Jesse Williams Returns to Grey’s Anatomy — Fans Lose It Over His Surprise Comeback!

[{"selector":"#anim-d0e1b0b7-2d64-412b-8cc2-f2730399fb10 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-13.34269640677839%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] He’s Back! Jesse Williams Returns to Grey Sloan!

[{"selector":"#anim-1e180450-056c-4638-9d35-85b326735dbe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.969220935437953%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Grey’s Anatomy fans are freaking out — Dr. Jackson Avery is officially returning in Season 22!

[{"selector":"#anim-830848d4-7b70-4e82-a296-a9ff805653a1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.33616491102041%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Jesse Williams reprises his fan-favorite role as Dr. Jackson Avery in episode 4, “Goodbye Horses.”

[{"selector":"#anim-a1516105-b2eb-419d-80e8-5bb65ae06ae8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.377717254033218%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Jackson walks alongside Ben Warren — greeted by familiar faces and warm smiles.

[{"selector":"#anim-c267d58a-72f5-4618-a31c-98d5148a1604 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.06017493371051%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The teaser dropped after Thursday’s episode — and fans lost it over Jackson’s unexpected comeback.

[{"selector":"#anim-72d8790f-3ea2-469a-9e45-cdc913f0d272 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-22.873520545456742%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The episode airs Thursday, Oct. 30, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC — streaming next day on Hulu.

[{"selector":"#anim-63bd8fb7-c746-4a38-bbfe-f1a5246dabb0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.987818898020944%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Doctors at Grey Sloan greet Jackson like he never left

[{"selector":"#anim-d9a81519-87f2-4e88-9252-e21906a8abac [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.473044893071947%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Williams starred for 12 seasons before exiting in 2021

[{"selector":"#anim-6019db5c-d60e-4563-ac07-2417337363e1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.618667277207916%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The new episode follows interns in a wild trauma case — and a tense partnership for Meredith.

[{"selector":"#anim-22a389d9-4611-44f4-8311-c20742f800ff [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.9891303012215%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] He told PEOPLE he’s “forever grateful” for the show’s impact — calling it “a gift I’ll carry always.”

[{"selector":"#anim-e6dddfda-dc39-4ac7-a369-05089cf80670 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.88839270476661%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Twitter flooded with nostalgia: “Grey’s hasn’t felt the same without Jackson!”