Grey’s Anatomy Recap: Meredith’s Lie Catches Up with Her, Maggie Returns and Teddy Faces Catherine Fox

This post contains spoilers from the Thursday, May 23rd episode Grey’s Anatomy.

The penultimate episode of season 20 Grey’s Anatomy it was a night full of hard truths coming to the surface.

Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) made a triumphant return to Gray Sloan Memorial, where she came face to face with her estranged husband Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill). Meanwhile, Meredith Gray (Ellen Pompeo) was dealing with her own issues with her boyfriend Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) while trying to keep moving forward with her undercover research. After hooking up with Simone Griffin (Alexis Floyd), Lucas (Niko Terho) reconsidered his career direction.

Read on to find out more about this week’s episode Grey’s Anatomy.

From left: James Pickens Jr. and Kelly McCreary.

Disney/Anne Marie Fox

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Maggie Pierce returns to Gray Sloan Memorial

Maggie arrived at the hospital and was immediately greeted by Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.). Her ex-husband’s reception was much colder, and after a short conversation, he apologized that he was preparing for surgery.

Maggie returned to the hospital to deliver the “bad news” to her patient Brady and his partner Ian. Brady asked, “So it’s bad, right?” and she informed him that he had to go back on the transplant list due to heart failure. However, she insisted that Brady is not losing “hope” amid the medical emergency.

After their strange beginning, Maggie was surprised when Winston asked her to participate in a heart and lung transplant. Their conversation soon became more personal when Winston admitted that he hadn’t signed their divorce papers yet. She seemed unconcerned and told her lawyers, “You’ll get them when you get them.”

“You can be direct, some might say commanding,” he replied, to which she replied, “You said you like that about me.”

From left: James Pickens Jr. and Kelly McCreary on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Disney/Anne Marie Fox

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Meanwhile, Brady worsened and doctors raced to perform CPR. Maggie insisted they notify UNOS that she was in “critical condition.” However, they realized they needed to do a domino heart transplant, using healthy heart valves and arteries from another Mason patient.

In the end, the operation was successful. “I think we still have it. Brady’s going to get a new heart,” Maggie told Winston.

“I remember everything you taught me,” Winston said before Maggie tried to kiss him. Taking a step back, he said he realized it was “time to let go” and handed her signed divorce papers.

“Until the next miraculous operation,” Maggie said, and Winston replied, “Goodbye, Maggie Pierce.”

After Maggie’s departure, Winston found comfort and common ground with Monica Beltran (Natalie Morales). They had a drink and bonded over the fact that they were both going through divorces before hooking up.

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Meredith’s secret is out

From left: Caterina Scorsone and Ellen Pompeo on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Disney/Anne Marie Fox

Meredith and Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) also faced a crisis of their own.

Amelia discovers that Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) has flown into her lab — where she’s been conducting secret Alzheimer’s research that goes against the expectations and wishes of the Catherine Fox Foundation. Meredith said, “We have a problem.”

Amelia then rushed to Boston with all their research because she couldn’t “risk” Catherine finding anything else. Despite the new obstacle, Meredith insisted that they “stick with the original plan,” but Amelia worried that their work would take away from Derek Shepard’s (Patrick Dempsey) legacy.

Debbie Allen on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Disney/Anne Marie Fox

“We’re burying my brother deeper in the ground,” Amelia Meredith said, but insisted her late husband would understand and they should keep pushing forward. Later, they were delighted to learn that their research actually showed promise.

Back at Gray Sloan, Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) was worried that Catherine would find out that she gave the hospital’s discretionary funds to Meredith and Amelia behind her back.

After Teddy reveals the secret to her husband Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd), he encourages her to tell Catherine the truth, saying, “Better to admit the truth than be caught.” Teddy then went to Catherine, who told her she was a “woman of great principles” but couldn’t understand her decision to secretly fund Meredith’s project.

Kim Raver on “Grey’s Anatomy”.

Disney/Anne Marie Fox

As Teddy faced the music for her actions — she was fired — Meredith’s boyfriend Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) was frustrated that she didn’t consider his feelings while putting everything on the line for her research. Nick admitted to Meredith that he wants things to get more serious between them, including moving in and getting married, but he needs to feel like he’s a priority in her life.

Later, Meredith said she wasn’t sure if she was ready to remarry, but she promised to love him forever.

“The problem is that I put work before you… but right now,” she said. “It’s not forever. If you support me, I can do it. Are you in?”

Before he could answer, the phone rang and he left.

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Lucas faces a career crossroads

Niko Terho on “Grey’s Anatomy”.

ABC/Anne Marie Fox

Lucas Adams was facing consequences for his own actions after operating on Sam Sutton without a doctor present, which ultimately led to the patient’s death. Teddy informed him that Sam’s family had settled their lawsuit, but the board recommended that he repeat his internship year.

“It’s your judgment that’s in question, not your skills,” Teddy explained.

When Simone found out about Lucas’ situation, she felt that she was to blame for the disciplinary action. She insisted, “We can defend you.”

Alexis Floyd on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Disney/Anne Marie Fox

However, Maggie offered him another chance: to move to Chicago and be a second-year cardiac intern. When Lucas told Maggie that he always thought about going into neurosurgery, she replied, “Why because you’re Shepard?” before she encouraged him to take the job.

He later told Simone about Maggie’s offer and admitted that he had “considered it”.

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Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9pm ET on ABC.

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