What Happened to Dr. Arizona Robbins on 'Grey's Anatomy'?

Jessica Capshaw as Dr. Arizona Robbins on 'Grey's Anatomy.'

Grey's Anatomy has been welcoming fan-favorite characters back for multiple seasons now, and that's going to continue as the medical drama's 20th season progresses. Next up? Jessica Capshaw, who's return as the beloved Arizona Robbins is expected in next week's episode.

It's been a while since we've last seen Arizona, so let's catch up on where she's been and what we can expect when she walks through the doors of Grey Sloan Memorial.

Related: Everything to Know About 'Grey's Anatomy' Season 20

What happened to Arizona on Grey's Anatomy?

Arizona Robbins decided to move to the East Coast at the end of Grey's Anatomy Season 14 to reconnect with her estranged wife, Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez). She was last seen at April Kepner's (Sarah Drew) impromptu wedding to Matthew (Justin Bruening).

Was Jessica Capshaw fired from Grey's Anatomy?

Jessica Capshaw was not fired from Grey's Anatomy, but the character of Arizona was written out of the show "for creative reasons" according to a Deadline report in 2018.

"For the past ten years I have had the rare privilege of not only playing Arizona Robbins, but also being madly in love with playing her," Capshaw wrote in an Instagram post ahead of the Season 14 finale.

"Arizona Robbins is kind, intelligent, funny, insightful, bold, playful, fierce and really good at her job. She was one of the first members of the LGBTQ community to be represented in a series regular role on network television. Her impact on the world is forever. Forever. I am grateful that I have gotten to bring her to life and for the life that she has brought to me," the actress continued. "I am so sad to see her go, but I am consoled by the idea that she will continue to live on and on in all our consciences and imaginations. Shonda, thank you for the ride on this incredible rollercoaster."

Related: How Every Major 'Grey's Anatomy' Character Got Written Off the Show

When was Jessica Capshaw's last episode on Grey's Anatomy?

Jessica Capshaw's last appearance on Grey's Anatomy was in the Season 14 finale "All of Me," when she announced at April's wedding that she was leaving Seattle to reconcile with Callie.

Why does Arizona come back on Grey's Anatomy?

Capshaw confirmed in a recent Instagram post that she will return in Season 20, Episode 4, which airs on Thursday, April 4.

The official description for the episode is, "Dr. Arizona Robbins returns to Grey Sloan for a particularly complicated case. The interns are interrogated about their past mistakes, while Teddy is eager to return to work after her health scare."

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

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