Maggie Confronts Ellis in a Dream - Grey's Anatomy

Maggie (Kelly McCreary) has a vivid dream of her birth mother, Ellis Grey (guest star Kate Burton), after reading an old letter that Ellis left for her. When she wakes up screaming, Winston (Anthony Hill) is there for her. Watch 'Grey's Anatomy' THURSDAYS 9/8c on ABC and Stream on Hulu.

[@CCEkeke]

Honestly, Ellis did Maggie a favor by giving her up. We all know how long it took Meredith to have functional relationships thanks to Ellis's brand of parenting.

[@omarcogle1965]

How do you think Maggie would've reacted if Ellis had called her ordinary, similar to like she did Meredith?

[@SportsSpeak73]

What I never understood about Ellis is why she took Meredith from Thatcher in the first place. I know she didn't think much of Thatcher but she DEFINITELY had no interest in being a mother

[@omarcogle1965]

@@SportsSpeak73 I think she low-key regrets that a lot, especially when Meredith saved her when she tried to kill herself.

[@Salviamente_Celes]

And Thatcher. Ellis Is not the only one to blame.

[@omarcogle1965]

@@Salviamente_Celes Thatcher should've fought like Hell for Meredith

[@goosebabyj]

The acting in this scene is phenomenal. Both women portrayed it flawlessly

[@shevahauser1780]

Especially there scream, how it goes from one to the other, as the scene switches... Brilliant cinematography

[@AJolie009]

That decision, I’m proud off. I’m getting flashbacks - “Imagine my disappointment when I wake up after five years and discover that you're no more than ordinary”. Ellis Grey was always relentless in being ruthless and uncompromising in her confrontations.

[@arrowversehandon2692]

There’s uncompromising and then there’s just being straight up abusive, it’s no wonder it years for Mer to form a healthy relationship she was raised by someone whose was emotionally and mentally abusive

[@atlastvera8567]

@@arrowversehandon2692 ellis wasnt emotionally and mentally abusive you idiot she talked about how meredith was an ordinary human because when she talked about derek like he was her whole entire life and ellis was saying she raised meredith to be better than the ordinary girl who falls for the bigshot neurosurgeon and becomes obsessed

[@kp-fc4yr]

@@atlastvera8567 that's abusive. Meredeth was allowed to be head over heels in love. Derek was her entire world, but she wanted to talk about THAT with her mother because THAT was her world outside of work. Not caring to hear about the person she's fallen in love with... Why that's heartbreaking. I don't think she ever meant to be so cruel, but she was. She absolutely was.

[@treehouse9556]

@@atlastvera8567 I agree 100% I love Dr Ellis Grey

[@winterhug4331]

That was brutal, Ellis ripping Maggie to shreds by telling her SHE was not wanted and she was glad she gave Maggie up. This is unfortunate but Maggie and the fans needed the closure of Ellis and Maggie. I am so glad Maggie's mom Diane pop up and comforted her, so heartwarming - This whole scene was very powerful

[@a_noelle8595]

This was interesting an storyline, but as a fan, I definitely didn't feel the need for any closure between Ellis and Maggie. If anything, I'd have said some closure between Ellis and Richard about Maggie's existence is something I would have liked to see though.

[@winterhug4331]

@@a_noelle8595 I think most of us as fans wanted closure between Ellis and Maggie There were unanswered questions and now we have the answers. Ellis and Maggie remind me of when Jo went to find her birth mother and that did not go well either, which cause Jo to fall into a depressive state. It would also be nice to get closure between Ellis and Richard as well but that is/was not a big of a necessity as Ellis and Maggie.

[@a_noelle8595]

@@winterhug4331 I wasn't arguing your point about what other fans wanted. Just sharing mine as a fan who had a different take.

[@winterhug4331]

@@a_noelle8595 - not a problem

[@briannarobinson8648]

The acting in Maggie and Ellis' interaction was just... incredible🤯👏

[@nicoleluis667]

Isn't anyone taking about how great Magston is and how caring Winston is , They are one of the most healthiest and best couple

[@madisonjackson5065]

When Winston called her “baby🥺❤️😭”

[@CCEkeke]

Which means they will be broken up by mid-next season. Sorry, but in Shondaland its not true love unless they've been to hell and back.

