Now in its 11th season, popular American medical TV series has built an entire standalone universe wrapped around their deeply developed characters, internal drama and affairs, and of course medical cases. But today, there’s a real reason to sound the emergency bells as “Grey’s Anatomy” just killed off one of its most prominent characters, who has been with this show since its inception.
Note: Spoiler alert. Do not read on if you don’t want to know.
It’s one thing when someone flatlines on the Seattle Grace operating table. It’s quite another when Dr. Derek Shepherd aka McDreamy, is sent to the morgue on “Grey’s Anatomy”. We know what you’re thinking – How did he die?
We haven’t seen Season 11 episode 21’s “How to Save a Life” yet but according to Huffington Post, after he rescues and saves 4 people following a terrible crash, Derek gets back in his car and carelessly reaches for his phone instead of watching the road. If he had been paying attention, he would have seen the oncoming truck headed his way.
He’s taken to the hospital (not Grey Sloan Memorial) and although he’s awake, he can’t speak. All you can hear is the voice that’s in his head, alerting you to the fact that Derek knows he’s going to die.
Unlike his colleagues at Grey Sloan, the doctors and surgeons who are taking care of him at the hospital he’s transported to are not at the top of their game and fail to take him in for a brain scan right away. This, ultimately, is the cause of his death as he suffers brain damage.
Finally, after what feels like forever, Meredith is brought to the hospital and makes the decision to take her husband, her soulmate, her true person, off life support.
Source: twitter.com/GreysABC
Despite having just signed a 2-year contract extension last year, in an exclusive interview with EW, Dempsey said:
It just sort of evolved. It’s just kind of happened. It really was something that was kind of surprising that unfolded, and it just naturally came to be. Which was pretty good. I like the way it has all played out. Things happened very quickly, where we were like, “Oh this is where it’s going to go.” It just sort of unfolded in a very organic way. I don’t remember the date. It was not in the fall. Maybe February or March. It happened very quickly.
Unfortunately, “Grey’s Anatomy” creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes did not want to talk about the shocking plot point.
She did, however, release this statement to EW:
Derek Shepherd is and will always be an incredibly important character—for Meredith, for me and for the fans. I absolutely never imagined saying goodbye to our “McDreamy”. Patrick Dempsey’s performance shaped Derek in a way that I know we both hope became a meaningful example – happy, sad, romantic, painful and always true – of what young women should demand from modern love. His loss will be felt by all. Now, Meredith and the entire Grey’s Anatomy family are about to enter uncharted territory as we head into this new chapter of her life. The possibilities for what may come are endless. As Ellis Grey would say: the carousel never stops turning.
What just happened? Our thoughts exactly too.
Can we pretend that this episode did not happen? Are you shocked too or are you relieved that McDreamy is now gone from the series, possibly forever (if he doesn’t return in flashbacks or as a ghost)? Feel free to discuss it in the comments box below.
In loving memory of Derek Shepherd: You will be missed. ❤️❤️❤️ #RIPDerek #RIPMcDreamy #GreysAnatomy https://t.co/mX6ZUiORHI
— Greys Anatomy (@GreysABC) April 24, 2015
Be right back, we’re mourning.
Sources: EW, Huffington Post, Grey’s Anatomy Wikipedia, Grey’s Anatomy Twitter.