WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Grey's Anatomy season 17 episode 7. Read at your own risk.
Grey's Anatomy season 17 episode 8 is going to be an emotional one for several characters as it sees the aftermath of Andrew DeLuca's death. Giacomo Giannioti's character died in the previous episode, which comes as a huge shock to many.
Grey's Anatomy season 17 episode 8 will continue what transpired in "Helplessly Hoping." In the midseason premiere, DeLuca and his sister Carina DeLuca (Stefania Spampinato) tracked down a sex trafficker but the former was stabbed in the process.
DeLuca's death brings a huge impact on the story, given that he is one of the most essential characters in the medical drama. Speaking to Deadline, showrunner Krista Vernoff said that everyone in the hospital deals with the exit of Giannioti's character -- especially Carina.
Vernoff noted that there is going to be a "profound impact" since DeLuca had become a beloved doctor to his colleagues. She added that there's a "real impact" on his sister and everyone who really loves him. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) is another concern, as well.
Meredith is still in a coma until now and there is a huge concern on how she's going to react that DeLuca is dead when she wakes up. The previous season already teased a potential romance between the two, but that won't happen now after the demise of Giannioti's character.
The promo of Grey's Anatomy season 17 episode 8 showed everyone at the hospital in the mourning process. Carina is shattered because her brother died and she needs someone to lean on -- and that would be Maya Bishop (Danielle Savre).
Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) is also dealing with the news of DeLuca's death since they had their own history. In addition, the rest of the doctors at Grey Sloan couldn't believe that their colleague is now dead. This storyline will likely play out for a few more episodes.
Meanwhile, the preview of Grey's Anatomy season 17 episode 8 also teased that Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shepherd is coming back. The character made a few appearances in the early parts of the season and he'll continue to be part of the story moving forward.
Derek is dead in the real world, but he appears in Meredith's dream beach-sequence. Dempsey and Vernoff already teased that there's more coming to this arc and his appearance will be an important part of Meredith's making decisions for her future.
Grey's Anatomy season 17 episode 8 airs on Thursday, March 18, on ABC.