[@a_noelle8595]

@@CCEkeke You take that back C.C.! Let's not put that out there. I'm not saying you're wrong about happy love in Shondaland, but let's not give them any ideas lol!

[@CCEkeke]

@@a_noelle8595 Sorry! But having watched Grey's long enough, you know it's coming.

[@a_noelle8595]

@@CCEkeke same 😰

[@lynnramadan9855]

That was some great acting between them 2, really felt like a mother daughter argument , felt real. Damn Ellis ‘s words hurt like heck😅

[@madisonjackson5065]

Why did she seem more hateful then normal

[@hs5850]

@@madisonjackson5065 maggie is a living breathing symbol of what could’ve been between ellis and richard. when she mentions how the possible family between richard, ellis, meredith, and maggie was a childish fantasy, she sounded very bitter, which implies to me she never got over that relationship as much as she thinks she did.

[@madisonjackson5065]

@@hs5850 yup she was definitely bitter and this letter was her way of coping bc she never got Richard 💯💯💯💯

[@misterjokerishere]

Kate Burton is amazing and despite being a guest star has made such an impression as Ellis Grey that she may as well have been a recurring character.

[@Bookwasbetter]

She had a larger role in the earlier seasons before her death in season 3, but she left such an impact that we still remember her all these years later!

[@MoroccanRose]

So true i'm so in awe of her Ellis Grey portrayal that i've always wished we'd seen more of her.

[@miad5392]

"That was a childish fantasy, it was never gonna happen!!" Ooph. She was a realist...but she was so harsh and dismissive. It was very hurtful to Meredith and now even Maggie too.

[@angelaborgia7991]

I was so worried this episode would ignore years of canon Ellis portraying her as a poor misunderstood woman. Glad it didn’t. Kudos to the writing and acting.

[@shanoriya]

I mean in all honesty giving up Maggie was the best thing she did. She was very well loved and an emotionally mature person. Look what happened to Meredith🤦🏽‍♀️ and she knew that if she told Richard about it he probably would’ve come running back and she didn’t want him in her life that way. She wanted him to love & pick HER! But he didn’t. I commend Ellis‘s choice it’s a very hard thing to do. I would actually like an episode where they look back at her life and see what made her the way she is

[@Book_Dragon2562]

The thing is, even it she did what was genuinely best for Maggie, and I’m not disagreeing about that part, she didn’t do it *for* Maggie. She did it because it was what was best for herself. Ellis Grey is the cautionary tale of loving yourself too much. (A tale I personally feel Amelia lives out presently) She didn’t care what her choices did to Meredith or Maggie or Richard or Thatcher. Ellis did what was best for Ellis and to hell with everyone else!

[@noashom]

@@Book_Dragon2562 I don't think Ellis Grey ever loved herself, at all. That is why she was who she was. Yes, she was proud and had a lot of ego, but that is not the same as love.

[@Book_Dragon2562]

@@noashom I respectfully disagree. There are multiple types of love. Not all of which are healthy, that doesn’t make them not love though.

[@ComradeHB]

@@Book_Dragon2562 actually that's exactly what makes them not love. Love is always healthy. Read some bell hooks.

[@Book_Dragon2562]

@@ComradeHB I don’t need to read a book. I’ve had this conversation with a professional.

[@itskarimagain4572]

At least Ellis kept it consistent with each of her children. The way maggie got a first hand lesson in her harshness.

[@plansforus]

Incredible scene from both actors here. Visceral, raw. Fantastic performances!

[@london11314]

Kelly McCreary deserves an EMMY where is it?!

[@riashrestha8741]

This is one of the best greys scenes i've seen in a while. took me back to the old greys! Maggie's character is stunning and I cant wait to see how she grows from this

[@carriew5106]

Thank God for the sweetest of Mer and Nick to show that Ellis's daughters can get through the scars Ellis leaves. Horrible for Maggie to have to go through this, but she needed to know and understand her biologically mother.

