There are still many questions about how the ending of Grey’s Anatomy season 21 will play out. The explosion has rocked the hospital, and there’s simply no way that everyone can survive in Grey’s Anatomy season 22, right?
It’s not like this series has a habit of keeping characters alive. We’ve had some notable and heartbreaking deaths throughout the years, whether you’re still mourning the loss of Sloan and Lexie or you’re struggling to deal with the loss of Derek. Grey’s Anatomy has always known how to tug at the heartstrings, but it has, admittedly, been some time since a series regular has been written out through a death.
That would suggest that a big one is coming after a few seasons of near misses. Link seems like the most likely character to die, but are we ready for it?
Why Link shouldn’t die: He isn’t connected to all that many characters
While not being connected to many characters is usually a good thing, it’s not the case when it comes to a major death. A death needs to affect multiple people in the hospital on a personal level, and right now, all we really have are Jo and Amelia—and their children.
So, it wouldn’t have a maximum impact. A bigger death would be someone like Lucas Adams, who has a connection to Amelia, Meredith, Nick, Bailey, and Simone. It could be someone like Bailey who would leave an emotional impact on everyone (and us!). Link just doesn’t do it.
Why Link shouldn’t die: He’s just got married
Okay, I wouldn’t usually use the “just got married” card, but a relationship other than Ben and Bailey needs to work out well. I don’t include Catherine and Webber because they certainly have their moments! Ben and Bailey have shown us what it takes to get through disagreements and to compromise.
We need to see that with another couple, and Jo and Link could be that couple. They already have the potential to work out well because of their history. They’re only just working through some of their issues, and they need time to grow as people, and a couple in Grey’s Anatomy season 22.
Why Link should die: He can be insufferable
Look, there are times that I can’t stand the man. His character has many flaws when it comes to his own opinion, and he often needs reminding that the world doesn’t revolve around him. However, he’s a surgeon, he’s passionate, and he did face a potentially terminal illness when he was a kid. All that is going to do a lot for him.
But, killing him off would certainly make him less insufferable. There’s probably just going to be another character who comes in as worse.
Why Link shouldn’t die: We need to see more of ortho
When Callie was around, we would see a lot of intricate ortho cases. They were intriguing and fascinating at times, but that was lost with her exit. Link coming in as the new ortho surgeon offered a chance to show us more of them. After all, it’s a side of medicine that is often overlooked, especially as it is sometimes considered lesser than other types.
Keeping Link around will bring more ortho cases. Yes, Grey’s Anatomy could easily bring in another ortho doctor, but do we really need to get to know someone else when Link is right there?
Why Link shouldn’t die: He has been underutilized in the hospital
There has been a lot of focus on his personal life since he came into the series. We’ve seen how he jumps into relationships, and we’ve seen how he struggles to take no for an answer. Now he has his wife and twins on the way, and there’s no need to constantly bring in the personal drama.
It’s time to bring in more hospital drama. We need to see the high-stakes cases, and we need to see how Link can be better utilized in the hospital. This show is often so focused on the drama, it forgets the “medical” part of the genre.
Why Link should die: He’s the more reasonable choice
When it comes down to location, Link was in the OR next to where the explosion went off. If anyone was going to die, it should be him or someone in that room. For maximum impact, it needs to be him. It wouldn’t make a lot of sense is everyone in the room next door survives but someone three floors away dies.
The show needs to remain realistic. That’s why with such an explosion, someone in the hospital needs to die. There’s no doubt about it.
Grey’s Anatomy season 22 premieres on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10/9c on ABC.