by Alex J Satria
BIGGEST AND THE WORST SHOCKER YET!!! ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy really stunned viewers Thursday when the long-running Shonda Rhimes medical drama shockingly killed off one of its most beloved characters.
During the episode, fittingly titled “How to Save a Life,” Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) was killed off after his car was struck by a truck and a hospital that wasn’t Grey Sloan wasn’t trained well enough to save his life, forcing Meredith to pull the plug on her husband’s life.
Creator Shonda Rhimes SPEAKS OUT:
“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,'” “Grey’s” boss Shonda Rhimes said in a statement after the episode aired. “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.”
In Thursday’s episode, after saving the lives of four people involved in a harrowing collision, Derek was reaching down to get his cell phone in his car, on what seemed like an empty road, when his vehicle was hit by a truck. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where a series of medical mistakes occurred, one after the other (Derek’s voice over explained all the mistakes they made).
Eventually, after authorities came to her door with the bad news, Meredith Grey went to the hospital where they were treating Derek and she had to make a choice.
She opted to let Derek go, and a montage of memories of the early days of their romance aired as he slipped away, soundtracked to a cover version of “Chasing Cars,” the Snow Patrol song so associated with the show.
ABC also released a statement on Patrick’s exit as Derek, noting the actor is, “moving on to pursue other interests.”
“Dr. Derek Shepherd is an iconic character and we’ve been proud to be the home of ‘McDreamy’ and the ‘Mer/Der’ love story,” the network’s statement read. “The devotion of ‘Grey’s’ fans throughout the years has been a testament to the creative mind of Shonda Rhimes and Dempsey’s talent. ‘McDreamy’ will be greatly missed and we wish Patrick the very best in his future endeavors.”
CO-STAR Caterina Scorsone Weighs in:
In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Grey’s co-star Caterina Scorsone play Derek’s sister “Amelia” also weighs in on his on-screen brother’s exit:
When and how did you learn of Patrick’s departure?
Shonda gathered the whole family of us together and sat us down and let us know what was going on. We were all together. We were probably as shocked as the audience will be Thursday night. It was also kind of exciting, in a way, because he’s been such a huge part of the show and it has been defining in a lot of ways and now we’re moving toward all of these other stories that are now opening up. It’s a little bit exciting.
How long ago was that and was Patrick there?
That day and that time feel a little like personal family stuff.
I couldn’t imagine killing off a character like Derek; you always think that on this show, Meredith and Derek were “MFEO.”
Oh my God. Even reading it …
What did you, as a cast, do after Shonda told you? Did you have a conversation? What was the mood after that initial meeting?
What’s so nice about Shondaland is that it is such a family that I think we all processed it together in a really beautiful way as any family would. We were losing this hugely integral part of our group, of our family, and we really get to be there for each other as we processed that shift and move into this new chapter of, “OK, what does our family feel like now? Who are we now?” We were all there for each other and there’s an excitement brewing about what this next chapter is going to be.
Were you surprised by how Derek was killed off? What’s the feeling like on set losing such an important part of the Grey’s family?
I’m always surprised by every turn we make in Shondaland; it’s always shocking. They did a beautiful job with the episode. We knew it was going to happen but didn’t know how. I got the script and read it and it’s a really compelling episode. I was really carried away. [The writers] really did a beautiful job. I felt all of the emotions that had been earned over 11 seasons of loving this character. I thought the episode and the way they did it packed the kind of emotional punch that we deserve after living and loving this character for so long.
What was Patrick’s last day on set like? Did he have any parting words before he left?
I was not there on his last day.
Have you heard what that final moment was like with him from any co-stars?
I actually do not know.
What was your last conversation like with Patrick?
That’s private “brother-sister” stuff.
How do you think Derek’s death fundamentally changes the show?
It is a fundamental change. I don’t know how it will be interpreted by the writers or audience, but I think it really grounds the show in that it’s about human resilience. All of these characters have been through so much change and growth — and so many of these characters have suffered huge losses and huge triumphs and have persevered and overcome. It finally drives home the point that [Grey’s Anatomy] is not just about a love story; this is about human resilience.
