📺 ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Trivia Part 2: Surprising Facts Behind Your Favorite Episodes 💥

In the later seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, a lot happened, from huge milestones to surprising returns … and of course, a pandemic that changed the way television was produced. Below are some seriously delightful fun facts about each season’s most popular episode that will arm you with new knowledge or inspire a rewatch.

Season 12, Episode 1: “Sledgehammer”

During this season premiere, Bailey became the chief of surgery, April returned from her time in the Army, and a widowed Meredith adjusted to living with Amelia and Maggie.

Fact No. 1: Ellen Pompeo told Into the Gloss that Meredith had short hair in this hour because her real hair got “fried” from being dyed dark then bleached blonde in the previous season.

Fact No. 2: Eagle-eyed fans spotted a notice on the hospital bulletin board advertising a puppy up for adoption — Mer’s old dog Doc, from Izzie!

Season 13, Episode 10: “You Can Look (But You’d Better Not Touch)”

Jo, Bailey, and Arizona treated a pregnant inmate as Alex faced jail time himself for assaulting DeLuca.

Fact No. 1: This was the first episode of Grey’s not to include Ellen Pompeo, who was on maternity leave. She still did the voice-over, though!

Fact No. 2: Actress Jasmin Savoy Brown played a defense attorney in this episode and would later portray a character with the same job in Shondaland’s For the People.

Season 14, Episode 11: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”

Bailey suffered a heart attack, leading a guilt-ridden Ben to quit firefighting to reduce her stress. By the end of the hour, though, Bailey convinced him to return to his job.

Fact No. 1: This episode marked the 300th appearance of Chandra Wilson (Bailey) in Grey’s and Private Practice combined.

Fact No. 2: This was also only the second-ever Grey’s Anatomy episode not to feature Meredith in person or even in a voice-over.

Season 15, Episode 19: “Silent All These Years”

Remembered for its powerful “hallway of women” scene, this episode found Jo and Teddy treating a traumatized sexual-assault survivor.

Fact No. 1: The female hospital staff who lined the hallway while Abby headed to surgery included many crew members of Grey’s and ABC staffers, per Vulture.

Fact No. 2: According to TVLine, a 2019 study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association reported a 43 percent increase in calls to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) hotline directly following the episode’s airing.

Season 16, Episode 21: “Put on a Happy Face”

In this season finale, Amelia gave birth, Richard was diagnosed with cobalt poisoning, and Owen called off his wedding to Teddy.

Fact No. 1: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Grey’s was forced to shut down production of season 16 early, making it the first season finale of the show not to air in May.

Fact No. 2: When Bailey sat behind Amelia to help her through labor, it was a direct nod to when George did the same for Bailey back in season two.

Season 17, Episode 3: “My Happy Ending”

A gravely ill Meredith “reunited” with Derek on a beach in a series of unconscious visions while her medical team worked to keep her alive.

Fact No. 1: Krista Vernoff told Deadline that Mer’s beach dreams were created to give viewers “some escape” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fact No. 2: It was Pompeo’s idea to have Meredith reunite with Derek, and she told Deadline she broached the idea to Patrick Dempsey while they were on a hike together in Malibu.

Season 18, Episode 1: “Here Comes the Sun”

In this season premiere, Meredith reconnected with Nick in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Owen and Teddy finally got married.

Fact No. 1: In order to keep the news that Scott Speedman (Nick) had become a series regular a surprise, Krista Vernoff, the showrunner of Grey’s at the time, went to great lengths. She told Deadline she implemented “fake character names, fake scenes at table reads, dailies not released, cuts with omitted scenes.” What a thrill!

Fact No. 2: The episode heavily referenced the pilot, like how Meredith’s outfit resembled her first workday look, and Mayo Clinic doctor David Hamilton’s comment about Ellis, which echoed Richard’s remark in the series premiere.

Season 19, Episode 1: “Everything Has Changed”

Interim Chief Meredith dealt with Nick’s return and a brand-new class of bumbling, overzealous interns.

Fact No. 1: This was the first episode to feature Simone, Kwan, Jules, Mika, and Lucas.

Season 20, Episode 1: “We’ve Only Just Begun”

The interns faced consequences for a patient’s death, while Meredith and Amelia secretly continued their research and Teddy recovered from emergency surgery.

Fact No. 1: This was the third season premiere of Grey’s that was directed by Kevin McKidd, after the premieres for seasons 11 and 12.

Fact No. 2: When Catherine mentioned her love of dancing to Meredith, it was a cheeky nod to Debbie Allen’s storied career as a dancer.

Season 21, Episode 1: “If Walls Could Talk”

This season premiere saw Catherine blackmailing Meredith, Bailey struggling with being fired, and Jo learning she was pregnant.

Fact No. 1: Kali Rocha (as Sydney Heron) returned to Grey’s for the first time since season four.

Fact No. 2: The episode was dedicated to late ABC executive Stephanie Leifer, who showrunner Meg Marinis told Deadline was a “devoted champion” of Grey’s.

Season 22, Episode 1: “Bridge over Troubled Water”

In the season finale, Owen and Teddy reunited before leaving Seattle, while Mer and Nick talked about marriage, and Kwan was fired.

Fact No. 1: Episode director McKidd told Entertainment Weekly that he set Teddy and Owen’s reunion in the scrub room because that’s where the couple shared many big moments.

Fact No. 2: Creating the bridge-collapse set was a massive undertaking, with McKidd revealing to Deadline that just filling up the water tank took three days.