McDreamy is dead. The story of Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd is over. Almost all the original characters are gone after 11 seasons. Over the next four weeks, ABC will show five hours of “Greys,” in two double episodes and one single.
Next week’s double is called “She’s Leaving Home,” which indicates that Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) will pick up, leave Seattle, and find a warm home where it doesn’t rain all the time.
Two weeks later, in another double episode, called “You Are My Home,” she will likely return, realizing, like Dorothy, that there’s no place like home and she’ll stick around.
And really, who cares at this point? “Greys” according to tvbythenumbers.com, was likely for renewal. But that was before this firestorm. Without the main story, Shonda Rhimes would have to re-invent the show since she’s killed or dismissed most of the characters.
“Greys” pulls in average of 6 to 6.5 million viewers on a good week. It’s an old show, so the demo is down to around 1.7 to 1.9 for viewers 18-49. Plus, those 6 million are way down from last year’s season finale of over 8 million.
What happens now will determine whether the show can go on without Dempsey. Last night’s ratings will be over the moon, no doubt. But will fans watch those last five hours? You can bet ABC will be using next week’s big double show to determine its fate.
As for Dempsey, Rhimes must really hate him. His final show was with not one member of the cast except, briefly, Pompeo. It was all with guest actors. Meredith didn’t even kiss her husband goodbye– not a peck on the cheek. It was just, here’s your halo, what’s your hurry? I loved it when she said, “We’ll be alright without you.” There was none of that “We need you, stay…” Nothing. It was all, “Where are the papers? Let me sign them. He dissed the executive producer. Buh bye.”
EW.com, which got the scoop that Derek was dead and released it too soon, didn’t write much of anything beyond that. They know which side of the breathing tube they’re on. But in the interview with Dempsey he said he took nothing from the set. The episode was shot April 9 in Seattle, far from the cast and Hollywood.
Dempsey says he has a couple of projects cooking. But all that’s listed on the imdb is a dreadful looking movie with North Korean enthusiast Dennis Rodman. It does seem like the decision to kill him happened not that long ago. Negotiations to stay clearly fell through.
And now, will fans accept a new life for their heroine, Meredith Grey? Doubtful. If the show is renewed, one last season would seem in the cards.
