‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 11 spoilers: Kate Burton to return for premiere

How is this for both a literal and figurative blast from the past?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kate Burton is set to return to “Grey’s Anatomy” for the show’s upcoming season 11 premiere, and she will reprise her role via flashbacks of Meredith Grey’s late mother Ellis. She has not appeared on the show since the controversial “If/Then” episode a few seasons ago, but we’re not surprised that this is the episode where she makes her grand return. Meredith is going to be suffering many different emotional wounds during the premiere. She will not have Cristina in her day-to-day life anymore, and both her mother and her sister are both dead. Who does she have to turn to, especially since her relationship with Derek right now is strained thanks to differing career ambitions? Amelia seems to be the best option, and she’s still inevitably going to be close to Derek.

Show boss Shonda Rhimes has already made it clear that Ellen Pompeo’s character is going to be front and center for much of the season, and bringing back Ellis is only more evidence of that. The only thing we’re surprised about is that this isn’t going to be some sort of dream sequence where Meredith finds herself in need of someone to speak with, and she appears to her in this way.

The new “Grey’s Anatomy” season will officially begin on Thursday, September 25, as the show moves to a brand-new timeslot in 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. This is a brand-new challenge for it to overcome, but given that the show has been around for over a decade just fine, it will probably figure something out here.

Happy to see the return of Ellis? Let us know your thoughts now with a comment, and to prescribe to further TV news from us at CarterMatt, sign up for our official newsletter today!

Photo: ABC