SPOILER ALERT: This interview accommodates main spoilers from “How Do I Dwell,” the Season 21 finale of ABC’s “Gray’s Anatomy.”

“Gray’s Anatomy” is not any stranger to surprising season finales. However for the Season 21 finale of the venerable ABC medical drama, showrunner Meg Marinis needed to pay homage to a few of “Gray’s” biggest hits — a perpetrator holding medical doctors hostage in an OR throughout a life-saving process; {couples} falling in and out of affection in the course of a medical emergency; a superior sleeping with an intern earlier than realizing they had been an intern; and, after all, a doubtlessly catastrophic explosion on the surgical ground of Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital.

“Up to now, we’ve had folks threaten the hospital — we’ve seen Gary Clark within the shooter episode [at the end of Season 6],” Marinis tells Selection. “However we had been like, ‘What does it appear like when a destroyed mother does it?’ So we did a twist on this story and needed to do a nostalgic ‘Gray’s’ finale the place you don’t know who lives and who dies.”

Thursday’s finale revolved round Dr. Amelia Shepherd’s (Caterina Scorsone) newest “unattainable case”: Dylan Gatlin (Sophia Kopera), a 9-year-old affected person who, following issues from surgical procedure to deal with a cavernous angioma, was identified with locked-in syndrome. After changing into fed up with Amelia and Dr. Beltran’s (Natalie Morales) repeated insistence on ready to see whether or not Dylan’s intracranial bleeding would resolve on its personal, Dylan’s mom, Jenna (Piper Perabo), determined to take issues into her personal fingers, stealing a tank stuffed with acetylene from her husband’s truck and threatening to blow up the hospital if Amelia didn’t save her daughter.

With an help from her nephew, Dr. Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) — who may solely watch helplessly as Jenna held an explosive to his ex-girlfriend Dr. Simone Griffith’s (Alexi Floyd) chest — Amelia is in a position to cease Dylan’s bleeding. (Ellen Pompeo’s Dr. Meredith Gray, who is not any stranger to hostage conditions or potential explosions within the OR, even jumps in to ship some contemporary frozen plasma to assist save Dylan.) In a state of equal components aid and disbelief, Jenna fell to her knees and let go of the tank, and she was promptly arrested.

The police verified Jenna’s assertion that the tank had been empty all alongside, however for some purpose, nobody had thought to test whether or not the valve had been opened. Within the remaining two episodes of Season 13, Meredith witnessed an explosion that precipitated a hearth on an higher ground of the hospital from the car parking zone. The ultimate moments of Season 21 parallel that second, with Meredith once more wanting up in horror from the car parking zone after one other explosion wipes out a part of the surgical ground.

Beneath, Marinis breaks down all of the developments in that jam-packed finale, together with what Meredith’s new take care of Catherine (Debbie Allen) will imply for Pompeo’s future involvement with the sequence. Having joined “Gray’s” in 2006 as a author’s PA who has risen by way of the ranks to change into the present showrunner, Marinis additionally opens up about her working relationship with Pompeo, in addition to how she is approaching doubtlessly bringing again extra beloved characters for the present’s record-extending twenty second season, premiering this fall.

Piper Perabo delivers a heartbreaking portrayal of a mom whose desperation leads her to maintain hostage the medical doctors who’re liable for her youngster’s care. The character may have simply been characterised as a pure villain, however viewers will inevitably really feel these fleeting moments of sympathy for this lady who has clearly spiraled uncontrolled. How did you consider crafting Jenna’s multi-episode arc, and what stands out to you about Piper’s efficiency?

It gave me the chills each time they arrested her, which is a tribute to Piper’s efficiency. Clearly, once we had been in discussions of casting her, we stuffed her in on your complete story and let her know that it could be the deterioration of a personality that you simply see in her eyes. After we see her in that first episode, she is put collectively and she’s acquired make-up on. Her child is having surgical procedure, so she’s apprehensive. After which within the second episode — and Piper was very concerned on this — she had them take curls out of her hair, and she had darkish circles and much less make-up.

However we couldn’t go too far along with her efficiency till the final episode the place in Act I, when she turns and you see that look on her face, you’re like, “Oh, that’s the second she makes the choice that she’s going to take this hospital down.” Piper was an incredible collaborative associate, and I’m so grateful that she joined our present for 3 episodes as a result of she’s so proficient. She is somebody who seems just like the woman subsequent door, however then in a second may simply flip. She gave that efficiency that you simply see within the lower, even when the digicam was on the opposite folks. She did it 35 instances in a row.

