Spoilers are ahead from Grey's Anatomy season 22, episodes 1 and 2.
After the shocking season 22 premiere, Grey's Anatomy returned with its second episode on ABC on Oct. 16. In this brand-new episode, the doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial struggle to deal with the aftermath of the explosion and the death of one of their own.
If you recall from the first episode, Dr. Monica Beltran dies from internal bleeding after a large piece of equipment falls on her during the explosion, leaving her trapped. Unfortunately, Jules witnessed the entire incident, and the second episode shows just how deeply it has impacted her. Amelia is also profoundly affected by Monica's death. The two shared a will-they-won't-they dynamic, and sadly, we’ll never see if it could have developed into something more.
Throughout the second episode, we watch as Amelia grapples with her grief. She struggles emotionally because she feels responsible for the explosion in the first place. On top of her friend’s death, Amelia also feels guilty about a young patient who is now suffering from locked-in syndrome because of a risky surgery she performed.
Fortunately, she has Meredith and her good friend Maggie there to help her out. But it takes a good minute for her to come to terms with the tragedy and begin taking steps toward healing. What's the first step toward healing for Amelia? She decides to take a step back from work, announcing to Richard that she plans to take a sabbatical from Grey Sloan.
She hadn't taken time off from work in four years. This just shows how deeply the recent events have affected her and how important it is for her to focus on her own well-being for the first time in a long while. So, what does this mean for Amelia moving forward?
Amelia will appear less in Grey's Anatomy season 22
As much as I'd like to say that I'm joking, the reality is that Amelia will have a reduced presence in Grey's Anatomy season 22. Grey’s Anatomy writer Zoanne Clack revealed this unfortunate news in a new interview with TheWrap. Since Amelia has decided to take a step back from her duties at Grey Sloan to focus on healing, Clack told TheWrap that she will be appearing less frequently on the show.
But wait! It's not a permanent thing. Clack confirmed that Amelia will return "periodically" and eventually come back full-time. So, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Amelia’s story isn’t ending anytime soon. That said, Deadline also reported that, according to sources, Amelia will be absent for the next eight episodes, with the fan-favorite set to return in 2026. However, this makes things confusing and contradicts Clack’s earlier statement. How can Amelia appear "periodically," if she’s going to be absent for the next eight episodes?
While the details are a bit murky at the moment, one thing is certain. Amelia Shepherd’s journey is far from over. We might be seeing less of her for now, but this break gives Amelia the chance to focus on herself, process recent traumas, and come back stronger than ever. It's the right way to take her story, even if it hurts.
New episodes of Grey's Anatomy season 22 air every Thursday night at 10/9c.