More Than 400 Episodes And 19 Seasons Later: The Namesake Of "Grey’s Anatomy" Has Moved On

After 18 years, the midseason premiere of Grey’s Anatomy’s 19th season marked the end of Ellen Pompeo’s time at Grey Sloan Memorial. In the show stretching to nearly two decades on air, fans have frequently had to frequently say goodbye to major fan-favorite characters. Yet there has never been a character as iconic as Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo since 2005.

19 seasons later, Grey’s Anatomy remains a major hit as ABC’s most watched show. It is TV’s longest-running prime-time medical drama in history and tied as the sixth-longest-running primetime show ever. It has enjoyed a loyal following with new fans discovering it each year.

Pompeo previously announced that she would scale back before the season aired, only appearing in eight episodes. However, the revelation that she would be finally departing the show didn’t come until November. In her Instagram post, Pompeo said, “I am eternally grateful and humbled by the love and support you have all shown me, Meredith GREY and the show for 19 seasons! This isn’t your first time on the rollercoaster… you know the show must go on and I’ll definitely be back to visit.” 

Pompeo has been vocal about her desire to leave Grey’s Anatomy for some time now, and Shonda Rhimes, the creator of the show, has always stated that Grey’s Anatomy would not continue without Meredith Grey. With Pompeo’s exit as a series regular, Chandra Wilson’s Dr. Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr.’s Dr. Richard Webber, and scrub nurse Bokhee are the only three remaining characters from the 2005 original cast. Pompeo’s farewell episode “I’ll Follow the Sun” is a delightful callback to the departure of fan-favorite character Christina Yang.

Though fans may be disappointed by the star’s exit, there is no need to fret. Pompeo will remain an executive producer, appear in the season finale, and provide voice overs for future episodes. Meredith’s farewell episode left the door open for her storyline to continue and return to Seattle for a possible 20th season and Pompeo’s Instagram post teases future visits to Grey Sloan Memorial. 

by ATREYI BASU