Grey's Anatomy fans have "worked out" the return of a beloved character five years after their "unforgivable" exit.
The hit medical drama returned to ABC last week with its 21st season, and shows no signs of slowing down.
The midseason premiere picked up after a dramatic cliffhanger that saw Jo Wilson and Lucas Adams held up at a convenience store by a robber with a gun.
Jo and Lucas managed to get out of the harrowing situation, but pregnant Jo started bleeding upon her return to the hospital. After an ultrasound, Miranda Bailey confirmed that Jo's twins were doing just fine, but she would need an urgent cervix procedure to prevent pre-term labour.
Jo and her partner Atticus "Link" Lincoln were understandably concerned, but all seemed to go well.
However, some Grey's fans have suggested that they would love to see Jo's ex-husband, Alex Karev, return to Seattle to create a new level of "drama".
Alex started out as an obnoxious and snarky doctor in the first season, but mellowed out when he formed feelings for fellow intern, Izzie Stevens. The couple decided to get married after Izzie was diagnosed with cancer in season five, before divorcing the following season when Izzie left the hospital for good.
Alex fell in love again when new intern Jo joined the show in season nine. The couple got married during season 14 in a stunning ferry boat ceremony that was officiated by Meredith Grey.
After bonding over their shared traumatic childhoods, the pair seemed to find happiness in each other, but fans were devastated when Alex unexpectedly left Jo during season 16.
Midway through the season, Alex went to Iowa to visit his mother, and a couple of episodes later, it was revealed that he had reconnected with his ex-wife Izzie, after learning that she had used his embryos to have twins through IVF.
Coinciding with actor Justin Chamber's decision to leave the show, Alex didn't return for an on-screen goodbye. Instead, he wrote letters to his loved ones, which many fans felt was "out of character".
Now, viewers have taken to Reddit to share their return theories, with one writing: "Is it just me or do I wish to see Izzie coming back with Alex and their twins to the hospital? I really wish to see them both stir up heavy drama with Jo and Link and their (possible) twins as well. It would be giving very early season drama vibes. I hope I'm not the only one!!"
"Imagine if Alex and Izzie were in an accident and happen to be close by. They rush them into the hospital and the drama begins. Honestly THIS would make old grey watchers come back. It would be insane," another added.
"The dynamic between Izzie and Jo is something we have never seen, and they for sure know of each other, but only from Alex's perspective. Alex seeing Link with Jo. Damn the drama."
A third fan said: "I wanted to see Alex and Jo live happily ever after," while another echoed the sentiment: "I read online [Justin Chambers] said he wasn't planning on coming back, but he wasn't against the idea. That would be awesome because I miss Alex."
Grey's Anatomy airs Thursday nights on ABC