After the Grey's Anatomy season 21 finale ended with a massive explosion at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, we knew there was a good chance season 22 would bring serious casualties and/or major injuries for the hospital staff. Those most at risk were Miranda, Jules, Link, and Monica, since they were all on the OR floor where the blast struck.
However, there was also the possibility that anyone in the hospital at the time could have been affected due to the explosion's sheer scale and intensity. After the season 21 finale, only two characters were confirmed to be safe headed into the twenty-second season. They were Meredith and Ben. For a good period of time, we were left to speculate about who else might have survived the blast. That's until photos from Grey's Anatomy season 22 started to come out and the promo dropped.
These promotional materials featured characters such as Owen, Teddy, Benson, Winston, Amelia, Simone, Miranda, Jo, and Catherine. This let us know that they were all safe as well. But who did that leave? That left Link, Jules, Monica, Lucas, and Richard. Now that the first episode of Grey's Anatomy season 22 has aired, we finally know who didn't make it, and we're completely heartbroken.
Major spoilers are ahead from Grey's Anatomy season 22 episode 1.
Unfortunately, Monica did not survive the explosion in Grey's Anatomy season 22
As the first episode opens, we find out which doctors are okay. Setting aside those confirmed safe in the promotional material, we see that Lucas, Richard, and Jules are thankfully safe, though shaken from the chaos. Unfortunately, that leaves Link and Monica. Both are trapped under things in separate operating rooms.
Monica is pinned against a wall by a large piece of medical equipment. She guides Jules through a surgery on a young child, but suddenly falls silent. Jules glances at her and sees her eyes close. Panicked, she stops the procedure and rushes to check Monica’s pulse, only to find that she isn’t responding. Just then, firefighters storm into the room, but Jules looks at them with grief written all across her face. It’s too late… Monica is gone.
Winston discovers a heartbroken Jules in one of the hospital closets. He comforts her as she reveals that Monica has died. Later, Winston approaches Amelia, who is relieved to hear that Link is okay. But when Winston delivers the devastating news about Monica, Amelia immediately breaks down.
Although I went in knowing that someone would likely die this episode, it still hit me like a punch to the gut. Seeing Jules and Amelia crumble over Monica’s death was incredibly hard to watch. Both had their own personal relationships with her. Jules lost a trusted friend and mentor, while Amelia faces the heartache of losing someone she cared for deeply. Grey's Anatomy won't be the same without Monica, and it'll be interesting to see how Amelia and the rest of the staff cope with her loss.
New episodes of Grey's Anatomy season 22 air on ABC on Thursdays at 10/9c.