'Grey's Anatomy' Season 11 Spoilers: 'It's the Season of Meredith,' Shonda Rhimes Reveals
"Grey's Anatomy" fans are in for an emotional season this fall, according to creator Shonda Rhimes. The popular TV series is already a roller-coaster of emotions for viewers, and they can expect to be taken on yet another ride when the season returns.
"Right now, if you were in the writers' room, you would probably tell me that the theme is 'Meredith,'" Rhimes told TVLine. "Because all I keep saying is, 'The show is just about Meredith Grey!' It's really a Meredith-centric season. She's lost her 'person,' her half-sister has shown up, her husband is chafing to go someplace else."
Fans were left reeling when "Grey's" regular Sandra Oh, who played Cristina Yang, exited the hospital and the series. When the show returns this fall, Meredith will still be in pain from the loss, and the show will pick up "about 24 hours" after the previous episode. They had one of the most solid friendships in TV history, and fans were also left in a bit of pain at Oh's exit.
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As for Meredith's half-sister, Maggie, Rhimes could not be more pleased that the show is finally at a point when Meredith's family history can finally be fully explored and revealed. Maggie is the daughter of Ellis Grey and Richard Webber, with whom Meredith's mother had an affair while married to Thatcher Grey. Richard was unaware of Maggie's existence until the season finale.
"It's very earth-shattering information," Rhimes told TV Guide. "It undoes everything Meredith thought to be true about her past and her childhood. It's fascinating."
The storyline "will be influenced by what Meredith went through with Lexie," her other half-sister, Rhimes added.
Another storyline involves Callie and Arizona's decision to pursue surrogacy. Rhimes called it a "Band-Aid" for the couple. "How could it not be? I don't know if anybody could watch that and go, 'Yeah, that's the answer for them.' But I love that it's going to open up the opportunity for them to finally explore everything that's wrong and whether or not they should be together at all. Their entire relationship has been a series of Band-Aids."
"Grey's Anatomy" returns to ABC on Thursday, Sept. 25.
