Gray’s Anatomy has beat all the percentages.
Premiering as a midseason alternative in 2005, it was poised to face an uphill battle for viewership, however lightning struck upon its launch.
Launching the identical season as Misplaced and Determined Housewives, it grew to become ABC’s third massive hit in so many months, one thing that hardly ever occurs.
With Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 on the air, the sequence nonetheless packs a punch in each the scores and the storytelling division.
However there’s an air of secrecy surrounding whether or not the sequence will proceed past this season, and we’re beginning to get the sense that we’re in the midst of the ultimate season.
From behind the scenes developments to the way in which storylines are taking part in out, this might most likely be essentially the most pure approach to finish the present.
Under we have rounded up the proof that implies the present is coming to an in depth quickly.
Meredith Sees Lifeless Individuals
When you watch Grey’s Anatomy online, you understand the sequence has killed off a string of massive characters.
The primary 4 episodes of the season featured the really surprising returns of Patrick Dempsey and T.R. Knight as Derek and George, respectively.
On condition that Knight exited the present in 2009, this was an enormous improvement.
It is definitely potential the actor was instructed that is the endgame, and if he needs to return for a brief stint to say a full and closing goodbye, he ought to.
Dempsey, then again, reportedly did not go away the sequence on the most effective of phrases, however the followers have yearned for his return ever since.
Bringing him again and having him pop up all through the season is definitely a wild improvement. What if Meredith, god forbid, dies, and we see her strolling off into the sundown with McDreamy?
The seashore setting is an efficient plot system to assist Mer come to phrases with issues which have occurred, and it concurrently provides viewers some closure.
We all know Meredith has COVID-19, however her vitals confirmed main indicators of enchancment on Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 Episode 5.
We additionally know that the seashore setting could be entered by dwelling characters, as evidenced by the way in which Bailey lastly instructed Mer about her mom’s situation.
Even when Meredith absolutely recovers, the seashore may pop again up as a way of coping for the workers members on the hospital struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ellen Pompeo Stated This May very well be the Ultimate Season
The sequence has been a staple on ABC’s schedule for thus lengthy, however Pompeo lately stated the next in an interview with Selection:
“We don’t know when the present is absolutely ending but,” Pompeo stated. “However the reality is, this yr might be it.”
That is in stark distinction to then-ABC president Karey Burke saying earlier this yr that the community needs to maintain the present round “for so long as [Grey’s Anatomy producers] are keen on making extra episodes.”
All of which brings us to our subsequent level:
Ellen Pompeo’s Contract Runs Out This Season
Shonda Rhimes has been vocal about wrapping up Gray’s Anatomy when Pompeo is able to scrub out of the beloved sequence.
“Ellen and I’ve a pact that I’m going to do the present so long as she’s going to do the present,” the creator told E! News.
“So the present will exist so long as each of us need to do it. If she needs to cease, we’re stopping. So I don’t know if we’ll see 600 [episodes], however I need to preserve it feeling recent.”
“So long as there are recent tales to inform and so long as we’re each excited in regards to the tales being instructed, we’re in. So, we’ll see the place that takes us.”
Ellen performs the principle character, and whereas a case might be made for preserving the present round with out her, the reality is that a variety of longtime followers could use her exit to say goodbye to the present.
Extra worrying is that Pompeo has not expressed any indication that she is going to renew her contract, stating the next:
“That is the final yr of my contract proper now. I don’t know that that is the final yr. Nevertheless it may very effectively might be,” she told Variety.
“, I’m simply weighing out creatively, what can we do?” Pompeo instructed Selection.
“I’m actually, actually, actually enthusiastic about this season, and that’s all I can say about that. And it’s most likely going to be one in all our greatest seasons ever. And I do know that sounds nuts to say, but it surely’s actually true.”
This Star is “Assured” the Present is Ending
Giacomo Gianniotti, who performs DeLuca, opened up about the end of the show ahead of Season 17.
“In the mean time, we’ve yet one more season locked in and I really feel fairly assured that that’s the place it’ll finish, I believe, from the conversations that I’ve had with folks,” Giannotti candidly shared with Us Weekly in March.
He did, nevertheless, say that the present has a components that might be tailored to proceed telling the tales.
“Now we have a components that’s actually clear. We’re a present that does a variety of political commentary. We’ve received actual points and there’s no scarcity of points developing that must be talked about,” Giannotti instructed the outlet.
“So so far as the writers are involved, they might write it eternally as a result of there’s not sufficient small folks on the earth who don’t have an enormous voice that want a megaphone. We supplied that yr in and yr out.”
Station 19 May Proceed the Franchise
When Station 19 was ordered, many followers questioned whether or not followers would heat as much as one other spinoff of the sequence.
Now in its fourth season, the firefighter-focused spinoff takes half in an prolonged universe with the mother or father sequence and recurrently options characters from the mother or father sequence.
Whereas the scores haven’t been as sizzling as Gray’s Anatomy, the newest season is ABC’s #2 scripted sequence, so it isn’t onerous to consider it may proceed the franchise.
Okay, Gray’s Anatomy Fanatics.
What are your ideas on the endgame of the present? Do you suppose we might be watching the ultimate season now?
Hit the feedback beneath.
Gray’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.
Paul Dailly is the Affiliate Editor for TV Fanatic. Observe him on Twitter.