Back in the day, from 2005 to 2011, I was all in for this show, but boy, did I miss a lot at Seattle Grace since I last watched! It turns out that a recent episode was almost entirely set outside the hospital, showcasing Derek Shepherd’s valiant attempts to save four victims from a dramatic car accident—and can you believe one of them was Beth from Parenthood? Just when you thought the drama couldn’t get any higher, he gets struck by a truck while leaving the scene. Spoiler alert: he does not make it. Honestly, I was still stunned, even though I had heard whispers about his fate. Major kudos to showrunner Shonda Rhimes for crafting such gut-wrenching tension. The entire hour had my emotions on a rollercoaster, reminiscent of the time I watched Meadow struggle to parallel park in the final episode of The Sopranos. The way it was filmed had me in tears nearly from the start and for hours after—and I’m not even a die-hard fan!
Twelve hours later, I’m still trying to recover from that emotional rollercoaster. And guess what? I’m not alone! Even with Entertainment Weekly accidentally spilling the beans on McDreamy’s fate earlier in the day (those early copies of the issue with Patrick Dempsey’s interview didn’t help), the internet erupted with disbelief and frustration. Some loyal fans even went so far as to liken Rhimes’ writing to that of an “abusive partner” or a “serial killer”—yikes! Clearly, feelings are still running high. I’m right there with them, despite not being a regular viewer. One tweet did crack me up, though, referring to Dempsey’s role in my favorite ’80s classic, Can’t Buy Me Love. So close, Shonda. So close.
At least we have the Amelia Shepherd storyline to keep us entertained for now. For more on navigating the ups and downs of parenting, check out our other blog posts, such as the informative piece on pregnancy.
In summary, the shock of McDreamy’s demise left many fans reeling, even those who hadn’t tuned in for years. The build-up and emotional weight of the episode were masterfully crafted, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.