When ABC released the first footage from the season 13 premiere of Grey's Anatomy, fans were understandably worried about Alex (Justin Chambers) as the aftermath of his attack on DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti) seemed to threaten not only his career, but his freedom. You don't get to brutally beat people up and get away with it, after all. (Or, at least, you shouldn't.)
But while our hand-wringing over Karev may feel justified—he's a beloved character who made a very stupid mistake over a misunderstanding—there's another character we should be concerned about. You know, the one hanging on for dear life.
When E! News caught up with Debbie Allen at Buzzfeed's Buzzies Pre-Emmy party in Los Angeles, we asked the Grey's executive producer/director and recurring star if we should be worried about DeLuca not pulling through. Her reply did little to ease our fears. "Yeah," she warned. "I directed that last episode last year. He was in trouble. I can just let you know that we pick up where we left off, so it's going to be a hot opening."
Though it may mean bad news for Alex or DeLuca (or likely both), Allen promised that the premiere is going kick off the new season with a bang. "This season is really hot. I mean, we're in season 13, but we're like a brand new show. The storylines are more dynamic and exciting than ever," she teased. "That opening episode, which starts next Thursday night, it's something that'll knock your socks off, take your breath away, and make you want to keep watching."
As for how she'd describe season 13 if she had to sum it up in one word, Allen offered: "Dynamic." After 12 seasons of Shonda Rhimes' soapy goodness, we'd expect nothing less.
For more from Allen, including her thoughts on why she show has only continued to grow in popularity, be sure to check out the video above.
Grey's Anatomy returns on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. on ABC.