The day is here. The day we never thought would come. Ellen Pompeo is saying goodbye to Grey’s Anatomy. The only difference is we thought that would be the end of the show. Ellen is ready to leave, but the show will try to go on without her.
Ellen took to Instagram on Thursday to thank the fans for their support over the last 19 seasons. She said, “This isn’t your first time on the rollercoaster… you know the show must go on and I’ll definitely be back to visit.” She’s probably alluding to all the other actors that have also said goodbye. At least we know she will be back to visit, and that should mean the show will go on after this season. (No renewal announcements have been made at this time.)
I understand Ellen wants to do other things. She’s been playing the same character for almost 19 years. I hoped that this would be the only season she would play a limited role, but it sounds like after the season finale, she’s gone for good – with only an occasional episode (she signed on for eight episodes this season. She has two more left: the winter premiere and the season finale.)
It’s an end of an era. I’m not even sure how there is a Grey’s without Meredith Grey. She’s at the heart of the show. We watched one by one as M.A.G.I.C left, but we never thought Mere would go. We even watched as the new people left: Lexie Grey, Mark Sloan, Jackson Avery, April Kepner, Arizona Robbins, Callie Torres, Thomas Koracick and Andrew DeLuca. Some of them were more heartbreaking than others. And, of course, Derek Shepherd leaving shook us all. So, Ellen is right; we have been on the “rollercoaster” before.
Luckily, Jackson has shown up a couple of times since he left, and so has Koracick. So, hope is not lost for us to see Meredith again. I would love for when she does show up, that it’s her in Boston fighting to cure Alzheimer’s, and Jackson and Koracick are there. (If only we could get this as a spin-off.)
The winter premiere promo shows Meredith with the hospital celebrating her, handing her a glass of champagne. It looks like it’s going to be a bittersweet episode. But given other exists, we know there will be tears. But technically, this isn’t her last episode. As I said before, it’s the season finale. She probably is called back to do a surgery that only she can do. That will be the real tear-jerker. At least if she’s going to visit, they shouldn’t be killing her off.
One thing that hasn’t been resolved yet is what it means for Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman). This is the first serious relationship Meredith has had since Derek died. I would love her to get her happily ever after with someone, but I like Nick. Scott works well with the other actors. It’s fun watching him change up the residence program too. He is bringing freshness into the show. It’s not just the new residents. Hopefully, we get clarification on this in the next episode, which is sadly not until Feb. 23, 2023. That’s a long time for us to wait. (At least we’re not waiting to see if a character is okay, like on Station 19.)
It’s hard to believe that Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) will be the only OG cast members left. The show has been through so many changes. But at least we have 19 seasons to relive all of our favorite Meredith moments.
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One line sums up so much about Ellen’s time on Grey’s Anatomy.