In a primary for “Gray’s,” this season, Teddy (Kim Raver) and Owen (Kevin McKidd) determined to experiment with an open marriage so as to save their marriage. Teddy tried exploring her attraction to Dr. Cass Beckman (Sophia Bush) however in the end known as off their fling. Owen, nevertheless, attached together with his childhood pal, Nora (Floriana Lima), who later turns into Teddy’s affected person. The place did the inspiration for the storyline come from? Did you all the time know that you simply had been going to finish with Teddy wanting to cut up from Owen?

No, we really thought it was going to finish in another way. And with the performances that Kim and Kevin had been giving, they blew me away all season lengthy with these troublesome marriage conversations that they’d. Our design at the start of the season was that this marriage hasn’t been traditionally completely satisfied, so let’s really see it play out in actual time and see what typically occurs, which is folks use band-aid options to repair one thing that’s damaged in itself. I believe that open marriage has labored for some folks, however on tv we regularly see that it’s a mistake.

It additionally was a enjoyable approach to get different fascinating visitor solid to spotlight and illuminate what Teddy wasn’t getting from Owen and what Owen wasn’t getting from Teddy. A whole lot of it’s that Teddy now has the job that he used to have. That energy dynamic has been troublesome for them. They’re two full-time, high-stress working dad and mom with two young children. They don’t prioritize their marriage, and that is the consequence of that. And when different folks had been prioritizing them, they noticed, “Oh, there’s something improper right here. It’s not essentially that we wish to be with these folks, however we’re taking a look at one another not the best way we needs to be taking a look at one another.”

Teddy has spent years and years selecting Owen — typically on the expense of her personal job and her personal happiness. What epiphany did she have in these previous couple of episodes that has allowed her to attain the conclusion that she has to select herself over Owen for as soon as? Did seeing Owen and Nora collectively within the hospital mattress give Teddy any sort of readability?

I believe when she sees the 2 of them collectively on the finish of the [penultimate] episode, and then she had the surgical procedure to carry out, it’s this second of, “Can I do that?” I believe the second that she realized that she may do the surgical procedure and that she may do something, she realized, “OK, I may stroll away. I got here up with this superb surgical procedure. I saved the lady that slept with my husband. I’m sturdy sufficient.” I believe earlier than this second, there was worry that she wasn’t sturdy sufficient to do it. And on this episode, she realizes that she can do it. It’s very onerous and painful, however that speech is so sturdy. I hope girls watch it in every single place and make the suitable resolution for themselves. She’s such a powerful character, and I believe that typically she places herself second for him.

Owen was clearly blindsided by this dialog, however to be truthful, he had it coming. The place do you see them going from right here?

I don’t assume they know but. Clearly, the dynamic might shift, understanding what occurs within the hospital on the finish of the finale. Clearly, [what takes priority is] who’s injured, who’s caring for whom, and how Teddy navigates that as chief. I believe it’s going to be troublesome, however I do assume that as writers we’re eager about seeing what it seems like when the 2 are aside for a second. It doesn’t imply that they received’t ultimately discover their approach again to one another, as a result of that is “Gray’s.” We may go on for one more decade!

Within the penultimate episode, shortly after Lucas had simply dumped her, Simone attached with a good-looking stranger (Trevor Jackson) at Joe’s Bar — and, naturally, that man is now one of many new surgical interns at Gray Sloan. What new issues will that new intern create for Simone and Lucas going ahead?

Nicely, Lucas has to discover out first, proper? And the final time we noticed Lucas, he was working down a hallway attempting to stop an explosion. So now we have to discover out what occurs there, however I believe that is actually, actually messy for Simone. That is Meredith Gray messy. I believe that it’s even messier, as a result of from the little that we’ve seen of this new character, he does have a conceit that can rival different medical doctors within the hospital. He might not be the simplest, most agreeable, most obedient intern, so that can throw one other wrench into the sport.

Have you ever named this new intern already, or are we going to discover out his title subsequent season?

You’ll discover out his title subsequent season.

Following the tip of “Station 19,” Ben Warren (Jason Winston George) returned to Gray Sloan to work as a probationary surgeon, however Bailey (Chandra Wilson) reveals that Teddy isn’t recommending him to proceed his residency on the hospital due to his tendency to break protocols. What issues did you need to create for Ben in his return to the medical discipline? And provided that cliffhanger, will he actually be leaving Gray Sloan?

