ABCOne constant refrain from fans of Grey's Anatomy is just how refreshing and light the new season feels. And that's true—for almost everyone.
For Jackson and April, however, things in their marriage couldn't be worse. At the end of last week's episode, after forcefully asking that she move out and even threatening to change their locks, Jackson finally got the space he wanted from April by doing the leaving himself. (This is Grey's—you didn't expect a lighter season for everyone, did you?) With the relationship in such dire straits, is there any hope of recovery?
"It's a hell of a season for us. We're putting together a lot of really interesting bumps on this roller coaster," Jesse Williams (Jackson) tells E! News. "You know what, I do think there's hope. It might just be a sliver, but there is hope."
Jackson and April's union has been fraught with tension from the words "I do." (You'd almost think this was a nighttime soap!) First, there was Mama Catherine's (Debbie Allen) insistence on April (Sarah Drew) signing a post-nuptial agreement, then came the clash over religious views and raising children, which was soon followed by the tragic birth and death of their son Samuel, which drove April to become a trauma surgeon in the army, thereby abandoning Jackson while he was still grieving so she could focus on her own grief. Like we said, fraught with tension.
"In many ways, they are each other's person and have been since well before they began a romantic relationship, so there's a lot of investment there," Jesse says. "And all of that adds to the sense of betrayal and disappointment on Jackson's end. He really felt abandoned by her and it's hard to, even with all your best intentions, forget that. But that's where they find themselves."
Though his character may be going through the wringer at the moment, Jesse admits the tone on the set is a brighter one this season—and he's pleased viewers are picking up on it. "I'm glad that's coming across because that's certainly, I think by design," he says. "It's felt both on camera and off, a little bit lighter. Refreshed, to be honest. I think everyone's been here a long time and we've kind of hit reset…We're kind of in a different spirit this year, so, yeah, I think the cast feels newly not committed, but excited. We're not treating it as business as usual, we're trying to re-inject some new energy this year."
One thing that's bringing a new energy to the season is a single Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), widowed last season after Patrick Dempsey walked away from the series. Fans have been divided over whether McDreamy can—or even should—be replaced in Mer's life, and that's something Jesse takes a bit of issue with. "I think actually that's kind of a sexist mentality. I don't think men get stuck with that expectation in quite the same way," he says. "You know, she's a person. She's also a mother of three. She's also really a highly depended upon and dependable doctor and surgeon...Her hands are pretty full, but if and when she ever decides to do it, Meredith has proven to be a very savvy person and character, so I think the audience will go along for the ride at least."
When he's not filming Grey's, Jesse's been keeping himself busy by teaming up with Clearasil for their Teacher Truths program, a new phase of their Let's Be Clear program, which aims to reassure teens that acne isn't forever and their future is so much more than their looks.
"This is really kind of a perfect fit for me. What Clearasil approached with is a teacher/student-based campaign that's really about what's best for our teenagers and their outlook," he says. "So as teachers—as you know, I'm a former teacher, and also, like all of us, was a former student. We know that teenage years can be really difficult and really angst-ridden and really trying, psychologically, emotionally and physically, in particular. There's a highly-concentrated focus on how you look, how you appear, and for a lot of kids, a lot of teenagers, acne can be a big part of that. It feels forever, it feels permanent, it feels like this scarlet letter that's been put on you and you don't see a future without it."
He, along with Clearasil, hope to help students realize that there's hope. "As teachers, we're there for the long haul and we see kids go through tough times and come out the other side of it. The campaign is really about reassuring our students that it does get better, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, that...like other obstacles you're going to come across in your teenage years as part of this transition to adulthood, it's temporary. It's not permanent. It's part of the process," he continues. "They're giving away money to help students to help further their education. All this is about the future, about what's ahead, and not being bogged down too much by what you might be having a difficult time with in the moment."
Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.