Grey's Anatomy is trying to outlive ER as the longest running medical drama on television, but as the seasons go on, it looks less and less likely that that's going to happen.
Series regulars have been exiting the show year after year, and the plot lines are becoming repetitive and boring. When the show first started, it was about the lives of medical interns just trying to make it as surgeons. We fell more and more in love with the characters as they dealt with every possible tragedy known to man. From bombs, to boat crashes, to drowning, to cancer, to active shooter, to car accidents, we were there for it all.
As time went on, our favorite characters either left the show or were killed off. Here's a list of the most traumatizing exits:
- George O'Malley: killed after being hit by a bus to save a stranger
- Mark Sloan: died after slipping into a coma after being in a plane crash
- Reed Adamson and Charles Percy: shot by an active shooter in the hospital
- Henry Burton: dies after Christina performs surgery on him but it doesn't work
- Izzie Stevens: left after her cancer beat cancer but wanted a fresh start
- Lexi Grey: died in the same plane crash that killed Sloan
- Derek Shepherd: killed in a car accident after stopping to save people on the road.
- Preston Burke: left Christina Yang at the altar and never came back
- Christina Yang: left because Seattle Grace was a legitimate disaster-pit
- Addison Montgomery: left to pursue her own practice
- Denny Duquette: died even though Izzie tried to save him
- Stephanie Edwards: set the hospital on fire and left to recover from her burns.
- Nathan Riggs: left to be with the love of his life
But if fans thought they were going to get a reprieve from their favorite characters leaving, they were wrong.
Today, on International Women's Day, Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes confirmed that Jessica Capshaw, who plays Arizona Robbins, and Sarah Drew, who plays April Kepner, will be leaving the show.
"It's always hard for me to say goodbye to any of my characters," Rhimes says of the fan-favorite characters. "Both Arizona Robbins and April Kepner are not only beloved but iconic "” both the LBGTQ and devout Christian communities are underrepresented on TV. I will be forever grateful to both Jessica and Sarah for bringing these characters to life with such vibrant performance and for inspiring women around the globe. They will always be a part of our Shondaland family."
But it seems that Drew wasn't on board with the decision to write off her character.
"Thank you for all of the love," she wrote. "I know you're sad. I'm sad too. I haven't really had the time to process this information. I've been with it for less than 48 hours, so I'm not ready to say my thank yous and give an all encompassing statement about my 9 years here. That will come later. For now, I'd like to say: I love you, and I love April, and her story isn't over yet."
"And the really good news (for me, at least) is that I'm here on set shadowing one of my favorite people, Kevin McKidd, with my beloved Grey's family all this week and next," she continued. "So I get to process all of my feelings surrounded by the community that has nourished and nurtured me for almost a decade. For that, I am grateful."
Capshaw also posted a message to her fans.
"For the past 10 years, I have had the rare privilege of not only playing Arizona Robbins, but also being madly in love with playing her," she said. "Arizona Robbins is kind, intelligent, funny, insightful, bold, playful, fierce and really good at her job. She was one of the first members of the LGBTQ community to be represented in a series regular role on network television. Her impact on the world is permanent and forever. Forever."
"I am grateful that I have gotten to bring her to life and for the life that she has brought to me," she continued. "I am sad to see her go, but I am consoled by the idea that she will continue to live on and on in all of our consciences and our imaginations. Shonda, thank you for the ride on this incredible roller coaster. With a heart full of love, Jessica."
I know that I'll be sad to see both these characters go. What about you?