THURSDAYS 9|8c
Season 8
GREY'S ANATOMY - "Free Falling" - In the first hour, "Free Falling" (9:00-10:00 p.m.), the fifth-year residents return for the first day of a year that will make or break their careers: Meredith faces the consequences of tampering with Derek's clinical trial and is terminated at the hospital; April tries to step up to the plate as Chief Resident in the wake of a giant sinkhole in the middle of Seattle; and Cristina and Owen are still at odds over their drastically different feelings for their unborn child. "Grey's Anatomy" returns for its eighth season with a two-hour event THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/DANNY FELD)KEVIN MCKIDD, PATRICK DEMPSEY
Free Falling; She's Gone
Season 8 | Episode 1 | Aired 09/22/11
The three conspirators tell the adoption counselor that they were simply giving baby Zola a checkup after some lab results showed some cause for concern. The counselor is mildly skeptical, as is Derek. But he goes along with the ruse. He also defends Meredith by saying Zola couldn’t find a better mother. All this may not be enough though. Red flags have been raised and Zola is taken away. For how long? We have no idea.

The Chief is planning to insert a device into Henry pronto. The speed in which this development took place has Teddy a bit on edge. He wants Bailey to watch the procedure. The fact that he’s asking someone of her stature to take part in the operation has Teddy even more concerned. Bailey is also wondering why she’s there. She’s completely baffled when the Chief has her take over the entire procedure.

Derek soon learns the reason for the Chief’s odd behavior. He’s decided to take the fall for Meredith by claiming he’s the one who tampered with the Alzheimer’s trial. It’s not true, but it is enough to get Meredith her job back. It’s also enough to have him hand over all of his “cure for diabetes” research to Bailey. It’s her FDA trial now. A stunned Bailey accepts this great honor.

Owen reunites Susannah with her husband. He sees the love these two have for each other. This guy was willing to cut off his own wife’s leg to save her. Owen knows Cristina would do the same for him. He also knows that she hasn’t yet had the abortion. The two of them finally have a heart-to-heart that ends with Owen agreeing to be there for his wife during the procedure. It’s not easy for either one of them, but at least they’re going through it together.

Episode Photos See all
  • GREY'S ANATOMY - "Free Falling" - In the first hour, "Free Falling" (9:00-10:00 p.m.), the fifth-year residents return for the first day of a year that will make or break their careers: Meredith faces the consequences of tampering with Derek's clinical trial and is terminated at the hospital; April tries to step up to the plate as Chief Resident in the wake of a giant sinkhole in the middle of Seattle; and Cristina and Owen are still at odds over their drastically different feelings for their unborn child. "Grey's Anatomy" returns for its eighth season with a two-hour event THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/DANNY FELD) SARAH DREW
  • GREY'S ANATOMY - "Free Falling" - In the first hour, "Free Falling" (9:00-10:00 p.m.), the fifth-year residents return for the first day of a year that will make or break their careers: Meredith faces the consequences of tampering with Derek's clinical trial and is terminated at the hospital; April tries to step up to the plate as Chief Resident in the wake of a giant sinkhole in the middle of Seattle; and Cristina and Owen are still at odds over their drastically different feelings for their unborn child. "Grey's Anatomy" returns for its eighth season with a two-hour event THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/DANNY FELD) ELLEN POMPEO
  • GREY'S ANATOMY - "She's Gone" - In the second hour, "She's Gone" (10:00-11:00 p.m.), news of Meredith and Derek's unsteady relationship raises a red flag for Zola's adoption counselor; Alex quickly realizes that he has become the outcast of the group after ratting out Meredith; and Cristina makes a tough decision regarding her unexpected pregnancy. Also, Chief Webber brings Henry in for a last minute surgery, alarming Teddy. "Grey's Anatomy" returns for its eighth season with a two-hour event THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/RON TOM) KEVIN MCKIDD
Featured Characters See all character bios