'Grey's Anatomy' Richard Cartwright/ABC
Meredith's attack, updates on April and Jackson, Nathan and Owen, Owen and Amelia — and more.
Expect the action — and melodrama — to return in fill swing when ABC's Grey's Anatomy returns from its two-month winter hiatus on Feb. 11.
Following Owen's sibling surprise, April and Jackson's suspended marriage and Alex and Jo's proposal, there sure are a lot of things waiting to be resolved in the back half of season 12. To get a sense of what to expect from the remainder of the season, THR caught up with a few of the McStars from the Shonda Rhimes medical drama. Here are a few things to look forward to.
Meredith, Meredith, Meredith
Drew says that the midseason premiere (episode nine) will — as the promos suggest — focus on Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and her subsequent stabbing (which as this new promo suggests, could be the result of a major car crash).
"Episode nine when we come back is all about the terrifying, horrible attack that happens to her," Drew says of the Denzel Washington-directed hour. "It's incredibly surprising and is an attack on her that comes from out of nowhere and it's shocking. It's a contained special and one of those very special episodes."
Amelia
For those wondering if Amelia really did break her sobriety in the midseason finale, co-star Caterina Scorsone is putting those questions to rest.
"She drank the drink; it wasn't water!" the actress behind the Dr. Amelia Shepard says. "Amelia is in a precarious and vulnerable place at the moment. She is walking a razor's edge right now. And she's on the outs with just about everyone. There's a rift with her and Owen; there's a huge rift with Meredith. She's been kicked out of the house and is feeling pretty isolated."
After Mer gave Amelia the boot in the midseason finale, Scorsone has no clue where her character is hanging her stethoscope these days. "I don't know [where she moves to]; she's staying somewhere! I don't want to ask!! It's possible she's in a hotel; she definitely does not have a permanent living situation."
Amelia and Owen
As for how breaking sobriety might impact Amelia's romantic relationship, Scorsone admits it "probably wouldn't impress Owen if he found out." Also likely to be on a list of things that don't impress Owen? Hanging out with his mortal enemy, Nathan Riggs (Martin Henderson). For now, the actress says, Amelia and Nathan are just drinking buddies — but she won't rule out anything that happens after spending too much time at Joe's bar. "All bets are off! Amelia tends to not make great decisions when she's under the influence of alcohol or chemicals. But I can't give you any information there," Scorsone says. Asked if Amelia's drinking could be the straw that breaks the camel's back, that remains unclear.
"It's definitely going to impact their relationship," she says. "His reaction to it isn't the very best but I'm clearly biased. There are going to be some bumps in that road. We'll see if those crazy kids can get it together. Deep down, they're such good people and they've been through hell!"
Owen and Nathan
Owen has a sister, that much we know. But just how Henderson's new McMystery Man Nathan Riggs was connected to her is anyone's guess. But one thing is certain: Nathan is not Owen's sister as many have theorized.
"Some people thought I might be Owen's sister, that Riggs had a sex change. That's not true that I know of!" Henderson says with a laugh. "A little more gets revealed. Owen's ongoing feud with Nathan ends up causing enough friction within Nathan's working environment where he's constantly having to defend and justify himself because of the ill-will that Owen is spreading."
Nathan and … Meredith?!
Given the fortuitous way that Nathan met Meredith — by Grey's Anatomy's famous elevator (where Mer and Derek shared many a major moment) — could he wind up being her new McMan?
"Is there a romantic interest there? No, I don't think that's in any way implied," Henderson says. "I don't think we've played it like that. The writers are undoubtedly — and Shonda specifically — are having a lot of fun with people's projections and preconceived idea that my introduction and Derek's departure are somehow very linked as a narrative. But Shonda is having too much fun playing with that expectation to play into it and I think she's smart enough to know that that's a little too obvious. I think it will always be a possibility but any relationship is up for grabs on this show. That will remain a mystery — it is to me. It would be a way to go but I know that they would take just as much glee at thwarting people's expectations and going a different way."
While that may not be on the table right now, do look for Meredith to learn more about Nathan from the man himself. Henderson says Nathan will "divulge some facts to Meredith" in a bid to defend himself from Owen's claims. "He ends up revealing more than he wants to in that moment, which becomes a little awkward and it gets cut quite short," Henderson adds. "But in a few episodes from now, the audience definitely starts to learn a little bit more about who Nathan is and what happened and how Owen and Nathan are connected. Ultimately, we have very different views on the same thing."
Meredith and Amelia
To say that Meredith's attack is going to "deeply impact" her sister-in-law is probably an understatement. Scorsone says that Mer will "bare the brunt" of the attack but that Amelia will "hold herself responsible for the misfortune of others." That the attack comes as she's resumed drinking and has already been kicked out of House Grey only further complicates their relationship.
"Their relationship is at such a low point when [the attack] happens; Amelia holds herself responsible for the misfortune of others. This poor girl! She's going to take it pretty hard."
Andrew and Maggie
"In the upcoming episodes you'll see them facing more difficult challenges for their relationship and how it's viewed by other people at the hospital and how that creates pressure for them," new series regular Giacomo Gianniotti (Andrew DeLuca) says, warning that new lovebirds Maggie and Andrew will be their own worst enemy when it comes to their burgeoning relationship.
Adds Kelly McCreary (Maggie): "We last left them acknowledging that their feelings were unprofessional. They're going to have to figure out how to be professional and have feelings at the same time, which as you can imagine for Maggie is awkward, like everything is for Maggie. They're going to have fun along the way while they figure out how to do that."
Maggie and Meredith — and Amelia
Meredith's attack will truly shake things up for Maggie, McCreary says of her on-screen half-sister. "Meredith, Richard and Amelia are Maggie's newly chosen family and this completely rocks her world. We've seen Maggie to be a very devoted sister and very loving and caring and she's devastated and tries to be there every way imaginable for Meredith — just as you think she would be." As for whether or not Maggie will be there to support twisted sister Amelia, McCreary says Maggie — for now — is unaware of "how tortured Amelia's past is."
"But Maggie loves her just the same. Maggie doesn't get too involved in the dark side of what Amelia is going through; she keeps her focus on Meredith. There's only so much dark a woman can take," McCreary says.
April and Jackson
Sarah Drew (April) warns that April and Jackson's (Jesse Williams) future won't be settled any time soon.
"We don't hear the end of that conversation until a few episodes down the road," Drew previews, stressing episode 11 is key for the sorta couple. "I know everybody wants to know what Jackson was going to say, but they're going to have to wait until episode 11 to find out."
Grey's Anatomy returns Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Grey's Anatomy
