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

Many eventful moments fromGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s premiere were disclosed in the trailer, but a momentous one turned out to be a massive lie in season 21, episode 1’s first minutes – marking a wasted opportunity for one character. AfterGrey’s Anatomyseason 20’s ending shook up Grey Sloan Memorial’s balance with Catherine’s mass firings and Meredith’s extreme reaction resulting in the publication of her Alzheimer’s study’s findings to evade the impasse created by Catherine’s ultimatum, season 21’s premiere showed things going relatively back to normal. However, that wasn’t the case for the key character standing up for the interns.

Grey’s Anatomyseason 21’s premiere indeed revealed how Miranda Bailey had lost her job for standing up to defend the interns, joining the crowded ranks of theGrey’s Anatomydoctors not working at Grey Sloan in season 21. The pivotal events ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 20’s finale thus brought forth key changes for Bailey, who ended up working exclusively at the Elena Bailey Clinic inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s premiere. However, the big twist invalidating the most shocking moment ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s trailer made things worse, backtracking on a reaction that could have meant great changes for Bailey.

Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey and Kali Rocha as Sydney Heron in Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s premiere-1

Sydney’s Return Role In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Perfectly Continues A Forgotten Season 3 Story

Sydney and Miranda’s rivalry was evident in Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s premiere, making it possible for a forgotten season 3 story to continue.

Bailey’s Fake Catherine Slap Twist In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Explained

Bailey Only Dreamt Of Slapping Catherine, Which Never Happened

Miranda Bailey could be seen slapping Catherine Fox inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s trailerafter a heated debate over the interns. The first minute and a half ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s premiere had the two facing off, with Catherine accusing Bailey and the interns of wasting the Fox Foundation’s money and Bailey telling Catherine off for operating “on spite and greed,” refusing to see the patients’ faces and only seeing dollars. Bailey’s speech was powerful and it ended with Bailey slapping Catherine, but it was revealed to be fake shortly after. Indeed,Miranda only slapped Catherine in her nightmare.

Bailey repeatedly having that nightmare proved how she wished she had stood up to Catherine.

Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 1-4

Bailey slapping Catherine in the trailer added shock value ahead ofGrey’s Anatomy’s return. However,Grey’s Anatomyseason 21’s premiere revealing how that had never happened felt like a cop-out, asthe exchange looked like a powerful moment in both the trailer and the episode, one that vindicated Bailey. Bailey using her voice to defend herself after Catherine first relied on her as chief and then discarded her the moment she wasn’t profitable anymore would have marked a positive change for the general surgeon, and repeatedly having that nightmare proved how Bailey wished she had stood up to Catherine.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Wastes Its Chance To Evolve Bailey After 2 Decades

Bailey Always Followed Rules & Rarely Challenged Authority Figures

Bailey has gone through plenty of changes inGrey’s Anatomy, growing as a teacher and a leader. However, Bailey always followed rules so strictly to the point of hurting her health, which eventually got her to resign at the end ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 19.Bailey slapping Catherine inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21would have had an immediate downside, but had she done so, at least she would have made her frustrations evidentfor Catherine to see. However, the drama chose to place Bailey in her usual position, one authority figures often relegated her to, not letting her fight back.

Bailey having as a recurring nightmare the moment of her firing could also hint that the time for her rebellion will come sooner rather than later. Indeed,Simone’s questions about why Bailey didn’t fight to remain the interns’ teacher, Bailey’s nightmares andGrey’s Anatomyseason 21, episode 2’s trailer showing Catherine continuing to blow her offmade the issue of Bailey’s passiveness unavoidable. Hopefully, one of these developments will finally let Bailey realize that enough is enough, kickstarting her rebellion inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21.

Grey’s Anatomy Poster

Grey’s Anatomyseason 21 releases new episodes every Thursday at 10 pm ET on ABC.

Grey’s Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.