Grey's Anatomy: 5 Major Character Exits That Felt Like a Slap in the Face
Yes, McDreamy’s was atrocious, but here are 5 more that can hold his beer.
George O’ Malley
George O’Malley did not deserve to die, and he certainly did not deserve the gruesome end he met in Season 6. He had decided to join the United States Army, and his story could have ended with him leaving to serve his country, but instead, he is dragged under a bus after saving a woman's life and left disfigured and completely unrecognizable.
The compassionate, loyal intern that Grey’s fans had grown to love so easily died in hospital shortly after his identity was revealed to fans in a shocking, and unnecessarily cruel twist.
Andrew DeLuca
It’s like Grey’s is trying to tell fans: Don’t be a hero. Derek died being a hero, George died being a hero, and Andrew DeLuca suffered the same fate when he tried to step in and help a patient that he discovered was a victim of sex trafficking. He tried to intervene, and he ended up getting stabbed, and succumbing to his injuries. The bitter cherry on top was that he was suffering from bipolar, which led to his suspicions being dismissed by fellow doctors.
Had he been taken seriously, he may have still been alive. His character was so let down and really deserved more.
Alex Karev
The episode titled “Leave a Light On” had us wanting to turn Grey’s Anatomy off.
Many fans say Alex’s exit would have been better if he had died, but instead, his departure saw him abandon his beloved wife Jo Wilson to reunite with his ex-wife Izzie, who had been raising his twin children. His actions were infuriating and out-of-character, and because the actor who played Karev was unable to shoot any more episodes, the whole twist was revealed to his nearest and dearest through a series of letters that he had written them, which just felt cowardly.
Mark Sloan
Grey’s Anatomy fans had already seen Lexie Grey crushed under debris and heard her being eaten by wolves following the infamous Season 8 plane crash, and then the Grey’s Anatomy writers waited for things to calm and feel normal before killing off Mark Sloan.
He survived the plane crash, and every Grey’s Anatomy had fans believing that McSteamy was on the mend, and then he unexpectedly succumbed to his injuries, and just like that, another favorite character was killed off terribly.
Meredith Grey
She didn’t die, and her character didn’t abandon her loved ones, but for the star of the show, her exit was unbelievably disappointing.
Long-time fans were expecting something amazing for her, after 19 seasons and 400 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, but what they got was an underwhelming sendoff for an iconic character. Honestly, her “Coma Beach” moments felt far more emotional and sentimental, and her exit just couldn’t live up to her character; it didn't even come close.