The Future of Grey's Anatomy

Title: Grey's Anatomy.

Creator: Shonda Rhimes.

Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh, Chandra Wilson. 

Year: 2005 - Present. 

Let me start this post by saying that I have been a fan of Grey’s Anatomy since the day it first aired. I was fortunate enough to watch the pilot and since that day I have been following the series religiously. So as a kind-of obsessive fan, I have been following the behind-the-scenes drama closely enough to write about what, I think, is happening.

So here is the breakdown: as the series became successful, Ellen Pompeo (Meredith), Patrick Dempsey (Derek), Sandra Oh (Christina), and Justin Chambers (Alex) were approached –other people signed too, but for different reasons they rescinded their contract- to sign a contract that bind them to shoot eight seasons, hoping that the series would remain strong until then. And it did.   

So, as Grey’s entered the eighth season, rumors and speculations began to appear. First, Ellen said she hadn’t been approached for a renewal of her contract. Then, Patrick Dempsey declared it was probably “it” for him – though he later said his words were taken out of context. The issue stands in whether the original cast would be willing to extend their stay, and that got a lot of fans worried.

In the midst of all these rumors, the press reached the creator of the series Shonda Rhimes and asked what the deal was. She said that the series would almost certainly continue, with or without the original cast. But she said that for the first time, and because of the uncertain future, she didn’t have the ending of the season mapped out like she always did. And as such, the season began.

During the early stages of the season, she added that it wasn’t in her hands to deal a new contract with her actors; it all depended on what ABC wanted to do. This, of course, unleashed a new wave of worry among the fans. Months of uncertainty passed and finally a couple of weeks ago the ABC TCA tour press happened– this tour consists in presidents of networks talking about what is happening with their TV shows-. In this tour ABC’s president, Paul Lee confirmed the series would go on with or without renewed contracts. He even said he had faith the show would run for 10 more years.

And that got me thinking. Although I love my Thursday’s Grey’s night I am not sure if the series should go on for much longer. It is not the storylines or the introduction of new characters that worries me. We’ve had some of the best characters –like my all time favorite: Arizona Robbins- and arcs in later seasons. The problem I see is that the network seems to think that this is the kind of ensemble show in which you just trade characters and it will be okay. Grey’s is a show driven by its unique characters, and as such you have invested time and committed to get to know them.

There are just so many stories you can tell without them losing quality and I do believe some of those characters have reached that point, especially Meredith and Derek. It’s been on TV for almost a decade and it’s starting to show its age. I believe it can end on a high note and be remembered as a classic, ground-breaking series.

Sure, we’ll have many awesome old characters left, but replacing the main cast is not a good idea. Series like Scrubs, That 70’s Show, The OC and ER –as I said- have done it and none of them have had much success. They are proof that it’s silly to replace the characters your audience has created an emotional bond with and putting an inferior replacement in their place. And although all these series are remembered fondly, they still have that stain that could’ve been easily avoided.

As a fan, I really wish I am wrong and I also wish that Shonda Rhimes finds a way to make the show strive after this crisis. But, how much is too much? The series is starting to show signs of age. I understand that TV is a business and that this series still earns profit for the network. And as such, it is very sad to see that they are willing to compromise the integrity of a great story for that. It just shows how television still has a lot of growing up to do.