I Figured Out The Easiest Way Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Can Survive Cast Exits

Summary

• Several key cast members are leaving
  Grey’s Anatomy
  ahead of season 21, raising concerns about the show’s ability to navigate change.
• Season 20 faced challenges with condensed storylines and character exits, leading to uncertainty about the future of the long-running series.
• The season 20 finale sets up Catherine Fox as a villain, but some believe it’s time for
  Grey’s Anatomy
  to move on from this storyline.

Ahead of the Grey’s Anatomy season 20 finale, ABC announced that several main cast members would be exiting the long-running medical drama. Jake Borelli, who has played Levi Schmitt since season 14, and Midori Francis, whose surgical intern Mika Yasuda joined Grey’s Anatomy in season 19, will be departing the show ahead of its landmark 21st outing. Previously, Maggie Pierce actor Kelly McCreary called it quits, while Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey, slashed her screentime. Needless to say, I’m feeling nervous about Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s ability to successfully navigate so much change.

The 10-episode season 20 was forced to condense storylines and character arcs — a tall order for a show with such a massive ensemble. Although the upcoming season doesn’t have to negotiate the fallout of dual Hollywood strikes, ABC has been transparent about network-wide budget cuts. I know that even a behemoth like Grey’s Anatomy isn’t immune to these shifts, but it does feel like the legacy show has too much to contend with. Even in the world of the series, there are quite a few Grey’s Anatomy doctors who won’t be at Grey Sloan in season 21.

A Time Jump Could Make Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Worthwhile

Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital Isn’t In A Good Place At The End Of Grey’s Anatomy Season 20

In the Grey’s Anatomy season 20 ending, Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) confronts Meredith and Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) about their season-long secret Alzheimer’s research. Afraid Meredith’s groundbreaking theories would upend the medical community — and upset donors — Catherine ordered Dr. Grey to stop using Fox Foundation money to fund her research. Ever-determined, Meredith enlisted the help of her sister-in-law in the lab as well as the financial weight of Grey Sloan’s Chief of Surgery, Teddy Altman (Kim Raver), who surreptitiously slipped Meredith money from the Fox-owned hospital’s discretionary fund.

[Catherine] gave Meredith and Amelia an ultimatum: Surrender their research or lose their jobs.

When Catherine discovered the betrayal, she fired Teddy and gave Meredith and Amelia an ultimatum: Surrender their research or lose their jobs. In the meantime, Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd), calls Catherine out, suggesting she was letting her ego get in the way of business (and saving lives). A few scenes later, Grey’s Anatomy season 20’s mass firings continue when Owen realizes he’s been quietly let go. Ultimately, Meredith and Amelia publish their findings and quit, leaving Grey Sloan without several crucial characters.

With Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr) considering retirement and Schmitt and Yasuda positioned to exit the show, the hospital is in quite a state at the end of season 20. I really can’t imagine a successful way forward with the current cast being in such a state, and that’s led me to believe there’s one clear way forward: a time jump. If Grey’s Anatomy season 21 employs a lengthy time jump, the show could soft-reset its narrative, change up character dynamics, and provide a fresh, exciting way forward for the long-running series.

Grey’s Anatomy Needs to Move On From Catherine’s Reign Of Terror

Catherine Fox Fired Several Attendings In The Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 Finale

The cliffhanger ending of Grey’s Anatomy sets up Catherine’s villain era. Although Grey Sloan attendings went behind Catherine’s back to pursue Meredith’s research, Dr. Fox’s mass firings — especially of characters like Owen — seemed more personal than anything else. In the very last scene of the season, she even threatens to cut every intern from the program for standing in solidarity with Lucas Adams (Niko Terho). When Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) sticks up for Adams, it seems like Catherine is even considering firing the hospital’s long-time general surgeon.

Navigating the politics of Catherine’s decisions isn’t nearly as interesting as seeing where Grey’s Anatomy’s characters land…

All of this to say, I don’t think it’s necessary for Grey’s Anatomy season 21 to continue this particular thread. It kind of feels like the mass firings were the culmination of 8 seasons of Catherine Fox villain build-up. Navigating the politics of Catherine’s decisions isn’t nearly as interesting as seeing where Grey’s Anatomy‘s characters land in the fallout. A time jump allows the show to reference how things played out while skipping over the heightened version of a narrative we’ve seen a few times already.