How will Derek’s death affect Amelia? Could this prompt her fall back into addiction since she’s lost her father and now brother?
It’s going to be a huge blow. She definitely will be impacted. It’s a devastating blow to Amelia. He is arguably the most important person that’s ever been a part of her life. They were very close when they were young — even before they lost their father — and then that completely bonded them in this trauma bond forever. Plus they share so many passions with surgery. He’s been both a brother and father figure to her in so many ways and an idol in terms of her career. She’s had such a history of loss, especially with the men in her life that she has loved. This is going to be a huge, devastating blow to Amelia. We will have to see how she handles it; it will not be boring.
Might Derek’s death bring Amelia closer to Owen (Kevin McKidd)?
I can imagine that Amelia may be pulled in two directions about it. On the one hand, Owen is this incredible person in her life who she’s been able to share some of her darkest traumas with and who she’s found support and understanding in. That could draw them together. And at the same time, losing yet another important male in her life would probably scare the heck out of her, in terms of allowing herself to be vulnerable again. It’s such a rich question. I’m excited to find out what the long game is there.
How might Meredith respond to Derek’s death?
He’s the love of her life. He’s the father of her children. She will be changed forever. As Amelia will be changed forever. Someone couldn’t go through something like this and lose someone this significant in their life without being fundamentally altered for the rest of their lives. It’s going to unfold; you don’t react to a loss like that all at once. We’ll see how she handles it and copes with it.
Will Meredith blame herself? Derek came back from D.C. because another woman answered his cell phone, which set up this whole storyline.
I don’t know how she’ll react internally to that stuff.
Amelia and Meredith were the two people closest to Derek — and the last interaction they had wasn’t a good one (about not hurting Owen). Might they lean on one another in the wake of Derek’s death?
They have a really interesting journey after Derek dies. Yes, they are both impacted in profound ways and they react in different ways. We will definitely explore their relationship with one another through their grief and through this loss of this fundamentally important lynchpin in their lives.
What can you say about their different reactions to his death? There’s shock but might someone act out? Shut down? There’s so much that can happen at this point.
One of the things that has been handled really beautifully is the writers have shown us, with all the different characters, really interesting and varied ways of reacting to and processing Derek’s death. One of the great things about that is it illustrates how personal grief is and how every person is going to grieve and react differently. That’s one of the beautiful things about where the story goes from there: seeing all of these people who love each other so profoundly and delicately and intricately and in all of these layered relationships and seeing all of them react to such a huge loss.
How will the rest of Grey Sloan Memorial respond? Whose reaction might surprise viewers the most?
That’s a tough one to call. There are a lot of really diverse reactions. I don’t know whose will surprise viewers the most. Grief is surprising. A lot of people who have encountered grief are often shocked that it didn’t look the way they thought it would look. And you see that as this group of people moves through this. There are some surprising reactions, for sure.
Meredith is now a widowed mother of two. How will Amelia help out with the family?
Amelia will help whatever way Meredith needs. Connection is so profoundly important to Amelia. She has been lonely so many times and for so much of her life for various reasons — because of loss, trauma, tragedy and isolation due to drug use — and one of the things that has helped her grow were the connections she made when she was on Private Practice with Addison and all of her friends there and she started learning how to make relationships and create family. When she was invited into Derek and Meredith’s life, that was a huge deal for her. To be invited to help take care of the children with them in Seattle was a huge deal for her and she does really value that family connection with Meredith and with her and niece and nephew. She will be there in what ever way Meredith wants her to be.
Will there be a funeral? Could any familiar faces return? Kate Walsh, their mother, sisters …
That’s a story point I don’t know that I can talk about.
How would you describe the remainder of the season? This whole season has been about exploring Meredith and standing on her own without Cristina — and now without Derek. Where does the show go from here?
