Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 Episode 1 Release Date, Spoilers & Predictions: Meredith Will Find Love And One Surprise Character Will Return?

The past couple of months have been tough for Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), but her fate will seemingly take a 360-degree turn in Grey's Anatomy Season 18.

Ahead of the show's Sept. 30 premiere, ABC dropped the official trailer for the hit series, as well as the synopsis for Grey's Anatomy Season 18, Episode 1.

What is Grey's Anatomy Season 18, Episode 1 about?

Credit: ABC/YouTube

Fittingly titled Here Comes the Sun, the doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, as well as the residents in the city of Seattle are celebrating the city's rebirth post-pandemic. It's also work as usual for the doctors who will tend to their patients to the best of their abilities.

Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) will go in search of new doctors to hire, but she will struggle because she doesn't have that many options.

Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy (Kim Raver) will take the next step in their relationship. And there are speculations that the couple will plan their wedding this season. But whether or not their nuptials would push through is something that fans need to watch out for.

Elsewhere in Grey's Anatomy Season 18, Episode 1, Meredith will cross paths with a dynamic doctor from her mom Ellis Grey's (Kate Burton) past. Ahead of the premiere, it was already confirmed that Peter Gallagher will play the role of Dr. Alan Hamilton.

Burton has also been confirmed to appear in the medical drama. And it seems her character will already be featured in episode 1 because of her ties with Dr. Hamilton.

Since Ellis passed away several years ago, she could be featured in the premiere via a flashback.

Last season, Meredith reunited with several of her loved ones who have passed away through her dreams while she was battling COVID-19. Since she has recovered from the deadly virus, it's unlikely for her to reunite with Ellis in a dream story arc.

Ellis is also featured in the official trailer for Grey's Anatomy Season 18, Episode 1. In the scene, she is talking to Meredith and asking her what she would've done.

Will there be a surprise return in Grey's Anatomy Season 18?

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In the teaser released by ABC, the voiceover dropped a cryptic line that led fans to think that there will be another surprise guest returning to Grey's Anatomy Season 18.

"Brace yourselves for one hell of a return," the voice-over said as the camera panned to Megan Hunt (Abigail Spencer).

Spencer is just one of the old cast members that will return to the show this season. Kate Walsh will also be reprising her role as Addison Montgomery in Grey's Anatomy Season 18.

Will there be a crossover between Grey's Anatomy Season 18 and Station 19 Season 5?

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The premiere episodes of Station 19 Season 5 and Grey's Anatomy Season 18 will serve as a crossover event.

In the teaser, the firefighters from Station 19 Season 5 get into an accident that will put their lives at risk.

Their superior instructs them to take one of their patients to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital by foot because there's ongoing road rage.

Will Meredith fall in love in Grey's Anatomy Season 18?

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If there's anyone most deserving of love it's Meredith. Not only has she suffered through the deaths of her loved ones; she has also lost two of her partners – Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) and DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti).

Last season, Meredith seemingly flirted with Dr. Hayes (Richard Flood).

While speaking with TV Line, executive producer Meg Marinis said that Meredith and Dr. Hayes deserve to have an official drink after they swigged from an open bottle of whiskey last season.

"Time has not been on their side! He asked her for a drink, and then he found her outside having collapsed from COVID. We saw Hayes being more drawn to her even as she was in a hospital bed all season," Marinis said.

Will Sandra Oh and Katherine Heigl return to Grey's Anatomy Season 18?

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Out of all the original cast members, Sandra Oh and Katherine Heigl are the only ones who haven't returned to the show.

Oh previously revealed that she has already moved on from the series and her character, Cristina Yang. So, it's unlikely for her to return to Grey's Anatomy this season.

Heigl, on the other hand, doesn't know if she will ever get to reprise her role as Izzie Stevens in Grey's Anatomy Season 18.

In the book How to Save A Life: The Inside Story of Grey's Anatomy, the actress explained why she decided to leave the drama series.

"I started a family, and it changed everything. It changed my desire to work full-time. I went on family leave and just got to be a [mom], and it changed my whole perspective… that was really the turning point. So, before I was due back, I spoke again to Shonda [Rhimes] about wanting to leave. Then I waited at home until I was given the formal okay that I was off the show. The rumors that I refused to return were totally untrue," Heigl said.

When will Grey's Anatomy Season 18 premiere?

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Grey's Anatomy Season 18 will premiere on ABC on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 9 p.m. The premiere episode titled Here Comes the Sun will air right after the premiere for Station 19 Season 5.

Is Grey's Anatomy Season 19 confirmed?

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Even though Grey's Anatomy Season 18 hasn't even premiered yet, a lot of fans are already wondering if there will be another season for the hit ABC series.

While at last weekend's Emmys, Entertainment Tonight asked Pompeo regarding the fate of Grey's Anatomy. The actress laughed when the reporter mistakenly said that the upcoming season is the 19^th season of Grey's Anatomy.

The actress teased the reporters and urged them to pray so that Grey's Anatomy will be renewed for Season 19.

But for now, let's focus on Grey's Anatomy Season 18 because the upcoming installments will surely be one hell of another rollercoaster ride for fans!