Grey's Anatomy is a critically acclaimed medical drama series which recently wrapped up its 21st season. The show delves into the different aspects of the lives of Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital's surgical interns, attendings, and residents.
Set in Seattle, the series highlights the ups and downs in the professional and personal lives of the medical staff of Grey Sloan. Grey's Anatomy has mostly focused on the character of Meredith Grey. After her departure from Grey's Anatomy as a series regular, the show moved to an emsemble format.
Grey's Anatomy recently saw the departure of Mika Yasuda, played by Midori Francis. Mika Yasuda made her debut in season 19 of the series. She was the middle child of eight siblings who was known for her dark humor.
Determined to make it as a surgeon, Yasuda joined the series as an intern in Grey Sloan's newly launched teaching program. Francis stated that she was leaving the series to explore new opportunities in her career.
Why is Yasuda leaving Grey's Anatomy ?
Before the release of season 21 of Grey's Anatomy, the show announced that Mika Yasuda, a character played by Midori Francis would be leaving the show. The actress chose to return for season 21 to wrap up Yasuda's story.
Deadline was the first to announce Midori Francis's departure from Grey's Anatomy. They stated that the decision to end Yasuda's time at Grey-Sloan Memorial hospital was amicable and there was no conflict between Francis and the show.
Midori Francis left Grey's Anatomy to explore new career opportunities. According to Deadline, the actress wished to branch out. She wished to pursue new career avenues after signing with WME.
At the beginning of season 21, while talking to The Hollywood Reporter about Yasuda's departure, showrunner Meg Marinis stated:
"We really honor how we introduced her character and how far she's come. Mike is such a fun character to write. She really delivers this season, and I think people will be really, really invested in her storyline. I'm really, really happy with how it's turned out."
How did Yasuda leave Grey's Anatomy ?
Mika Yasuda left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in the finale of season 21 titled, Drop It Like It's Hot. The episode begins six months after the devastating death of Yasuda's younger sister, Chloe.
Mika Yasuda's younger sister Chloe passed away in the previous episode after she and Yasuda suffered serious injuries in a car accident. The car accident happened due to Yasuda falling asleep while driving as she had spent the previous night operating at the hospital.
Chloe passed away due to grave injuries from the crash which her body couldn't recover from because she was on chemo treating her cancer. In episode 8 of season 21, Yasuda resumes work at Grey-Sloan.
On her first day back, Yasuda looks like she is not okay and depicts strange behavior. Wherever she looks, the young intern is unable to escape the memories of her sister. She finds herself thinking of her sister when she visits the morgue and the room Chloe passed away in.
In the episode, when Dr. Bailey is treating a male patient whose situation turns serious, Yasuda begins to break down. She screams at Dr. Bailey, "He's dying" and "you can't just let him die like that".
Yasuda begins to blur the lines between her late sister and the male patient when she begins to scream, "you have to save her, please save her" and "just take me, Dr. Bailey, take me".
Yasuda realizes that she is not ready to resume work at Grey Sloan. She opens up to Simone expressing her sister was her heart and she's lost it. The episode also marks the first time Jules and Yasuda get intimate in the on-call room, but the latter begins to cry.
Later in the episode, when Dr. Bailey offers Yasuda more time off, Yasuda declines saying she wishes to leave Grey Sloan. She states that she needs to find a way forward, but she can't do it as everything at the hospital reminds her of Chloe. The episode ends with Yasuda leaving Grey Sloan despite Jules begging her not to.
Will Yasuda return to Grey's Anatomy ?
Grey's Anatomy is a series known for bringing back old characters. Many characters in the series such as Teddy Altman, Addison Montgomery, Jackson Avery, and Ben Warren have returned after departing from the show.
Grey's Anatomy is also known for bringing characters like Derek Shepherd, George O'Malley, Lexie Grey, and Mark Sloan back from the dead in flashbacks or dream sequences. So, it is safe to say that Mika Yasuda could also return in future seasons.
While talking to Deadline, they asked Francis if she would return to Grey's or surgery in the future, the actress stated,
"I think Mika has a lot of healing to do, and she's going to go home and do that. In the back of my mind, because I know how passionate she is about what she does, do I think and do I hope that she will find a way to use this grief as a way to continue pursuing caring for other people? Yes, I do."
She further added,
"As far as returning to Grey's, I would be so delighted. These people and this world has become part of my trajectory of acting families, and I would be absolutely delighted to return. I don't know if Mika would, I think for Mika it would be triggering."
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