*Warning: spoilers ahead*
Grey's Anatomy fans were shocked to have to say goodbye to a fan favorite during Thursday's mid-season premiere. However, ABC eased the sting when it teased the return of McDreamy (aka Derek Shepherd) for next week's episode. Yup, we’re serious.
During Thursday's two-hour crossover premiere event with Station 19, Dr. Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti) was stabbed in his attempt to pursue and expose a sex trafficker. After undergoing emergency surgery for his injuries, DeLuca died—something none of us ever saw coming.
Gianniotti expressed his gratitude to the show and the fans in a Tweet after the episode aired.
“So much I could say... but all that comes to mind is thank you. Thank you to all the fans who loved Deluca as much as I did. Telling his story was and will be one of the great honors of my life. Thank you,” he wrote. And while the loss hit us (as well as the friends and family of Dr. DeLuca) hard, ABC provided us with some light at the end of the tunnel.
In the new promo promoting next week’s episode, appropriately titled “It's All Too Much,” the doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial do their best to pick up the pieces of the devasting loss. Towards the end of the short teaser, Meredith is seen on the beach of her “happy place” which she frequently visits in her dreams while battling COVID-19. While she walks along the sand, she yells, “It’s you again,” before the camera shifts over to show the one and only Dr. Derek Shepherd fishing in the ocean. He’s finally back.
Watch the full teaser above and get your tissues ready.
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