Grey's Anatomy season 21 has confirmed the return of an original character on the show, who previously left the medical drama 17 years ago. Grey's Anatomy season 21 is shaping up to be a game-changer for many of the core characters, with a multitude of attendings fired by Catherine Fox and Meredith Grey making her Alzheimer's research public behind everyone's back. Because of how unpredictable the next batch of episodes is going to be, anything could happen, from new characters showing up to old faces returning after a long time away.
Now, Deadline has confirmed that Kali Rocha will return as Sydney Heron in Grey's Anatomy season 21, following a 17-year absence from the medical drama. The actor previously portrayed Sydney in a recurring role from seasons 2 through 4, making her last appearance in season 4, episode 8, which aired in 2007. The often-positive doctor will be coming back for three episodes in the new season, revealing what she's been up to for over a decade and a half.
What Sydney’s Return Means For Grey’s Anatomy Season 21
Could More Returnees Be On The Horizon?
Sydney made an impression during the few episodes she appeared in, with a friendly attitude that has led to both positive and negative responses to her character. Her upcoming appearance continues a recent trend of Grey’s Anatomy characters who exited returning after many years, the latest of which was Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) in season 20. The fact characters like season 21’s returnee are coming back after such a long time away also opens the door for potentially more old faces popping back up in later episodes of the show.
However, since the ending of Grey's Anatomy season 20 didn't offer any direct hints about anybody coming back, it's unclear who could wind up making a surprise appearance in a later portion of the upcoming episodes. Syndey's guest appearance is small, leaving room for potentially other veterans of the series like Alex Karev (Justin Chambers), Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington), or even Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez). While there's no concrete proof more guests are coming, the newest returnee could be testing the waters for even more surprise appearances.
As for Sydney herself, it's unclear what her role in the story of season 21 will be, and how much her coming back will effect the team currently present. Many of the characters current on Grey's Anatomy have never met her before, likely leading to some interesting interactions that will likely prove worth waiting for her to come back after so long. With plenty of mystery in store for her comeback, it appears the next season of the show will be very unpredictable for who might be showing up in the future.
Source: Deadline
