The end of MerDer may have finally arrived on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

It’s been a long and bumpy ride this season on Grey’s Anatomy (Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CTV) and while the pandemic continues to rage on in real life and at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, it appears that one VIP patient may finally be out of the woods. Or in this case, off the beach.

Meredith’s (Ellen Pompeo) vitals continue to look good, but her inability to stay awake for more than a minute has the doctor’s running every possible test. Eventually, a clot is found, but since Meredith is everyone’s family, no one wants to operate.

Teddy (Kim Raver) and Winston (Anthony Hill) finally agree to take on the surgery together, but Owen (Kevin McKidd) is concerned that if things go poorly, Teddy won’t recover.

Thankfully, the surgery goes well, but Meredith is still on the beach with Derek (Patrick Dempsey), causing Teddy to have a panic attack and kiss Owen. We all deal with stress differently.  

On the beach, MerDer is discussing Derek’s death, which was tragic and frustrating since his doctors were incompetent.

The couple also gave viewers the wedding we never got. Sure, the Post-It note has always been romantic, but it’s tough to beat a ceremony on the beach. Meredith is trying to convince herself that her kids will be okay without her, while Derek argues the obvious.

“People love you, Meredith,” says Derek. “People need you.” Three tiny people in particular plus a hospital full of surgeons and sick people.

ALL WE WANTED WAS A MERDER ENDGAME #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/5FUsCmdDgk

— lily (@merluvr) April 23, 2021

Season 5 Post-it Wedding VS Season 17 Beach Wedding 😍😍😍 #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/z10u2Vyd2f

— Sarah Mae Pelaez (@SaRiRayTwitz) April 23, 2021

The pair discuss the immense fatigue that comes from dying, as well as exactly what Derek has seen over the past few years (ie. Meredith in bed with DeLuca).

Just as supportive in death as he was in life, Derek tells Meredith that he doesn’t want her to be lonely. He also doesn’t want their kids to grow up without her. Ugh, we love MerDer, but we also love a living Meredith. There really aren’t any good options in 2021.

This Derek Shepherd goodbye is more painful then the original goodbye . pic.twitter.com/8xIzsw6Fbw

— Rebecca -MERDER ENDGAME (@dreamymerder) April 23, 2021

"what do we want to promise each other?" - derek, season 5

"what do you want me to promise?" - meredith, season 17

THIS PARALLEL#GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/1UrUkwRhwf

— e | grey's spoilers ‼️ (@ellieinparis) April 23, 2021

In the land of the living, Winston and his fresh set of eyes know the doctors have exhausted all medical options for Meredith, so he pleads his case to appeal to her conscious by bringing Zola (Aniela Gumbs) into Meredith’s hospital room.

Sweet Zola’s recap of home life works its magic and Meredith finally opens her eyes. Are we good now? Is Meredith okay? Can we feel this joy without having it snatched away? We are cautiously optimistic. 

This episode was perfect. I might never recover from it. @EllenPompeo @PatrickDempsey #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/EAxsjxw3mk

— maria (@yed_maria) April 23, 2021

“We love you, Zozo. We love you so much” #greys #GreysAnatomy @GreysABC pic.twitter.com/VYKA03hehs

— mads🍂SPRING CHICKEN ERA (@madspomps) April 23, 2021

THE MOMENT WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR 🤩🤩🤩 #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/2bn4kdg9PP

— doriah loves shondaland. (@shondafanpage) April 23, 2021

In other parts of the hospital, the surgeons are continuing to search for their own joy in a year of pure misery. Jo (Camilla Luddington) has worked up the courage to tell Miranda (Chandra Wilson) she wants to switch to OB and gets a quick ‘no.’ TBH that’s pretty much how we figured it would go.

Miranda eventually has a change of heart after treating a patient who left her high-pressure tech job to spend the pandemic at home with her kids and start a peanut brittle business, which sounds relaxing and delicious. Rest, people. It’s not a bad four letter word. 

Rest is love ❤️ #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/pOISLtGL5P

— Greys Anatomy (@GreysABC) April 23, 2021

Miranda agrees to let Jo switch specialties and the countdown to Jo adopting tiny baby Luna continues. It’s gonna happen, right?

RT if you’re SO excited for Jo 😍 #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/iEt8P9PYlr

— Greys Anatomy (@GreysABC) April 23, 2021

Link (Chris Carmack) and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) are continuing to look for any excuse to escape the four children they’re in charge of and get back to work. That wasn’t judgmental. It’s April 2021, we get it.

An opportunity presents itself for Amelia to be in the OR when a patient Link is video chatting shows signs of a brain tumor (the Shephard family makes very, very good neurosurgeons).

Amelia hasn’t performed surgery in a month and Link is concerned about his patient, but then remembers Amelia’s last name and gives her the pep talk she needs to power pose her way through a successful surgery. Never doubt the power pose.

“You are Amelia Shepherd. So you got this.” #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/xF7jSFSvFG

— Greys Anatomy (@GreysABC) April 23, 2021

Schmitt (Jake Borelli) is also feeling brave and tells Nico (Alex Landi) that he wants a drawer for his belongings at Nico’s apartment. Nico decides to do one better and invites Schmitt to leave Jo’s couch and move in with him. Yay! This is what Schmitt has wanted! This is perfect! This is great! This is a scene of Schmitt’s backside as he runs away in terror. Dudes, amirite?

Big moment.... big moment... overwhelmed... #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/vFxo8wa6Gy

— Jake Borelli (@JakeBorelli) April 23, 2021

Grey’s Anatomy returns with new episodes every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on CTV starting May 6. Catch up here.

BEFORE YOU GO: LeVar Burton set to guest host ‘Jeopardy!’

[video_embed id='2186279']BEFORE YOU GO: LeVar Burton set to guest host ‘Jeopardy!’ [/video_embed]