Her character, Cass Beckman, brought the drama immediately when she revealed to a shocked Teddy that she and her husband (a cardio surgeon at Grey Sloan) have an open marriage.
Then she planted one on Teddy, causing more friction in the already tense marriage between the latter and Owen.
Most recently, Beckman was asked to help out at Grey Sloan during a heat wave, where she casually chatted with Owen over an OR table about applying for a position in his trauma department.
Owen is clearly still reeling from the what-ifs of the Cass and Teddy situation, so who knows if he’ll actually be willing to bring Beckman into the fold.
Either way, Bush has already made a strong impression on Grey’s fans, and her character has been nothing if not attention-grabbing.
Floriana Lima as Nora Young
Floriana Lima (A Million Little Things) made a brief appearance earlier on Grey’s Anatomy Season 21, but came back as the midseason wrapped up.
Lima plays Nora Young, a childhood friend of Owen’s (and his sister, Megan’s), who surfaced in the hospital as a patient in need of help after another facility botched her surgery.
Eagle-eyed fans picked up on the chemistry between Nora and Owen right away, and with all the drama surrounding the Hunt/Altman marriage, it’s quite possible that they’re onto something.
As the fall finale closed, Owen was graciously (read: suspiciously) offering to drive Nora to her hotel room after having just spotted Teddy and Cass in an elevator.
The sight took him off guard, because Cass was — gasp — lightly touching Teddy’s arm.
While nothing is ever certain on Grey’s Anatomy, it seems pretty likely that Nora is going to play a role in the mess that is Teddy and Owen’s lives.
Characters We Bid Farewell So Far in Grey’s Anatomy Season 21
Several characters have made their exits already in the first half of the season, and we’re sad to see them go.
Here is a roundup of some of the characters we’ve had to say goodbye to already during Grey’s Anatomy Season 21.
Jake Borelli as Levi Schmitt
Having long outgrown his “Glasses” nickname, Levi moved on to pursue a career in peds at a research facility in Texas.
Before he left, he got to say goodbye to those closest to him, and even had time to fall in love on the way out the door.
Michael Thomas Grant as James Morgan
While his time was short lived, James was an important character on Grey’s Anatomy, quickly falling into a whirlwind romance with Levi after starting his new chaplain position at the hospital.
Just when it looked like both their hearts would be broken upon Levi’s departure, James decided to leave it all behind and go with him to Texas.
Julia Rose as Chloe Yasuda
Another new character in Grey’s Anatomy Season 21, Chloe appeared as the youngest sister of intern Mika.
Chloe had just been diagnosed with an advanced cancer, and while she was in Seattle receiving treatment, she and Mika were in a severe car accident.
Mika’s condition was touch and go, but she survived.
Tragically, Chloe succumbed to her injuries, leaving Mika behind to grieve.
Midori Francis as Mika Yasuda
Mika was one of the newest interns at Grey Sloan, and she quickly became a fan favorite.
After the car accident that killed her sister, Mika struggled with grief and guilt that was ultimately too profound to allow her to stay in the place her sister died.
She resigned, saving a moment for an emotional goodbye with Jules before leaving for good.
Her story remains open, so there’s always a chance for a return in the future, and we’d love to see it happen.
With such a full cast and considering the budget-saving measures that some networks are taking, we may not see our favorite characters as often as we’d like.
The new normal is taking some getting used to.
But we’re excited to see where Season 21 takes these doctors, especially the remaining interns-turned-residents of the M.A.G.Y.K. class.
Stay tuned for more news from us, and we’ll let you know what we find out from ABC about next season!
In the meantime, let us know in the comments which characters you’re most looking forward to in the second half of Season 21 and who you could do without.
Grey’s Anatomy returns Thursday, March 6 at 10/9c on ABC.
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