“There’s actually no good technique to say goodbye.”
And with these closing phrases, Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 Episode 16, which served because the Alex Karev sendoff, ended. And you understand what? The phrases could not have been more true.
The very fact of the matter is the Gray’s fandom is likely one of the most passionate in historical past, and there was no manner they might appease everybody.
Alex Karev is each bit as ingratiated within the cloth of this collection as Meredith Gray herself. Given the circumstances, there was no manner of writing out his character that might do him justice.
It felt as if, wanting killing him off, nothing they did would maintain him according to his character and uphold the last decade and a half value of growth.
Alex Karev deserted everybody and all the things in Seattle for a life with Izzie and his youngsters in Kansas.
The excellent news right here is that Alex received a contented ending. He is with the love of his life (sorry, Jolex followers, apparently, that is Izzie and all the time has been), and he has a household of his personal.
He will get to be a dad, one not like his personal, and he will get to quiet down on a farm in Kansas and possibly develop into chief at a hospital there too.
I left, and I am with Izzie.
Alex
Alex Karev will get a fortunately ever after.
And we can be grateful that Justin Chambers offered voiceovers because the three most particular folks in his life (exterior of his new household) learn the letters he despatched them.
We could not see a present model of him; as a substitute, we received a stand-in writing and tending to youngsters, however we a minimum of received to listen to him one final time.
Alex Karev left his spouse and his associates/household of 15 years a “Expensive John” letter. He a minimum of will get kudos for handwriting them. Nobody does that anymore, and it is a misplaced artwork.
I am not coming dwelling Jo, I would not be capable to look you within the eye and stroll away.
Alex
It added a sentimental contact to all the things greater than anything.
Sadly, a few of our worst fears are true. Alex’s actions felt like a severe regression, and it was troublesome to simply accept how all the things performed out.
It is also reignited the final annoyance with Meredith and her rallying towards the system storyline. It was by her courtroom proceedings and authorized troubles that Alex determined to succeed in out to Izzie, whom he hasn’t spoken to in a decade.
He wished to get character references from her, however he confessed that greater than something, he wished to listen to her voice once more and know that she was OK.
Once I requested you to marry me, I meant it. Once I instructed you, “I really like you” I meant it.
Alex
The flame he held for Izzie by no means extinguished and never even his love for Jo and his marriage may examine to it in the long run.
And bless his coronary heart, Alex tried to stumble and motive his manner by why he left everybody the best way that he did and by no means appeared again. However irrespective of how heartfelt and tear-inducing a number of the letters had been, it did not match up with what we have now identified in all of those years.
The letter studying hierarchy performed out as anticipated. You’ll count on Jo to go first if this was another collection, however for Gray’s, they needed to begin with Meredith.
Sadly, it misplaced one thing out of the gate due to all the things main as much as this second. Meredith and Alex spent almost the whole season aside. They have not spoken to one another a lot in any respect.
You all the time stated Cristina was your individual, then I used to be your individual, however you’ve got all the time been your individual rattling individual. A pressure of freakin’ nature. You’ve got by no means wanted anybody however you.
Alex
However extra importantly, so far as we all know, Meredith did not even know he was lacking till just lately. She hadn’t seen that her greatest buddy was gone till Jo pointed it out to her when a self-absorbed Meredith went to their residence to debate her present from Cristina.
She hasn’t been round whereas Jo started to fret concerning the whereabouts of her husband. She despatched and referred to at least one textual content message searching for him, what, throughout Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 Episode 14?
Meredith has been up to now faraway from the lacking Alex storyline, and earlier than that, she hasn’t a lot as visited him at Pac-North. Alex’s closing season had a startling lack of Merlex, so the ultimate goodbye was even bitterer.
And nonetheless, it was about Meredith. She had essentially the most private envelope — he used “evil spawn” when he left it to her. He then went on to debate how superb she is.
You had been all the time the one to set me straight. To level out once I was being an ass. And when that did not work, you’d flop on my mattress and say the one good factor to make it work. However the factor is, I can not come again. I can not face you.
Alex
As her more moderen individual, he left her along with his rendition of Cristina’s Solar speech by reminding her that she is her personal individual, and possibly if the season did not spend a nauseating period of time kissing Meredith’s ass greater than regular, it would not have been as irksome.
He shared along with her the information that he has kids now. Izzie used the embryos they froze, and she or he had twins — a boy and a woman.
