Grey’s Anatomy can and should get messier without Meredith

polygon.com:

The “Grey” in Grey’s Anatomy officially hung up her scrubs. After 19 seasons, Ellen Pompeo exited the series that shot her to stardom and made her one of the highest-paid TV actresses, where she played the titular “dark and twisty” surgical intern turned Chief of Surgery Meredith Grey. Pompeo’s Meredith has anchored the long-running ABC drama through love triangles, major catastrophes, and a revolving door of cast members. Meredith is literally the voice of the show, with a voice-over that guides viewers through the week’s themes, and her character has grown up alongside the audience for the almost two-decade run of the show. Her exit begs the question: Where can Grey’s Anatomy go from here?

Many will call for the show to end (or have already), and there’s certainly an argument that the series has overstayed its welcome and produced more bad seasons than good as of late. But here’s the thing: When Grey’s Anatomy hits, it really hits, and the show still plays a vital role in society by covering topical stories with grace and heart. Just this season, Grey’s Anatomy tackled the reversal of Roe v. Wade with a devastating story about a woman’s ectopic pregnancy that required a lifesaving medical abortion, for which she had to cross state lines when doctors in her home state wouldn’t perform the procedure. Two seasons ago, the series produced a beautiful COVID-19 installment that honored the many lives lost to the pandemic in 2020. Before that, it commented on domestic violence, gay marriage, mental health, drug use and addiction, and more. There’s a place for anything under the Grey’s umbrella, and there’s still a need for its storytelling — but there need to be major shifts in the show’s primary focus to keep it fresh.

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