‘Grey’s Anatomy’ EP Offers Hope for Meredith and Hayes in Season 18 — They Need to Have an ‘Official Drink, if You Will’

Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) has struggled to find love since the death of McDreamy back in season 11 of ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ Her character has been getting closer to McWidow (Richard Flood) since he joined the team at Grey Sloan and now, EP Meg Marinis is offering hope to fans who are shipping Meredith and Hayes.

by Perry Carpenter

Published on September 23, 2021

3 min read

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Meredith has struggled to find love since Derek’s death on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Are the writers setting up a romance between Meredith and ‘McWidow’?
Can Meredith find happiness with Hayes in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 18?

Ellen Pompeo and Richard Flood return for season 18 of Grey’s Anatomy — Ellen Pompeo and Richard Flood on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ | Kelsey McNeal via Getty Images

Grey’s Anatomy had Meredith Grey in a hospital bed for the majority of season 17, thanks to the pandemic. Fans did get a treat during the traumatic experience via Meredith’s hallucination dreams, with the brief return of Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd.

But before she got sick, something seemed to be brewing between her and Dr. Cormac Hayes (Richard Flood). According to Grey’s Anatomy executive producer Meg Marinis, it’s time for Meredith and Hayes to have “an official drink, if you will.”

Meredith has struggled to find love since Derek’s death on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

When Derek died in Season 11, Episode 21 “How To Save A Life,” it was the end of a long romance between him and Meredith that started in the pilot episode. He was the love of her life, and it hasn’t been easy for Meredith to move on.

The award-winning surgeon has struggled to find love since losing Derek. She had a brief fling with William Thorpe in season 12, and attempted to start something with Nathan Riggs. Meredith was involved in a bit of a love triangle with Atticus Lincoln and Andrew DeLuca. She even attempted a relationship with DeLuca, but it didn’t last.

Meredith’s most promising post-Derek interaction came in season 16 when she met Hayes, the new Irish surgeon sent to her by her “person.”

Are the writers setting up a romance between Meredith and ‘McWidow’?

Meredith and Hayes clashed when they first met. He couldn’t care less about her Harper Avery Award, and often challenged Meredith’s medical opinions. But Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) knew this relationship had some potential.

Hayes transferred to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital after working with Yang in Switzerland. And he ended becoming the Head of Pediatric Surgery after Alex Karev’s (Justin Chambers) abrupt exit from the series.

As Grey’s Anatomy fans — and Meredith — got to know Hayes, they discovered that he recently became a single father after the tragic death of his wife, Abigail. Through flashbacks, fans have learned of Hayes’ backstory. They no longer see him as the cold surgeon that Meredith first met. Now — knowing that his personal loss reflects Meredith’s — fans have labeled him “McWidow.”

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ EP says there’s hope for Meredith and Hayes

Just when Meredith and Hayes were starting to get to know each other, the pandemic hit. As executive producer Meg Marinis explained to TV Line, “time has not been on their side.”

“He asked her for a drink, and then he found her outside having collapsed from COVID,” Marinis noted. “We saw Hayes being more drawn to her even as she was in a hospital bed all season.”

If you read between the lines of that comment, it’s clear that there is still hope for a romance to truly blossom between Meredith and Hayes on Grey’s Anatomy. They did get the chance to enjoy a half-empty bottle of whiskey together in the doctor’s lounge. But Marinis says that it’s time for the duo to have “an official drink, if you will.”

Will fans accept Meredith ending up with someone else?

Going into season 18 — seven seasons after his death — Dempsey’s Dr. Shepherd still looms large on the show. Grey’s Anatomy has been all about Derek and Meredith since day one. From their seasons-long “will they/won’t they” drama to their professional competition, it’s always been about MerDer. Even after Derek’s death, a large part of Meredith’s storyline has been her grappling with the loss.

It’s not clear exactly how much longer Grey’s Anatomy will be on the air. But if the ABC medical drama does end with Meredith coupling up with Cormac, will fans accept a series conclusion that sees Meredith with someone else?

Can Meredith find happiness with Hayes in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 18?

Since Hayes has his own history of losing a spouse, it’s possible there is a connection between him and Meredith that could grow into a happy relationship. Hayes knows he can’t replace Derek, and Meredith knows she can’t replace Abigail. But, they could still find happiness together while honoring their former partners.

But, there’s no guarantee that Dr. Meredith Grey — highly accomplished surgeon — will end up with a man when the series comes to an end. But the early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy made it clear she doesn’t want to end up alone like her mother Ellis.