Meredith’s move from Seattle to Boston in Grey’s Anatomy season 19 guaranteed Ellen Pompeo’s reduced role in upcoming seasons, but news reports about her involvement hint at a big story taking center stage in Grey’s Anatomy season 21. Meredith’s move resulting in her working for the Fox Foundation studying Alzheimer’s disease ensured her link to Grey’s Anatomy characters remained strong, making it possible for her to be onscreen any time foundation business was being discussed. This became even more evident after she made an enemy out of Catherine by revealing her controversial Alzheimer’s theory to benefactors at the Fox Awards.

Meredith had various story arcs that put her front and center over Grey’s Anatomy’s twenty seasons. Winning the Harper Avery made her Grey Sloan Memorial’s most in-demand doctor in season 14, and almost losing her license also focused all the attention on her in Grey’s Anatomy season 16. However, defying Catherine’s orders to pursue her Alzheimer’s research with Amelia in secret using Grey Sloan’s discretionary funds was the first time Meredith’s story was central as Meredith was simultaneously less onscreen due to her reduced role. One report about Pompeo’s presence in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 nonetheless promises things will change.

Pompeo Being In At Least 7 Episodes Means Her Alzheimer’s Story Will Be Season 21’s Focus

Grey’s Anatomy S20’s Finale Made Catherine The Villain With Meredith’s Study & The Mass Firings

The report confirming at least seven Grey’s Anatomy season 21 episodes will include Ellen Pompeo if not more shows that the bomb Meredith set off by publishing her Alzheimer’s findings in Grey’s Anatomy season 20’s finale can be season 21’s biggest story. Meredith’s choice considerably impacted various Grey’s Anatomy characters, including Amelia, Teddy and Owen, who were punished by Catherine for working with Meredith or advocating for someone who did like Owen’s rant proved, losing their jobs. However, Meredith appearing in almost half of Grey’s Anatomy season 21 episodes shows she will be central, spearheading one of her greatest fights.

Meredith’s actions in Grey’s Anatomy season 20’s finale ensured she made an enemy out of Catherine. Still, Catherine’s villainous turn in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 was hinted at by her iron grip on Grey Sloan Memorial, which led her to fire many of her department heads and threaten to do the same with the new interns and Miranda Bailey. Whether Meredith will only challenge Catherine over the publishing of her findings as she was employed by the Fox Foundation when she conducted the Alzheimer’s research or fight alongside the Grey Sloan doctors who were fired, she will indubitably support them.

Fights At Grey Sloan Can Change Greatly Grey Sloan’s Structure In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21

The Latest Massive Change In Hospital Structure Was In Grey’s Anatomy Season 9

Were the fired doctors to rebel against Catherine, they would find a great ally in Meredith. Her partially owning shares of Grey Sloan Memorial and Bailey’s board member position make them the best possible chance to put up a fight with Catherine and stop her from changing the hospital’s fabric. This could be the greatest change to Grey Sloan Memorial’s structure since Grey’s Anatomy season 9 when the Grey Sloan Seven purchased the hospital with the help of the Fox Foundation to stop it from being bought for parts, as it would effectively pit hospital owners against each other.

Pompeo’s ramped-up role in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 makes all these possibilities more feasible. Whichever way Grey’s Anatomy season 21 decides to go for the central arc already set up by season 20’s ending, it’s going to involve massive infighting at Grey Sloan Memorial. This makes Grey’s Anatomy season 21 automatically more exciting for the changes it will bring, and that would be even more impactful if Meredith were to be at the center of all fights.

Grey’s Anatomy season 21 premieres on Thursday, September 26 at 10 pm on ABC.