Grey’s Anatomy’s Kim Raver on Directing Ellen Pompeo, Scott Speedman

Grey’s Anatomy‘s Kim Raver got another chance to direct an episode of the hit ABC series — with everything from Ellen Pompeo and Scott Speedman‘s return to a surprise cliffhanger.

“I just love it. I feel so fortunate that I have the incredible Debbie Allen as my mentor and that every time I get to direct another episode, I learn more,” Raver, 56, who plays Teddy, exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of her latest episode, which airs Thursday, January 22. “I have an incredible crew and this cast is amazing.”

The episode, titled “Fortunate Son,” follows Richard (James Pickens Jr.) as he “continues to navigate his health.” Meanwhile, Meredith (Pompeo) and Nick (Speedman) are visited by Nick’s estranged sister from Boston.

“I got to really, really dive into [the main three characters for this episode] and then the interns. Especially with James Pickens Jr.], he has come out publicly that he has managed prostate cancer. This story line follows Richard — he’s vulnerable and tells this story. The audience is going to be riveted and moved,” Raver teased. “And there’s also a cliffhanger. I think that’s going to be really surprising because it’s great. We love a cliffhanger.”

Raver continued: “Ellen is incredible and her and Scott — their chemistry and their story line is just great. The audience is also just going to be really taken by their story. I love being able to go every day and be able to tell these stories from a director’s point of view.”

The actress expressed gratitude for the opportunity after being on the show since season 6.

“Each story line leaves us with that quintessential Grey’s Anatomy vibes where you are crying, laughing and the residents are so good. There’s a lot of shenanigans going on with them. It’s a really exciting episode,” she continued. “I feel like every time I direct a new episode of Grey’s, there are more things [I learn] because there’s a different format or a different way to shoot it.”

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Raver reflected on the learning curve, adding, “But I think maybe my confidence in how I want to tell this story and where I want to put the cameras [has gotten better]. TV moves so fast, so I feel like the more I do, the more comfortable I am with the speed that you need to go through it. I am just getting more and more comfortable with the craft of it, which allows me to then really enjoy the process.”

Raver also teased what Grey’s Anatomy fans can expect from the rest of season 22. “A couple of scripts came in [recently] and I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ It gets messy and it is so Grey’s Anatomy. I just love it so much,” she teased.

She concluded: “We’re all reading what’s happening [during a table read], and I love it. Some of us are in scrubs, some of us are in our street clothes. Then when we find out the information, it’s a shock and a surprise to all of us. We are like the audience, too, and then we look at each other like, ‘This is really happening.’”

Grey’s Anatomy returns to ABC Thursday, January 8, at 10 p.m. ET and streams the next day on Hulu.