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‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Top 5 Season 11 Plot Twists

By Patricia Ramirez
Published on: 15:12 PST, Sep 24, 2015

With the Grey’s Anatomy season 12 premiere inching closer, now is an excellent time for a season 11 memory refresher. The plot twists were dramatic and sometimes even traumatic last season at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, in true Grey’s Anatomy fashion. The doctors found themselves dealing with some of the darkest, most emotional situations in the show’s history. Season 12 is rumored by Wet Paint to be much more lighthearted. This comes as welcome news to Grey’s fans who were put through the wringer during season 11.

Speaking of that wringer, let’s count down the top five moments from last season’s roller coaster ride.

5. Bailey Wants To Be Chief

Bailey is one of the few original Grey’s Anatomy cast members left in the hospital. She’s strong, she’s capable, she just snagged Alex Karev’s board seat out from under him, and Richard was ready to move away from his position as interim chief. What could possibly stop her?

Last season saw the staid, by-the-books Bailey break into her genome lab to conduct unauthorized research, for one. It’s also important to realize we’re talking about Grey’s Anatomy here; the obstacles are generally unforseeable and addictively entertaining.

4. Alex And Jo Are Getting A Fresh Start

Jo and Alex had their relationship strained almost to the breaking point last season on Grey’s Anatomy. Meredith moved back into her childhood home last season in her grief, with the kids in tow. The only problem? She’d already sold that home to Alex, who was living there with Jo. The crowded living arrangements took their toll on the new-ish couple, so Jo found a solution.

This season of Grey’s Anatomy will see the two moving into their own fixer-upper home. Jo bought it and gave Alex an ultimatum: sell Mer her old place back and move into their new home or they’re through.

Jo and Alex's Ups and Downs
Jo and Alex’s Ups and Downs [Image Courtesy: Hypable]
3. Callie And Arizona Called It Quits

One of the couples that Grey’s Anatomy fans have rooted for the hardest finally threw in the towel in season 11, and the pair seems much happier for it. Callie and Arizona spent the early part of last season desperately trying to work out a marriage that’s seen a near-death car accident, a micro-preemie daughter, a plane crash, a multi-million-dollar settlement, adultery and even the amputation of a limb. Despite everything the two had been through together at Grey Sloan, they discovered through much soul-searching they’re happier apart.

The beloved spouses are calling it quits. Image courtesy: Matt Webb Mitovich/TV Line
The beloved spouses are calling it quits. [Image courtesy Matt Webb Mitovich/TV Line]
While Grey’s Anatomy fans are still nursing broken hearts over this divorce, we know creator Shona Rhimes has big plans for these ladies in the future.

2. Jackson And April’s Heartbreaking Loss

Arguably the darkest story-line of the last season of Grey’s Anatomy was Jackson and April’s. The pair’s tumultuous beginnings seemed to have finally smoothed out and they were finally excited about her surprise pregnancy. Then they got the most devastating news expectant parents can ever receive: there was something horribly wrong with the baby. Their little guy is ultimately diagnosed with type 2 osteogenesis imperfecta, aka “brittle bone disease,” and was not predicted to survive beyond birth. The Grey’s Anatomy pair decided to induce at 24 weeks, and their son died soon after birth.

Unfortunately, the brokenhearted pair differed greatly in their grief-coping skills. April ran away to enlist in the military, and the end of season 11 left their relationship in a cliffhanger. Rather than coming home as she’d agreed, April chose another tour of duty over returning to Jackson. The anticipation is starting to get to Grey’s Anatomy fans.

1. McDreamy Is No More

The single biggest deal of Grey’s Anatomy season 11 was the death of Derek Shepherd in a car wreck. If fan’s hearts and loyalty survived that horrific development, something tells me that they’ll stick around for anything. Nobody saw it coming and the Grey’s Anatomy universe was altered forever. In 11 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy trauma, it was by far the worst and responsible for the most tears.

The end of last season saw Meredith disappear in her grief and come back with an unexpected remnant of her deceased husband: a baby in her belly. After a very traumatic delivery, she named her new little girl Ellis. Ultimately, she returned to work with Derek’s lucky scrub cap in tow as the world struggles to adjust to a post-McDreamy Grey’s Anatomy.

[Image Courtesy: ABC/Getty Images]

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