Shonda Rhimes Talks Gut-Wrenching Grey's Finale
Watching the finale of Grey's Anatomy last night was an experience long time fans of the show aren't soon to forget.
If you haven't watched the episode, step away from the post. Spoilers Ahead!
As it will probably go down in history as the most disturbing and suspenseful episode of the series, creator Shonda Rhimes had a lot to answer for this morning. But if you thought watching it was difficult, try writing it!
Shonda revealed that the shocking episode was one she was "nervous" for audiences to see. Her intention was to write it as almost a "stand-alone movie" that coincided with the series. Though she admits she has gotten mostly positive feedback, the fact that Meredith has a miscarriage in the episode is something a lot of people were upset over. She explains that it was always her intention to have the events of her pregnancy play out this way, but that now that Meredith knows what she wants (i.e. Derek and a McFamily), having a baby will be something that will be explored in the coming season.
Here are some other excepts from her interview about the finale:
Where was Bailey’s beau Ben in this episode?
RHIMES: Ben was not working that day. There was a great debate in the writers’ room that we should have Bailey say something about Ben not working. And I felt like, no, we only see Ben sporadically as it is. He’s not at work that day. And I didn’t want to spend time — because we have so little of it and I had to leave 18 minutes on the cutting room floor — chatting about where Ben was. I felt like you knew Ben wasn’t there because you didn’t see him there. [But] I think there’s going to [fallout] about that later.
Had Katherine Heigl not left the show, what role would Izzie have played in the finale? Would she have been killed?
RHIMES: I have no idea.
Really?
RHIMES: Really.
Talk to me about the decision to have Alex call out for Izzie after he was shot.
RHIMES: I really wanted to find a way to deal with how much Alex is missing Izzie. And it felt really poignant to me that if he was lying on a table dying he’d be calling for her.
Lexie confessed her love for Alex, but some fans aren’t buying it. She didn’t really make a decision between Alex and Mark in that moment, did she?
RHIMES: I don’t think she could have possibly made a decision in that moment. The thing I think is interesting is that Alex definitely made his decision. So I don’t necessarily know that there’s a triangle there. When Alex called for Izzie — when in your hour of need you’re calling for another woman — I think he made his decision. So I don’t think there’s a triangle.
In other words, hope is very much alive for Mark and Lexie?
RHIMES: Yes, there’s definitely hope.
You previously teased this episode as a game-changer. How has the game been changed?
RHIMES: Here’s why I said that: When you face a situation like this — when the entire hospital has turned into a crime scene — everyone you know has faced life or death. It’s an incredibly traumatic event. Everything you knew, believed, felt, and required of the characters in terms of what their stories have been or what you believed about them no longer exists. Part of what’s interesting about next season is that we can start anywhere — in any emotional state — and almost anything can happen because we just came out of this. It’s not like tomorrow they come back being the exact same characters. They’re all sort of fundamentally changed.
Phew! Maybe this is the start of bigger and better storylines for Grey's next season.
Maybe that will be enough to get Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo to stay.
Honestly, if they got material like that every week, why would they leave???
Tags: greys anatomy, season finale, shonda rhimes, spoilers
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I have to say it was one excellent season finale that is absolutely true. Loved it. It was sad how many people died, but at least not any of my favorite characters. I think it was a lovely job and that people will win Emmy awards. I hope so anyway.
Fire Ellen Pompeo, shes a self observed, ugly, whiny loser who doesnt seem qualified to save a life. All she does is bitch about her life and her crap
omg this was an AMAZING episode. i was on the edge of my seat the whole time. cringing, crying, not so much laughing because it was a very emotinal episode. but it totally ROCKED!! good writing like this all the time would be great.
Much of Season 6 was very poor though - I can see next Season being the last if it follows that trend.
Hmmmm, not really caring. Thought I would but, nah. I stopped watching this show like 2 season ago. And from the description of the last episode, I'm glad I did. Oh well. My time with Grey's is up. No biggie. Enjoy folks.
I've never seen this show, but "St. Elsewhere" had two great "carnage in the hospital" episodes, the first with that horrible rapist Peter White and then the one where poor Lucy was stabbed and lying under bed looking at poor Dr. Wylie (also stabbed). Lucy didn't make it and that was the end of Kellie Martin.
I still can not get over last night's finale.
This show should make like Meredith's baby and get aborted.
