Despite its slim 10-episode order, Grey’s Anatomy season 20 delivered plenty of drama, especially in its finale. The tenth episode, “Burn It Down,” saw Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital’s doctors dealing with the fallout of a raging wildfire in the Greater Seattle Area — yet another Station 19 crossover that impacted Grey’s Anatomy’s narrative in huge ways. However, the wildfire isn’t the only reason for the season 20 finale’s episode title. For starters, Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) returns to Grey Sloan once more to make some massive decisions about her groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research — and Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen).
Of course, in its penultimate episode, Grey’s Anatomy season 20 set up perfect exits for at least two of its long-time surgeons. Behind the scenes, ABC has been open about upcoming budget cuts to the network’s fall series — and not even a streaming behemoth like Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is immune to the shifts. Although more casting shakeups are likely, the series has already lost two main characters, with their actors deciding not to return for the show’s history-making 21st season. Needless to say, the Grey’s Anatomy season 20 ending suggests that at least half a dozen doctors won’t be working at Grey Sloan in future episodes.
Dr. Richard Webber
James Pickens Jr.’s Iconic Surgeon Is Finally Retiring (For Real)
A long-running joke of sorts, Dr. Richard Webber’s retirement has been teased by the series for seasons. One of the older surgeons in Grey’s Anatomy’s main cast, Webber is not just a mentor, but a father figure. From running Grey Sloan’s surgical intern program to overseeing the entire hospital as the Chief of Surgery, Webber has held many positions. Of course, Richard has also had to take a step back from the OR on more than one occasion. In the Grey’s Anatomy season 20 finale, Richard, who’s worried about his own abilities, has two interns finish a complicated procedure.
Without surgery, Webber won’t know who he is, but he also feels that it’s finally time to step back.
Webber’s decision results in the patient’s death — an avoidable mistake that pushes him to rethink his immediate future. Before taking the blame, Richard sits in the OR gallery and asks Meredith about Ellis, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at a young age. Richard wonders if (and when) Ellis knew it was time to put down the scalpel. While Meredith doesn’t have the answers, she listens to Richard’s fears about retirement. Without surgery, Webber won’t know who he is, but he also feels that it’s finally time to step back. And maybe Richard Webber really will retire in season 21.
Dr. Meredith Grey
Ellen Pompeo’s Grey’s Anatomy Character Has Left Grey Sloan & The Catherine Fox Foundation
It might be time for Grey’s Anatomy to move on from Meredith Grey — for real this time. Ahead of season 20, Pompeo took a step back from her acting duties on the show, appearing in just half or so of the 10-episode order. Even so, the season 19 finale set up Meredith’s all-important Alzheimer’s research storyline. After moving to Boston to work for the Fox Foundation, Meredith uncovered a startling truth: Everything the medical community thought they knew about Alzheimer’s disease was wrong. Catherine warns Meredith to keep the information to herself, but Dr. Grey doesn’t listen.
Unwilling to upset donors by putting forth an unfounded, field-altering idea, Catherine refuses to fund Meredith’s research.
At the Catherine Fox Awards, Meredith can’t help but blurt out her findings — even though her theory has yet to be substantiated. Unwilling to upset donors by putting forth an unfounded, field-altering idea, Catherine refuses to fund Meredith’s research. Since the research is so personal to Meredith, she enlists her sister-in-law Amelia Shepherd’s help and convinces Chief Teddy Altman to provide her with discretionary funding from Grey Sloan’s budget. When Catherine finds out, she demands Meredith turn in the research, which technically belongs to the foundation. Instead, Meredith publishes her work online and quits.
Dr. Amelia Shepherd
Caterina Scorsone’s Surgeon Quit After Co-Publishing Groundbreaking Alzheimer’s Research With Meredith
Given that Meredith’s preliminary research suggests a connection between the gut’s microbiome and the brain’s development of Alzheimer’s disease, she enlists neurosurgeon Amelia Shepherd’s help. At first, Amelia has some reservations: Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), her late brother and Meredith’s late husband, had devoted himself to researching Alzheimer’s, and Meredith’s discoveries could erase Derek’s contributions to the field. When Catherine gives Meredith and Amelia an ultimatum, Amelia decides to go with Meredith’s plan; the duo publish their findings and lose their jobs at Grey Sloan. However, Amelia leaves the hospital feeling pretty confident in their decision.
