After losing two long-timers in last season’s finale of Grey’s Anatomy, Grey Sloan will be in for an adjustment in Season 23 to “rebound from that loss,” teases showrunner Meg Marinis in an email Q&A with TV Insider. “It will not be an easy adjustment,” she adds, especially since one was the hospital’s chief of surgery.
Another shakeup ahead? The arrival of a newcomer, James Wolk‘s Dr. Seth Norton, “who may or may not come in hot — literally and figuratively — and ruffle some feathers,” Marinis notes.
Viewers will also see Dr. Toni Wright (Jen Landon) emerge as “instrumental in Ben’s [Jason George] plastics fellowship,” the EP adds. (In the above exclusive photo, we get a look at the two in action together.)
As for that cliffhanger, with Link (Chris Carmack) suffering from shoulder pain while Jo (Camilla Luddington) questions her medical career after her near-death birth experience post-twins, Marinis says: “We’ll have to see whether this couple can open up and help each other heal.”
Read on for our full interview with Meg Marinis about what’s ahead in Grey’s Anatomy Season 23.
Season 22’s finale saw a big reset with Owen and Teddy leaving. How does that change things for the Grey-Sloan crew in Season 23?
Meg Marinis: Grey Sloan is now down two exceptional attending surgeons, one of whom was the Chief of Surgery, so we’re going to see how the hospital rebounds from that loss. It will not be an easy adjustment.
In the first set photo from production, both Benson Kwan and Toni Wright are back. What can you tease about that?
We’re going to see the fallout from Blue getting fired at the end of last season and him trying to make amends. He has a long road to go in terms of regaining Richard’s trust again, and we’ll have to wait and see if that leads to him potentially getting his job back.
As for Dr. Wright, we’re so happy to have Jen Landon back. Toni’s relationship with Amelia is something we’re going to keep exploring, and Toni’s going to be instrumental in Ben’s plastics fellowship so that’s a fun dynamic to explore. Toni’s really going to continue to be a mentor to Ben.
One major cliffhanger from Season 22 was Jo questioning her career at the same time that Link seems to be physically struggling in secret. What’s ahead for those two in Season 23?
Jo’s traumatic health scare last season really impacted her– PTSD after birth trauma is something that affects so many women, and it takes time to process, so we’ll watch Jo question her career through this and how she chooses to parent. Jo is a fighter, as we know, but this will definitely be a time of personal discovery and growth for her.
Link has endured a lot. Between last season’s explosion and his resulting shoulder injury, the stress of Jo’s pregnancy and her and the twins’ health complications (Yes! That all happened last season!) has only added to his stress load. He hasn’t really been able to come up for air and as a result, he’s started pushing his own health and needs aside. We’ll have to wait and see whether this couple can open up to each other truthfully about their different pain and help each other heal.
Is Bailey going to pursue her educational aspirations this season?
Yes! Bailey going back to school to get her masters in public health is something that feels like a given for her. She has firsthand experience dealing with the “system” and how it helps and hurts patients. The trick will be how she’s able to manage school, her work as a doctor and her personal life. We can all be stretched so thin.
Are we going to see some more cameos from former castmates again this season?
I hope so! We love bringing former cast back when they’re available and it makes sense story wise. We have some ideas percolating so I’m hopeful we’ll have some fun nostalgic surprises for fans this season.
Will this season offer a backdoor pilot or other introduction for the new Texas-set spinoff?
My lips are sealed, you’ll just have to wait and see.
Are there any new characters on the horizon for Season 23?
I can’t share too much, but there’s a new character who may or may not come in hot (literally and figuratively) and ruffle some feathers.
Grey’s Anatomy, Season 23 Premiere, October 15, 10/9c, ABC