And now he will get to be a father to them, and if he has moments of doubt, he can take into consideration how unbelievable of a mom Meredith is, and might somebody gag me with a spoon?
Sorry. Nonetheless, the collection of flashbacks between the 2 of them was touching, and it is the final of MAGIC. It is gone, poof, not one of the friendships stay on the collection, and that is miserable.
There’s actually no good technique to say goodbye.
Mer
And it is also unhappy that he did not get to say goodbye to the children, or Amelia and Maggie, who had been necessary to him, too. They had been his household; all of them lived collectively and operated as a household for a while.
No, they don’t seem to be as pivotal because the 4 folks they targeted on, but it surely hurts all the identical. Possibly we’ll hear extra about their reactions later, however as a substitute, we’ll most likely find yourself waist-deep in baby-daddy drama.
It hit dwelling more durable when Zola was excited to point out her uncle Alex her college undertaking, and Mer needed to clarify to her that he left and located another youngsters to like now.
However possibly someday Aunt Mer and her brood of youngsters will go to Kansas to go to Alex’s twins, and the play-cousins may have a ball driving horses and taking part in with chickens whereas Izzie bakes.
Oh, I really like them, Mer. With each inch of me, and each cell. And I get to be their dad.
Alex
Oh, the Izzie of all of it. She and Alex had an extended, sophisticated historical past, however she left him. Izzie took off with solely a letter explaining herself, so it is shitty that Alex did the identical factor.
Alex, who has spent years resenting folks for abandoning him circled and left these he loves. It is a wrestle to wrap one’s head round it.
And the secrets and techniques youngsters angle stings too. Sure, he instructed Izzie to do what she happy with the embryos when he despatched them to her, however wasn’t it value a telephone name?
She had his kids 5 to 6 years in the past, and she or he simply by no means instructed him? He would have by no means came upon he had youngsters of his personal had he not known as her to save lots of Meredith’s ass.
I wished to know if she was alive and nicely. I wished to listen to her voice.
Alex
She would not have talked about it had he not heard youngsters within the background and commented on them. And by some means, he wasn’t indignant or aggravated by any of that. He brushed previous all of it, and he hopped a aircraft and fell into “dad” mode and determined that Izzie is who he needs to be with for the remainder of his life.
It is one thing that makes this growth infuriating. If we’re prepared to simply accept that Alex has been in love with Izzie all of those years, and her having his kids is a game-changer that made him hand over his life for a brand new one, fantastic.
However, we’re not alleged to detest him for the way he selected to do it? He came upon he had kids by Izzie, and as a substitute of telling Jo up entrance, he lied and stated he was going to deal with his mother.
He used his sick mom as some alibi and went from giving Jo brief solutions to not responding to her in any respect. He knew by then he had deserted his spouse and life, and he did not have the decency to inform her something?
I hope you come to satisfy my youngsters. They usually get to name you Auntie Mer. Since you’ll love them, they usually’ll love you.
Alex
Alex, who’s a straight-shooter, the man who tells it like it’s whether or not you prefer it or not received tongue-tied and determined to not say something?
Alex ghosted Jo and everybody else. It is already a disservice that it took so lengthy for anybody to concentrate to his absence. Jo most likely ought to’ve contacted his mom ages in the past.
And whereas we’re on the subject, how lengthy was he gone? It feels like he is been away for on the very least a month!
It is insanity that when she received radio silence, Jo did not leap on a aircraft or begin calling round to hospitals or one thing assuming the worst.
If I say anymore on this letter, there may be going to be emotions far and wide. I am simply writing to say goodbye, and thanks. I really like you, Dr. Bailey. Dr. Alex Karev.
Alex
He was off taking part in home with Izzie and his kids, and he needed to spend an astronomical period of time working up the nerve to inform folks the reality.
Then he did so, and it was by way of letters, most of which had been basically the very same.
It is humorous, poor Jolex followers thought they had been going to get a child this season, and little did we all know, one half of the ship go to have kids.
I am not even a Jo nor Jolex fan, and I am offended in your behalf, you guys. I am so sorry.
I hope you’ve gotten a very good life, Jo. I hope you discover somebody higher than me. Thanks. Sorry.
Alex
However on that observe, one other unlucky impact of how this performed out is we are able to now count on “Woe is Jo” hours, and it has been irritating sufficient that a lot of Alex’s storylines in the previous few seasons have been taking part in second to Jo.
Shoutout to Hyperlink, who slid the letter to her and was ready for her to complete studying it, so he may provide day consuming and help.
