As ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ has been set to return for season twelve this fall, fans will get a closer look at a bunch of new troubles that will be incorporated into the new plot of the hit medical drama, particularly for Ellen Pompeo’s character- Meredith.
In Season 11, the surgeon lost her husband, Derek, as portrayed by Patrick Dempsey, after he was killed off from the ABC series due to a horrific car accident.
In the upcoming season, Meredith will have to move on and continue forward without her charming loved one by her side. However, showrunner Shonda Rhimes revealed that Meredith’s journey in season 12 will have more ups and downs than she could expect.
During the 2015 TCA Summer Press Tour, Rhimes opened up about the upcoming installment, which fans can expect to bring on a “much lighter tone” compared to the previous dark season.
In particular, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 12 will follow the widowed doctor as she sets foot on a new chapter in her frenzied life.
“Meredith is single and she is living this life that she’s never thought she’d be living again. She’s living in a house with her sisters. She’s surrounded by women who are dating and having a whole life and she’s not interested in all that,” Rhimes explained.
The executive producer also mentioned how the new season will shed light on the concept of “rebirth” once more.
“[Meredith is] starting to wonder is there a second life here or are your best years behind you? I guess the theme [of Season 12] is rebirth. That evolution for that character is beautiful,” she shared.
With ‘Secrets & Lies’ star Martin Henderson joining the show for season 12 as the new doctor at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, speculations have claimed that Meredith could be exploring her opportunities with a new potential love interest.
However, Rhimes stated that she is not entirely sure “what I’m doing with [him].”
Meanwhile, ABC entertainment president Paul Lee recently assured fans that he expects the medical drama series to continue for many more years.
"We have no reason to expect that Grey's Anatomy won't go on for many years to come," he said at his network's Television Critics Association executive session on Aug. 4. Offering positive words for Rhimes’ efforts, Lee believes that the program is performing at its best.
"We've seen the pitch for ‘Grey's’ for next season. The show reinvents itself again,’ he stated.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 12 is set to premiere on Thursday, Sept. 24.