‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 12: There Is Always Hope For Callie And Arizona, According To Shonda Rhimes

With all the tragedy and drama that filled Season 11 of Grey’s Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes has promised that Season 12 will be different. In fact, Rhimes recently told After Ellen that the new season will have a much lighter feel to it. “We’re telling lighter stories this season. There’s gonna be some really fun stuff going on,” she stated.

That being said, with both Callie and Arizona set to see new people in the coming season, is it likely that the two will ever be together again?

“There’s always hope… I really feel like the way we guide the story is we watch and see what happens. I mean, I do: I watch, I see what happens, see how chemistry swings, and that’s what guides us. I don’t go, ‘Here’s what’s happening, no matter what,’ because I change my mind all the time. Last season, I was like, ‘I don’t know — maybe, maybe not.’ My problem is that I’m a giant Calzona fan so I’m always rooting for them. So I’m watching how the ship goes, basically.”

Meanwhile, another storyline that will unfold in the new season centers on Meredith moving forward after the tragic death of her husband, Dr. Derek Shepherd. With that in mind, Rhimes told TV Line that Meredith would be focusing on her relationships with Maggie and Amelia.

“Remember how we never saw last season where Maggie lives? Now she lives with Amelia and Meredith in Ellis’ house, which is super cool… There will definitely be some conflict, but of the hilarious variety as opposed to the sisters-pulling-each-other’s-hair-out variety. You can expect some ‘clashes of the titans’ going on.”

At the same, the relationship between Jackson and April is another part of the new season that is shrouded in mystery. In keeping with the promise for a lighter tone, Rhimes stated that the two are still figuring things out.

“Because this is a lighter season, we found funny ways to tell what’s a very emotional story — more of a charming way to tell an emotional story, but it is still emotional and they are still figuring it out. April is fighting for things to be better. I honestly haven’t decided how it’s going to turn out. I love them together, so we’ll see.”

Season 12 of Grey’s Anatomy is set to air September 24 on ABC.

[Image Courtesy: ABC]