Honestly, if you thought the midseason premiere of Grey’s Anatomy was intense, you haven't seen anything yet. We just watched Jo Wilson basically survive the impossible—an emergency C-section followed by a terrifying cardiac crisis—and now the show is about to drop a massive nostalgia bomb.
The next Grey’s Anatomy episode preview for Season 22, Episode 10, titled "Strip That Down," has everyone losing it for one specific reason. Kate Walsh is back. Yes, Dr. Addison Montgomery is officially returning to Grey Sloan Memorial on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
The Addison Montgomery Factor
Look, every time Addison steps out of an elevator, the show’s energy shifts. We’ve seen her navigate the post-Roe world and help Jo through her darkest moments, but this visit feels different. According to the latest production details, her return is directly tied to the fallout of Jo’s recent medical trauma.
Jo is currently grappling with postpartum hormone surges and the reality of her twins, Hattie and Peyton, being in the NICU. One twin has already stabilized, but the other is still fighting a persistent heart murmur. If there is one person you want in your corner when babies and reproductive health are on the line, it’s Addison.
Richard Webber’s Private Battle
While everyone is focused on the NICU, Richard is facing a crisis he can no longer ignore. The "next Grey's Anatomy episode preview" hints at a major confrontation between him and Bailey. We know Richard has been avoiding his own health issues, but things got real when guest star Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s character, Dr. Laura Kaplan, entered the fray.
Sigler plays a urologist who has been helping Richard navigate his prostate surgery. It’s a meta-moment for the show, as James Pickens Jr. has been vocal about his own real-life health journey. The tension between his desire to keep working and his need to be a patient is a classic Grey's trope, but it feels weightier this time.
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What’s Really Happening with Winston and Jules?
Let’s talk about that bar scene. For weeks, fans were shipping Winston Ndugu and Jules Millin. It seemed like a "will-they-won't-they" slam dunk. Then, the January 15 episode, "Heavy on Me," basically threw a bucket of cold water on the fire.
Winston is currently riding high on some podcast fame and seems more interested in Freya, an OB nurse, than in pursuing anything with Jules. Jules, being Jules, reacted by being "discerning"—which is Winston-speak for "closing herself off." The preview for the next episode suggests she might finally be moving on. She was seen entertaining the company of a "handsome stranger" at the bar, signaling that the Winston/Jules ship might have sailed before it even left the harbor.
Intern Chaos and the "Ambulance Ride-Along"
Owen Hunt is never one to stay quiet for long. His latest "great idea" is a series of ambulance ride-alongs for the interns. He thinks it's a teaching tactic. The interns probably think it’s a death wish.
- Lucas Adams is still trying to find his footing after a rocky Season 21.
- Simone Griffith has officially abandoned the "celibacy pact" and reconnected with Wes.
- Benson Kwan is caught in the middle of everyone's drama, as usual.
The preview shows this ride-along program kicking off in Episode 10, and if history repeats itself (think the Season 21 explosion or the Season 22 bus crash), putting these interns in the back of a moving vehicle is just asking for a multi-car pileup.
Actionable Insights for the Next Episode
If you’re planning to watch the January 29 episode, keep your eyes on the background. Grey's loves to hide clues in the medical monitors.
- Watch the NICU monitors: The heart murmur storyline for one of the twins isn't just filler; it's likely the "in" for Addison Montgomery’s surgical intervention.
- Follow the timeline: We are moving into the second half of Season 22. This is usually where the "big bad" of the season—whether it's a medical mystery or a hospital-wide disaster—starts to take shape.
- Stream if you miss it: If you can't catch the 10/9c broadcast on ABC, the episode hits Hulu the following morning.
The "next Grey’s Anatomy episode preview" makes one thing very clear: Grey Sloan is undergoing massive renovations, both physically and emotionally. With Richard’s surgery looming and the return of a legendary surgeon, the stakes for the end of January are higher than we've seen in years.