Oh that was in horrible taste, I know I'm gonna get hate for that.
Re: contrarianchick – Wow, that wasn't st elsewhere moron, it was ER.
gawd im just freaking praying that mer and der stay happy instead of going back in their dark and twisty phase again …i dont like that!
on another note seriously one of the best episodes ever! it was kinda like the code black episode!
Re: missything –
I'm in the same boat as you…..I personally stopped watching after that whole thing where Meredith ( sort of?) drowned and then (sort of?) came back to life and the ghost… just couldn't watch it anymore
Great fuck!ng episode…if Sandrah Oh, the lady who plays Bailey, and the shooter dude from West Wing don't get Emmy nods, I'll be very suprised.
LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT!
reeds death traumatized me!!!!!i seriously have never seen something so gory on TV
Re: ashiiiex – agreed
I had banned this show for years. I hated how they handled the entired Isiah and Knight situation. But, there was nothing on last night so, I had it on and it totally blew me away. At one point I was like this is too much. I wanted to turn it off but I just couldn't. That a great finale eps.
I thought this season of Grey's was good, not great. But this season finale was the best finale I have ever seen. It was incredible. It felt like I was watching a movie. I was on the edge of my seat and had my heart thumping out of my chest the entire time. All while in tears like five different times during the two hours. Incredible writing, acting and all around execution. I really want to watch it again, so I hope ABC shows a repeat soon.
I was only 15 minutes in and I had to pause and take a break. It was very overwhelming. I don't know how I was able to finish watching it but I was drenched in tears my the time it was over. I must say it's one of the most shocking season finales I've ever seen. I think too many people got shot though, and the part where Percy wanted Bailey to tell Reed he loved her was so heart wrenching…….
Re: missything – I stopped after season 2 too, but watched this, and glad I did. It was great television.
Just started watching during the last 2 seasons but I think I've seen all episodes now. That was amazing! I was okay w/ the deaths (b/c no majorly loved character was offed) and the miscarriage b/c it was part of all the drama that made this episode so intense. She can have another baby. I knew Owen was going to be shot before I saw the episode, but I was still super shocked when the gunman was in the OR! Great suspense and twists the whole episode. I agree, Grey's has been blah lately w/ all the Mercy Westers (a non-issue now), and the lack of stories revolving around Mer (b/c of Ellen's baby)…. but this made up for the season. I see an Avery/Christina hook up next season.
Just watched it on ABC.com (love this feature because my DVR is so full on Thurs nights)….anyway my favorite par is where Bailey is trying to save Charlie and she says to the patient where's the water coming from and the patient tells Bailey, "You're crying". That seemed so real to me. I think that came from a personal experience and was incorporated into the story line…
Shonda Rhimes thanks for the awesome story line. I was on the edge of my seat at times. To all the cast and crew, that was a job well done. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to next season.
Without question the best episode of the series. But I would like to also thank Shonda Rhimes for NOT leaving us with a cliffhanger on Grey's or Private Practice. Honestly, those season ending "what happened" episodes are enough to make me stop watching a show.
Re: contrarianchick –
Lucy was stabbed in an episode of ER, not St. Elsewhere.
Great finale. Too bad they didn't kill April, she gets on my nerves really badly. I cheered when Reed was shot.
i agree with whoever said they are happy it didn't end with a cliffhanger. this episode was amazing. hope to see more like it.
Wow I've been complaining about the show for a while now and justly so, but the episode was AMAZING. My friend forced me to watch it with her and was very happy I did. Keep it up next season Shonda! Because like Perez or not, he's right and the show will not survive without Derek and Meredith.
I hated that Isaiah Washington was taken off the show and disliked Katherine Heigl greatly for going on and on about him when the other cast members moved on (but that's a whole other story)..and last sesason was pretty damn ho-hum, but I watched this sesason if only for Avery, sweet, sweet Avery…ususally I like my black men like my coffee, but he's irrestible…but I digress…..
This season redeemed itself and this finale was one for the history books. The first fatality made me gasp, and I was hooked for the next 90 minutes.
Well done Shonda, and may I add, as a woman of colour, I applaud your strong, even when flawed, black characters on your show, and this includes Isaiah Washington. Thank You.
Re: contrarianchick – I think you are talking about E.R.?
Best Episode in a loooonngggg time, I loved it, very emotional but great TV