It’s no secret that Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) has been the unsung hero throughout the last 19—well, now 20—seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. And now, she’s finally getting the recognition she deserves.
Last night, season 20 of Grey’s Anatomy finally premiered on ABC after a ten-month hiatus. The episode addressed several open storylines (including Teddy’s fate, the interns’ future and budding romances), but it also set the stage for what’s to come for the rest of the season.
Fans were likely overjoyed to see that Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) appeared in a decent amount of the episode, even though she’s no longer a series regular. The same goes for her love interest, Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman), who hadn’t been confirmed as a guest star.
However, it’s clear that their presence is temporary. And to fill the void, ABC has appointed a new hero to take their place: Miranda Bailey.
In the episode, Meredith confirmed that she’s leaving Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital to pursue a new opportunity. She even passed her research to Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone), who will continue to investigate her Alzheimer’s findings in secret.
Although Nick was unsure if he’d accompany Meredith, he confirmed his departure at the end of the episode when he appointed Miranda as the new head of the interns.
The scene was a full-circle moment for long-time Grey’s Anatomy fans, since the show’s very first episode featured Miranda leading Meredith and the rest of the interns on what would become a years-long journey.
The only question that remains: Can the new interns live up to the expectations set by the original cast? Only time will tell. But if Miranda is leading the pack, we have high hopes for what’s to come in Grey’s Anatomy season 20.
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