He was exterior the hospital when that explosion went off, so we all know he’s alive. However he doesn’t have a job, so he’s going by way of an emotional explosion. What we needed to see for him coming again was that it wasn’t going to be as straightforward as he assumed, and additionally the issue of getting to work side-by-side together with your spouse who’s able of authority over you. I believe they had been in a position to navigate that pretty effectively. There have been a number of bumps within the highway, however we needed to inform a narrative the place Ben didn’t need to ask for particular remedy from Bailey.

And since he did it his approach, the renegade approach, it precipitated him to find yourself in a load of hassle. However the one that made that call was Teddy, and Teddy has had an emotional yr. So I believe there’s one thing to be stated, now that she’s lastly in a position to select herself and put that a part of her life apart: Did she make the suitable resolution? And the way useful will Ben be on this chaotic second when the hospital is basically on fireplace?

Winston (Anthony Hill) and Jules (Adelaide Kane) was a brand new, doubtlessly romantic pairing that appeared to come straight out of left discipline this season. What did you need to accomplish by pairing the 2 of them collectively?

Since Meredith and [Patrick Dempsey’s] Derek and the early years of the present, now we have not likely had that energy dynamic in a romantic relationship. [Camilla Luddington’s] Jo and [Justin Chambers’] Alex had that a bit bit, and that’s clearly frowned upon in right now’s world. Winston is a youthful attending, so it’s not like there’s an enormous age distinction, however there is a distinction in that he’s an attending and she’s an intern. So we had been actually eager about exploring that in right now’s world and calling out that it’s improper.

Winston is aware of that it’s improper and he tries to do the suitable factor, however what he thinks is doing the suitable factor is definitely on the expense of her training. We had been like, “Nicely, she has to name him out on that.” Should you look carefully, there’s debate on whether or not we predict that is one-sided. Jules pauses very intentionally earlier than she says, “The strains had been very clear for me.” Should you watch that episode the place she takes him to the rooftop, I really feel like she was crossing the road there for him. So there have been some moments the place I’m unsure it was simply one-sided, however Winston was actually attempting to keep behind the road as a result of he’s a standup man.

Jo and Hyperlink (Chris Carmack) additionally acquired married within the penultimate episode, and we study after their little hospital honeymoon that they’re anticipating twin ladies — however, after all, Hyperlink is working on a affected person proper earlier than the explosion occurs.

With Jo and Hyperlink, they’d recognized one another for 20 years, however their relationship fast-forwarded actually rapidly. It went from, “Oh my gosh, we do need to be collectively” to a month or two later, “We’re pregnant?!” And swiftly, it was twins and they had been fighting the best way they checked out having children in another way, and then she had a complication. And at last, they acquired on the identical web page and determined to get married. So I really feel prefer it’s the calm earlier than the storm once more for them. We’re “Gray’s,” we’re imply! It’s a cliffhanger, however we discover out they’re having ladies, which is such a pleasant second. That they had a good looking marriage ceremony, and she was a good looking pregnant bride.

Meredith decides in opposition to promoting her shares within the hospital and as a substitute makes a brand new take care of Catherine that can permit her to spend extra time in Seattle and again at Gray Sloan — all whereas persevering with her Alzheimer’s analysis. Does Meredith’s new take care of Catherine imply that we’ll be seeing a bit extra of her subsequent season, or is Ellen nonetheless set to seem in seven episodes?

We’ll see her as a lot as we will get her. She’s all the time welcome to include us. She’s household. We beloved watching her get a star on Hollywood Blvd. — very, very deserved. I needed to see Meredith not solely persevering with her analysis on Alzheimer’s, which is tremendous essential and related proper now, however I additionally miss seeing her within the OR — and not essentially doing essentially the most groundbreaking surgical procedure of all time. I missed simply seeing her within the OR and instructing, and particularly with this class of residents that she selected, it was additionally a approach to get her again into Seattle so as to see that facet of her. Clearly, we’ll get to see Scott Speedman, as a result of Meredith and Nick are nonetheless collectively.

You’ve deliberately chosen to write multi-episode arcs for Meredith, somewhat than giving her a bunch of one-off appearances. How do you navigate these conversations with Ellen about her future on-screen involvement with the present?