There’s lots of talk among us about where we think it will go or what we want to have happen. I think that moving out of this huge thing that was unimaginable has been actually quite incredible because a lot of stories are opening up and becoming richer. It impacts everyone so profoundly that it created a really rich soil for new things to grow in. There’s a lot going on and a really electric feeling about what is going to happen from here. I’m excited about next season to find out. Anything could happen. And in Shondaland, anything usually does.
You’ve filmed a couple of episodes now without Patrick. What’s the mood on set like now? Derek was gone from five episodes earlier this season but now it’s so much different.
We just shot a scene with a whole bunch of us and we all love each other and that remains. We’re all really excited about our storylines. The scripts that have been coming are so solid. And the relationships that are being forged are so interesting. How Derek’s character cannot be there obviously will be profoundly felt. He was in Washington for a while so we got a bit used to that feeling. Now there’s this buzz of excitement about what’s coming because everyone is really invested and everyone is really passionate on the set. When we lose somebody that you care about, that has been a big part of your life, you get a real dose of how important relationships are. Everybody right now is really appreciating and cherishing their relationships with one another and it feels really loving and filled with gratitude on set.
Have there been any conversations about season 12 being the last for Grey’s?
No, certainly not.
Patrick Dempsey’s (EXCLUSIVE) Interview With ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:
Less than a week after shooting his final episode, Dempsey sat down for an exclusive interview with EW to talk about why he’s leaving, what happened during those final days of shooting and what he’ll miss about the drama that made him a worldwide star.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: This doesn’t make any sense. Didn’t you just sign a two-year contract extension last year?
Patrick Dempsey: Yes. you’re right. (He pauses) 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.
When did you find out you would be written off the show?
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.
Were you surprised?
No, not really. It was just a natural progression with the way the story was unfolding. It was like, Okay! This was obviously the right time.
How long did it take to shoot your last episode?
It was spread out over almost three weeks. Everyone knew it was my last episode. Some of it was shot at the studio, and some on location.
You posted a picture on Instagram of you standing on a ferry. Was that meant to be a red herring?
It’s such a big symbol for Derek. Ferry boats are a place of freedom and tranquility. We don’t really get to go on location that much. I only tweet when I feel like it, and on what moves me. I was really inspired by being in Seattle. I wish we shot more there.
Did you cry on your last day?
No. I’m still processing it. This is part of the mourning process, the post Grey’s experience.
How was the final day?
It was like any other day… just another work day. There was still too much going on. You’re in the midst of it, not really processing it.
What did you imagine the last day of a TV would be like for you?
I never thought about it. There’s too much. You are always trying to be present. The workload and long hours…it’s best just to be dealing with that scene and that take, and try to bring as much truth to it as possible.
Did you go back and grab anything from the set?
No. I don’t need that. I have it inside. I don’t need to have anything material to make me remember [my experience].
Did you think the story would leak?
How can it not? I thought it was going to be really tough to keep it quiet. The crew did a great job, and the cast. The guest players who came in were very supportive and very moving to work with.
Looking back, what are your favorite moments?
I don’t know. It’s a blur, it’s so intense. The pilot was great. The pilot is the first time I watched it, and I couldn’t believe how it came together, and the emotional impact it had on the show. Everybody had these great moments. You realize how powerful an ensemble can be, and it was that collective that made it successful. Not just one individual.
How did this role change your life?
The energy would change when you went into a room. It was like, Oh they are talking about me. It was wild. Wild.
Did women get crazy around you?
Yes. It’s crazy, because you go from trying to get in a room to audition for something to suddenly everybody in the world knowing you, no matter where you go. And it happened withion a 30-day period. I’m glad I had the experience to handle it, because it’s very heady.
Describe what it was like working with Ellen Pompeo.
(For the first time in the interview, Dempsey tears up. He pauses before speaking.) It was magic. It’s beautiful. We’re like a married couple. It’s 10 years, and it was magic from the beginning. Chemistry right away.
This is going to kill the fans.
