Grey’s Anatomy has swept the nation since 2005 with twelve whopping seasons, all filled with drama, heartache, humor, and medical jargon. The story follows Meredith Grey, (Ellen Pompeo), and her friends and coworkers as they discover their true selves working at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Every Grey’s fan knows that no episode is complete without an intertwining storyline, thickening plot, and aching heart. The season 12 Winter Finale, titled “Things We Lost in the Fire”, was no different. Fans, with the show picking back up on Thursday, February 11, here’s a review for everything you need to know in order to be prepared for the show’s dramatic return.

Prior to the winter finale, we were left with some trouble in Grey Sloan Memorial when Chief Bailey hired Nathan Riggs. He and Owen Hunt have some mysterious backstory that causes Owen and Meredith to hate him. Also, there is some tension in the hospital between Meredith Grey and Penny Blake, as Blake was the surgeon that allowed her husband, Derek Shepherd, to die (also crushing all of our still-recovering hearts in one swift motion). However, Meredith is trying to rise and take Blake under her wing.

Arizona and Callie:

The finale begins with Arizona starting to feel excited because she feels a connection for her injured firefighter patient. This is the first time she’s felt a spark for anyone since her break up with Callie. Callie, meanwhile, is dating Penny Blake. Yes, that is about as awkward as it sounds like it would be.

Owen and Nathan: 

Thickening the Owen-Nathan mystery, Owen’s mother shows up at the hospital. Upon seeing Nathan, she is ecstatic and hugs him fondly. This reaction is entirely different than Owen’s, and we are all left wondering what exactly happened between Owen and Nathan, and why his mother reacted in that way.

Owen and Nathan have yet another heated confrontation, where Owen warns Nathan to stay away from a patient, Owen’s mother’s boyfriend. After yelling at him to “Stay the hell away from my family!” Riggs replies, “It’s my family, too.” Then, Owen punches him in the face and storms off. Are Nathan and Owen related? How are there so many secret siblings in this show?

Meredith and Amelia:

Next, we move onto Meredith and Amelia’s story. There had already been icy tension between the two of them, as Amelia was furious at Meredith for taking Blake under her wing. Since Derek Shepherd was Amelia’s brother, she finds Meredith keeps disappointing her and shaming her late brother’s image. Amelia also had romantic connections with Owen. In the episode, he secretly confided in Meredith and revealed to her what happened between him and Nathan. Meredith, out of loyalty, will not reveal this information to Amelia. This is the last straw between the two of them, and Amelia mercilessly attacks Meredith, calling her hollow and that she would have been disgusting to Derek. They dissolve their sisterhood and Amelia is kicked out of Meredith’s home.

Jackson and April:

Who’s next? Jackson and April, the runaway couple that is undergoing serious marriage issues. They resented each other after April joined the army to be a medic. When she returned, things were tense, but the two spent the night together, resulting in a very awkward next day. April avoids Jackson because she does not want to hear him tell her it’s over. Frustrated that she’s always calling all the shots, Jackson wants to lay all the cards out on the table and finally tell her exactly what he’s thinking. The scene cuts, leaving the audience wondering if he will finally end it all and ask for a divorce.

Jo and Alex:

Jo and Alex had a big fight over Alex’s close, loyal relationship with Meredith. When she arrives home, she seems ready to break up. However, Alex greets her with champagne and an engagement ring. While Jo is happy, she’s still furious and does not know how to handle his makeshift solution. Alex tries to convince her that he really does only care about her, but we don’t know if his words worked or if Jo will accept his proposal.

Meredith and Owen:

When Cristina left, Meredith promised her that she would provide a lending ear and metaphorical shoulder to cry on to her ex, Owen. Meredith and Owen have confided in each other and the winter finale closes with their conversation. Meredith turns to him and says, “You never told me you had a sister.” What?!?!

Fans, that is all for the season 12 winter finale of Grey’s Anatomy. It has been a long, long few months waiting for the return of our favorite doctors. The hiatus is drawing to a close, though; recently, the promo for its premiere episode, “The Sound of Silence”, was released. In the thirty-second clip, Meredith is shown being beaten, slammed (and deafened?) by a patient. The doctors are horrified, crying, and cowering, desperately trying to save Meredith’s life. All avid Grey’s watchers will know that this episode will not be kind to viewers’ hearts.

Tune in February 11, 2016 at 8PM on ABC to watch the highly anticipated return of Grey’s Anatomy.

[wpdevart_youtube]7Kkzdf2GMLI[/wpdevart_youtube]