[@kommetkhan2979]

Wow...it has been years since greys has made me cry...that was powerful

[@michellesaari2263]

I'm glad they finally gave Ellis and Maggie some time together even if it was this intense. But what made me cry was when her real mom appeared. I've lost a parent so that hit me pretty hard. Being able to see and hug your loved one like that. 😭😭😭

[@loveinspired7]

DAMN, that was a powerful scene! It nearly brought me to tears!

[@denko3203]

This season is so good and seeing so many old characters back like Ellis, Addison, etc. is a gift to us fans! Also the acting in this scene is just amazing!

[@Estefaniac19]

where is addison btw? she left again?

[@suzanner1630]

@@Estefaniac19 she will be back may 5th

[@Estefaniac19]

@@suzanner1630 i thought they forgot about her! whatever happened to Cassey Parker the trans doctor?:C

[@suzanner1630]

@@Estefaniac19 I don't think Parker is on

[@BriNguyen]

Yesss Maggie finally gets some good storyline material

[@ilahmaecunanan2629]

Maggie has got a great storyline. 😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@christianmuttoni6024]

this was so heartbreaking, some parents, some people, are just so hard to understand, what an amazing episode

[@noashom]

Finally! After almost 8 years that Maggie is in the show we get a story about her and Ellis. I always thought it was extremely weird that Maggie lives in her biological mother's house, the mother who gave her away, with her sister that did get to stay, and not once was the subject of her feeling abandoned and not good enough was brought up. I mean, she left her whole life in Boston and came to Seattle to learn our more about her origins and discovered she has a half sister and ended up working with her and the biological father who never knew she existed. And yet, even though it's very common for adoptive children to have all these feelings and doubts because they don't know why would anyone give them away, even if they have great families, the subject was never handled in the show. So I'm glad it finally happened. I never liked Maggie's character but in this episode she was extraordinary(pun intended), it was intense and so important. And of course, it's always great to see the amazing Kate Burton. I hope next we'll learn more about Zola's birth family.

[@winterhug4331]

I agree 100%

[@adrianaavila8853]

I agree. I want to know more too about Zola’s birth family.

[@winterhug4331]

@@adrianaavila8853 Yeah I think the show will do a storyline about Zola's birth family at some point since she mentioned it. I thought all this time Zola did not care to know about her birth family, since she has never talked about it before. She was probably afraid to say anything. She felt more comfortable talking things over with Winston

[@noashom]

@@winterhug4331 It's even weirder because Maggie herself is adopted. I mean, both of them are black in otherwise an all-white family, both adopted, but they never had a real conversation about it.

[@winterhug4331]

@@noashom - Yes, I have also thought it was weird that Maggie and Zola both being black and adopted in an all-white family and they never even spoke about it. Whenever they would have a scene together I thought it might would come up but it never did. I think for Zola, she probably does not think she is black. It is probably different for Maggie since she was raised in a black family until adulthood, she knows she is black but she will not bring it up or the adoption to Zola unless she specifically asks about it

[@teniola9304]

On Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, Madame Secretary etcetera. She embodied those roles and made them human with flaws and gifted traits. Kate Burton is indeed a phenomenal actress 👏🏿 🙌🏿 ❤️.

[@Angieluv95]

That letter was 😳 . First time Ellis has said anything about family that was interesting.

[@byverawaty]

This is really the scare and thoughts of me as an adoptive child… I would read the letter, process the feelings in any way and try to become a good person. It would be the best way to answer any reaction from my birth mother, good or bad…

[@kommetkhan2979]

And here's the part that kills me. SHE'S LIVING IN HER HOUSE. ELLIS'S HOUSE.

[@Maatjuhhh]

I mean, it was inevitable. Maggie needed some kind of confrontation with Ellis, albeit in her dream. They never really talked about it since Maggie came to Seattle. Now they kinda have via the letter. Always great to see Kate Burton back. She is a force in acting and her character is so complex.

[@meimei4807]

Ellis gave her up to a loving family that wanted her and would cherish her thoooo soooo🤷🏻‍♀️

[@cencen1011]

Doesn’t change the fact that she felt she wasn’t good enough to be kept like Meredith.

