Grey’s Anatomy returned for it’s 17th season, and it arrived with a bang. If you have yet to watch, here is your spoiler alert because a huge fan favorite appeared in a brief cameo to ring in the new season.
That’s right, last night, the one and only McDreamy, aka Patrick Dempsey returned as Dr. Derek Shepherd. As fans of the show know painfully well, Shepherd was killed off the show in 2015, so no one imagined he might appear in what is rumored to be the last season of the hit series. So how did they bring McDreamy back from the dead? Not without some dramatic flare, of course.
The two-hour premiere episode started right when Season 16 left off, back when the Coronavirus first hit the United States. The episode, which was a crossover with Station 19, was dedicated to front line workers and, let me tell you, it was everything you hoped a medical drama in the age of Coronavirus could be.
First, in one of the more relatable plotlines, Meredith struggles to cope with the quickly rising amount of COVID-19 related deaths, while the staff deal with anger and anxiety as they are left to fend for themselves due to lack of PPE. But, in case that’s a bit too relatable, the writers decided to make fans weep a little more when Owen refused to reconcile with Teddy. Then, as Link and Derek’s sister Amelia are taking their newborn baby boy home, Link announces their son’s name, Scout Derek Shepherd Lincoln. Shortly after, due to extreme exhaustion (and maybe the virus??) Meredith Grey collapses in the parking lot of Grey Sloan Memorial, where she sees her late husband in a dream.
The season has only just begun, but it begs the question of who else are we going to see this season and having us cross our fingers that maybe one of these Latinx actors will come back for one more visit. Here are six Latinx actors who made quite an impression with their roles on Grey’s Anatomy.
Sara Ramirez
Dr. Callie Torres exited Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital during the season 12 finale, making up with her ex-wife, gaining permission to see their daughter, and moving to New York to live with her girlfriend. It should be noted that Ramirez, who played Callie for 10 years, thus far, has been the ONLY Latinx cast member throughout Grey‘s Anatomy‘s entire run.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato portrayed a young patient named Hayley, who is treated by Dr. Alex Karav. Recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, her parents brought her in because she was trying to claw her eyes out. Alex discovers a tiny hole in her ear which ends up being the cause of her self-harm episodes.
Wilmer Valderama
The 70s Show alum, Wilmer Valderama, joined the cast for a brief multi-episode arc where he played a musician named Kyle who is diagnosed with MS and briefly dates surgical resident Stephanie Edwards. He dies after being treated for meningitis.
Hector Elizondo
Reappearing throughout seasons three, five, six, seven, and ten, Hector Elizondo portrayed Carlos Torres, Dr. Callie Torres’ papa! And most notably, was shown as a father who grew to accept and love his daughter after she came out as bi.
Rita Moreno
The legendary Rita Moreno graced the halls of Seattle Grace in Season 12 as Gayle McColl, the forlorn wife of Griffin, who she refused to divorce despite being seperated for over thirty years. Spoiler: she gets what she waited for!
Tessa Thompson
Making a two episode appearance in Seattle Grace, this future Marvel superhero appeared in seasons two and four where she played a teenage girl diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The staff gives her a hospital style prom, where she loses her virginity to her boyfriend, but sadly, dies shortly after.