Hyperlink is the perfect, even when his inspiring, “you are my hero” was eye-roll worthy.
However Jo has motive to be pissed. Alex has spent years telling her that he’ll by no means go away her and the way a lot he loves her. He stood by her aspect by all the things and promised to not bail.
Jo: Okay. Whiskey tonight. Proper now’s for working.
Hyperlink: You are my hero.
Jo: Mine too.
He is reassured her that she’s worthy and that she got here first, after which he left her in the long run. The flashbacks to him telling her about Izzie had been all of the extra painful now.
However nothing in comparison with him spending half of his letter to her telling her how completely happy he’s with Izzie and his youngsters. If you are going to write a “Expensive Jo,” then present some extra rattling regret and go away the happiness out of it.
He shattered her world, and regardless of a couple of feedback about how a lot he loves her too (not sufficient) or how he would’ve stayed along with her if not for the children (smells like obligation and settling, gee thanks), it felt somewhat impersonal.
It additionally had him satisfied that she would perceive as a fellow foster child the significance of youngsters having each dad and mom of their lives, however did he say that f**king sh*t to Izzie who left them fatherless for six years, or no?
I missed my probability to observe my very own baby develop into an grownup, and I’d give something to have these years with Maggie.
Richard
He prematurely took without any consideration that Jo would perceive on some stage, and that is simply bullcrap and gross. And that is how they ruined Alex Karev after 15 and a half seasons.
Paradoxically, Bailey and Richard’s moments had been essentially the most heartfelt, they usually had been those that made me neglect that I used to be fuming.
Alex’s letter to Bailey was essentially the most emotional of all of them, and Bailey’s response to it whereas studying was priceless.
They’ve all the time had a novel and particular bond. He was one in every of her downside kids, however they turned one another’s household. He would not have been capable of face her both, and he credit her for making him the superb surgeon that he’s.
It is a matter of luck, of grace, that Alex Karev is who he’s as we speak.
Bailey
He admits he is nonetheless not the perfect individual, however he is a rattling good physician, and he is not incorrect. Through Bailey’s letter and flashbacks, they lined his relationship with Arizona too.
They could not do a sendoff with out acknowledging that bond as nicely.
And whereas Bailey was torn up about one other one in every of her infants leaving the nest, unbeknownst to her, she utilized the scenario to Joey.
Alex had a tough life, however he made one thing of himself, so she knew Ben could not be upset along with her about her resolution if he thought of that.
Congratulations Miranda. It is a boy. It is a teenage boy.
Ben
It seems Ben was perturbed by Bailey making a spontaneous resolution that affected their household with out chatting with him.
However then Bailey reminded him that he modifies jobs like he modifies sweaters, and he’s the final to be upset by this. Benley is cute, and it was a second that made you smile. It is comprehensible how Bailey may draw these parallels between Alex and Joey.
Richard was so pissed off he needed to go to a gathering, and he spent his time there speaking about Alex and lamenting his resolution.
He felt like Alex was making a mistake, and greater than something, he was devastated that Alex did not even say goodbye to him.
Alex Karev is not coming again. Left his spouse, his associates, his job. Alex Karev is a father of two now.
Bailey
He knew what it was prefer to be in love with greater than as soon as individual, and he did not need Alex making the errors he did.
Nevertheless, he may additionally perceive Alex’s impulse to be there for his kids. If he had identified about Maggie years in the past, he would’ve executed the identical.
Richard had essentially the most emotional speech, delivered in that manner solely James Pickens Jr can do. By the point he received to “every one, educate one,” it was sufficient to have you ever dabbing your eyes and briefly ignoring the clusterf*ck that was this sendoff.
If not for Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr, and a number of the nostalgia one confronted with a few of these flashbacks, the hour would’ve been an excessive amount of to bear.
There’s actually no good technique to say goodbye.
Many people feared that irrespective of how they wrote Alex out, it will really feel out of character or wreck his arc and progress, and actually, it did.
His youngsters are cute, although. And it feels like he is completely happy. You understand, even when nobody else is. Do you, Karev.
Over to you, Gray’s Fanatics. How did you are feeling about this sendoff? Hit the feedback under together with your response.
For those who miss Alex already, you relive his glory days once you watch Grey’s Anatomy online right here by way of TV Fanatic.
Jasmine Blu is a senior employees author for TV Fanatic. Comply with her on Twitter.