[@madisonjackson5065]

Yeah but I don’t blame her for still wondering abt elllis

[@noashom]

@@cencen1011 Lexie wasn't Ellis's daughter..

[@cencen1011]

@@noashom corrected. Thanks for the reminder.

[@BellesView]

Ellis did the right thing. She knew she wasn’t capable of raising another child. Especially a child that’s a constant reminder of the man she loves that she can’t be with.

[@lastriotgrrl]

The show makes a wonderful decision to show how Ellis had to be to get where she wanted in her career. Her girls, reap the benefits of her tenacity to break the glass ceiling. They get to have it all because of the piece of her heart she had to sacrifice to be great in the 70's and 80's and 90's. Context is everything.

[@eve9287]

this scenes was so electrifying and powerful I just love Winston

[@LadyEveGuyBoiman]

One of the best scenes

[@amitkalmanovich7965]

Okay the end of the dream… wonderful!!!

[@lukedaley17]

Welcome back, Ellis.

[@SoyJesusArango]

I need another episode like What If with Ellis, Richard, Maggie, Meredith, Lexie, etc..

[@marissaklein303]

Lexie is thatchers

[@brittanydelacruz7281]

The good thing what Ellis did was give Maggie a loving family

[@maureenavilia208]

This is awesome and love her to appear in meredith too.

[@marissaklein303]

She is always haunting Mer

[@maureenavilia208]

@@marissaklein303 As per now she made it worse in season 18 for Mer especially season finale she doesn't see Mer as extraordinary surgeon so my bet is I hope she doesn't appear in S19. Because she made Meredith second guess herself about living seattle and taking the new job in Minnesota, judging her making her not to focus on the patient that led to the patient dying, Krista better not let her appear in S19

[@mustapharaad1959]

Does anyone know the background music I love it

[@majorhellrazor4054]

I wanna see the outtakes

[@yourparentsdivorceattorney3333]

Honestly, even though Ellis giving her up was the best thing to do, she still has abandonment issues! Just because she didn’t get raised by Ellis, doesn’t mean Ellis hasn’t caused her any problems. Because now she’ll have trust and abandonment issues

[@sydneykramer2926]

I want to know about Ellis's past. Like what pushed her to be who she was

[@popcorn247]

This episode was too busy, I would have loved to see more of Ellis and Maggie

[@ketoghonghadze]

What episode is this?

[@popcorn247]

@@ketoghonghadze Season 18 Episode 12

[@ketoghonghadze]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@wunderin2844]

I hate to say it but I love the fact that they are addressing adoption trauma!

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

This is why I’m so puzzled at little Elis’ name lol She was a crappy person why give her tribute?? It was really great to see her again tho!!!

[@miche6563]

lol I always thought that was super weird. also shows how disconnected Meredith is about familt, names her kid after the mother she didn't like and pretty much cuts dereks familes from the kids lives. I mean the obvious choice of namesake would have been lexie!

[@noashom]

@@miche6563 Derek was the one who cut his own family from the kids. They are his sisters and he never really liked them or was in a good relationship with them, he just liked saying he's a good brother, but in reality he was mean to them and didn't want him in his and his children's lives.

[@Pravdacz-tp8zu]

@@miche6563 Katie would also be interesting. But I think that the consensus is that Meredith needed to make mental peace with her mom and she could relate to her in her current situation.

[@jobole]

Maggie is so good

[@anikawilson1937]

“Piggy Piggy”!!!😂😂😂

[@otaku_ugh2134]

It strange to think that Meredith is the kid Ellis loves and is most proud of lmaoo

[@julialemos7]

I’m so confused I haven’t watched five episodes now because I don’t have cable

[@maggieq7964]

Finally a good maggie storyline

[@tvdepicEdits]

I forgot Sarah Paulson played a young version of her in flashback on Grey's

[@bigrivtodagled8210]

I always wondered what Ellis loved besides making people feel miserable. I wondered what her goal in life was, whatever people did was never enough, she was a tyrant. And when she was sick, she made me think of the girl in the exorcist.😵‍💫

[@StefanChemist]

Ellis was a brilliant scientist, and a brilliant woman. She was misunderstood

[@madisonjackson5065]

@@StefanChemist no I think she’s just a bitch 💀

[@adelissahunsley]

@@madisonjackson5065 I think she was both a brilliant scientist and woman and a bitch personally.

