It's an exciting time for Grey's Anatomy fans. Despite ABC's medical drama being in the midst of its 14th season on the air, there are still millions of loyal fans who tune in every Thursday. Additionally, the world of Seattle is going to be expanded in the near future, as new spinoff Station 19 will arrive shortly. Grey's has been laying the groundwork for the eventual spinoff, revealing that Ben Warren was quitting the surgical program in order to become a firefighter. The most recent episode introduced the show's protagonist Andy, played by actress Jaina Lee Ortiz. Andy and Meredith formed a quick bond, and Ortiz recently explained how the women were able to connect so strongly.
Andy and Meredith have this connection. The experience that they go through [in this episode] carries over into the pilot in Sation 19 and you get to see a very intimate side of Andy that Meredith has already experienced. She's already been there, done that. It's almost like there's this sister bond that they have three blocks away from each other. They just get it. They understand each other.
It looks like having to work alongside each other to save a patient instantly bonded the two characters, which is something we've seen happen on Grey's Anatomy before. Through the course of their first meeting, they established a short hand very quickly.
The newest episode "You Really Got a Hold On Me" opens with Warren and Andy pulling into the ER entrance of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Andy's hand is in a young boy's body, in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding while they transported him to the hospital.
In order for Meredith to instruct and connect with Andy, she even begins offering tidbits of her life to the newcomer. When Andy initially refuses to hold a clamp and help Meredith in surgery, the Grey's lead reveals how she grew up watching Ellis operate from the gallery. Meanwhile, Andy was raised to be a firefighter by her father. This shared experience bonds the two women, and we see how their relationship grows throughout the course of the episode.
In her conversation with TV Guide, Jaina Lee Ortiz expands upon the two characters' similarities, and how it manages to bond them.
I think they have similar backgrounds in how they were raised, their family situations. They both have the same drive, the same work ethic. I think they both want to be the best and are all about succeeding and being successful and being independent and putting work first. I admire that about the both of them.
If there's one thing Shondaland is known for, it's kickass female characters. And with Station 19 further growing the world of fictional Seattle, we should expect plenty more in the future.
Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays on ABC, and Station 19 will premiere March 22, 2018. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Additionally, check our Amazon premiere list and superhero premiere list to make sure you don't miss a single episode.
