Goodbye to Meredith Grey after 19 seasons

By Megan McKay Staff writer

“Grey’s Anatomy” could finally be coming to an end with Season 20.

The decision to end a longrunning series can be a difficult one, especially for one as popular as the medical drama, and needs to be a carefullyweighed choice that considers the characters and the show’s narrative potential.

In the case of “Grey’s Anatomy”—given just how much change the show has experienced since its start—in a way it has already become a fully new story that needs to conclude.

The news of a possible conclusion to the show comes after the star actor Ellen Pompeo announced that she will be leaving midway through Season 19 and will only return for the season finale.

Season 20 has not been announced, but it is likely that it will, giving the show a proper conclusion.

Ellen Pompeo, who is currently 53, has played the same role of Dr. Meredith Grey for 19 years. To be expected, playing the same character for almost two decades can be quite tiring.

Pompeo and show creator Shonda Rhimes stated that they expected the show to end when the actress departed.

For the narrative it would make proper sense that the main actress and the show both go out together.

The show is in fact named after Pompeo’s character and that she has largely been the main point of view character. If the show were to continue with Pompeo it would feel as if there was a narrative dissonance.

I believe it is best for the show to end with Pompeo especially to mark a tribute to her tenure and exceptional acting.

Since “Grey’s Anatomy” first premiered, it has become the longest-running scripted primetime show and the longest-scripted primetime series carried by ABC.

In the trailer for the midseason premiere of “Grey’s Anatomy,” Meredith Grey seems wistful.

“This is where I learned to be a doctor. This is the place where I found my family. The place where I fell in love,” the surgeon says.

She goes on to say, “Sometimes change is good. Sometimes change is everything.”

Speaking straight from the character change seems like the best decision for the long running show which has recently lost many loyal fans since the departure of many