'Grey's Anatomy': What to expect from the post-Derek season
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
The twelfth season of 鈥淕rey鈥檚 Anatomy鈥� debuts later this month and fans have gotten some hints about what to expect from the drama.
鈥淕rey鈥檚鈥� airs on ABC and tells the stories of surgeons at a Seattle hospital. While last season had some dark moments, including the death of romantic leading character Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), one of the 鈥淕rey鈥檚鈥� cast members recently said that the new episodes have a much lighter tone.
Actor Jason George, who portrays an anesthesiologist married to surgeon Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), the show has "hit reboot, almost. There's a lot of things that make it feel brand new, but it has that lightness and sense of humor that people fell in love with in the first place.鈥澛�
鈥淕rey鈥檚鈥� creator Shonda Rhimes confirmed that the upcoming episodes will feel happier than recent seasons. 鈥淚 missed the banter and the fun" of the early episodes, she . 鈥淚 missed their quickness and lightness.鈥澛�
In addition, protagonist Meredith, who was married to Derek, is now living with her half-sister and her sister-in-law. 鈥淩ight now it's very funny,鈥� Ms. Rhimes . 鈥淭hose three women are very different and don't have very much in common, which is fantastic鈥�. It's a fascinating dynamic. It's family.鈥�
In addition, there will be another jump forward in time. Last season, the final episodes pushed through the year after Derek鈥檚 death, and now the new season will take place three months after that.聽
Rhimes has either created or produced all three shows on ABC鈥檚 successful Thursday night block, with 鈥淪candal,鈥� 鈥淗ow to Get Away with Murder,鈥� and 鈥淕rey鈥檚鈥� all airing back to back.
Rhimes herself was selected for inclusion in the upcoming film 鈥�,鈥� which selects 15 women who influence our culture.
Rhimes鈥檚 shows are often praised for having characters of various racial backgrounds and sexual orientation, but Rhimes says she鈥檚 just making TV reflect real life.聽
"I really hate the word 'diversity,' 鈥� she while being honored at the Human Rights Campaign鈥檚 Los Angeles Gala. "As if there is something unusual about telling stories about women or people of color or LGBT characters on TV. I have a different word. I call it 'normalizing.' I make TV look like the world looks.鈥�
The new season of "Grey's Anatomy" debuts Sept. 24.
