‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 13, episode 18: Ellen Pompeo directs, Maggie Pierce in centre

“Grey’s Anatomy” season 13, episode 18 airs Thursday, March 31, on ABC. This week’s new episode was directed by the medical drama’s lead protagonist actress, Ellen Pompeo. As Pompeo’s character Meredith explores a budding romance with Nathan (Martin Henderson), Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) deals with a deep emotional crisis.

Grey's 13x18 episode title: ‘Be Still, My Soul’

(Spoiler alert: This article contains "Grey's Anatomy" season 13 spoilers.) In an interview with ABC (see video tweet below), Pompeo said it was fellow actress and Grey’s executive producer Debbie Allen who convinced her to try directing an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” It turns out this directing stint is a long time coming for Pompeo.

Allen has directed a number of Grey’s episodes, too. She seems to have been impressed by how Pompeo worked on Greys 13x18. For her part, Pompeo sounds certain that she would direct another episode in the future.

Incidentally, Greys 13x18 is airing in the same week as the show’s 12th anniversary. Creator Shonda Rhimes marked the occasion on Twitter (see her tweet below).

“Be Still My Soul” features the case of Maggie’s mother. It picks up from where things left off in Greys 13x17 (“Till I Hear It From You”), where the closing scene shows Maggie telling Meredith that her mom is really sick.

Richard Webber vs Miranda Bailey: When will it end?

Maggie’s adoptive mother is fighting cancer. Meanwhile, her biological father, Richard Webber, is fighting Bailey (Chandra Wilson). Webber softens up in Greys 12x17, realising he may have been overreacting. In 12x18, Webber and Miranda are expected to confront their situation again. Marika Dominczyk returns in “Be Still, My Soul” as Eliza Minnick.

As for Meredith, she has agreed to go on a date with Nathan. Maggie is not aware that Nathan has been pursuing her sister. She was interested in him for a while, so Meredith tried to keep her distance. Fans are guessing Maggie will soon learn that Meredith and Nathan have lied to her by omission. Maggie, who hates secrets and lies, have a lot to deal with in this week’s “Grey’s Anatomy” season 13.

The New Japril Situation

It remains to be seen if Jackson (Jesse Williams) and April (Sarah Drew) will have meaningful scenes this week. Japril fans have been eagerly waiting to see what happens next between the two since their trip to Montana two episodes ago.

Some fans are certain that Japril is back for real. Others, however, are glad to see them as friends again. Drew herself has said that fans will have more reason to hope for a Japril reconciliation now.

“Grey’s Anatomy” season 13, episode 18 was written by Meg Marinis. Joining Dominczyk as guest stars are LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Diane Pierce and Richard Lawson as Bill Pierce.