Station 19 showrunner Peter Paige carefully addresses Ben and Carina’s futures in Grey’s Anatomy, prior to the ongoing spinoff of the hospital drama coming to a close. Ben Warren and Carina DeLuca were originally introduced on Grey’s Anatomy, before becoming core characters on its firefighter spinoff. This has included many changes to their lives throughout various storylines. However, with Station 19 currently airing its final season, it’s unclear if the pair’s story is over, or if they’ll return to the original series.
Speaking with TVLine, Paige cautiously discussed what Ben and Carina’s future may look like after Station 19 season 7. The showrunner teased the possibility of their return to Grey’s Anatomy, but did not specifically say this would be the case. Check out what Paige had to say below:
Will Ben & Carina Return To Grey’s Anatomy When Station 19 Ends?
Ben departed Grey’s Anatomy in season 14, becoming a central character on Station 19, where he’s maintained a role as a firefighter. Carina has been a recurring character on the parent show starting in the same season, before becoming a main cast member during season 4 of the spinoff while still in her role at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Both of the characters have forged connections with Station 19‘s cast, given Ben’s job and Carina’s marriage to Maya. This makes it unclear if their stories should continue in the flagship series.
Station 19 season 7 episode 4 hinted at the possibility of Ben departing, with his back pain possibly causing a strain that would make a leave of absence necessary. There also appears to be more story between Carina and Maya yet to be told, as the pair continue raising their son, Liam, despite some difficulty adjusting to parenting. These story attributes open the door for either character to continue appearing in Grey’s Anatomy, possibly continuing their arcs despite the end of their spinoff.
Ben and Carina have appeared in a recurring capacity on Grey’s Anatomy since they became main characters on the spinoff, meaning there’s still room for them to return as main cast members in the future. Given the OB/GYN specialist’s continued job at Grey Sloan, it makes sense for her to continue appearing in the main series. The issues with Ben’s back could also result in him returning to his job at the hospital. However, their reprisal in the core series is going to depend on how their stories end in the last episodes of Station 19.