‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Kevin McKidd Says Patrick Dempsey’s Appearance Is Just The Beginning

Fans wept tears of surprise and joy when Dr. Derek Shepherd appeared to Meredith Grey on a beach. This was after Meredith collapsed with exhaustion outside the hospital. Actor Kevin McKidd (Dr. Owen Hunt)  spoke about the scene in an interview. He said how nerve-wracking it was to film it and keep it secret. However, he has also revealed there are other surprises to come.

Grey’s Anatomy: Dr. Derek Shepherd and Meredith Grey

In the recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy, a thrilling surprise happened. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) collapses and then spots her late husband Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) on a beach. Kevin McKidd has revealed there were a lot of worries when filming the surprise scene for Season 17 of the medical drama.

McKidd said anything could have happened. A random jogger or someone in a boat close to the beach could have come along and spotted them, ruining the surprise. According to Kevin, the fact this didn’t happen was a feat in itself. McKidd, who directs Thursday’s upcoming episode, said Derek will make another appearance to Meredith.

The cast and the surprise scene

It turns out even the cast was surprised by the scene. McKidd said they had no idea it was going to happen. However, he did say it was amazing and they were all shocked. In the script they had, it hinted that Meredith’s mother (Ellis Grey) appearing on the beach to talk about life. He told ET they all thought it was weird, as they kept the scene a secret from them for a long time. The Grey’s Anatomy star said the reason it remained secret was that the actors didn’t know about the upcoming scene.

McKidd did admit he was one of the lucky few who found out a little earlier than anyone else. This was because he was directing the third episode. Kevin said he had to keep the secret so tight, which was really hard, as he couldn’t even tell his wife. However, he added that he was glad it came off as it gave fans a “huge Christmas gift” in a time when everyone is going through so much. Kevin says he really thinks it was worth the effort.

McKidd was surprised by Dempsey’s return

Fans will remember that Dr. Derek Shepherd was dramatically killed off in an episode in 2015. In the interview, McKidd did admit he was surprised by the unexpected return of Dempsey’s character. However, he said reuniting with his former co-star brought back memories from the set.

Kevin said he couldn’t believe that they had an opportunity to do this. He also noted that the days spent down at the beach were almost like being at summer camp. It gave everyone a “really nostalgic, warm feeling. It was reportedly very “cathartic and healing.” Plus, it was great for them to reminisce about the years they worked together.

McKidd and Dempsey worked on Grey’s Anatomy together for seven years, from Season 5 to Season 11 when Dr. Derek Shepherd died. He said it was like seeing an old friend from a long time ago that he hadn’t seen for a while. They had a great catch-up about their lives in general and it was awesome.

What else is happening this season on Grey’s Anatomy?

Showrunner Krista Vernoff has already vaguely hinted that Dempsey will appear three more times on the show. However, McKidd was more cagey when asked if this week’s episode was the last for McDreamy. He said he values his job too much to tell us. All Kevin can say is this isn’t the last fans have seen on him. However, he did go on to say the surprise was just the “tip of the iceberg of what’s to come.” Kevin said fans will have to watch to find out more.

Fans can catch Grey’s Anatomy on ABC on Thursdays at 9 p-m ET.