He's aliiiiiive! Not that Grey's Anatomy fans really needed to worry about Jackson Avery, especially after actor Jesse Williams signed on for both Season 16 and Season 17. However, ABC was going hard on Jackson's alive/dead status in the Season 16 promo, so it's good news to see the network confirm he's alive in the first info on the premiere. That said, is his relationship with Maggie going to survive?
We've already been warned that Jesse Williams is expected to miss a few episodes of Season 16, due to his upcoming Broadway debut this spring 2020, so that's something to keep in mind.
The first episode of Grey's Anatomy Season 16 is called "Nothing Left to Cling To" and it airs Thursday, September 26 on ABC. The cliffhangers from the Season 15 finale, "Jump Into the Fog," will be addressed pretty much immediately in the new season.
Per ABC, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), Richard (James Pickens Jr.) and Alex (Justin Chambers) have to deal with the consequences after Bailey (Chandra Wilson) fires them from Grey Sloan for insurance fraud. After disappearing in the fog, Jackson helps a man in a dangerous situation, as his relationship with Maggie (Kelly McCreary) comes to a new crossroad. Meanwhile, Tom Koracick (Greg Germann) gets new responsibilities at the hospital that throw the doctors for a loop.
Sounds like Jackson does not die in the fog, but helps a man who might be in trouble related to the fog. What's up with Maggie, though? The Season 15 finale showed them both saying very harsh things to each other. As showrunner Krista Vernoff warned TV Insider, the relationship may not survive.
Things were said that will be pretty hard to come back from.
Does that mean Jaggie is over, or will Maggie's fear of losing Jackson in the fog help them get over the petty things and bring them together? I wouldn't be sorry to see Jackson and Maggie take a break. There's enough relationship drama at the moment.
Whatever happens with Jackson and Maggie, Maggie does not seem upset about it in this new photo from the Season 16 premiere:
Maggie and Amelia seem happy enough. Amelia ended Season 15 trying out a relationship with Link. She's apparently over Owen (same), and I'm guessing Amelia will be very busy at work with three fired Grey Sloan doctors, plus Teddy out on maternity leave. Does Owen get paternity leave to spend time with Teddy and baby Allison?
Back to the premiere synopsis, though. I love that my man Tom Koracick is getting a bigger storyline. Actor Greg Germann is one of the three new series regulars, and the fallout from Teddy and Owen getting back together left Tom on his own. But someone has to do the work at Grey Sloan if Mer, Richard, and Alex are all fired.
The Grey's Anatomy Season 16 promo got some comedy out of Meredith Grey doing community service by the side of the road...
... And now that we know Jackson is going to make it, we can worry about how Meredith, Alex, and Richard get out of this silly insurance fraud storyline. Plus, how long is Jo Karev going to be in the psych ward?
There should be a lot of answers ahead in Grey's Anatomy Season 16, which may bring back a familiar face from the past ... that may or may not be Callie.
Grey's Anatomy Season 16 premieres Thursday, September 26 at 8 p.m. on ABC
