As a longtime fan of Grey’s Anatomy, I must say that season 21 is finally delivering some intriguing storylines for Mika Yasuda – but it feels like the writers are pulling the plug on her just as she starts to shine!
It seems that Grey’s Anatomy is providing Mika with better storylines now, however, the actress portraying her might have missed the opportunity for a strong impact due to this delay.
Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for the Grey’s Anatomy season 21 premiere
The season 21 opener took place a few weeks following the end of season 20, during which Catherine dismissed, almost to the half, her staff due to her displeasure over Meredith’s use of hospital funds for Alzheimer’s research. Bailey, however, was spared from dismissal and instead found herself working at a clinic. In her place stepped our familiar face, Sydney Heron, who seemed more energetic than ever, even causing the interns to prefer enduring yells over Sydney’s incessant cheery banter.
In the storyline, there were several intertwining events: Link found out that Jo was pregnant, Blue’s fiancée recalled him, and Lucas decided against a position in Chicago to be with Sloane. At the same time, Meredith uncovered that Catherine’s health deteriorated due to cancer, but she declined treatment and kept it secret from Richard and Jackson. As a result, they reached an agreement: all doctors were rehired, while Meredith’s research took a new turn.
Regarding the interns, Mika and Jules found themselves occupied with following a protester advocating for climate change, who had taken refuge in a hospital to evade police. At the same time, they were making an effort to steer clear of discussing the kiss they exchanged in the finale.
After much deliberation, they acknowledged that their heated moment was merely a temporary strain, revealing they worked best as friends. They exchanged a firm handshake… but then, Jules drew Mika into an extended and passionate kiss before departing. This unexpected twist provided Mika with some substantial storyline development. Unfortunately, it might be too late to salvage the character.
Why is Mika only now getting good storylines on Grey’s Anatomy?
The news is out that Midori Francis is set to depart from the show. For now, she’ll appear in several upcoming episodes to conclude her storyline, but it’s disappointing to see such potential go underutilized with regards to her character.
In the season 19 opener, Mika Yasuda was presented alongside other interns, demonstrating her exceptional commitment to work and a drive to make an impact. Her short-lived romance with Taryn Helm ended due to her desire for personal growth. Known for her sharp wit and occasional overconfidence, Mika consistently strived for improvement.
From what we gathered, she was somewhat of an enigma among the interns since her character didn’t receive much focus. The only details we knew about her past were that she came from a large family of eight siblings, which meant she was often overlooked and underestimated in her real life as well. Unfortunately, her character wasn’t provided with many engaging storylines or quality material to work with.
Although season 20 consisted of only ten episodes, limiting our ability to explore the characters in greater depth than normal, it appeared that Mika’s role within several storylines could have been filled by another actor. Furthermore, the character often seemed to focus predominantly on her professional endeavors, rather than contributing to a more rounded portrayal.
It could be exciting for Mika’s potential romantic relationship with Jules, given the strong chemistry between Francis and Adelaide Kane on-screen. Their shared scenes are particularly engaging due to this chemistry. Moreover, Jules has her own challenging past, and witnessing their connection as they collaborate would have been intriguing. Additionally, having another LGBTQ couple on Grey’s Anatomy is a positive step forward.
It’s unfortunate that Francis’ departure from the series led to Mika receiving a compelling storyline at last, making it difficult to predict what lies ahead. Perhaps Mika will depart or face a challenging fate, but it’ll be tough to bid her goodbye once she seems to have found her stride in the show. It’s not uncommon for TV writers to drop the ball on certain characters, and Mika is no exception; her story development was delayed, leaving her without the attention and growth she deserved earlier.
Grey’s Anatomy season 21 airs on Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.
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2024-09-27 21:53