What Happened To Levi In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21, Episode 7? Jake Borelli’s Exit Explained

Levi’s departure from Grey Sloan Memorial came to pass in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 7, marking the end of an era for a character part of the medical drama since season 14. The exit of Levi Schmitt’s Jake Borelli from Grey’s Anatomy was announced ahead of season 21’s start, along with that of Midori Francis, who portrayed Mika Yasuda ever since Grey’s Anatomy season 19. Over his eight seasons on the medical drama, Levi Schmitt made a lasting impact, with his character’s clumsiness acting as comic relief at first before Levi established himself as a key Grey’s Anatomy character.

Levi’s journey from insecure intern to a confident resident turned him into a character almost unrecognizable from who he was when he first reached Grey Sloan Memorial. From coming out and exploring his LGBTQ identity, even within his community as a Jewish gay man, to his breakdown following the death of his patient in the OR, plenty of storylines put Levi at center, all contributing to his blossoming into a version of himself certain of the future ahead for him. This couldn’t be more evident in Levi’s goodbyes and his proposal to James in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 7.

Levi’s Exit In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21, Episode 7 Explained

Schmitt’s Research Position In Texas Can Make Him A Peds Surgeon In The Future

Levi’s departure from Grey Sloan Memorial and Seattle in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 7 happened after a long time reflecting over his future. Indeed, Levi chose Peds as a specialty in Grey’s Anatomy season 20, but realized he couldn’t pursue it after his ABSITE scores were too low to be competitive for such a specialty. His relentless pursuit of Monica Beltran as a mentor eventually proved the best thing for his dream, as Beltran realizing Levi belonged in Peds was what still gave him a chance to make his dream come true, materializing the Peds research job in Texas.

Schmitt’s Grey’s Anatomy exit storyline proved also his happily ever after because of who Levi managed to share it with. Ever since Levi and James met, they clicked, even when they disagreed on their roles as surgeon and chaplain. Finding love was unexpected for both Levi and James, and felt overwhelming once it became clearer Levi’s near future was in Texas, but it still meant Levi’s fresh start brought him closer to become a Peds fellow and do so with his significant other at his side, after James revealed he resigned at Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 7’s end.

Can Levi Still Return In Grey’s Anatomy?

Schmitt’s Departure From Grey Sloan Ends His Story The Best Possible Way

Recent Grey’s Anatomy seasons showed how historic characters could easily reappear in the medical drama after years away, for medical consults or even longer story arcs. Levi’s happy exit storyline in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, pursuing his specialty dream and moving to Texas with James, leaves his story wide open, making it possible for Levi to return to Grey Sloan in the future. Doing so would enrich the end of Levi’s story even more than his amazing transformation already did in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, giving it a chance to update on whether Levi managed to become a Peds surgeon.