Beloved 'Grey's Anatomy' Characters Reunite in Ethereal Beach Limbo

In November 2020, the 17th season of the hit medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy' took an unexpected turn as the show embraced the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The cast was seen wearing face shields, reflecting the real-world challenges faced by the medical community. However, the two-hour premiere episode delivered a surprising twist – while the real-world Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) lay comatose, another version of her appeared on a beach, where she encountered her late husband, Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), who had been gone for six seasons.

This was just the beginning of a series of emotional reunions for fans. Soon, other beloved characters who had been lost over the years, such as George O'Malley (T.R. Knight) and Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), also appeared on the beach, finding happiness and closure. The last character we had lost, Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti), also made an appearance, adding to the bittersweet nature of these encounters.

As Meredith's condition grew increasingly dire, these interactions on the beach played on the viewers' fears, with characters questioning whether they should choose to stay or return to the real world. The depth of feeling between Meredith and Derek was palpable, as they reminisced about their unconventional wedding and the life they had shared. In the end, Derek insisted that it was not yet Meredith's time, and she had to return to the living.