I think it will be very shocking, the way it happens. It’s really going to be powerful. But life is like that. I think any time an original cast member has left, there’s always a void that will never be filled. Shepherd is a beloved character. People don’t want to lose him. He’s been in their lives for over 10 years. But it goes on, and it will evolve.
(THAT LAST ONE IS TRUE, Patrick!!!) Dempsey becomes the latest original Grey’s Anatomy star to exit the drama. Fan favorite Sandra Oh (Cristina) opted to exit the Rhimes and Betsy Beers-produced drama at the end of season 10.
In addition to Oh, season 10 featured the departures of Gaius Charles (Shane) and Tessa Ferrer (Leah), whose contracts were not renewed. The series has also seen stars Eric Dane (Mark), T.R. Knight (George), Isaiah Washington (Burke) and Katherine Heigl (Izzie) exit, while Kate Walsh (Addison) left to star in spinoff Private Practice.
Dempsey’s Derek and Pompeo’s Meredith have been the show’s central duo since the pilot. Rhimes told THR at the start of the season that this year would focus on Meredith and her ability to stand on her own, without Cristina and Derek’s support.
Dempsey and Pompeo, as well as Chambers, Wilson and Pickens, were the show’s only remaining original stars. To make up for Oh’s exit, this season Grey’s promoted Caterina Scorsone — who plays Derek’s sister, Amelia, and co-starred on Private Practice — to series regular. Kelly McCreary, who plays Meredith’s half sister and Richard’s daughter, also was promoted to regular after making a shocking entrance in the season-10 finale.
Grey’s always has weathered the storm of cast departures by refilling its ranks with new intern classes. While Charles and Ferrer came and went, co-stars Jerrika Hinton (Stephanie) and Camilla Luddington (Jo) both were promoted to regular ahead of season 10. The series currently is casting new recurring players — including Reign‘s Giacomo Gianniotti — likely as interns, as it looks to form a new class of doctors.
For his part, Dempsey, an avid race-car driver, will remain in business with Grey’s producers ABC Studios, where he has a development deal. The actor has an office on the Prospect Studios lot where Grey’s is filmed and already is working with producing partner/manager Joannie Burstein and senior vp production Ben Tierney on a racing drama for SundanceTV.
How do you think everyone will respond to Derek’s death? Sound off in the comments below. Grey’s Anatomy still has three episodes remaining in season 11 and returns next Thursday at 8 p.m. on ABC.
The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly are contributing in this coverage (Image:ABC)
~ The Adam's Corner ~ 
Anne
April 24, 2015
Shonda, you already showed that Meredith could go it alone and she could make it without Christina or Derek. According to what I am reading he got fired because Shonda got tired of him. So you destroyed your show by taking one of the reasons we watched it in the first place. Shonda this show is Meredith and Derek. I wont be able to watch this show after this because even if Patrick Dempsey is a Diva, You were getting rich off his fans who Love to watch him. Love Meredith, but no Derek means the show has lost many of the fans who watched it from the start. GOODBYE.
Bye Shonda
April 24, 2015
Well my Thursdays are now wide open…because I am officially breaking up with Shonda Rhimes and the whole Shondaland crew. Killing McDreamy off is just a bridge too far and I for one am done.
George
April 24, 2015
This show will never be right again. Tonight’s episode was so great even though I didn’t want him to die. Excellent episode.
Xtina
April 24, 2015
While sad to see derek depart, props to shonda for a well-written script, & to ellen for one to of her best pieces of acting.. Meredith has now lost her tv mom, her tv sister lexie, her best friend christina,, and now the love of her life. Im thinking all those who say they wont watch anymore WILL tune in next season (i think it will be the last season) to see how Mer copes and the support she receives from others. Of course all is dependent on the 2 hour finale next week.
Bitch
April 24, 2015
Can’t believe I cried. Mc dreamy u will be missed, no fair I’m not even over Cristina’s departure and now mc dreamy hmmm smh. Hopefully we’ll be fine.