Grey’s Anatomy season 16 episode 20 preview: Not the Richard Webber you know

The doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery illness threatening Richard Webber’s life.

Not too many Grey’s Anatomy viewers saw last week’s big twist coming. Most were suspicious of Richard and Catherine’s quick reunion, and the whole episode felt off in a way only the final few minutes could justify.

Though we knew Richard Webber was already dealing with some kind of illness — the tremor in his hand, quitting surgery — out of nowhere it became clear that whatever it is, it’s progressing dangerously fast.

Normally, when a patient presents with urgent symptoms in desperate need of a diagnosis, we can count on the doctors we know and love to do what must be done. But not once have we seen these doctors have an easy time treating one of their own, even if they’ve ended up succeeding in the end.

Meredith and Maggie are the ones to worry about the most, since Richard is the father figure both desperately need. But Maggie has learned all too recently that you shouldn’t treat a patient who also happens to be family. She’ll be smart enough to sit this one out, right?

Even though Meredith will beg Richard to let her “save” him — and the show will absolutely let her try to be the hero here, because she always is — will Richard let her?

And what about Catherine? Clearly from the preview she’s worried about her husband (they’re not officially separated yet, are they?). But will this be enough to bring the two back together, after all the chaos they’ve been through recently — rather, all the pain and suffering she has put him through?

Who doesn’t love a good medical mystery? These are the kinds of storylines that captivated Grey’s fans in the early days, desperate to solve rare cases right along with Meredith and her fellow Seattle Grace interns.

We just didn’t think such a long-awaited case would revolve around a character we’ve come to know and love so dearly.

For a long time, fans have been asking for the “old Grey’s” and for a bigger focus on medicine. They’re getting their wish now. It just happens to involve one of the show’s original characters, and one of the most beloved of the few that remain.

We don’t even know if he’ll survive this — whatever “this” might be. There hasn’t been any official confirmation that this is his character’s final bow, but that doesn’t mean his story is about to come to a devastating end.

Just warn us before you break our hearts again. That’s all we ask.

The next to final episode of this Grey’s Anatomy’s eason airs Thursday, April 2 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.