‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Never Should’ve Killed Off Lexie

The big picture

• Killing Lexie Gray
  Grey's Anatomy
  it was a tragic and brutal choice that still resonates with fans.
• Lexie's character had more to offer, and her death cut off future opportunities for her return.
• Other characters have left the show but returned later, and Lexie deserved the same chance for an encore.

In addition to being known as the longest-running American medical drama, Grey's Anatomy it is also characterized by the carousel of characters who have come and gone. It's no surprise, with such a large cast and with the show for almost 20 years. A common narrative device: courtesy of the creator Shonda Rhimes and crew—managing behind-the-scenes drama for actors and contract expirations has proven controversial but effective—kill them. One that still hurts and should have been handled differently at the time was the death of Chyler Leighit's Lexie Grey.

Introduced at the end of Season 3, Lexie was Meredith's (Ellen Pompeo) half sister. Yes, family twists are one too Grey's Anatomybasics, and Lexie was one of the first. For five seasons, we learned who she was, and she eventually became a fan favorite. When Leigh's contract expired, she opted out of the show, seeking to spend more time with her family. There was no foul play involved as both she and Rhimes concocted what ultimately became their tragic ending. However, in retrospect, Leigh's exit should have been executed in a way that would have allowed her to reprise her role as Lexie..

Lexie's death at the end of “Grey's Anatomy” season 8 was brutal and tragic

While season 8 is considered one of the best Grey's Anatomy, its ending proves to be a bit more divisive. In “Flight,” half of Seattle Grace's doctors, who were headed to Boise to assist in surgery, are stranded in the woods after their plane crashes. A Lost-as the sequence reveals how hurt they all are, though the one in the worst condition turns out to be Lexie, the lower part of the body is crushed by the plane wreckage. Signal (Eric Dane), who at this point is totally devoted to Lexie, stands by her side at all times. The most heartbreaking goodbye takes place as they visualize the life they could (and should) have had together.

In addition to being unexpected, Lexie's death was brutal. Seeing her as the first casualty of the accident made the episode a tragic experience. An inconsolable Meredith shows her pain throughout the episode, and not even Cristina (Sandra Oh) can calm him down. The The devastation only increases when Mark succumbs to his internal injuries and also dies in the Season 9 premiere. To make matters worse, Cristina shares horrifying details when going through a PTSD episode about how the wolves in the woods didn't eat her or the others because they were busy eating Lexie.

Lexie Gray Deserved More on 'Grey's Anatomy'

At first seeming like a simple obstacle on Meredith's path to emotional stability, Lexie turned out to be so much more, and she still had more to give. Grey's Anatomy. she a wholesome upbringing collides with Meredith's darker nature. They finally make peace and their relationship evolves into a true brotherhood. Lexie's dazzling essence also affects Mark in such a way that he decides to leave his womanizing era behind and take charge of his actions. By Season 8, their on-again, off-again relationship had reached a common ground where they could finally plan for a stable future together.

While she humanizes Mark and Meredith, Lexie isn't just a plot device. He becomes his own character growing personally and professionally. Going through a shooting (in one of the best episodes of the series), the resulting PTSD disorder and the death of her father end up building her up instead of tearing her down. He matures with the blows that life gives him, but still he remains the kindest and brightest soul the hospital has ever seen. Her skills, such as her photographic memory, prove extremely useful and earn her a promotion as a surgical resident. These were just the first steps in seeing her grow and thrive as a surgeon. If Lexie had survived, it would have been totally understandable for her to leave Seattle Grace after Mark's death, and the door would still be open for future appearances.

Lexie's death ruined any future opportunities to bring the character back

ok yes Lexie returned during Season 17, while Meredith was in her COVID-19-induced limbo between life and death. Lexie gives her sister some of the strongest advice when she reminds her that even with a global pandemic, it's still worth celebrating. This is one of the biggest kisses we get to see on Meredith's beach, but it's still just a ghostly apparition fueled by Meredith's sick mood. Had Lexie been alive, her return to Seattle to care for Meredith and her recovery would have had a greater impact.

Chyler Leigh's reasons for leaving the show are understandable, but killing off Lexie removed any chance of bringing her back into the mix. Plush (Kim Raver), Addison (Kate Walsh), and Jackson (Jesse Williams) are just a few of the characters who have left the show but become intertwined with the story in later seasons, with their well-deserved and heartfelt returns. Raver's Teddy even became a series regular again after a six-season absence (and may have outstayed its welcome). Lexie deserved such an encore. With Pompeo no longer starring in the show, Zola (Aniela Gumbs) education has been accelerated to apparently fit her as a Doogie Howser type who can still go by the name Grey. In a yes situation, having Lexie come back would have been the best way to get around the fact that the show still has a name Grey's Anatomy.

More than a show, Grey's Anatomy it quickly became a rollercoaster of emotions. Each season finale became a full event that had the burden of delivering something more powerful and emotional than the season before, while making creative decisions that fit the decisions of its actors. Since Lexie had already established herself as one of them Grey's Anatomyessential, his death made sense as a blow that would devastate the fanbase, but also keep the show on everyone's mind – and it worked. Here we are 12 years later talking about the twist! with Grey's Anatomy currently airing its 20th season and having been renewed for a 21st, it's clear that the formula of killing off beloved characters isn't going anywhere. We'll just have to wait and see who's next, hoping our hearts don't get broken once again.

Grey's Anatomy is available to stream on Netflix in the US. Season 20 is currently airing on ABC and will return on May 2.

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