"Grey's Anatomy" Said Goodbye To Ellen Pompeo As A Series Regular, So Here's What Happened In Her "Farewell" Episode
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🚨 There are obviously MASSIVE spoilers ahead for Grey's Anatomy Season 19! 🚨
Grey's Anatomy is currently airing Season 19 (yes, NINETEEN), and there have been some big changes this season. For starters, we welcomed another new class of interns, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) became chief of Grey Sloan, and much more.
But the biggest change overall is that Ellen Pompeo has departed the show as a series regular after 407 episodes. In 2022, she revealed that she would appear in only eight episodes over the course of Season 19.
So, the most recent episode, titled "I'll Follow the Sun," which was directed by Debbie Allen and written by showrunner Krista Vernoff, featured Meredith leaving Grey Sloan and preparing for her new journey.
In case you need a refresher, Meredith decided to leave Seattle and move to Boston in the midseason finale. After Zola (Aniela Gumbs) was experiencing panic attacks and anxiety, particularly at school, Meredith made the decision to move her family so Zola can attend a more advanced STEM school program.
As for Meredith, she'll be working with Jackson (Jesse Williams), who is now running the Catherine Fox Foundation in Boston, where she can work on researching a cure for Alzheimer's.
That's all to say that Meredith's big farewell to Seattle kind of took place in a pretty standard (and honestly, underwhelming) Grey's Anatomy episode, with her main storyline centering on her and Nick's (Scott Speedman) relationship, namely how he didn't say "I love you" back and how she didn't consult him before deciding to move.
After sadly losing a patient — I can't believe they had Meredith's final patient as a doctor at Grey Sloan die — Meredith confronted Nick about how she wasn't going to wait around for him. She loved him and thought he felt the same way.
The moment gave us a brilliant little nod to Meredith's iconic "Pick me. Choose me. Love me" speech, except this time Meredith decided she wasn't going to "beg" for Nick's love. I love the growth.
Eventually, the other doctors at Grey Sloan surprised Meredith with a little going away party. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Richard (James Pickens Jr.) said some parting words, but I wish there was more emphasis on this trio saying goodbye. And then Meredith left.
Then, Nick tried to call and finally say that he loved Meredith, but she (claimed) she couldn't hear him and HUNG. UP.
And I will just add that one of my favorite parts of this goodbye episode was Meredith, Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), and Maggie (Kelly McCreary) letting the new group of interns stay at Meredith's house after they all moved out. It's back to being an intern house, just like when Meredith, George (T.R Knight), Cristina (Sandra Oh), Alex (Justin Chambers), and Izzie (Katherine Heigl) lived there.
So, Grey's Anatomy really leaves the door open on Meredith's "final" episode for more story. It's important to note that this is Ellen's final episode as a SERIES REGULAR. She is scheduled to be in two more episodes this season and will continue to provide the voiceover for the series.
As you can imagine, many people took to social media to voice their love for Ellen and all of the hard work she's put in as Meredith Grey. Series creator Shonda Rhimes notably shared her gratitude on Instagram:
James Pickens Jr. shared an adorable slideshow of memories with Ellen over the years, with this heartfelt caption:
Kate Walsh posted these adorable Instagram photos thanking her "sister wife" for everything:
And Ellen shared this "mic drop" picture celebrating her whopping 19 seasons on Grey's Anatomy:
And Justin Chambers left this sweet comment:
Of course, fans of Grey's Anatomy are emotional over Ellen's departure and preparing for a world where Grey's lives on without Meredith Grey, but also sharing how this episode was...a tad underwhelming. Here are some of the best reactions to Meredith's farewell as a main cast member:
ellen pompeo's last episode (as a series regular) of grey's anatomy is tomorrow and i keep thinking about this moment from meredith grey — "i've earned the right to leave"
Meredith has come a long way she went from "pick me. choose me. love me" to "i'm not going to beg you to love me"#greys #GreysAnatomy
meredith grey meredith grey2005 2023
Meredith Grey truly is one of a kind ❤️ #GreysAnatomy
Meredith Grey’s job put her through a bomb, a shooting, a plane crash, pregnancy loss, almost drowning, an attack from a patient, losing most of her family, getting COVID, and worst of all, having to be cordial to Alex Karev. Happy last day, Meredith. You’ve earned it.
And so M.A.G.I.C has come to an end #GreysAnatomy
Grey’s Anatomy fans after watching the farewell episode of Meredith Grey. #GreysAnatomy
That’s it? That was the farewell party? 🤨🤨 #GreysAnatomy
Whoever wrote this farewell Ep for Meredith GREY…. I hope your pillow is hot on both sides. This was UNDERWHELMING. #GreysAnatomy
i was really hoping that the grey’s anatomy episode was going to be more about meredith grey’s 19-season journey.. what are your thoughts after watching? #GreysAnatomy
this should have been the end #GreysAnatomy
#GreysAnatomywe could’ve gotten a montage like this for Meredith Grey’s goodbye and y’all gave us that garbage like be so fr rn
#GreysAnatomy SHE'S THE NAME OF THE SHOW. SHE IS THE MEREDITH GREY. SHE DESERVES A BETTER FAREWELL. Thank you Ellen for giving us this beautiful character that has been with us all these years, you gave life to Grey's Anatomy and our own lives. 🤍
SHE WAS WEARING THE DARTMOUTH T SHIRT?@,&?&@; #greysanatomy
meredith grey’s first and last day in seattle #greysanatomy
meredith grey in every episode #GreysAnatomy