[@mariehelenemed]

@@StefanChemist she abusive, mean and dismissive

[@CeltycSparrow]

What season is this? This looks, dare I say....GOOD? I have actually wondered about Maggie's connection to Ellis. This was amazing acting from her.

[@rajarshidas6023]

Season and episode number please...... I saw it a long time ago.... But I can't find it now.... Please anyone....!!

[@sarika811]

What episode is this?

[@Playboyer670]

Hafa Adai Saipan in the house.

[@denisegaming6621]

what season is this

[@SimStarr]

I never liked maggie, but this scene was powerful.

[@SkilletBabe]

Good hubby right there

[@clemmm999]

What épisode pleaseee ?

[@ningning101]

She’s always asking how Ellis is… she’s getting the full experience

[@inessabanovic8491]

Ellis's destiny was really sad.

[@faithwatkins7811]

The fact that Ellis went out of her way to select the parents for Maggie shows just how much she loved and wanted the best for her. She loved Richard but he chose his wife as most married men do and so keeping the child wasnt an option. This is the closure Maggie needed and after this she was complete.

[@BellesView]

You know what? I wonder if Adele would’ve raised Maggie as her own.

[@adrianaavila8853]

😢😢 great idea

[@DiBaozi]

Maggie's existence completely cancels out the If/Then episode. It's a wide open plot hole.

[@Mariammlk176]

No that episode was a dream that Meredith had. IF ellis and richard had gotten together, THEN what would her life look like. Like the 2 alternate realities christina imagined for herself in season 10, what would happen if she stayed with owen. Of course meredith didn’t know about maggie when she had that dream so nothing cancels out.

[@2244z24]

I can't help but to think " Maggie finally got a taste of Ellis Grey". Haha!

[@laurensiusariefrahman8194]

Wow thats so nightmare for Maggie.

[@quinn3660]

Why is she in Meredith’s bed? 🤨

[@breajones8507]

Because tht used to be Ellis room the house belong to Ellis before Meredith grew up

[@quinn3660]

@@breajones8507 that still doesn’t explain why she’s sleeping in her bed lmfao

[@jacobplays6917]

@@quinn3660 maybe becuz she can? 😂 it’s her sister your acting like it’s the weirdest thing in the world. You’ve never slept in your siblings room?

[@msfriendsfan4ever788]

She's watching the kids while Meredith is in Minisota, and moved out beforehand

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

That’s where everyone goes for comfort…

[@MissFreakinLOL]

maybe I should start watching the series again but something about the demonization of ellis will never sit right with me... she was a woman in a time blabla, had the first child and couldnt take care of her properly so she decided to give up the second one to a beautiful, loving home ..sounds like she evolved? and did it right this time? what do they expect of her? i feel like women are allowed in speech to be this and that but as soon as it gets impractical to others and conflicts their interests its omg how dare you want surgery/career before a child :o

[@amycaitlyn1120]

It is not a demonization of Ellis Grey. And it was not simply her giving up Maggie for adoption because she couldn't take care of her. A huge part of her giving up Maggie for adoption was that she was Richard's daughter, and Richard left Ellis, and she wasn't going to be able to be with him. She tried to kill herself after he left, and he went back to his wife (that is when she found out she was pregnant with Maggie as well). It wasn't about a place in time. Ellis was a very cold woman in terms of her children - she was not nurturing or loving to Meredith, and she never even wanted any contact with Maggie after she gave her away for adoption, probably because she was a reminder of Richard. After her heartbreak over Richard, Ellis had her phenomenal career as a groundbreaking surgeon, but not the family or love she so desperately wanted. She was cruel and cold to her husband Thatcher (Meredith's father), as well as to Meredith. Ellis is truly a complicated character, and I do not think it is a demonization at all. Her two loves were Richard Webber and surgery. Her children were not a top priority for her unfortunately; and she just was not very maternal. Edited to say: The first two seasons introduce you to Ellis (as she is still alive) and Meredith's relationship. But truly, you really have to watch all the flashback scenes they have thrown in throughout the series of the young Ellis/young Richard. There were a two of them I believe, and one was done by actress Sarah Paulson as a young Ellis. Also, when Meredith was in therapy (season 4) she had huge realizations about her mothers' suicide. Meredith slowly came to conclusions about the relationship of her mother and her then Chief of Surgery, Richard Webber. Then of course later on, the character of Maggie being introduced as Ellis's daughter from Richard - THIS introduced a whole other dynamic to Ellis no one ever really saw coming. There is so much to the Ellis Grey character, that one truly has to watch all of the content to best understand. She is utterly complex, that is for sure, and I would never say she is demonized at all. In fact, I would say Meredith (in later years) came to understand her mother in many ways.

