"Grey's Anatomy" aired its midseason finale last week, but fans of the show shouldn't worry as the best is yet to come when the show returns next year.

Season 12 started with a one-year time jump following the death of Derek (Patrick Dempsey) in the season 11 finale, and it looks like things are starting to get better for Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and the rest of the gang at Grey Sloane. And when the show returns to ABC, fans are going to see a brand new episode directed by Denzel Washington, and Pompeo recently talked about what it's like to be working with the A-list actor.

"I'm super excited for the fans to see [episode 1209, directed by Denzel Washington]," she told Entertainment Weekly.
"We've never had anyone of his caliber come and direct our show ever. His charisma, he changes the energy in the room completely," Pompeo said, adding that everyone in the cast was "at the top of their game" while filming the episode.

Wetpaint posted a leaked video from the set, which shows the Oscar winner at work. Washington is heard directing the scene, and it appears as though they were hearsing a scene with Pompeo and Chandra Wilson. In the video, Wilson, who plays Bailey, is pushing Pompeo in a wheelchair.

Pompeo told Wetpaint that the "Grey's Anatomy" place is "much different" now, as executive producer Debbie Allen has been a big influence on the change of tone on the set.

"It's a much more collaborative place and a happy place," she revealed.

Pompeo said that everyone on the show has been working hard to make sure that fans are satisfied with each episode.

"We're so lucky to have the fans still so engaged in the show," said the 46-year-old. "We owe it to them to give it 200 percent all the time."

"Grey's Anatomy" returns on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. on ABC.