When it was announced that April Kepner would be joining the ever-growing list of characters making a surprise return to Grey’s Anatomy this season, fans were ecstatic. Mostly because that would mean they could get the Japril reunion they have been waiting three years for. However, as new photos are released, April’s return could mean more than just a reunion.
Sarah Drew, who portrays April Kepner, left the series in the Season 14 finale. April’s story was an open-ended one, which is rare for Grey’s Anatomy character exits. She quit Grey Sloan Memorial to “do God’s work,” which brought the religious character’s crisis-of-faith storyline to a close. On top of that, April finally tied the knot with Matthew, giving her a happy ending, both personally and professionally. Now that April is returning in the May 6 episode, “Look Up Child,” she and ex Jackson may finally get the closure they both have been unknowingly looking for.
In last week’s episode after having a talk with his mother about his father, Jackson set a location in his car’s GPS. Although it didn’t reveal where he was going, the GPS said it was an 11-hour trip. Per the new photos, it looks like that destination, whether it was where he was going or on the way, Jackson visits April and the two are more than happy to see one another.
It’s unclear whether or not April is still with Matthew, but the she and Jackson are keeping an equal distance from each other and smiling. It’s not known why Jackson wanted to visit April, but it’s likely been a while and that he may just need someone else. With everything going on in his personal life and the world, who can blame him? And while she's seemingly married anything can happen, especially when it comes to Japril.
When fans got their first glimpse of Japril recently in a behind the scenes video from set, they were just happy to see the two doctors together once again. Perhaps this upcoming episode will provide some much-needed closure, not only between Jackson and April, but between the fans as well. While April left Grey Sloan and her colleagues (including Jackson) on a high note, we never really got any closure from them. What exactly they will talk about has endless possibilities, but it’s an episode that can’t be missed.
April is just the latest Grey’s Anatomy character to make a return this season, and she most likely won’t be the last. The show has yet to be renewed for a Season 18 and with rumors constantly flying around that Season 17 will be the last, it looks like either way, fans are getting long-awaited closure from characters and it is has been very cathartic.
Sarah Drew’s April Kepner makes her return to Grey’s Anatomy in Season 17, Episode 14 “Child Look Up” airing on Thursday, May 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC!
