The promo for next week's Grey’s Anatomy confirmed for fans they were going to get their season-long wish to see a fan-favorite character once again. After nine years, Lexie Grey will return and join her half-sister Meredith on her COVID-induced coma beach. The only thing that would make this reunion better, however, would be if the show also had Lexie’s true love, Dr. Mark Sloan, join them.
Nine years ago, Grey’s fans were shocked and outraged when their beloved Lexie was tragically killed in an airplane crash in the show’s eighth season. She died before sharing a proper farewell with her half-sister, Meredith. Chyler Leigh's exit as Lexie during Grey's Anatomy season 8 was at Leigh’s request, as she had decided to leave the role after five seasons to spend more time with her family. Then, to the dismay of the fans, Mark died just a few episodes later, from what everyone believed was a broken heart.
In its 17th season, Grey’s is beautifully tackling a pandemic storyline by having Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey contract COVID. Key to the storyline has been beachside visits with friends and loved ones in her COVID-induced coma. First, her cherished husband Derek (Patrick Dempsey) suddenly appeared. Then, it was her dear friend, George (T.R. Knight). Most recently she was visited by Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti), who was shockingly stabbed to death a few episodes ago. However, one name topped fan polls as to who fans wanted to see most next on the beach: Lexie. Hopes for such a reunion weren’t high as Chyler Leigh was busy in Vancouver filming the final season of the CW’s Supergirl but it appears it's happening after all. It would be an even more impactful return, however, if Meredith were to see her sister happy wherever she is by having Dr. McSteamy show up, too, as the love of Lexie's life.
Almost as equally important as giving Lexie and Meredith closure and a proper goodbye after nine years would be for both Meredith and Grey's Anatomy fans to see Lexie and Mark together and happy, even if it is just an imaginary moment in Meredith's coma. Lexie’s last words were, “Meant to be” after Mark’s tearful proposal as she lay dying, trapped under the airplane. Theirs had been one of the most tortured love stories in Grey’s history. Time and again they would come together only to be repeatedly torn apart. It’s not just fitting but necessary to give them the happy ending they deserve.
The fact producers pulled this surprise visit off is to be applauded as there had been no indication that a Lexie and Meredith reunion was imminent until the recent promo. Hopefully, producers found a way to bring back actor Eric Dane so that reunion on the beach can also take place. Regardless of how their Lexie and Meredith’s reunion concludes, however, next week’s Grey’s Anatomy episode (appropriately titled “Breathe”) will likely be one of the most-watched of the season. Kudos to the show's writers for finding a creative way to frame their serious COVID storyline by bringing back beloved Grey's Anatomy characters.