Apart from being generally known as the longest-running American medical drama, Gray’s Anatomy can also be characterised by the carousel of characters which have come and gone. It’s not a shock in any respect, contemplating the big ensemble solid and the collection being on the air for practically 20 years now. A standard narrative machine – courtesy of creator Shonda Rhimes and crew – to handle actors’ behind-the-scenes drama and contract expirations has confirmed to be controversial however efficient: killing them off. One dying that also hurts and will’ve been dealt with in another way on the time was that of Chyler Leigh’s Lexie Gray.

Launched within the Season 3 finale, Lexie was Meredith’s (Ellen Pompeo) half-sister. Sure, household twists are additionally certainly one of Gray’s Anatomy’s staples, and Lexie was one of many earliest ones. For 5 seasons, we acquired to know who she was, along with her ultimately changing into a fan favourite. When Leigh’s contract expired, she opted out of the present, seeking to spend extra time along with her household. There was no foul play concerned, as each she and Rhimes got here up with what finally turned her tragic finish. Nonetheless, looking back, Leigh’s exit ought to’ve been executed in a method that might’ve allowed her to reprise her function as Lexie in future seasons.

Lexie’s Demise within the ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ Season 8 Finale Was Brutal and Tragic

Whereas Season 8 is taken into account the most effective of Gray’s Anatomy, its finale proves to be a bit extra divisive. In “Flight,” half the docs of Seattle Grace, who have been headed to Boise to help in a surgical procedure, are left stranded within the woods after their airplane crashes. A Misplaced-like sequence reveals how injured everyone seems to be, however the one within the worst form seems to be Lexie, whose decrease physique is crushed by airplane particles. Mark (Eric Dane), who by this level is completely dedicated to Lexie, stays by her aspect by means of each second. Essentially the most heartbreaking goodbye takes place as they visualize the life they might’ve (and will’ve) had collectively.

Apart from being sudden, Lexie’s dying was brutal. Seeing her because the crash’s first sufferer turned the episode right into a tragic expertise. An inconsolable Meredith exhibits her ache all through the entire episode, and never even Cristina (Sandra Oh) can soothe it. The devastation is simply heightened when Mark succumbs to his inner accidents, and dies within the Season 9 premiere. Making issues abysmally worse, Cristina shares grotesque particulars when going by means of a PTSD episode: The wolves within the woods didn’t eat her and the opposite survivors as a result of they have been busy consuming Lexie as an alternative.

Lexie Gray Deserved Extra on ‘Gray’s Anatomy’

Whereas first seeming like a mere roadblock in Meredith’s technique to emotional stability, Lexie turned a lot extra vital – and nonetheless had extra to provide on Gray’s Anatomy. Her wholesome upbringing clashed with Meredith’s darker nature, however they ultimately made peace and their relationship advanced into an actual sisterhood. Lexie’s dazzling essence additionally affected Mark in such a method that he determined to go away his womanizing period behind and come clean with his actions. By Season 8, their on-again-off-again relationship had reached widespread floor, and so they might lastly plan a steady future collectively.

Though she humanized Mark and Meredith, Lexie wasn’t solely a plot machine. She turned her personal character by rising personally and professionally. Going by means of a capturing (in one of many present’s greatest episodes), the consequential PTSD, and her father’s dying, ended up constructing her up as an alternative of bringing her down. She matured with the blows life dealt her, however nonetheless remained probably the most goodhearted and brightest soul the hospital had seen. Her abilities, like her photographic reminiscence, proved extraordinarily helpful and earned her a promotion as a surgical resident. These have been simply the early steps to seeing her develop and thrive as a surgeon. Had Lexie survived, it could’ve been completely comprehensible to have her depart Seattle Grace following Mark’s dying – and the door would nonetheless be open for future appearances.

Lexie’s Demise Ruined Future Alternatives To Have the Character Return

Okay, sure, Lexie returned throughout Season 17, whereas Meredith was in her COVID-induced limbo between life and dying. Lexie provides her sister one of many strongest items of recommendation when she reminds her that – even with a worldwide pandemic raging on – life is price celebrating. This is likely one of the best encores we get to see at Meredith’s seashore, however it’s nonetheless solely a ghostly apparition fueled by Meredith’s sickly way of thinking. Had Lexie been alive, her returning to Seattle to take care of Meredith would’ve had a better impression.