[@SegueOMarquinhos]

This isn't a black/white situation, things like this are complicated. There are positive and negative aspects of a mom giving up her child.

[@SegueOMarquinhos]

@@amycaitlyn1120 This.

[@amycaitlyn1120]

@@SegueOMarquinhos Indeed. And this situation is very complex, and you almost have to know the series very well to understand the character of Ellis Grey.

[@stephanierose4970]

She was much better off without Ellis as a mother

[@reginaharrigan7454]

When women miss with married men and have his children sometimes they never leaves their wives

[@annettearellano3487]

Meredith didn't have a great childhood to be honest Maggie had it better

[@catriesjohnson1903]

Whoa so Meredith has another sister? So many secrets.

[@kaitlynhall2112]

We’ve known who Maggie is since she joined the show. It was never a secret.

[@catriesjohnson1903]

@@kaitlynhall2112 I haven't gotten that far on the show yet.

[@umasvlogsanddisabilityreso9377]

@@catriesjohnson1903 you can see her from the tenth season finale onwards

[@pg5180]

They All aged like crazy except Kim

[@pame1028]

Esto está cada vez peor ….

[@JustPeachie22]

I thought it was kinda a weird scene to be honest

[@patience_brody]

This is so stupid. Here's a letter randomly found in a house where a dozen people lived over the years. The decision to create Maggie was such a soap opera move, and this is just dumb. It's like the actress happened to stop by the set and they're like "eh, let's bring back Ellis"

[@damienrichards9743]

And this is one of many reasons why Grey's Anatomy needs to end.... 😒

[@DarioS-wt8pq]

I mean Ellis had Alzheimer. Maybe Meredith thought that Margaret was some random person so she never opened the letter?

[@breajones8507]

I don’t understand the hate Maggie receives by the fan bases all people do is hate on her character they can’t even see the good but Maggie do make sense as much as Richard and Ellis slept together I’m not surprised as much as they loved each other I’m not surprised they turned Tht love into a baby and by the way u be surprised what u find In ur house things can be hidden in plain sight u can over look it

[@TytyandChelsea]

@@breajones8507 I thought it was a great twist when introduced and it was done well at first and then it dropped off for me. But the show in general, for me, lost its footing with the abrupt ending of seasons 16 due to covid and they haven't gotten it back. Storylines feel FORCED.

[@jessicadangerfield1539]

Maggie was always going to be a part of the show. One of the earliest show runners/ writers (forgotten which) said in an interview that Mer was always going to have a secret sibling from Ellis & Richard, and for a long time they believed it would be a little brother, but then they actually started to integrate the storyline & cast the character, and they ended up deciding on a sister instead. As for the letter, Mer avoided going through her mother’s things for a very long while, and even when she did, it was in little bursts. Not surprised it’s taken this long to uncover. Who would even think to look for it?

[@sheenachante]

No one wakes up like that… I hated this episode. Felt like a huge filler episode. Like they couldn’t think of anything. This part could have been a small piece of the episode not the whole thing all drawn out. Also Meredith’s kids are not well behaved at all 😂 only Zola.

[@glogler]

Who on the writing staff keeps wanting to do these dream sequences that add nothing to the story?

[@lilyk7326]

Maggie has the emotional maturity of 12 year old. It's ridiculous.