The Gray’s Anatomy The season 20 finale included plenty of cliffhangers, and while most of them will be resolved in the show’s landmark 21st season, one budding romance ended before it even began. Due to the dual SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes of 2023, Gray’s Anatomy Season 20 received a slim 10-episode order — basically less than half of the show’s normal order. For an ensemble series like Shonda Rhimes’ long-running medical drama, Fewer episodes created a problem. Storylines that would have played out over multi-episode arcs—or over entire seasons—were trimmed significantly.
Worse yet, some characters that seemed positioned to have great stories in Gray’s Anatomy Season 19’s cliffhanger ending was reduced to supporting roles. Without enough time to explore characters, let alone relationships, the show’s romance suffered in season 20. For example, while Gray’s Anatomy was ready to do Taryn Helm justice in season 20, Jaicy Elliot’s Helm had an incredibly condensed relationship (and breakup) with Mika Yasuda (Midori Francis). Even established couples, like Meredith Gray (Ellen Pompeo) and Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman), are left spinning their wheels. However, the unrealized potential of one particular budding romance stings the most.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 Finale Teased Mika Yasuda and Jules Millin’s Steamy Romance
Yasuda and Millin almost kissed before Blue interrupted them
At the end of Gray’s Anatomy Season 19 Yasuda and Helm finally acknowledged their romantic spark. While season 20 picks up with the pair seemingly head-over-heels, the pairing didn’t last long, especially given the compressed 10-episode timeline. Gray Sloan’s newly minted co-court resident, Helm was so intent on not giving Yasuda special treatment that she actively stood in the way of her friend’s education. – Or so Yasuda claimed. After a short-lived stint of cold-shouldering each other, Mika and Taryn called it quits ahead of Gray’s Anatomy Season 20’s finale.
… The frazzled duo rush to the exam room, but the sparks between them are palpable – and only become more obvious in the finale.
Ultimately, the breakup fixes a major Gray’s Anatomy Criticism: Yasuda prioritizes her career over Helm, and even acknowledges the inherent and uncomfortable power imbalance that exists in an intern-resident relationship. In the last episode of the season, Yasuda uses her newfound time to help fellow intern Jules Millin (Adelaide Kane) study for the ABSITE exam. The pair pull an all-nighter and fall asleep side-by-side on a cot. In the morning, the frazzled duo rush to the exam room, but the sparks between them are palpable – and only become more obvious in the finale.
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The finale, “Burn It Down,” takes Micah and Jules’ apparent chemistry a step further. The soon-to-be-retired Dr. Richard Weber (James Pickens Jr.) allows Yasuda and Millin to finish part of a complex procedure; Weber forgets a key step, which leads to complications after surgery. Finally, the patient dies, Which completely upsets Mika and Jules. When Yasuda experiences a panic attack, Millin tries to talk her through it. This poignant moment pushes Yasuda and Millin together – emotionally and physically. Although Benson Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.) interrupts the couple before they kiss, their connection feels inevitable.
Viewers won’t be able to see Yasuda and Millin’s slow-burn romance.
unfortunately, Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 viewers won’t be able to see Yasuda and Millin’s slow-burn romance. While the medical drama is returning for a 21st outing, Midori Francis, who plays Yasuda, is set to exit the show. Francis’ departure will significantly impact the series in more ways than one. For starters, Yasuda was Gray’s Anatomys best replacement for Meredith, however It’s also refreshing to see a queer character actually thrive on the show for the first time in seasonsEspecially when doctors like Louis Schmidt (Jake Borelli) and Helm got short shrift.
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Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 is losing some funny characters
For various reasons, it seems that many Gray’s Anatomy Doctors will not be working at Gray Sloan in future episodes of season 21. Not only is Midori Francis’ Mika Yasuda leaving the show, but Jake Borelli’s Levi Schmitt, who joined the cast in season 14, is also exiting. Gray’s Anatomy.
While the losses are certainly a blow to the show’s LGBTQ+ representation, Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 has the opportunity to showcase some exciting queer characters and stories. Not only does it seem likely that Station 19S Carina DeLuca-Bishop will return to Gray’s AnatomyBut Natalie Morales’ Monica Beltran has emerged as one of the show’s best new characters.
How Mika & Jules’ budding romance stacks up against other Grey’s Anatomy love stories
The tender moment is not the peak of the wisest romance
The fact that the blossoming romance between Mika and Jules is not set to develop much further in Gray’s Anatomy is a disappointment for many fans, especially those for whom the LGBTQ + representation was significant. however, Despite the fact that Mika and Jules could be one of the best Gray’s Anatomy relationships, their abundance of natural chemistry is not enough to place them among the most memorable love stories of the show.
Mika and Jules’ relationship was cut short by the exit of Midori Francis, meaning the pair didn’t have much time to develop. However, even if they were to be a long-term pairing, they would have an uphill battle ahead of them to contend with the many other iconic and memorable relationships that have occurred throughout all 20 seasons. Gray’s Anatomy Until now. Romance, both good and bad, has always been an essential narrative element of the medical drama, and it’s no surprise that the show has featured some of the most well-written TV relationships of recent decades.
Mika and Jules would have had an incredibly jaw-dropping and heartwarming romance to become as iconic as some of the previous Gray’s Anatomy relationships in the eyes of many fans. This is even true when focusing specifically on LGBTQ+ relationships, like, For many viewers, Arizona and Callie (Jessica Capshaw and Sara Ramirez) remain the definitive same-sex Gray’s Anatomy Couple. Their romance arc ticked all the right boxes both in terms of the characters’ chemistry, and how well it explored the unique obstacles that heteronormative dynamics don’t include.
however, When it comes to all the couples in gray’s anatomy, The couple of Meredith and Derek remains the best and most beloved for the majority of the fans. This is despite the fact that it was incredibly early in the show’s run compared to Mika and Jules’ tender moments in season 20. In many ways, Gray’s Anatomy Still has yet to top Meredith and Derek when it comes to romantic storylines. Mike and Jules could have been a great long-term couple if their time together hadn’t been cut short, but the chances that they would have been as significant as Meredith and Derek are slim.