Grey’s Anatomy
Grey ’s Anatomyhas become known for how it manage the departure of its characters , particularly its most democratic ones , but fortuitously , some of them can still return for season 20.Grey ’s Anatomyhas become one of the longest - consort aesculapian dramas in TV chronicle , and it point no sign of stopping even though its championship character , Meredith Grey ( Ellen Pompeo ) , has left . Grey ’s Anatomyhasn’t been safe from contention , and some of these have been the result of how the writers have manage the au revoir of many of its characters .
While notevery main character who has leftGrey ’s Anatomyhas been kill , many were written off in ways that did n’t fit their narration or were simply too tragical . Grey ’s Anatomyhas proven it can make for back any theatrical role , even those who have die , as it did during Meredith ’s COVID storyline , but there are many others who are still live that can deliver at some point . WithGrey ’s Anatomypreparing for time of year 20 , and with its future beyond that still unclear , it ’s a great chance for some characters to come back – and here ’s who and how can return inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 20 .
8Cormac Hayes
Cormac Hayes ( Richard Flood ) was the Head of Pediatric Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and one of Meredith Grey ’s dear pastime . Cormac made his launching inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 16 , when he get a job at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital after forge at the Klausman Institute for Medical Research in Zurich , Switzerland . Hayes worked with Cristina Yang , who was key in his get the job at Grey Sloan .
Once at Grey Sloan , Hayes spring up a friendship with Owen Hunt , which was a big part of the reason why he ended up leave the hospital . InGrey ’s Anatomyseason 18 , Hayes acquire that Hunt had been in secret euthanizing veterans , and while he was qualified to do that , he was plan to aid old-timer that did n’t qualify for the program of aided death . As this is a felony , Hayes was put in a difficult post , so he take to leave the hospital alternatively of scab on his friend . Now that Owen has paid for what he did , Hayes does n’t have to hide anymore , so he ’s free to return to Grey Sloan to help the eternal rest of the faculty .
7Alex Karev
Grey ’s Anatomyhas seen many controversial exits , and Alex Karev ’s ( Justin Chambers ) is one of them . Karev was the Head of Pediatric Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and one of Meredith ’s unaired friends . Karev was one of the original intern ofGrey ’s Anatomy , starting his life history at the same prison term as Meredith , Izzie , Cristina , and more , and he ’s one of the characters that go through the well grapheme development . Unfortunately , everything that Karev had build came crashing down with his abrupt and out - of - plaza exit . Alex last to Iowa to supposedly assist his mom , but that was n’t true , and he told his wife , Jo , that he was “ go through something ” before he stopped answering her claim .
It was later revealed through letter he left for Meredith , Jo , Miranda Bailey , and Richard Webber that he had reconnected with Izzie , and memorise that she had twin thanks to frozen embryos . This meant that Izzie ’s children were Alex ’s , so he determine to move in with them and go away Jo and Seattle . Alex Karev ’s story was left incomplete , andGrey ’s Anatomyseason 20 would be a not bad chance to bring him back and come up to the loose ends in his level , finally giving him the occlusion he deserve .
Related : Why Grey ’s Anatomy ’s Alex & Izzy Choice Was A Total Betrayal
6Cristina Yang
One of the most unforgettable but also slimly controversial exit inGrey ’s Anatomywas that of Cristina Yang ( Sandra Oh ) , Meredith ’s best friend and “ person ” . Cristina stand out from her colleagues for being ferociously competitive , focussed , and knowing , but also for having trouble convey her emotions . One of Cristina ’s most worked up moments was her relationship with Preston Burke , who left her on their marriage day . Because of this , it came as a surprisal that Burke play a key role in Cristina go out Grey Sloan .
InGrey ’s Anatomyseason 10 , Burke offer Cristina a occupation as the head of the hospital he founded in Switzerland , as he was bequeath to move with his family . Cristina accept , and she move to Zurich to become a research worker , Chief Medical Officer , and Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Klausman Institute for Medical Research . Cristina in short returned to Seattle for Derek Shepherd ’s funeral , but she can make a right return inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 20 , and the best way to do so is if Richard Webber lastly retires this season . The writer ofGrey ’s Anatomywould surely want to bring the surviving interns from time of year 1 back to say goodbye to Webber , so it ’s a arrant way to bring Cristina Yang back .
5Arizona Robbins
Arizona finally won but ended up sharing Sofia with Callie . Some time later , Sofia move back to Seattle , but she was unhappy as she missed her school , friends , and Callie . Arizona then decided to move to New York so Sofia could be tight to her and Callie , and she leftGrey ’s Anatomy . Arizona has n’t returned to the serial publication ever since , but Grey Sloan could use her Pediatric expertness , which would be a great excuse to bring her back in time of year 20 for a couple of episodes .
4Jackson Avery
Jackson Avery ( Jesse Willians ) unite Grey Sloan as part of the merger with Mercy West , and became Head of Plastic Surgery . Jackson leftGrey ’s Anatomyin season 17 when he decided to make a change through his family ’s substructure , the Harper Avery Foundation , after experiencing spartan racial inequity in medicine . Jackson appeared inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 19 when Meredith visit him in Boston , and they discussed her desire to bring around Alzheimer ’s . Jackson ensure Meredith she will have inexhaustible resources at his hospital , and she take on the offer to move to Boston .
Jackson ’s liaison in the foundation and this newfangled link to Meredith and her research , leaves the doorway wide exposed for his yield inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 20 . In improver to that , Jackson is one ofGrey ’s Anatomy ’s many legacy quality , and his abbreviated tax return are a kickshaw to viewers , making his return for a couple of episodes ( or even just one ) inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 20 a mint more likely .
Related : Grey ’s Anatomy ’s Open Door Exits Are A ripe Thing For Season 20
3Maggie Pierce
AlthoughGrey ’s Anatomyseason 19 insure the loss of Maggie Pierce ( Kelly McCreary ) , that does n’t mean she ca n’t get along back for a couple of episode in season 20 . Maggie Pierce was the Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Grey Sloan , and she ’s also Meredith ’s half - babe , as she ’s the daughter of Ellis Grey and Richard Webber . Maggie is marital to Winston Ndugu , and atthe end ofGrey ’s Anatomyseason 19 , they decided to detain married but apart , as Maggie act to Chicago . It ’s through her marriage to Winston that Maggie can revert inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 20 , even if not necessarily as part of Grey Sloan ’s stave .
2Addison Montgomery
Addison Montgomery ( Kate Walsh ) is anotherGrey ’s Anatomylegacy character that can easy be take back in season 20 . Addison leftGrey ’s Anatomyin season 3 and starred in her own spinoff serial , Private Practice , but she carry on to make sporadic visual aspect inGrey ’s Anatomyas she assist various surgical process over the years . Addison returned briefly inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 18 and made a proper riposte in season 19 for five episode , so she could return once more in season 20 to stay to assist the Grey Sloan gang , who can always use her expertise .
1Meredith Grey
Grey ’s Anatomyseason 19 was the first one to not have Meredith as the primary persona throughout the whole time of year . Meredith made the big decision of moving to Boston to continue her Alzheimer ’s enquiry , and it ’s this research that can keep bringing her back to Seattle . Meredith ’s hunch on the research and hail clean about the goal of her whole research can have big repercussions inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 20 , and given how authoritative this enquiry is not just to Meredith but the series in universal , it will continue being a focal point even if Meredith is no longer in Seattle . Ellen Pompeo has substantiate she will return , though not in a main role , so there will be more Meredith Grey for , at least , one more season ofGrey ’s Anatomy .