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As Grey's Anatomy approaches season 23, one doctor absolutely needs to return to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Since its 2005 premiere, Grey's Anatomy has become one of the most infamous medical dramas of all time, irrefutably rewriting the rules of the genre with each passing year. Whether it's callously killing off a fan-favorite character, throwing its ensemble cast into the chaos of mass casualty incidents, or inventing brand-new medical terminology, Grey's Anatomy is certainly the most creative medical show on air. Yet, between the absurd and the astonishing, the ABC staple has cultivated an incredibly devoted following over the years.
Of course, the current state of the series is a far cry from the grounded, albeit melodramatic, days of season 1. With almost every original character dead, retired, or off the grid, Grey's Anatomy season 23 will be overwhelmingly filled with later generations of interns, surgical residents, and high-powered side characters. Although the newer batches of interns are a point of contention for most viewers, even the most promising characters can be torn away at a moment's notice. Hopefully, season 23 does the opposite for Benson Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.), who was suddenly fired at the end of last season.
Dr. Benson Kwan Deserves A Redemption Arc In Grey's Anatomy Season 23
Dr. Kwan wasn't an instantly endearing character when he first appeared in 2022, raising his coworkers' hackles with a thorny demeanor that hid his past trauma à la season 1 Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). With time, however, Grey's Anatomy has delved deeper into his character, exploring his mother's illness, his rocky road to medical school, and the perpetual chip that has stayed on his shoulder. Just as viewers began warming up to the surgical resident, however, Benson Kwan was fired after secretly administering an experimental treatment without FDA approval.
The patient, Quinn Durston (Michael Weston), was an immensely sympathetic character: a single father dealing with stage four liver cancer. Furthermore, Quinn attempted to navigate the red tape alone and all above board, but his symptoms worsened after the FDA denied his request for experimental treatment— leading Benson to inject him illegally. Though it initially seemed like the decision might backfire, the patient was soon discharged from the hospital and reportedly doing well. Sadly, despite Dr. Kwan's heart being in the right place, his going rogue quickly turned into grounds for termination.
What's worse, it's still unclear whether Harry Shum Jr. will be part of the Grey's Anatomy season 23 cast, meaning his character may never get the resolution he deserves. Nevertheless, Dr. Kwan has already appeared after being fired to help the hospital deal with the bridge collapse at the end of season 22. As such, the door currently remains open for Benson Kwan to return and possibly be redeemed this fall— and it certainly wouldn't be a stretch for a doctor to be rehired after breaking the law.
Grey's Anatomy Has Forgiven Far Worse In The Past
One of the defining traits of Grey's Anatomy is its lack of realistic consequences, so, admittedly, it would seem strange to start adhering to the rules now. After all, arguably the most iconic moment in the show's first ten seasons was Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) cutting a patient's LVAD wire to bump him up the donor list. Similarly, numerous doctors in the main cast have committed full-blown felonies without losing their jobs.
For instance, Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) may be a cast mainstay, but she once administered an experimental treatment to a pediatric patient without the parents' consent. Similarly, the show's namesake, Meredith Grey (Ellem Pompeo), tampered with an FDA-approved clinical trial to ensure a patient wouldn't be given a placebo. Compared to the long list of unbelievable Grey's Anatomy moments like illegal procedures, bypassing DNRs, and rampant workplace romance, Benson Kwan's crime— while irrefutably wrong in the legal sense— feels almost tame.
Countless other doctors have faced disciplinary action or even gotten fired, only for the hospital to sweep their actions under the rug and welcome them back with open arms. As such, this scandal could be an invaluable learning opportunity that gives Dr. Kwan's character some much-needed development. Without question, Benson could easily be redeemed and grow into a beloved doctor, but Grey's Anatomy season 23 needs to confirm his involvement first.
