Spoilers are ahead for Grey's Anatomy season 20 and the Station 19 series finale.

Summary

• Ben Warren's journey from surgeon to firefighter was a wonderful arc for the character.
• Warren worked hard to become a firefighter, and his return to surgery somewhat undermines that story.
• Despite Ben's fan-favorite status, his return to Grey's Anatomy in season 21 may present challenges due to the show's large ensemble.

In the wake of Grey's Anatomy during season 14 to become a firefighter.

Ben Warren is also one half of one of Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 crossover stories. While Ben seemed to find success at 19, the series finale sees him telling Captain Andy Herrera that he needs a change. After sustaining some injuries, Warren is worried about his abilities and rather ease Bailey's mind by not running into dangerous situations. As Andy aptly discerns, Ben also wants to finally complete his surgical residency.

Ben Left Grey Sloan Memorial For A Reason

Warren's Decision To Become A Firefighter Was Incredibly Fitting

When Ben decided to change careers, he didn't make that decision lightly. Despite showing great potential as a surgeon, Ben Warren made a series of impulsive decisions that landed him on the wrong side of the then-Chief of Surgery: Bailey. Still a resident, Ben sliced open a patient with a clipboard; while Warren did save the patient's life — and while more outrageous things have happened on Grey's Anatomy — Bailey made an example of her husband. Several episodes later, a momentary hospital lockdown pushed Ben to perform a C-section in a hallway, resulting in less favorable outcomes.

Ben [realized] that his fast-acting nature made him a better fit for another line of work.

Suspended and falling behind his peers, Ben struggled to find a way back into the OR before realizing that his fast-acting nature made him a better fit for another line of work. Ben's third act as a firefighter was more than just a way to connect Grey's Anatomy with its latest spin-off — it was a natural step. However, in the series finale of Station 19, Ben tells Andy he's leaving the team to finish his shelved surgical residency. In many ways, it feels like a forced way to have the Station 19 character return to Grey's Anatomy.

Ben Warren Thrived As A Firefighter on Station 19

The Surgeon-Turned-Firefighter Found His True Calling After Leaving Grey's Anatomy

Despite the odds being stacked against him, Ben was a great firefighter. While it was always great to see him pop up as a guest star on Grey's Anatomy, it's also clear that he thrived away from Grey Sloan. When he first told Bailey about his change of careers, it didn't go over well. Although Bailey came around, she's constantly fretting over his well-being, which is understandable. As she put it, Ben Warren runs toward the danger when he's with Station 19. Plus, without the spin-off, one of Station 19's most compelling Grey's Anatomy crossovers wouldn't have happened.

Ben has put in too much time and work to just walk away from being a firefighter.

Throughout Warren's stint as a firefighter, Ben and Miranda have navigated arguments and crises alike. They've grown their family and ed each other through thick and thin. While it's hard to Warren's return does make Owen's perfect story possible, with the former firefighter becoming a fixture in trauma surgery and the ER.

Ben Would Be Lost In The Shuffle In Grey's Anatomy Season 21

The Massive Ensemble Of Grey's Anatomy Means Less Screentime

Although several key Grey's Anatomy doctors won't be at Grey Sloan in the wake of Catherine Fox's (Debbie Allen) firing spree, the 21-season medical drama still boasts a massive ensemble. Grey's Anatomy was saddled with a slim 10-episode order, making it hard for season 20 to do its many characters justice. While some of that will be remedied in Grey's Anatomy season 21 with more episodes and several actor departures, the cast is still stacked. Ben and Miranda are crucial to the show, but bringing Ben back to Grey's Anatomy could merely see him lost in the shuffle.

All 20 seasons of Grey's Anatomy are streaming on Hulu.