Before I start I feel that I have to confess something. I only started watching "Grey’s Anatomy" about three years ago (I know, I don’t know what was wrong with me either). I binge-watched seasons one through nine in about a month and fell hard and fast for the medical drama. So even though I was late to the "Grey’s Anatomy" game, I take it very seriously. I talk about the show as if Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and all of its doctors really exist. My friends know never to bring up any controversial storyline of the show (as if that really exists) because I can and will rant about it for hours.
Last year we were hit with the greatest "Grey’s Anatomy" tragedy of all time. I am, of course, talking about the death of Dr. Derek Shepherd. A few words about his death. Throughout the show we have had our favorite characters ripped away from us in many dramatic and improbable ways, like cutting of LVAD wires, shootings, and plane crashes. But how was Derek killed?
Derek—Meredith’s other half, the best doctor on the show, freaking McDreamy—was hit by a truck and not brought to a trauma hospital. He died because he didn’t get a CT scan before surgery. A CT! Every patient that comes on "Grey’s Anatomy" gets a CT—literally every single one. And the worst part was that we had to watch Meredith unplug the love of her life while "Chasing Cars" played in the background. Sorry, I had to get that off my chest. As you can clearly see, I am not even close to over it and I could go on for pages.
Like many others, after this episode aired I felt shocked and betrayed. How could Shonda Rhimes do this to us, her loyal viewers, her fans, some of which had been following the show for 11 years? I was hurt and very, very angry. I read every article, signed every petition, and truly contemplated not watching the show when it came on for the next season. I naively believed that if everyone boycotted the show then they would bring Derek back. Unfortunately, that is not how Hollywood works, and I had to come to terms with the fact that I now lived in a world without Derek Shepherd (I’m not sure who was more heartbroken, me or Meredith).
So when the day came and season 12 aired, I found myself watching it because, quite simply, I couldn’t help myself. I needed to know what was going to happen. I needed to know if Callie and Arizona would ever work it out, if Alex would ever find happiness, and what on earth Meredith would do? I feel so close to all of the characters—how could I just drop them as if they meant nothing? If I did that then I’d be no better than Shonda Rhimes herself.
Sure, any non-"Grey’s Anatomy" fan reading this article will probably think that I have gone insane, and honestly, that may be true. But we fans need to stick together and support our characters, through thick and thin, through every chest tube and impossible surgery, because they really need us as much as we need them. And besides, if I stop watching, how will I be able to learn anything about medicine?
