With the popular Grey’s Anatomy spinoff Station 19 primed to end
with 2024’s season 7, viewers are wondering about this crossover character’s return.
Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) and Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo)
from Grey’s Anatomy and Ben Warren (Jason George) from Station 19
Custom Image by Kate Bove
Summary
Grey’s Anatomy spinoff Station 19 will end after season 7,
impacting the fates of key crossover characters like Ben Warren.
Ben, introduced in Grey’s Anatomy season 6, could retire or face a tragic end in the final season of Station 19.
The intertwined stories of Ben and Bailey, a beloved Grey’s Anatomy couple, will have a lasting impact on both shows.
After 7 seasons, Station 19 will air its final episode on May 16, 2024, leaving many viewers of the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff to wonder about the ultimate fates of several key crossover characters. Created by Stacy McKee, the action-drama premiered in 2018, becoming the second Grey’s Anatomy spinoff to hit the small screen. Instead of centering on Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, the show focuses on the lives of those who work at Seattle Fire Station 19. While Andrea “Andy” Herrera (Jaina Lee Ortiz) led Station 19’s first outing, the spinoff immediately incorporated existing Grey’s Anatomy characters into its story.
Given the nature of firefighters’ often-dangerous line of work, there are plenty of crossover opportunities between [Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy].
Of course, given the nature of firefighters’ often-dangerous line of work, there are plenty of crossover opportunities between the two shows. This marks a substantial difference from Grey’s other spinoff, Private Practice, which was set in LA and featured just a handful of guest actors crossing over for one- or two-episode stints. While Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is already in the works, there’s no denying that the parent series’ future episodes will be impacted by the Station 19 season 7 finale, especially when it comes to spinoff characters who have inextricable ties to Grey Sloan and its doctors.
Station 19 Is Ending (Meaning Ben Warren Might Be Back On Grey’s Anatomy)
Ben Was Introduced As A Grey’s Anatomy Character
A firefighter and PRT Physician, fan-favorite character Dr. Ben Warren (Jason George) was first introduced as an anesthesiologist in Grey’s Anatomy season 6. While Ben guested as Dr. Miranda Bailey’s (Chandra Wilson) love interest, he eventually becomes a surgical resident at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. During Grey’s Anatomy’s landmark fifteenth season, Station 19 began airing, prompting writers to move Ben’s story to the spinoff. After a series of mishandled medical moments — and plenty of friction with his wife and superior — Ben grew interested in working with Station 19’s firefighters, making the transition feel pretty natural.
Chandra Wilson’s Bailey is one of the two Grey’s Anatomy characters who’s still a main cast member…
While Station 19’s showrunner has carefully teased Ben’s future on Grey’s Anatomy, he is one of two key characters with substantial ties to the cast of the Shonda Rhimes-created parent show. Of course, Carina DeLuca (Stefania Spampinato), another character who started on Grey’s, now has way fewer to Grey Sloan than Ben. Chandra Wilson’s Bailey is one of the two Grey’s Anatomy characters who’s still a main cast member after a whopping 20 seasons. Miranda Bailey’s story shows no signs of slowing down, which means Ben Warren’s Station 19 fate will have a huge impact on Grey’s Anatomy too.
station 19
Station 19 (2018)
Station 19 is a spin-off of Grey’s Anatomy that premiered in 2018 on ABC. The series follows the professional and personal lives of the firefighters at Seattle Fire Station 19. Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 sometimes have crossover episodes in which a storyline is depicted on one night throughout both shows.
Ben & Bailey Are One Of Grey’s Anatomy’s Best Couples
Miranda Bailey & Ben Warren’s Stories Are Very Intertwined
Since Ben was introduced in season 6 of Grey’s Anatomy, he’s been half of a fan-favorite pairing. In the wake of her divorce, Bailey struggled to feel confident in her dating game; more importantly, she was afraid to be vulnerable with someone new. At work, Bailey’s no-nonsense persona can intimidate her colleagues, but Ben Warren understands Miranda’s walls — and her tenderness — right away. Ben proves that he’s more than willing to take things slow, and he respects the fact that Miranda’s dating life directly affects her young son, Tuck.
