The Grey's Anatomy season 21 finale aired on ABC on May 15, and fans are still recovering from that explosive ending. The medical drama series is known to leave its audience on edge, but this jaw-dropping cliffhanger may have delivered one of the show's most intense moments yet.
MAJOR spoilers ahead from the Grey's Anatomy season 21 finale.
In episode 18 titled "How Do I Live," it mainly centers around a desperate mother named Jenna who takes drastic action after her daughter falls unresponsive following brain surgery. Fueled by fear and grief, she brings a highly flammable acetylene tank into the operating room and forces Amelia to perform a risky procedure, turning the hospital into a high-stakes hostage situation with several lives at risk.
Luckily, Meredith steps in to help diffuse the crisis, determined to protect her family and former colleagues. She figures out a medical solution for the young patient, which helps Amelia complete the high-risk surgery successfully. With everything now under control, the tank suddenly topples over, causing a moment of panic. But nothing happens. Jenna reveals that the tank was empty and that she never intended to harm anyone. She only wanted to ensure her daughter got the care she desperately needed. Everything is back to normal, right? Wrong.
At the end of the episode, Amelia and Adams hear from Jenna’s husband that the tank shouldn’t have been empty because he always keeps them full. However, Amelia and Adams reassure him that it was indeed empty, as confirmed by the police. Jenna's husband then asks them if Jenna ever opened the valve to the tank, and Amelia and Adams immediately start to panic. Amelia tells Adams to find Webber, and he darts off to the operating floor. The episode then shows different doctors on the OR floor before cutting to Meredith outside, walking away from the hospital. The OR floor suddenly bursts into flames, and Meredith turns around in shock. Dun dun duuun!
Following that shocking cliffhanger, you’re likely wondering which characters will return for Grey’s Anatomy season 22. While the writers are keeping many details under wraps, the ending has left several characters’ survival up in the air. Below, we highlight five characters who might not make it through the fallout.
Briana Venskus-Vazquez, Natalie Morales, and Adelaide Kane in Grey's Anatomy season 21 | Disney/Anne Marie Fox
These Grey's Anatomy characters might not come back
Although many doctors were working at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital during the fire, viewers saw only four present on the OR floor where the fire occurred. Those doctors were Bailey, Natalie, Jules, and Link. Natalie was shown jotting something down on a piece of paper when Jules approached her, asking if she could help her with an intussusception. Meanwhile, Bailey was seen nearby reviewing a board listing various doctors' names. At the same time, Link was shown performing surgery on a patient. Since they were all on the OR floor at the time the fire broke out, they're all at risk of not returning for Grey's Anatomy season 22.
Another character that might not return for the next season is Adams. Adams was headed to the OR floor to warn everyone about the tank. While we never actually see him arrive on the OR floor in the season 21 finale, there's a chance that he did when the fire broke out. However, we won't know for sure until Grey's Anatomy returns this fall.
The only two characters who have been confirmed to be safe are Meredith and Warren. Meredith was seen outside the hospital watching the fire unfold, while Warren was shown running toward the building. Teddy might also be in the clear. According to Jules and Natalie, she hadn’t been seen at the hospital for hours, suggesting she likely left before the fire started. Jo was also last spotted outside the hospital, so she may be safe as well.
However, others who were still inside the hospital at the end of the episode, like Simone, Kwan, Amelia, Owen, and Webber, may not be as fortunate. While none of them were shown on the OR floor when the fire broke out, their exact locations were never revealed, leaving their fates uncertain.
It'll be interesting to see how everything unfolds in Grey's Anatomy season 22. One thing’s for sure. We're likely in for an intense and emotional premiere.
