Greys Anatomy Season Premiere: Whats Grey Sloan Like Without Cristina?

Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo

Greetings, TVGuide.comGrey's Anatomyfans! I'll be your new recapper for Season 11. Some of you may recall that I vowed togive up onGrey's halfway through last season, but unlikeKatherine Heigl, I just can't seem toquit this show. Let's get right to it.

The premiere's opening flashback is Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) remembering how her mom once lost her in a park when she was 5. In addition to the carousel looking like the most terrifying merry-go-round ever (seriously, how fast are those horses going?), we also learn that Meredith basically saved Ellis' life by getting help that day when her mom started to feel sick.

Turns out the sickness is actually Ellis going into labor. With Mini Meredith peeking around a corner, Ellis asks that the baby be taken away immediately. And that's how Dr. Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) came into this world!

Grey's Anatomy: What's ahead in Season 11

So, the question I had heading into this episode was just how much Cristina's (Sandra Oh) absence would be felt. And at the end, I have to say while the lack of Yang was definitely noticeable, I think the show will be just fine without her. Also, I really like Maggie's character. She's going to be a nice new foil for Meredith.

Also stepping in to fill Cristina's shoes is Alex (Justin Chambers), who's now Meredith's new person by default. Duties of this job include being woken up by Meredith, who then kicks Jo (Camilla Luddington) out of bed and sends her to make coffee so she can vent to Alex. (Who wants to bet Jo also browsed rental listings while she was at it?)

Cut to an AA meeting, where Richard (James Pickens Jr.) is telling the fellow attendees that he's just learned he has a daughter. Guess who else is at the AA meeting? Amy Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone). This just became Alcoholics Awkward. Later, Webber begs Amelia not to tell anyone in the hospital about their AA encounter. It's clear that she's happy to have someone to share her secret with, but he's not in a talking mood.

Back at Grey Sloan, Meredith tries to say hi to Maggie, but their convo is interrupted when they and Owen (Kevin McKidd, who directed this episode) are nearly smashed by a helicopter that makes a very wobbly landing on the hospital roof (these effects, lol). Whoops, there goes the gurney! Right over the ledge and through the roof of a parked van below ... and in between a teenage couple who, we later learn, are having sex in the vehicle. Maggie, Meredith and Owen are all like:

Read the original here:
Greys Anatomy Season Premiere: Whats Grey Sloan Like Without Cristina?