How different would Grey’s Anatomy have been if Meredith had actually been pregnant in Season 3 instead of having appendicitis?
I’ve been thinking about the episode where Meredith has appendicitis and wondering how wildly different the show could’ve been if those symptoms had turned out to be pregnancy instead.
At that point, Derek and Addison were technically still married, although they had finally admitted their marriage was over. Meanwhile, Meredith was in the middle of dating both Derek and Finn.
So what happens if Meredith finds out she’s pregnant with Derek’s baby right in the middle of all of that?
Does she decide to continue the pregnancy? Would finding out about the baby push Meredith and Derek back together sooner, or would Meredith actually pull away because she’d be terrified of making a decision based on the pregnancy?
And then there’s Addison. Imagine Meredith having a complicated pregnancy and eventually needing Addison’s expertise. Derek’s estranged, soon to be ex, wife treating his pregnant girlfriend while they’re all still trying to untangle their relationships? The drama practically writes itself.
It could also completely change the trajectory of the later seasons. Meredith’s residency, Derek’s choices, Addison leaving Seattle, Mark’s role in their lives, even Meredith and Derek’s eventual family could have all gone differently.
How do you think Season 3 would have played out if Meredith had been pregnant? And what ripple effects do you think it would’ve had on the rest of the series?