One original character returning to doctors won’t work at Grey Sloan in Grey’s Anatomy season 21. The need for new doctors could make the character’s return decisive considering Grey Sloan Memorial’s state, but that won’t necessarily make it successful story-wise.

Recent Grey’s Anatomy seasons proved able to integrate the key characters returning to visit Grey Sloan Memorial in the show’s main storylines. Addison returning in Grey’s Anatomy season 18 for a uterine transplant and her groundbreaking research study perfectly embedded her within the hospital drama with Meredith and her job offer from Hamilton, and her work in reproductive care did the same in season 19. Arizona’s return in Grey’s Anatomy season 20 was instrumental in inspiring Bailey back into the magic of surgery, and this character’s return after 17 seasons could have a similar arc in Grey’s Anatomy season 21.

Grey's Anatomy Season 21 May Be Overhyping Sydney's Return

Sydney Never Had A Key Role In Grey’s Anatomy Seasons 2, 3 & 4

Ever since the news of Kali Rocha’s return as Sydney Heron came out, a lot of the coverage for Grey’s Anatomy season 21 focused on how exciting it is for a character who had been part of the medical drama’s beginning to return. While it’s incontestably impressive for an original character to return after so long, especially considering the hostile relationship between Bailey and Heron that can make things interesting in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, I am worried that all the anticipation about it might lead to Sydney Heron’s return to Grey’s Anatomy’s ranks to be disappointing in the end.

[Helping Izzie after Denny’s death] was one of Sydney’s few contributions.

Indeed, Sydney’s role had never been central in Grey’s Anatomy seasons 2, 3 and 4. Her arc in season 3 made Sydney helpful to Izzie as she tried to get back to the surgical residency after Denny’s death, leading to Izzie opening up to her despite the interns not warming up to Sydney. Still, that was one of Sydney’s few contributions, in addition to her rivalry with Bailey for the chief resident position. Sydney never having a key role before could make her return in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 ultimately feel underwhelming if it repeated the same patterns.

How Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Can Make Sure That Sydney's Return Doesn't Disappoint

Sydney’s Return Could Be Worthwhile If Her Contribution Was Meaningful

Sydney Heron being a key to mending things between Meredith and Catherine would give her too big of a role that wouldn’t fit with how her character was introduced earlier in Grey’s Anatomy. Still, her return could avoid causing disappointment if Sydney’s contribution was meaningful, even if it didn’t move heaven and earth to solve the major problems set up by Grey’s Anatomy season 20’s ending. Indeed, given how she got through to Izzie when she was her peer counselor, Sydney could become instrumental in helping the interns, and especially Lucas, after their standoff with Catherine in season 20’s finale.

Key highlights of Sydney’s storylines throughout Grey’s Anatomy were her date with Derek, standing her ground when Cristina questioned her approach, and getting through to Izzie.

Sydney’s return can also create interesting dynamics with characters like Meredith and Bailey, who always felt some distance between their approach and Sydney’s. I, for one, cannot wait to see what else Sydney’s presence can cause to Bailey in addition to what could already be seen in Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s trailer. Her return could be even more impressive if Sydney, despite their differences, could finally convince Bailey and Meredith of the worth of her approach after her arc in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, which could truly make her brief return impactful.

Grey's Anatomy season 21 premieres on Thursday, September 26 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.