The Most Shocking Exit in Grey's Anatomy History Surpasses Alex Karev's

Summary

Grey's Anatomy has a history of character exits, and one recent exit, Alex Karev's, received heavy criticism for being abrupt and inconsistent with his character development.

Lexie Grey initially had a concept of dying by slipping and hitting her head at the hospital, but Shonda Rhimes, the creator, ultimately decided to have her death occur in a plane crash. This choice was made in order to give her character closure with her love interest, Mark.

During season 17 of Grey's Anatomy, Lexie appears as a cameo in Meredith's coma dream, offering viewers a more satisfying and pleasant conclusion to her character.

By now, Shonda Rhimes' Grey's Anatomy had already established itself as the defining force in the medical drama genre. With almost 20 seasons under its belt, the series has taken viewers through a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring an abundance of joys, tragedies, and perhaps most noticeably, the departure of beloved characters. Grey's Anatomy revolves around a group of surgical interns at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital, as they navigate the complexities of their profession and inevitably find themselves entangled in complicated personal relationships. The show is renowned for its talented ensemble cast, gripping storylines, and the enduring romantic connections throughout its long run.

Unsurprisingly, many characters from Grey's Anatomy have met their demise or exited the show over the years. However, not all of these departures were well-received. One recent example that garnered significant criticism was the exit of Alex Karev. Karev, who had been an integral part of the show since its inception in 2005, had evolved into a respected and adored character. Unfortunately, the series abruptly wrote him out by reigniting a past romantic relationship. Viewers were shocked to see Karev leave his wife and job for a former lover, especially one who had mistreated him in the past. Despite the backlash received for Karev's departure, another Grey's Anatomy character narrowly avoided an even more unfavorable fate.

Lexie's Original Death Involved Her Slipping And Hitting Her Head At The Hospital

Lexie Grey's death during season 8 of Grey's Anatomy could have been far worse. In an interview with TVLine, show creator Shonda Rhimes revealed her initial plan for Lexie's demise was different from what ultimately transpired. Originally, Rhimes had envisioned Lexie slipping and hitting her head in Seattle, mirroring the deaths that occurred in the woods during the plane crash. However, Rhimes ultimately decided against this anticlimactic death because she felt it was important for Lexie to have a chance to say goodbye to her love interest, Mark, and hear his declaration of love. Consequently, Rhimes chose to have Lexie die in the plane crash instead, a storyline that, despite disappointing fans, was a much better alternative to Rhimes' original idea. This decision aligns with the nonsensical departure of Alex Karev from the series.

Lexie Finally Got The Send-Off She Deserved In Season 17

In hindsight, it is evident that Lexie's death on Grey's Anatomy could have been much worse, but it remains a source of distress for viewers. Fortunately, her death does not mark the end of her presence on the show. In season 17, Meredith falls into a coma due to COVID-19 and experiences dreams of her deceased loved ones, including Lexie, Derek, Mark, and George. In these dream sequences, Lexie is alive and far removed from the graphic scenes of season 8, thus giving her character a more satisfying conclusion. This ensures that Lexie receives the pleasant ending that was lacking in season 8 of Grey's Anatomy.