Dr. Owen Hunt
Kevin McKidd’s Trauma Surgeon Sealed His Fate By Talking Back To Dr. Catherine Fox
In Grey’s Anatomy season 20, episode 9, Owen and Teddy spend their day off on a hike. While on the trail, the couple discover two hikers in need of help, and Owen talks them through the basics of treating wounds and stopping bleeds. An adrenaline rush for the trauma surgeon, the in-the-field experience prompts Owen to pitch an idea to Teddy: He wants funding to teach these 101 classes. Afraid of putting his wife in an awkward position, Owen goes to Catherine to ask about money, which leads to her discovery of the funds earmarked for Meredith’s research.
Teddy offers to step in and perform one last emergency surgery — but Catherine catches her on the way to the OR.
When Catherine Fox finds out about Teddy’s under-the-radar betrayal, she fires Chief Altman. Teddy clues Owen in to what’s going on, but winds up heading into the hospital to assist with the fallout from the wildfire. With Grey Sloan completely slammed, Teddy offers to step in and perform one last emergency surgery — but Catherine catches her on the way to the OR. Frustrated by Catherine’s ego, Owen calls Dr. Fox out so that Teddy can perform the life-saving surgery, but Hunt’s harsh take-down of Catherine results in his being fired.
Dr. Teddy Altman
Kim Raver’s Former Chief Of Surgery Went Behind Catherine’s Back & Got Fired
At the end of season 19, it seemed like Grey’s Anatomy might kill off Teddy Altman, but that ended up not being the case. Instead, Chief Altman used her power and reach to secretly fund Meredith and Amelia’s groundbreaking research. Although Altman hides the truth from Catherine Fox for most of the season, things come to a head when Owen speaks to Catherine. Despite being fired on the spot, Teddy’s fate is ultimately tied to Meredith and Amelia’s decision. If they turn over the research, Altman can keep her job. Of course, that’s just not Meredith Grey’s style.
Dr. Mika Yasuda
Midori Francis Is Reportedly Exiting Grey’s Anatomy Ahead Of Season 21
Although Dr. Mika Yasuda has a pretty eventful season 20 finale, nothing is career-damaging. Unfortunately, Yasuda and Jules Millin are the ones who incorrectly perform a procedure under Webber’s questionable guidance, so when the patient later bleeds out, it hits Yasuda hard. In addition to being at the top of her class, Yasuda has also been at the center of a few of the show’s most compelling romance threads. All of this to say, it was a shame when ABC announced that Francis would not be returning for Grey’s Anatomy season 21.
Dr. Levi Schmitt
Jake Borelli’s “Glasses” Is Finally Departing The Show
Despite being co-chief resident, Levi Schmitt had a pretty lackluster season 20. He saw an ex-boyfriend — and made peace with moving on — and badgered Dr. Monica Beltran (Natalie Morales) about getting a recommendation for a pediatric surgery fellowship. Unfortunately, after nearly 10 seasons on the show, actor Jake Borelli announced he would be exiting Grey’s Anatomy ahead of season 21. That said, viewers won’t be able to see the rest of Levi’s story play out, unless he returns to Grey Sloan as a guest actor.
Maybe Dr. Miranda Bailey (& The Interns)
The Characters Who Stood In Solidarity With Dr. Lucas Adams Will Probably Be Fine
In the final moments of Grey’s Anatomy season 20, Catherine Fox is ready to ax Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) for Sam Sutton’s death. The interns’ bad outcome has been hanging over them all season, so Adams’ colleagues burst into the conference room, threatening to walk if Catherine fires Adams. Although Catherine scoffs at the interns’ solidarity, claiming they can be replaced, Miranda Bailey enters the fray, and rightly suggests that Catherine can’t replace her. It’s pretty unlikely that Catherine will fire everyone who stood up for Adams, but the situation certainly makes for a great Grey’s Anatomy cliffhanger.