This Character Leaving is Arguably The Most Devastating Grey's Anatomy Moment
After running for 19 seasons, a series like Grey's Anatomy is bound to have had many characters leave the show over the years, and have introduced new characters along the way to fill the emptiness left behind.
The majority of the old favorite characters no longer feature on the show, a few have passed away, whilst others have moved on to pursue other opportunities.
Sometimes the writers of the show have to get creative when planning a character's exit to keep the audience happy and not interrupt the storyline.
However, when it comes to the exit of longtime fan favorite Alex Karev, there was no way to soften the blow, and the nature of his character's departure upset fans more than any other.
Alex Karev and Meredith Grey were two key characters that had been a part of the show since the very first episode in 2005. Meredith, being the main character, was easy for fans to love. Alex became a fan favorite over time as his character showed tremendous growth over the years, from starting as a young and arrogant jerk to a passionate surgeon and reliable friend, ultimately becoming Meredith's person.
Alex leaving was heartbreaking enough, but it was how he left that made things so much worse. After everything he had been through and all the progress he had made, his reason for leaving made absolutely no sense. Some fans have said that Alex's departure was one of the worst the show has had to date, with others going as far as saying that his exit would have been better received if he had been killed off instead like so many others before.
So, what was so upsetting about his exit?
Firstly, after being missing in action and essentially ghosting Jo and his friends, he sends them letters to explain what was going on instead of showing up in person to explain. Not only did this seem insincere, but it also seemed cowardly and not something the Alex everyone knew and loved would do. Secondly, what he wrote in the letters. Alex reveals that he has reconnected with Izzie and was going to stay with her after discovering that she was raising a set of twins that were biologically his. Izzie had been out of the picture for a long time and suddenly Alex was leaving Jo, who was perfect for him, to go and be a happy, instant family with Izzie.
This ending for Alex Karev was disappointing, upsetting, and confusing. Fans can understand that his time on the show had to come to an end at some point, but this was not the way. Not only will Grey's Anatomy never be the same without him, but the fact that he left everything he had worked so hard for will be how fans remember him which is not what anyone wanted.