23rd February 2023 will see Grey’s Anatomy’s titular character departing from the show. But what does that mean for the future of the much-loved series?
Ellen Pompeo has starred in the Seattle-based medical drama for 19 seasons, spanning over 17 years, as the main character Dr Meredith Grey. During this time, the actress has portrayed many heart-hitting storylines, including suicidal thoughts, grief, miscarriage, infertility, abandonment issues, and even gun violence… to name a few! Pompeo was also half of one of the greatest love stories in TV history – ‘MerDer’ - alongside co-star Patrick Dempsey who was emotionally killed off the show back in 2015. Earlier this month, Pompeo took to her Instagram to let fans know that she would be moving on from the drama after her short stint in Season 19 Part 2, set to air next February. She ended her heartfelt post of gratitude to her fans with, ‘This isn’t your first time on the rollercoaster… you know the show must go on, and I’ll definitely be back to visit.’ Confirming that she will no longer appear in the medical drama as a season regular.
Due to Ellen Pompeo’s long-standing position in Hollywood, she has been one of the highest-paid actresses since 2017, as well as being deemed one of the most renowned TV stars, according to Forbes. Reinforcing that Pompeo’s place on our screens is cemented and valued.
Despite an abundance of main characters leaving the show in the past, such as Sandra Oh, Kate Walsh, Katherine Heigl, and many more, the departure of the show’s main character will see a never-seen-before shift in the focus of the show. For almost two decades, Pompeo has recorded the voice-over that starts and ends each episode whether her character Meredith Grey appeared in the episode or not. Therefore, there is no doubt that the absence of Pompeo’s character will change the structure of the programme as many know it.
For the fans who have watched the show since its pilot in 2005, the departure of Pompeo leaves only two original faces left on the screen: Chandra Wilson who plays Dr Miranda Bailey, and James Pickens Jr, who plays Dr Richard Webber. Many fans have said that the exit of Meredith Grey will be the nail in the coffin for them, as they feel the show is no longer the one that they fell in love with back in 2005. Time will tell if the exit of Pompeo will see the eventual end of the show, but regardless of the numbers, Grey’s Anatomy will never be the same without Grey herself.
Edited by Jemma Snowdon
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