Alex Karev’s (Justin Chambers) exit in Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 had followers divided. Whereas some viewers had been ecstatic Alex left with out a scarring demise, others would comprise somewhat viewed the persona die than to desert Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington). So why did the pediatric surgeon bag the send-off he did? No longer too prolonged prior to now, Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff printed why the writers decided to no longer kill off Alex.
How did Alex Karev leave ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?
In Grey’s Anatomy Season 16, Episode 16 — titled “Leave a Mild On” — Alex leaves mysterious letters for Jo, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.), and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson). At this level in the season, Alex has been MIA and all individuals appears to be rising surprised. But in keeping with the letters, Alex is with Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) in Kansas with their twins, Alexis and Eli.
Alex unearths he reconnected with Izzie when he contacted her for Meredith’s scientific license trial. Then, as Jo would state, one part led to 1 more. At some level of their name, Alex learned out Izzie worn the embryos they made when she was as soon as diagnosed with cancer. So Alex chooses to persist with Izzie for their kids. He additionally confesses he is peaceful in bask in alongside with her.
In the discontinuance, Alex leaves his shared to Grey Sloan Memorial to Jo. He additionally sends her signed divorce papers. In the meantime, Alex reinforces Meredith is her maintain person and is sturdy sufficient to face on her maintain, with out him.
Krista Vernoff explains why ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ didn’t kill off Alex Karev
After the Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 finale on April 9, Closing date released an interview with Vernoff to debate the present cycle, including Alex’s big exit. And in the ruin, it appears the Shondaland series didn’t kill off Alex because they wished to present the persona an even bigger departure than an off-digicam demise.
“I imagine that there would’ve been no no longer as a lot as as gigantic an outcry if we had killed that persona off-digicam, and other folks had been our picks,” Vernoff talked about. “It was as soon as kill the persona off-digicam, or advance up with some plausible scheme that he will get his fortunately ever after.”
She persisted: “A pair of of the followers comprise posited, ‘Neatly he would possibly possibly even comprise correct been off-camouflage in Seattle cherish April Kepner [Sarah Drew].’ But then you’ve received an actress on the camouflage who doesn’t bag to create any of the relaxing, sexy, playful thrill that we’re identified for. Then you definately penalize the actors who are staying on the camouflage by limiting what that potentialities are you’ll also create creatively with them.”
Vernoff additionally acknowledged Grey’s Anatomy followers who had been upset by the episode. “I wasn’t surprised by the fan reaction,” she talked about. “But I comprehend it would’ve been equally offended if I had killed him. So it was as soon as cherish, these are your picks, and I felt of course ecstatic with what we chose.”
Why Krista Vernoff loved Alex Karev’s send-off episode in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 16
Even supposing many Grey’s Anatomy followers had been upset with Alex’s exit, others had been cheerful, including Vernoff. Mute speaking with Closing date, the showrunner shared she was as soon as “proud” of the episode. Vernoff additionally praised the camouflage’s creator, Elisabeth Finch, for doing “an unparalleled job with a just about inconceivable job.”
In the meantime, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Vernoff delved deeper into why she loved Alex’s send-off episode.
“I cherish that episode,” Vernoff talked about. “I diagram it was as soon as stunning, romantic, heartbreaking, painful and the correct aggregate of the manner so many stories happen in Shondaland, the set you’re concurrently crying for pleasure and crying for anguish. It was as soon as perfectly faulty and it was as soon as perfectly messy.”
She additionally outlined how Alex’s ending no longer finest showed development in the persona, but will push others to whisk forward.
“It allowed for Alex to comprise grown as a human in a vary of solutions and to peaceful be faulty and to disappoint a girl he has loved greatly,” Vernoff talked about. “It lets in for Jo to had been a one who of course healed him and in so some solutions that he’s now ready to whisk be this wonderful dad to those kids. And it allowed for the characters who are peaceful at Grey Sloan to no longer favor to battle through one more big chapter of anguish.”
Vernoff persisted: “I diagram it was as soon as stunning and I’m of course cheerful with it. It was as soon as an wonderful part to bag to behold 16 seasons price of self-discipline cloth. To bag to whisk backwards on a persona’s timeline, 16 seasons, and to comprise it genuinely be stuff we shot on the camouflage? That’s uncommon in TV.”
When Alex left Grey’s Anatomy, the Shondaland series made it determined there was as soon as no correct time to say goodbye. And while we’re unhappy by the persona’s exit after 16 seasons, the writers are cheerful with the path they chose. And who knows? This leaves Alex — and even perchance Izzie — start to return assist one day.
“When I left the camouflage in Season 7, other folks requested me if there was as soon as any probability of me ever coming assist, and I was as soon as colorful sufficient to say, “By no scheme state never,’” Vernoff suggested Closing date when requested about Alex’s return. “Right here I’m, so who knows?”
Learn extra: Why ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Followers Don’t Judge in Meredith Grey and Andrew DeLuca’s Romance
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