How 'Grey's Anatomy' Bid Farewell to Midori Francis' Intern

Grey's Anatomy has bid farewell to another series regular.

Mika Yasuda, Midori Francis' surgical intern, scrubbed in to Seattle's Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital for the final time on Thursday, having joined the program at the beginning of season 19.

Midori Francis as Mika Yasuda in 'Grey's Anatomy' season 21.

Anne Marie Fox/Disney

The eighth episode of season 21 — also the fall finale of the blockbuster ABC medical drama, which returns on March 6, 2025 — followed up where Jake Borelli's Dr. Levi Schmitt left Grey's Anatomy. Yasuda's younger sister, Chloe (Julia Rose Gruenberg), was tragically killed in a vehicle accident after Yasuda fell asleep at the wheel after working an all-nighter at the hospital. The combination of Chloe's accident injuries and the impact of chemo on her body while treating her illness proved catastrophic, and she died as a result.

At the outset of this week's episode, "Drop It Like It's Hot," Yasuda appears to be ready to return to work after taking a break. Seattle is suffering a heat wave, and Grey Sloan is set to be swamped with patients. When one of those patients begins coding and Bailey (Chandra Wilson) attempts to resuscitate him, Yasuda breaks down and yells at her supervisor.

"It is not working. You are losing him. You are letting him die. "Dr. Bailey, he is dyinggggg." Yasuda tells Bailey, who responds, "Hey!" "Don't you think I know that?" The intern continues, "He is dying. Aren't you supposed to be a physician?! He's dying! You're letting him die. You simply cannot let him die like that. You cannot just let him die. You need to save her. Save her. Please save her. Just save her, please. You must save her, please. Simply take me! Dr. Bailey, please take me. "Just take me."

After her breakdown, Yasuda asks fellow intern Simone (Alexis Floyd) whether she'll feel this way forever, to which Simone, whose mother died during childbirth, replies that she will, but that each passing day will help her feel a little more at ease with the loss.

In order to feel "normal," Mika starts kissing intern Jules (Adelaide Kane), and the two have sex for the first time in an on-call room, in classic Grey's Anatomy manner. Mika starts weeping thereafter, telling Jules that everything at the hospital reminds her of her sister.

Yasuda approaches Bailey, ostensibly requesting extra time off, which the residency director is willing to provide her. The two discuss how Bailey still thinks about her.

Jules witnesses Yasuda collecting her belongings from her locker in the final moments of the episode and begs her to remain, but the intern refuses. They kiss, and Yasuda exits the hospital. When Jules approaches Bailey to ask what she told Mika, Bailey replies that she advised her to do what she needed to do for herself.

This episode symbolizes Midori's departure from Grey's Anatomy, which began with the entrance of the new batch of interns in season 19. When asked about the goodbye narrative at the beginning of season 21, showrunner Meg Marinis told THR, "We really respect how we introduced this character and how far she's come. Mika is such a delightful character to write. She truly delivers this season, and I believe people will be very engrossed in her plot." Adding, "I'm really, really happy with how it's turned out."

Borelli noted in his goodbye interview with THR the void left by the departure of both his and Francis' homosexual characters (Borelli had the series' first gay male kiss in season 15). "These are two incredibly well-rounded queer characters played by incredible queer people, and that's going to be hard to fill," he said. "I'm not sure what their plan is. I'm excited to watch. I hope they continue to support LGBTQ storylines. It was a fascinating summer to spend with Midori, and we spoke about it a lot. But the program has always prioritized representation, and I'm excited to see what they come up with next."

Elsewhere in the hospital's ensemble during "Drop It Like It's Hot," the episode concludes with a dramatic cliffhanger, just like Grey's fall finale did. After Sophia Bush's Dr. Cass Beckman returns, Adams (Niko Terho) and Jo (Camilla Luddington), who is expecting, get caught up in an armed robbery at a convenience store. Jo begins bleeding from someplace in her body while the robbery occurs. Adams fights the robber toward the end of the episode in an attempt to seize his pistol, but the revolver goes off and seems to strike Adams in the belly.

Viewers of Grey's Anatomy will have to wait until March 6, 2025, when the acclaimed series returns.

Grey's Anatomy season 21 is available on Hulu.