Ben has always been an amazing parent to Tuck…
Although Bailey and Ben have had their fair share of relationship ups and downs, their wedding episode remains one of Grey’s Anatomy’s best. The couple love each other deeply, but they’re also willing to spend time apart or make hard decisions if the outcomes ultimately benefit their family. As Miranda’s long-time rock, Ben has helped Bailey navigate her obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosis, and he’s stood by her when she needs to put her career first. Moreover, Ben has always been an amazing parent to Tuck, something the couple’s adoption of both Joey and Pru reiterates.
Other Grey’s Anatomy Characters Have Returned As Series Regulars Before
Some Key Guest Characters Reappear On Grey’s Anatomy Too
Traditionally, pre-existing Grey’s Anatomy characters, such as Kate Walsh’s Addison Montgomery, have moved from Grey’s to a spinoff show. Ben’s journey is much the same. However, much like Addison, Ben consistently crops up in new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. Some of that boils down to the fact that some of Ben’s personal life still unfolds naturally in the parent series: Bailey remains one of the long-running show’s main characters. Of course, a few characters have moved from a spinoff to the main series, like Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone).
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey in Grey’s Anatomy
Related
Miranda Bailey’s New Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 Role Makes A Season 1 Story Even Better
Bailey’s new role and the surgical bingo the interns were put through throw back to an original Grey’s Anatomy story, improving it & honoring Bailey.
Ben hasn’t totally vanished from the halls of Grey Sloan…
Meanwhile, someone like Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) is a great example of yet another path forward. Teddy was written off the series in season 8, which proved surprising to viewers who’d grown fond of Altman since her season 6 introduction. After some substantial casting shake-ups, Grey’s Anatomy brought Teddy Altman back as a series regular in season 15 (after a recurring season 14 stint). For long-time viewers, the reappearance of a familiar face is always welcome. While Ben hasn’t totally vanished from the halls of Grey Sloan, his full-time return to the series would be gladly received.
Shows With Ben Warren
Seasons Ben Warren Appears In
Grey’s Anatomy
Seasons 6–11 (recurring role); Seasons 12–14 (series regular); Seasons 15–20 (guest role)
Station 19
Seasons 1–7 (main cast)
Station 19’s Final Season Could Kill Off Ben Warren
Station 19 Has Killed Off Beloved Characters In The Past
There’s no denying that Station 19 crossovers have already changed Grey’s Anatomy. However, if Ben Warren were to die in Station 19’s final season, the impact would be massive. Ben and Miranda’s stories exist in both shows; whatever happens in one series has a direct impact on the other. The Grey’s Anatomy universe definitely has a history of killing off fan-favorite characters, especially in season finale episodes. If Jason George doesn’t want to return to Grey’s, or if the show doesn’t offer him a spot, killing Ben might be the simplest way to handle his and Bailey’s joint story.
Ben Could Finally Retire & Become A Stay-At-Home Dad In Grey’s Anatomy
Ben’s Return To Grey’s Anatomy As A Surgeon Seems Unlikely
If Station 19 wants to avoid the tragic route and give Ben Warren a satisfying happy ending, the series could end with him retiring from his firefighting duties. Since Ben joined the firehouse, Bailey has fretted over his safety. Now that Ben and Bailey have even more children to parent, it’s possible Ben will step down from his dangerous line of work. That said, Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy have the perfect opportunity to make Ben Warren a loving stay-at-home dad — one who continues to support Bailey and their family by playing an essential role.
New episodes of Grey’s Anatomy season 20 and Station 19 season 7 air back-to-back on Thursdays.
Grey’s Anatomy Poster
Grey’s Anatomy
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Grey’s Anatomy is considered one of the great television shows of our time, winning several awards and four Emmys. The high-intensity medical drama follows Meredith Grey and the team of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial, who are faced with life-or-death decisions on a daily basis. They seek comfort from one another, and, at times, more than just friendship. Together they discover that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white.