The Catherine Fox Awards in Boston made Meredith’s return look convincing in Grey’s Anatomy season 19’s finale, but sharing her hunch about Alzheimer’s also hinted at the way she could return to Grey’s Anatomy season 20. Ellen Pompeo’s reduced role as Meredith guaranteed continuity once Meredith and her kids left Seattle for Boston in Grey’s Anatomy season 19, episode 7, as Meredith’s voiceovers continued while her story was not on the forefront like in the past. However, Meredith’s reveal of Alzheimer’s premise being wrong in Grey’s Anatomy season 19, episode 20, changes things, hinting at the story behind Meredith’s presence in Grey’s Anatomy season 20.
Meredith’s cryptic message to all those she considered her family back in Seattle left them puzzled at first and shocked once they knew why Meredith summoned them in the Grey’s Anatomy season 19 finale. However, Meredith’s findings about Alzheimer’s were not only a shocking reveal per se but also hinted at her future, especially considering how Richard made it clear that voicing them would have easily destroyed Meredith’s career. This introduces a big development that Grey’s Anatomy season 20’s story cannot ignore, especially when looking at how it was broached.
Meredith’s Reveal In Grey’s Anatomy Season 19’s Finale Puts Her Back In The Spotlight
After Meredith’s departure from Seattle, those left at Grey Sloan Memorial dropped updates about her every now and then but mostly let the main storylines in Grey’s Anatomy season 19 continue without Meredith’s absence tarnishing them. While such an exit envisaged Meredith’s occasional return to Grey’s Anatomy, revealing her Alzheimer’s findings propelled Meredith back into the spotlight. The unexpected reveal can easily make questions arise about how the storyline will be approached in Grey’s Anatomy season 20.
Meredith going to Boston to study Alzheimer’s meaningfully closed the circle, given that it was her mother’s illness and something that potentially burdened her future. However, introducing such colossal developments involving Meredith’s Alzheimer’s research this close to Meredith leaving and in the episode, she returned hints at the story potentially being central in Grey’s Anatomy season 20. After all, it wouldn’t have taken such a space in the Grey’s Anatomy season 19 finale nor involved some of Grey Sloan Memorial’s most illustrious doctors if the Alzheimer’s research findings weren’t central in some way in Grey’s Anatomy’s future.
Involving Grey’s Anatomy Doctors Can Make Meredith Return In Season 20
Richard’s reaction to Meredith’s research didn’t leave room for ambiguity, certain that coming clean about her findings would have cost Meredith her reputation and her funding. Whether that happens in Meredith’s future, Grey Sloan Memorial’s doctors could still be central in supporting her, both participating in her research and liaising with those willing to fund such a trailblazing study. Amelia herself, albeit shocked at Meredith’s boldness to posit such a question, couldn’t stop herself from going over Meredith’s data, hinting at her involvement in Meredith’s research even if it went against everything she believed in.
Were Grey’s Anatomy season 20 not to involve or mention Meredith’s research, it would make the Alzheimer’s findings reveal in the Grey’s Anatomy season 19 finale feel odd. Even if Meredith were primarily absent from Grey’s Anatomy season 20, Grey Sloan doctors helping in her research could let the story be told, even if only showing their side and how participating affected them. Whichever way Grey’s Anatomy season 20 chooses to tell the story, Meredith’s Alzheimer’s findings will be a key development, or the Grey’s Anatomy season 19 finale wouldn’t have introduced them as raucously as it did.
