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Grey’s Anatomy fans got to see Ellis Grey (Kate Burton) in season 18. Since she’s dead, the show had to get creative, but it finally brought Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) and her biological mother together. Here is how she reacted to learning about the complicated surgeon.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from the Grey’s Anatomy episode “The Makings of You.”]

Maggie Pierce is a daughter of Ellis Grey on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Grey’s Anatomy started with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) being a medical intern. Her name was a big deal to everyone since Ellis Grey was an acclaimed surgeon. But the end of the episode revealed Ellis was getting round-the-clock care for Alzheimer’s.

Meredith eventually found that Ellis had an affair with Richard Webber (James Pickens, Jr.). In season 10’s finale, it was revealed that they had a child together, and that child was Maggie.

Maggie has become close with Meredith and Richard over the years. But she never got to meet Ellis because she died in season 3. 

Maggie meets Ellis Grey and finds out she was interested in cardio

Kate Burton as Ellis Grey in 'Grey's Anatomy' sits at a table smiling.
Kate Burton as Ellis Grey in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ | Karen Neal/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

“The Makings of You” shows Maggie and Winston (Anthony Hill) watching Meredith’s kids while she was away in a cabin with Dr. Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman). Zola (Anela Gumbs) finds a letter with “Margaret” written on it in Meredith’s closet. Maggie opens it and finds out it’s from Ellis Grey.

Maggie also happens to be feeling under the weather, so she takes some medicine. While she reads the letter, she has a vision of Ellis being in the room reading it to her. Ellis reveals she once wanted to specialize in cardio instead of general surgery, but she talked herself out of it. This excited Maggie. The mother went on to say she was remarkable because she didn’t let the “inconsequential” things get in her way. Maggie’s excitement is short-lived because this comment offends her.

She also learns that Ellis picked out her adoptive parents. They offered to give the surgeon updates on Maggie, but she declined. Ellis wrote that she regrets Meredith never got to meet Maggie because she could’ve used a sister. She then said she tried her best with Maggie by giving her another home. Maggie then hugged her adoptive mother in a dream. 

The episode ended with Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone), Maggie, and Meredith sitting together. Maggie decided to burn the letter because she realized she wasn’t missing anything in her life after all.

Fans were shocked by the new details about Maggie

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Why Didn’t Meredith See Ellis on the Beach?

Many fans were thrilled to see Ellis again. They had different reactions to what the mother had to say in her letter on Reddit. 

“Ellis choosing the parents actually makes sense lol perfectionism even in that,” one fan wrote.

“Ellis wanted to go cardio?!! Ooo I am intrigued and shocked!!” another person wrote.

Another fan reacted to Ellis wanting to do cardio with, “It makes a lot of sense, with her lucid conversation with Cristina.”

Some fans weren’t sure about the ending to the episode. “I feel like she might regret burning the letter,” one fan wrote.

“Burning the letter seems kind of dramatic” another person agreed.

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