Grey’s Anatomy Season 20’s Surprising Character Return Proves 1 Harsh Truth About Winston

Grey’s Anatomy season 20 proves that the show has a problem with its treatment of Dr. Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill). Since joining the series in season 16, Winston has gone through quite a bit, especially where his personal life is concerned. While he was a surgical resident at Tufts, Winston had a crush on his teacher, Dr. Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary). Just before Winston becomes an attending, Maggie moves to Seattle to learn more about her birth parents, Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) and Ellis Grey (Kate Burton). Six years later, Winston finally reconnects with Maggie at a surgical conference.

Post-conference, the love-struck surgeons continue their whirlwind romance from opposite coasts — and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, Winston decides to move across the country to be with Maggie. Not only does Winston join Maggie’s department at Grey Sloan, but he marries his long-time crush. Unfortunately, Winston and Maggie’s relationship isn’t endgame, and they split up. By the end of Grey’s Anatomy season 19, Winston is appointed to Head of Cardio at Grey Sloan by Chief Teddy Altman (Kim Raver), and, mid-season 20, he’s officially served divorce papers.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 Has Failed Winston Ndugu

With just 10 episodes, Grey’s Anatomy season 20 is a truncated outing. Nonetheless, the long-running medical drama has found time to give each of its principal characters a handful of important moments. A glaring exception seems to be Dr. Winston Ndugu. In the first episode of season 20, Winston arrives in Seattle after losing out on the Catherine Fox Award, only to become Altman’s doctor in the wake of her health scare. Apart from that moment, Winston’s biggest storyline comes in Grey’s Anatomy season 20, episode 5, “Never Felt So Alone.”

At the season’s mid-point, one of Winston’s patients is so anxious that he pays someone to hug him and regulate his nervous system. At first, Winston is judgmental, but comes to understand that it’s what his patient needs in order to be okay. Meanwhile, the newly minted Head of Cardio is served divorce papers from his ex, Maggie Pierce. Apart from another brief moment in which Richard and Winston discuss the awkwardness of working together in the wake of Kelly McCreary’s Grey’s Anatomy exit, Winston serves more as a background personality than a full-fledged character in season 20.

Winston Ndugu’s Storylines Continue To Revolve Around Maggie Pierce

From his interactions with Richard to his anxious, hug-needing patient thread, all of Dr. Winston Ndugu’s storylines still revolve around Maggie Pierce, even though the accomplished surgeon left the show. While Maggie was still an integral on-screen part of Grey’s Anatomy, it made sense that her relationship with Winston was a focal point. Despite the love the two had for each other, Winston found himself doubting his surgical abilities and talent; a cardio prodigy, Maggie’s shadow always loomed large, leading Maggie and Winston to fight. The couple’s split was good for Winston — both personally and professionally.

However, as season 20 unfolds, it has become more apparent than ever that Grey’s Anatomy doesn’t know what to do with Winston. Maggie’s surprise guest appearance in Grey’s Anatomy season 20, episode 9, which ABC kept under wraps until the episode’s promotional teaser dropped, only reiterates this issue. Created as a love interest for Maggie, Winston has not been allowed to grow into his own character — into someone who isn’t defined by another person. That was the core issue in Maggie and Winston’s relationship, and, ironically, it continues to be Grey’s Anatomy’s problem with Winston too.