The multi-episode arcs are additionally significantly better for her schedule, so she is aware of when she’s going to be there and when she’s not. We communicate at the start of the season, and I share along with her what the present is doing as an entire. If I’ve shared it with Shonda [Rhimes] and Debbie [Allen], our producing director, I’ll share what I can with Ellen — she’s an govt producer — and we’ll have an incredible dialog about it. We test in with one another all through the season on the cellphone, through textual content. She does the voiceover. She’ll name me and be like, “Is that this the suitable tense within the voiceover?” And I’m like, “It’s the suitable tense.” We now have a really shut relationship and we communicate typically, so once I know {that a} block of episodes is coming down the highway for her, I’ll name her whereas I’m writing them and I’ll stroll her by way of the story.

Ellen spoke with me lately forward of her Hollywood Stroll of Fame ceremony, and she was very candid about how she has discovered herself pushing again in opposition to among the new writing on “Gray’s” that appears at odds with the Meredith character that she and Shonda had created collectively. She was particularly referring to a current storyline involving Lena Waithe’s character, which she vehemently disagreed with. How have you ever, as a showrunner, navigated these sorts of disagreements along with her? And the way troublesome is it to incorporate Meredith into the present when she is available in and out as a lot as she does?

I wouldn’t say that it’s troublesome to incorporate her coming in and out. Clearly, it’s the choice of whether or not to present her in Boston or present her in Seattle that’s onerous to typically get organized and work out. However for years, she has all the time needed to be part of the storytelling — and she has been. A whole lot of superb tales which have aired have come from a collaboration between us and Ellen, and that’s why she’s been part of the present for therefore lengthy. She cares a lot. She’s performed this character for 21 years, so she has a historical past with this character greater than I’ve a historical past with this character. I’ve watched her for 21 years and I’ve written for her for a number of years, however I’d hope that she would communicate up if one thing didn’t really feel natural.

And I used to be there that day for that exact story. I knew it was troublesome, and I knew it was not fairly what Meredith would do, however that’s what me in it. She and I walked by way of it and made some line modifications, and I really feel like you’ll be able to see on display the emotion that went into the story, and it was a good looking efficiency. For me, it was wrapped up in the truth that she has a a lot totally different relationship with Alzheimer’s illness than any of our characters, and now she has Nick in her life and a unique relationship with organ recipients and that a part of drugs as effectively, in order that’s the place [the story] got here from. I do know it was a protracted dialogue on set, however we acquired to a good looking place, and I admire when she does that. These folks have performed these characters for therefore lengthy. In the event that they didn’t communicate up, it could be bizarre.

Will you be casting a brand new class of interns between seasons?

We might meet them, however we’re nonetheless invested on this now-second yr class of residents. As a lot as I’d love to have a solid of 30 sequence regulars, I don’t assume that’s doable for the story and finances. However hopefully, we’ll see some in possibly a recurring function or one thing like that.

Ever since she left the present in 2014, Sandra Oh has maintained that she doesn’t have any need to come again to “Gray’s.” However in a recent interview, she admitted that, as a result of folks nonetheless have a lot love for Cristina Yang, she has a minimum of been moved to barely soften her stance. What did you make of her saying that? And whereas I’m not saying that you’ll deliver Cristina again per se, how are you approaching any conversations with former solid members about doubtlessly returning to the present in the future?

Oh my gosh, I hope she does — and I hope I get to write the episode! She and I’ve run into one another a few instances at social occasions, and she has a lot love for the present; she has a lot love for the followers. I’d hope that in the future she’d return, however I believe it’s additionally onerous to return to one thing the place you assume you’ve closed that door.

What’s so nice a couple of 21-season present is we will shock the viewers [by] bringing again a fan-favorite. There are such a lot of fan-favorite characters that may nonetheless come again, even when they die, and the writers’ room is all the time pitching totally different folks. We strive not to do it an excessive amount of, as a result of then it wouldn’t be as particular. They’re all very busy, however I believe one of many joys of having the ability to work on this present is that there’s this pool of very proficient, beloved characters and actors that, if the timing is true, would come again, particularly now that now we have this new class of interns. We are able to play off them as, “Oh my gosh, Addison’s [Kate Walsh] coming to educate us,” or “Jackson’s (*21*) coming.” It’s additionally enjoyable to have them work together with the brand new solid members. We nonetheless have nice relationships with everyone, and if we will afford it and in the event that they’re out there, we’ll deliver them again!

This interview has been edited and condensed.