Grey’s Anatomy star talks “profound” surprise return in latest episode

The latest Grey’s Anatomy returning cast member has called his reunion with Ellen Pompeo “profound”.

The 17th season has dealt with COVID-19 head-on, by having Dr. Meredith Grey (Pompeo) drifting in and out of consciousness as she battles the virus.

In her sleep, Meredith first had visions of Derek Shepherd, and in Thursday’s episode, she was visited on her peaceful beach by her late friend George O’Malley (TR Knight).

In her dream, George was alive and well, but the old friends did frankly discuss his real death to finally give Meredith the closure she needed.

Speaking to Deadline about returning to the ABC medical drama after 11 years away, TR said he was particularly touched by one special moment where Bailey and Richard were briefly drawn into the dream too.

“Even though we filmed this in the middle of October, I’m still trying to put into words how profound the experience was for me, so just hearing that made my eyes leak saltwater a little bit,” he explained. “When [writer Krista Vernoff] first gave me the pages, Bailey was not in it yet, I think Richard was.

“And then I got the second round. It’s just hard for me to put into words, still, how meaningful it was.”

He went on: “It was incredible, it was just an overwhelming feeling of love in that moment. We were apart from everybody quite a bit because that was a drone shot, and so it was just the four of us, and the sun was setting, and this big fly buzzing around our heads, and it filled me with just a lot of joy.”

More familiar faces from the past could be seen on Meredith’s beach in the coming episodes, as she undergoes clinical trials for COVID therapies.

Vernoff has told Deadline that fans should “never say never” to any character from the past appearing because “there’s magic possible”.