Grey’s Anatomy enthusiasts are on edge regarding the future of Link, portrayed by Chris Carmack, as hints dropped by Carmack and his wife, Erin Slaver, have raised alarm bells.
As fans brace themselves for the season 22 premiere on October 9, Carmack has taken to TikTok to showcase a series of playful pranks executed by Slaver. In a recent video from September 28, a fan’s comment echoed what many are speculating: “I am so concerned the reason you guys are doing so many pranks is because they killed off his character on Grey’s Anatomy and I’m very upset.”
Season 21 concluded with a dramatic turn of events, leaving viewers anxious about the fates of their beloved characters. The season ended in an explosive cliffhanger, with only Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Warren (Jason George) confirmed to be alive, raising questions about who might not make the cut this season.
Showrunner Meg Marinis remains coy about character survival, indicating that nearly no one’s safety is assured post-explosion.
Marinis reflected on the precarious situation, stating, “I feel like a lot of people are probably sitting in operating rooms. So unless you saw them and where they were when that explosion went off, I don’t think we can say anyone is necessarily safe.”
The showrunner elaborated on her discussions with the cast, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of Grey’s Anatomy: “They’re here for it. They like to keep our stories exciting and fresh.”
Marinis further noted, “This year’s events also meant reducing our cast due to industry-wide budget cuts, igniting passionate feelings among fans about their beloved characters. If we manage to stir emotions among the audience and cast, we’ve likely executed our story well. It should sting a bit when someone exits—it’s part of the journey.”
According to TVLine, original cast members Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. are bound to return for this season. Notable actors including Kevin McKidd, Kim Raver, Caterina Scorsone, and Camilla Luddington are expected back—to the joy of their fans, provided their characters aren’t written off the show. Carmack’s name, intriguingly, was absent from this confirmation list.
Carmack himself expressed optimism for the upcoming season in an exclusive chat with Us Weekly: “I hope we get to next season, right? I mean, hey, I’m not gonna give anything away.”
Meanwhile, Luddington, who plays Carmack’s onscreen wife, expressed her hopes for Link’s survival: “I just hope he’s alive,” sharing her concerns about potential injuries and their implications for the couple’s children. Luddington commented, “I have a chain of texts with so many cast members discussing what might happen, and nobody has any clarity on the situation, which is anxiety-inducing.”
The beloved series Grey’s Anatomy will return to ABC on Thursday, October 9, at 10 p.m. ET, before becoming available for streaming on Hulu the following day.
