‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Spoilers: Ellen Pompeo Teases Meredith’s Changes As The Show Lightens Things Up

Grey’s Anatomy Season 12 will begin later this week, and fans are ready for the wait to end. Meredith Grey will truly begin her life after the death of Derek Shepherd last season. His death will have an impact on the entire cast of characters that spend their days working at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

However, there are positive changes ahead on the show. One might think the death of a major character would mean doom and gloom. There was some of that, but it took place immediately after Derek’s death last season. The series jumped ahead nine months, and now it will be several months after that when the series begins Season 12 on Thursday night.

Ellen Pompeo teased a bit about what is next for Meredith to Entertainment Weekly, and fans need to be ready to see Meredith take charge of her life. She will also be happier.

“While Derek has always been an important person to Meredith, he never defined her. Cristina Yang [Sandra Oh] said it perfectly, that Meredith is the sun, and I think this is going to be the year that she is going to realize that. I’m incredibly proud to be a part of a show that is entering its 12th season, playing such a strong female character. I trust Shonda [Rhimes’] vision and can’t wait to see what she has in store for Meredith’s new journey.”

Shonda Rhimes also teased the lighter tone for Grey’s Anatomy Season 12, and Ellen Pompeo confirmed it. She said, “This year we’re going to turn over the soil, and the show has a lighter look. It’s brighter. We’re trying to go back a little bit more to the original Grey’s and have a little bit of a lighter tone this year.”

The lighter tone is even clear on set. The Grey’s Anatomy ABC Instagram shared several videos of Ellen Pompeo, Debbie Allen, and other members of the cast goofing off, singing, and dancing on set. Debbie Allen is not a new addition to the series, but she is playing a larger role on and off camera for Season 12.

What else is ahead for Meredith Grey? Is a new romance even possible for her after Derek’s death? Pompeo did not count out that possibility.

“We’re going to start seeing Meredith begin exploring the question of ‘Once you’ve had a perfect love and a perfect marriage, with the perfect guy, what do you do next?’ A part of her is definitely going to wonder if the best parts of her love life are already behind her.”

Fans may not be happy if Meredith jumped right into a new romance. Derek’s death caused a huge reaction last season. A new romance for Meredith might cause the fandom to explode.

No matter what happens this season on Grey’s Anatomy, fans are certainly ready for it. They cannot stop talking about the show on social media. According to Entertainment Tonight Online, the series is the most tweeted show of the fall season.

Grey’s Anatomy will return to ABC on Thursday night.

[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]