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Entertainment

12th Jan 2022

Is it time for Grey’s Anatomy to end?

Katy Brennan

We need to let it flatline.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that Grey’s Anatomy would be renewed for a 19th season.

And while many fans rejoiced that they wouldn’t have to say goodbye to their favourite on-screen doctor Meredith Grey just yet, I think most of us will agree it’s kind of bittersweet.

Yes, the long-running medical drama, which first premiered back in 2005, has had a massive global impact and touched the hearts of people worldwide – but just how long is too long?

The way in which networks drag out TV shows can be painful to witness. Think The US Office post Michael Scott, The Walking Dead after almost every single main character left, or The Simpsons still achingly continuing more than a decade past its prime.

Shows that overstay their welcome often go from being well-liked to leaving a sour taste in people’s mouths.

And don’t even get me started on the never-ending list of reboots being thrown in our faces weekly.

Many fans have complained about the repetitiveness of Grey’s Anatomy’s storylines in recent seasons, the bland characters, and the general sense of emptiness and meaninglessness.

There’s only three members of the original cast left, it’s running out of ideas to focus on within the world of medicine and Owen can only keep getting his heart broken so many times.

Yet, it keeps going. Why?

Short answer: Money

Ellen Pompeo herself has said on multiple occasions that she is more than ready for the show to end and has been trying to convince everyone around her to just finish it. But no one will listen.

“I’ve been trying to focus on convincing everybody that it should end,” she said.

“​I feel like I’m the super naive one who keeps saying, ‘But what’s the story going to be, what story are we going to tell?’

“And everyone’s like, ‘Who cares, Ellen? It makes a gazillion dollars!'”

In saying that, the actress has signed on to do another season, so she obviously sees some life left in the series. She has also expressed some anxiety around making sure the show ends in a way that fans want.

“It’s… what story do we tell? To end a show this iconic, you know, how do we do it?” she told CBS Morning Sunday.

“I just want to make sure we do this character and this show and the fans – I want to make sure we do it right.”

Making sure to end an iconic show the right way is undoubtedly a huge task but sometimes its best to just pull the band aid, right?

For now, Grey’s Anatomy will sticking around. But at some point in the future, it’s going to end and we will see Meredith hang up her scrubs for the very last time – let’s just hope that day comes sooner rather than later.