Grey’s Anatomy Creator Admits There’s Still No Ending in Sight
Two decades in, Shonda Rhimes says she still has no plan for Grey’s Anatomy’s final act, but she’s brimming with gratitude for the fans who’ve kept the ABC drama alive.
Grey's Anatomy is 22 seasons deep and Shonda Rhimes still does not know how it ends. Honestly, hard to blame her — most shows do not live long enough to make that a real problem.
Rhimes on the endgame: still up in the air
On NBC's Today show on October 13, the Grey's Anatomy creator looked back at the ABC drama's ridiculous longevity and admitted the finale plan is not set anymore.
"I'd say back around episode 150 I knew how it was gonna end."
That was the plan then. Now? The show outlasted the plan.
"Now we're at 450... I have no idea. I mean, I wasn't sure we'd get past season four or five."
Twenty-two seasons later, even she calls it insane that they are still here.
Whose call is the final chapter?
Rhimes ran the series as showrunner through season eight. At this point, she says the ending is not just her decision anymore — it is bigger than one person.
"I feel like at this point, that decision is not mine as much as it is the fans and our cast."
She is clear on one thing: however it wraps, she wants the tone to be hopeful.
"I want everybody to end in a really positive, great way."
She also thanked the audience for sticking with the show for two decades and still showing up excited and invested. That is the kind of loyalty that keeps a medical soap alive long enough to blow up whatever ending you thought you had 300 episodes ago.
- Where she said it: NBC's Today, October 13
- The old plan: she had an ending in mind around episode 150
- The reality: roughly 450 episodes later, the end is TBD
- Early expectations: she did not think it would get past season 4 or 5
- Her tenure: showrunner through season 8
- Who decides now: a shared call with the cast and the fans
- What she wants: a satisfying, optimistic finale
- Current status: Grey's Anatomy season 22 premiered October 9 on ABC