Grey’s Anatomy Will Have to Find Another Cristina Yang Replacement for Season 21
They don’t seem to stay for too long.
Summary:
- Cristina Yang was one of the original 5 interns on Grey's Anatomy, along with Meredith Grey.
- Due to Sandra Oh's exit after season 10, Cristina was written out of the show.
- Midori Francis' Mika Yasuda was the first character to resemble the fan-favorite Yang, but now the show has announced her exit as well.
No matter how hard Grey's Anatomy tries to bring back the nostalgic feel of the early seasons, it doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon. Though Season 20 started off strong as an anniversary season, it has since proven that the writers aren't able to keep that feeling going forever without the cast.
Arizona's comeback, while a highlight of the season, lasted only 1 episode and was immediately forgotten. Episodes with more Ellen Pompeo appearances were enjoyed more than any other. And now that the only new character who really resembled a former fan favorite is leaving, the show will have to look for something else to keep viewers coming back.
Why Is Mika Yasuda Leaving Grey’s Anatomy?
Even though it's unfair to reduce a character to just Cristin Yang's replacement, many fans felt that it was a good thing. Mika Yasuda, portrayed by Midori Francis, managed to touch so many people's hearts because she reminded people of the confident, knowledgeable and talented Cristina, but still had something unique to her personality.
Surely, Cristina had many chances to grow and change as the show went on, and Mika didn't have that because she just joined the cast in the 19th season with the whole new bunch of interns. Unfortunately, as it seems now, she won't have a chance to grow any further on the viewers' screens, as Midori Francis will be leaving Grey's Anatomy.
According to Deadline's sources, the decision has already been made, but the details are still being discussed. Either way, if Francis does return for season 21 to give her character a proper send-off, it likely won't be for long as she is interested in developing her career beyond Grey's Anatomy and exploring more opportunities.
What's even more unfortunate is that Midori Francis won't be the only person leaving the cast. As previously reported, Jake Borelli, who has portrayed Dr. Levi Schmitt for the past 7 years, will also be leaving the show. However, his departure is even more mysterious and secretive as ABC and ABC Signature reps refused to comment.
Either way, it looks like Grey's Anatomy's casting directors will have their hands full next season if they don't want the show to feel too empty. Considering that it's losing its usual time slot and being pushed an hour further into the night, the show's prospects don't look too positive.
If you want to see what the current season 20 has in store for the characters before the finale, be sure to tune in to ABC every Thursday to not miss another episode.
Source: Deadline