Chyler Leigh’s causes for exiting the present are comprehensible, however killing off Lexie eliminated any alternative of getting her again within the combine. Teddy (Kim Raver), Addison (Kate Walsh), and Jackson (Jesse Williams) are simply a few of the characters which have left the present however have been intertwined with the story in later seasons, with their returns being earned and heartfelt. Raver’s Teddy even turned a collection common once more after an absence of six seasons (and has maybe overstayed her welcome). Lexie deserved an encore of this sort. With Pompeo stepping down from starring within the present for a number of years, Zola’s (Aniela Gumbs) schooling was sped as much as match her in as some sort of Doogie Howser who might nonetheless carry the Gray identify. In a what-if scenario, having Lexie return would’ve been one of the best ways to type out the truth that the present continues to be named Gray’s Anatomy.

To say that followers have been devastated by Lexie Gray’s dying is an understatement, particularly since her dying additionally went hand-in-hand with the dying of one other fan-favorite physician, Mark Sloan. Whereas followers revered Leigh’s choice to maneuver onto different initiatives and department out as an actress, killing her off felt like an particularly merciless method for the collection to say goodbye to her. Lexie was at all times pure of coronary heart and sort to everybody, even those that did not deserve it. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes was confronted with a tough alternative when it got here to writing the character out, and finally determined to kill her off. Having her transfer to a unique hospital felt too unrealistic contemplating she’d be abandoning Meredith and Mark, and that felt too out of character. Positive, possibly it could have been onerous to regulate to at first, however maybe Rhimes was somewhat too hasty in her choice to kill Lexie off, as a result of the present might actually use her these days.

Lexie Might Have Had a Big Influence on Later ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ Seasons

These days, there have been plenty of moments that might have benefited from Lexie’s presence. As an illustration, Meredith actually might have used Lexie’s shoulder to cry on when Derek (Patrick Dempsey) died. Sure, she had Maggie (Kelly McCreary) and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), however Maggie was nonetheless new in Meredith’s life, and Amelia and Meredith had a really rocky relationship on the time. Lexie, however, knew Derek nicely, cherished him, and had a mentor in him. She would have been in a position to resonate with Meredith’s grief, and Meredith would have been way more prone to divulge heart’s contents to her. Moreover, the Maggie scenario would have gone a heck of loads smoother had Lexie been round. She was as soon as in Maggie’s place, because the sudden half-sister of Meredith Gray and compelled to chop by means of her steely exterior. She might have helped Meredith divulge heart’s contents to Maggie and heat to her sooner.

With Meredith having taken a serious step again from the hospital, Lexie might have made a triumphant return to fill her sister’s sneakers. If Chyler Leigh was recreation for it, and Lexie was nonetheless alive, she might add a lot to Meredith’s arc in Season 21. Meredith has been bored with Gray Sloan Memorial for some time now, so it could have been good to see Lexie take the reigns from her. Their reunion would additionally give us again the badass duo of the Gray sisters. Plus, it could be enjoyable to see her go head-to-head with Catherine (Debbie Allen) alongside Meredith. Sadly, we’ll by no means get to see these concepts play out. And whereas it is comprehensible that, on the time, killing off Lexie appeared like probably the most believable possibility, the present might have gone with an identical path to Cristina Yang’s exit. They let Cristina go to attain her desires elsewhere, whereas nonetheless leaving the door open for her return. Killing off Lexie was actually certainly one of Gray’s Anatomy‘s largest errors, and sadly, it isn’t one thing that may be rectified. (Although seeing ghost Lexie at peace in Season 17 did assist soften the close to decade-long blow.)

Greater than a present, Gray’s Anatomy is a curler coaster of feelings. Every season finale has become a complete occasion that has the burden of delivering one thing extra highly effective and emotional than the earlier season, whereas additionally making inventive decisions that match with its actors’ selections. Since Lexie had already cemented herself as certainly one of Gray’s Anatomy’s necessities by Season 8, her dying made sense as a blow that might devastate the fan base, however would additionally maintain the present in everybody’s minds – and it labored. Right here we’re, 12 years later speaking concerning the twist! With Gray’s Anatomy nonetheless going sturdy right this moment, it’s clear that the killing-off-beloved-characters components goes nowhere. We’ll simply have to attend and see who’s subsequent, hoping our hearts gained’t be torn aside as soon as extra.

Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 airs Thursday nights on ABC and is obtainable to stream on Hulu within the U.S.

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