There are long-running TV shows, and then there's Grey's Anatomy. The medical drama is in the midst of its 21st Season season on the ABC (and streaming with a Hulu subscription), and recently went back to basics with a new set of interns and a renewed focus on medicine. Although we did learn that Yasuda actress Midori Francis will be leaving shortly. One of the other new series regulars is Niko Terho's Dr. Lucas Adams (aka the love interest for Simone Griffith), who is actually Derek and Amelia Shepherd's nephew. But which of McDreamy's sisters is Adams' mother?
Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shepherd notably has four sisters in the Grey's Anatomy universe, most of which only appear for an episode or two throughout its long run in ABC. Amelia recently referenced her sisters, and claimed that Meredith, Addison, and Maggie were much better at that role. And after he was diagnosed with ADHD, the young surgeon reference his parents and their inability to notice he was neurodivergent. The show has been keeping Adams' parentage a mystery for the time being, and Season 20 of Grey's didn't address it at all. While Adams keeps referencing his mysterious parents (like how they encouraged him to take up golf), no names have been dropped. So let's break down which McSibling might end up being his mother.
Nancy Shepherd (Embeth Davidtz)
Perhaps the most obvious choice for Adams' mother would be Nancy Shepherd, played by Matilda actress Embeth Davidtz. She was the first of Derek's siblings that we met on Grey's Anatomy, dating back to her debut back in Season 3. We watched as she judged Meredith and doted on McSteamy, offering a look into the Shepherd's unique family unit. She would eventually return for an episode of Season 15 episode titled "Good Shepherd" which featured a tense dinner with Amelia and her siblings.
Some Grey's Anatomy fans think that Nancy is Lucas Adams' mother thanks to a line in Season 19 which revealed that he was from Connecticut. While not much is known about the Shepard sisters, back in Season 3 it was revealed that Nancy lives in Connecticut. Could this have been our answer? It's unclear, as the mystery about Adams hasn't been answered so far.
Liz Shepherd (Neve Campbell)
Another one of McDreamy's sisters showed up back in Season 9 of Grey's Anatomy was Liz Shepherd, played by Scream icon Neve Campbell. After the plane crash, Liz turned up at Grey Sloan Memorial to donate nerves in hopes of helping to fix Derek's hand and save his surgical career. She appeared in a total of two episodes during this time, and was the only one of Derek's sisters to show up at the hospital to help donate nerves.
Neve Campbell's McSibling hasn't been seen since Season 9, but could that change if she ends up being Adams' mother? The actress' schedule might be complicated after joining Scream 7, but it doesn't seem totally out of the question. We'll just have to wait to see if the Scream Queen returns to Seattle sometime in the future.
Kathleen Shepherd (Amy Acker)
The last Shepherd Sister to show up in Grey's Anatomy is Kathleen, played by Angel icon Amy Acker. She was referenced as far back in Season 3, and was also called by Heather Brooks (RIP) in Season 9 to possibly donate nerves for Derek's hand. In the end she wouldn't appear until the Season 15 episode "Good Shepherd" which was about Amelia's relationship with her family.
Kathleen seemed like the most cruel Shepherd sibling, especially where it concerned Amelia's colorful past and drug history. She even makes a bet about Amelia's break-up with Owen Hunt. It's an episode that shows just how complicated the family unit really is, with Amy Acker giving a strong performance. But like Liz and Nancy, not much is known about Kathleen's husband or location. And as such, she could also very well end up being the mother of Lucas Adams.
Who do you think is Adams' mother on Grey's Anatomy? For now that remains to be seen, but smart money says that one of the above actresses will appear once the mystery is solved. We'll just have to wait to see how it all shakes out as we get deeper into Season 21. Luckily for Amelia, Adams revealed that he's a Shepherd, and the other interns no longer think that they're sleeping together. Adams (who is getting crap from his fellow interns for being a nepo baby) mentioned that his mother is sometimes jealous of how Amelia is able to live her life without caring what other people think. But exactly who is she? Only time will tell. But as fans get more attached to the intern, the debate should get louder.
Grey's Anatomy airs new episodes Thursdays on ABC in its new time slot. In the meantime, check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch.
