Sydney’s returning role in Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 perfectly continues a forgotten Season 3 storyline

Warning! Spoilers about Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 1 ahead.

Sidney Heron’s return to Gray Sloan Memorial in Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 disrupted the hospital’s balance, but it also perfectly maintains an oblivion Gray’s Anatomy Season 3 story, improving on it. After disappearing without fanfare Gray’s Anatomy season 4, No one at Seattle Grace really wondered what happened to Dr. Sidney Heron. While the resident forced a connection with Christina and Izzy in Gray’s Anatomy Seasons 2 and 3, earning the former’s respect for how she stood her ground with Burke and the latter’s confidence after her past convinced Izzie that she could understand, not many characters missed her.

Sydney Heron was introduced after all to take over Bailey’s interns for the time she was on maternity leave in Gray’s Anatomy Season 2And all the interns missed Bailey after dealing with Heron’s approach to “Heal with love.“The biggest draw of Sidney Heron’s return in Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 was her 17-year absence from the medical drama, as no one ever connected with her enough to enjoy her company. Just like MAGIC, the new interns are hesitant to follow Sydney as their “Fearless leader“In Gray’s Anatomy Season 21’s premiere, highlighting how a major Season 3 story can continue.

Sidney and Miranda’s rivalry was a big Grey’s Anatomy storyline in Season 3

They fought head-to-head for the main resident position

While first introduced only as Bailey’s sub in Gray’s Anatomy Season 2, Sydney had a bigger role in season 3. This was made possible by her peer counselor role which eventually helped Izzie get used to how her relationship with her work at Seattle Grace changed after Denny’s death. however, Sydney’s biggest story in Gray’s Anatomy Season 3 is arguably her bitter rivalry with Bailey. The two went head-to-head for the chief resident position, which Miranda eventually earned, but Sydney’s fake antics always aggravated Bailey.

This was especially true when Sidney went after the Denny Duquette clinic, implying that Bailey was conducting it as a convenient plot to earn points ahead of the nomination of the chief resident, and even more so When Sidney accused Miranda of doing the same when she worked hard to save Meredith’s life after she drowned. Gray’s Anatomy Season 3 solidly established Bailey and Heron as rivals, with the former direct and kind-hearted, and the latter willing to accuse her enemies of the worst, albeit in a more seemingly polite approach that only felt fake to Miranda and Callie in Gray’s Anatomy Season 3.

Sidney Heron’s return resurrects her rivalry with Miranda

Richard knew what he would have caused by hiring Sidney Heron back

The events of Gray’s Anatomy Season 20’s finale guaranteed Miranda was also fired, but it was Richard became interim chief, which eventually led to the continuation of Bailey and Heron’s rivalry in Gray’s Anatomy Season 21. It is unclear whether or not Richard agreed with Catherine’s move to fire his favorite students Miranda and Meredith, but He probably appointed Sidney Heron as the leader of the interns, knowing that Miranda would hate for Sidney to ruin how she trained the new interns into surgeons..

Indeed, Bailey and Heron’s rivalry was even more cutting-edge Gray’s Anatomy season 21. It was especially evident in Heron’s contrary approach with Bailey’s interns, along with her intubation when their names were concerned in Gray’s Anatomy Season 21’s premiere, and Sydney’s Baiting CoLike many of Sidney’s remarks. Richard must have known about Sidney and Miranda’s longstanding rivalry, making his choice to use Sidney as Miranda’s replacement necessarily have an ulterior motive.

How Sidney Heron’s return impacts Miranda’s arc in Grey’s Anatomy season 21

Miranda’s dreams of slapping Catherine already show that she wants to fight back

Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 opened with Miranda’s violent dream of slapping Catherine after she fired her, which also has a deeper meaning, because Bailey unapologetically stood up for herself in her recurring nightmare against Catherine who fired her.. Despite Bailey refusing to admit to Ben when she proclaimed that she was happy to work at the Elena Bailey Clinic because it meant she had more time for her family, Bailey missed Gray Sloan Memorial, the OR, and even more the new interns she was studying at Gray’s Anatomy Season 20.

While Bailey had already implemented behaviors that showed how she wanted to return to Gray Sloan, It was seeing Sydney Heron teaching her interns the wrong way that eventually convinced her to speak up for herself at the end of Gray’s Anatomy Season 21’s premiere. Hearing Simone’s pleas and helping her free the patient reminded Miranda what was important and what was at stake besides her bruised ego when Catherine fired her – as she wanted her interns to learn. As Sydney’s first day at Gray Sloan has already fired Bailey so proved her importance to Miranda’s Gray’s Anatomy The story of season 21.

Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 releases new episodes every Thursday at 10pm ET on ABC.