Spoilers ahead for the February 6 episodes of Station 19 Season 3 and Grey's Anatomy Season 16.
The shared universe of Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 is about as packed with hormones as with medical and fire emergencies, and one of the newest romances on both series may be doomed. Grey's Anatomy's Jackson hooked up with Station 19's Vic before Station 19 even returned for Season 3. The relationship seems to be going strong despite the baggage on both sides and the disastrous dinner party that ended with Richard and Catherine announcing their separation, but could the separate shows combined with Jesse Williams' career mean the relationship is doomed?
Although small crossovers between Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 have been happening more frequently (and Ben's proposition for the Seattle Fire Department to start involving physicians in calls suggests even more crossover is on the way), splitting a major relationship between two shows may not have what it takes to last. Their relationship could get in the way of plots on each show, and Jesse Williams may not be around as much as Jackson on Grey's in the not-too-distant future. Would Grey's Anatomy really share its limited Jackson time with Station 19?
Jesse Williams landed a role on a Broadway play, and working on Broadway means a lot less time on the Grey's Anatomy set. Grey's showrunner Krista Vernoff has revealed that she's known since the beginning of Season 16 that Williams would need to have a reduced workload, and that he'll be able to fly back to set one day a week.
Jackson's storyline has been planned to accommodate Jesse Williams' Broadway work; I'm just not sure there's time for that storyline to include Station 19 as well as Grey's Anatomy. Even the hardiest actor may not be able to handle two shows on one day per week while spending the rest of the week on a Broadway stage! And if Jackson isn't around as much on Grey's Anatomy, is it fair to Vic and Station 19 for somebody as important to her as her boyfriend to remain almost entirely off-screen?
Granted, this is all speculation at this point, and and Jesse Williams will be back on Grey's Anatomy for Season 17. It's possible Jackson and Vic will remain happily together because Krista Vernoff found a way to keep them a couple despite Jesse Williams' Broadway debut. Although their relationship began relatively soon after Vic's fiancé died and Jackson's romance with Maggie ended, they seem to be solid as a couple. The latest episode of Grey's Anatomy even ended with Maggie promising to stop punishing Vic because she's mad at Jackson.
Considering the relationship between Alex and Jo is fairly likely to be doomed unless Grey's Anatomy writes out Camilla Luddington to send Jo off into the sunset with Alex due to Justin Chambers' departure, the shared Grey's and Station 19 world can use all the love it gets. After all, there's what amounts to a love pentagon (including a pregnant woman) and another love triangle on Grey's, and Andy just lost Ryan for good on Station 19. Something simple and solid could be a relief.
See what happens next on ABC Thursdays, with Station 19 episodes airing at 8 p.m. ET and Grey's Anatomy episodes airing at 9 p.m. ET.
