This past week has shown Jessica Capshaw's Dr. Arizona Robbins should return to Grey's Anatomy. Between Capshaw's loving tribute to the show's recent TV milestone to last night's "baby in a bag" episode, I'm really feeling the loss of her character.
Jessica Capshaw's Arizona and Sarah Drew's April were written off Grey's Anatomy at the end of Season 14. It was shocking for the stars as well as the fans. But it's clear Capshaw has no hard feelings, only love for the show. Last week's Season 15 episode marked the show's official takeover as the longest running primetime medical show. Capshaw honored the milestone by literally getting back into character as Arizona and posting this sweet tribute before the episode aired:
Beautiful! You could understand if Jessica Capshaw was still hurt and even bitter after being written off the show, but she showed nothing but grace and love for the character and TV series in her Instagram tribute.
Both Arizona and April are still alive, with the Season 14 finale showing Arizona's decision to move to New York with her daughter Sofia. It sounds like Callie and Arizona may reconnect romantically as they co-parent Sofia. That's the hope anyway. It would be great to see both Sara Ramirez's Callie and Jessica Capshaw's Arizona return to Grey's Anatomy, although there's been no discussion of that.
Last night (March 7), Grey's Anatomy showed a perfect opportunity for Arizona to weigh in, and it was frustrating that she wasn't there. Season 15, Episode 16, "Blood and Water," had Dr. Vincenzo DeLuca (father of Andrew and Carina) pitching Acting Chief Alex Karev on his idea for a "baby in a bag." As former Head of Fetal Surgery, Arizona would've surely been curious about the proposed procedure, and kept a close eye on it. Arizona would've fit perfectly into that storyline, and it sounds like I'm not the only one who noticed:
Seriously. Supposedly writing out April and Arizona after Season 14 was a creative decision to downsize the large cast of series regulars. Season 15 has given us romantic and family drama in spades -- from Meredith Grey finding new love with Andrew DeLuca, to the love pentagon between Amelia/Owen/Teddy/Koracick and -- apparently starting next week with Amelia -- Link. Jo and Alex Karev are also now talking about possibly starting a family, once she figures out more about her past through gene testing. Grey's is also following the romance between Jackson Avery and Maggie Pierce, the fledgling love story of Levi Schmitt and Nico Kim, Catherine's cancer treatment, and Bailey's stress and marriage. It doesn't really feel like the cast has downsized much at all.
Meanwhile, Sarah Drew just announced an exciting new lead TV role, in a CBS pilot that sounds like it could be a lot of fun. We'll have to see what happens with that. It would still be great to see her April eventually come back to Grey's, even for brief appearances, since she is the mother of Harriet Kepner-Avery. It would also be great to see Jessica Capshaw back on TV screens again, but for now I'm hoping Grey's Anatomy has a change of heart and decides to bring her back (and Callie?) in Season 16. ABC has yet to renew the show for Season 16, but it seems to be a given.
Grey's Anatomy Season 15 continues Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC as one of the many TV shows now airing in midseason 2019.
