Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Repeats Teddy’s Tragedy From 12 Years Ago With Its New Generation Of Interns

Warning! SPOILERS about Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 8 ahead.

What one of Grey's Anatomy season 21’s main exits caused brought back one sad storyline from the medical drama’s season 8 involving Teddy. Throughout Grey’s Anatomy, Teddy lived through multiple tragedies, whether they directly impacted herself or her loved ones. This was true for the backstory motivating Teddy’s choice to join the army, but also the various times her life was in danger while working at Grey Sloan Memorial. However, one tragedy in particular took Teddy by surprise because of how much it affected her after Teddy had become emotionally attached to another character entirely unexpectedly and swiftly.

Mika’s departure from Seattle had a similar impact in Grey’s Anatomy season 21. Her brush with death affected the entire new intern class, with Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s midseason finale showing how much Mika’s new friends struggled with almost losing her and noticed how her return to Grey Sloan might have encountered various obstacles. However, no one could have been more affected than Jules. Grey’s Anatomy season 21 began exploring Jules and Mika’s romantic connection, but Chloe’s illness quickly fumbled that by taking all of Mika’s attention, and Mika’s departure following Chloe’s death stopped Jules and Mika’s relationship for good.

Mika's Departure Leaves Jules Like Teddy After Henry's Death In Grey's Anatomy Season 8

Jules & Teddy Both Weren't Looking For Love & Were Left Heartbroken

After shutting Jules out because of Chloe’s illness, Mika finally realized that their connection was worth exploring in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 6. This briefly made their romance possible, being eventually stopped by Mika’s life being in jeopardy first and Chloe’s death later. Only after Mika and Jules hooked up did Mika understand she needed to leave Seattle if she wanted to begin again after Chloe’s death. Mika’s decision to depart left Jules forlorn, as she never meant to fall for someone and had always been vehemently against anything more than a casual fling since getting to Grey Sloan.

Mika’s choice in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 thus makes Jules’s position similar to Teddy’s in season 8. Mika still being alive, unlike Henry in Grey’s Anatomy season 8, makes Jules’s situation less critical than Teddy’s, but the consequences are nonetheless similar. After all, Teddy had never anticipated falling for Henry, having married him only to provide him with insurance coverage. Losing Henry left Teddy unsettled enough to prompt her departure from the hospital in Grey’s Anatomy season 8. Jules’s refusal to find love only to fall for Mika and being burned makes her situation similar to Teddy’s after losing Henry.

Jules' Heartbreak Can Put Her At The Center Of Grey's Anatomy Season 21's Storytelling

Grey's Anatomy Greatly Focused On Jules Only When Maxine Was Sick

Mika suddenly leaving Grey Sloan Memorial can also make Jules the focal point of the story at last. Grey’s Anatomy seasons 19 and 20 greatly focused on Lucas and Simone’s storylines, both personal and as a couple. While Jules’s perspective was briefly at the story’s center when Maxine arrived at Grey Sloan, during her fling with Blue and when Jules supported Simone, Grey’s Anatomy never went much further. Jules’s heartbreak after inadvertently falling for Mika can instead give the character more depth that previous storylines didn’t, finally putting Jules at the front of Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s second half.