‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Fans Raging Over Lackluster Exit for Meredith Grey: “Whoever Wrote It Deserves Jail Time”

By Maddy Casale @madhoops
Published Feb. 24, 2023, 2:17 p.m. ET

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Ellen Pompeo

Last night was Ellen Pompeo‘s final episode as series regular Meredith Grey on hit ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, and fans have had a lot to say about her big send-off… or lack thereof. 

After starring as the titular Dr. Grey since the show premiered in 2005, Pompeo was ready to hang up the white coat once and for all. Many viewers expected an epic farewell to the character after all she has been through on the show, but were left wanting more following the conclusion of last night’s episode, which was titled “I’ll Follow the Sun.” 

The episode chronicles Meredith’s last day at Grey Sloan, where her coworkers plot a goodbye surprise for her while surgeon Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) questions her about their future, per ABC’s logline.

The episode follows Meredith right before she and her children move from Seattle to Boston. Meredith’s move is causing friction in her romantic relationship Nick, especially since she made the decision to move without telling him first. 

Meredith’s farewell occurred without any special guest cameos fans may have been hoping for, like her Twisted Sister Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) flying over from Switzerland, or even from husband Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) visiting her from beyond the grave via flashback or dream sequence. 

Of the underwhelming conclusion to this beloved character’s story, one viewer tweeted, “Last tweet of the night but all I’m saying is, Meredith Grey did not survive a bomb, drowning, a gunman, a plane crash, a burned down house, a dead husband, a dead sister, two dead parents, a bunch of dead friends, for it to end like THAT.” 

And that was just scraping the surface. Predictably, there was a whole range of reactions to Meredith Grey’s final Grey’s Anatomy episode. Here are just a few:

Ultimately, while Meredith’s send-off left many viewers disappointed, we’ll always remember her character fondly and appreciate her hard work over the seasons. We’ll miss you, Meredith Grey!

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC. If you missed Meredith’s sendoff last night, you can now watch the episode on the ABC website with a valid cable login, or on Hulu, where episodes air the next day.