Right from the start, the American medical drama TV series “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC has been primarily about Meredith Grey falling in love with neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd and trying to make their own happily ever after from there.
Of course, there are still other stories and plots in the TV series given the huge cast involved and the fact that the setting is a hospital, so there are definitely plenty of things for fans and viewers to chew not just in one or two episodes but for the entire season long.
And that is the reason why “Grey’s Anatomy” is a very captivating TV series because it takes the viewers right from the get-go and never lets go, which is the reason why aside from being popular, the show has sustained its viewer momentum for the past 11 seasons.
However, it will be sailing into an uncharted territory in its upcoming Season 12 as there is no longer Derek Shepherd around following his death during the Season 11 finale as a result of a car accident.
The reason why Patrick Dempsey had to go
There have been various rumors regarding the departure of Patrick Dempsey, who played Derek Shepherd, from the show after Season 11 of “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Initially, the reports have it that Patrick Dempsey decided to move on from the show after 11 years, which is the non-controversial reason, and thus no longer renew his contract with the show.
However, according to Hollywood Take, Dempsey got fired from the show because he was apparently acting like a diva on the set of the TV series. In addition, there are reports that the actor also had an affair with an intern while still married to his wife Jillian Fink. The affair apparently caused him his marriage and he and Jill are now estranged.
Thus, the production team decided to fire him so as not to be embroiled in the controversy but ABC refuse to confirm or comment on the rumors by sticking to the earlier public pronouncement that Patrick Dempsey simply felt that it was the right time for him to move on from “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Regardless of the real reason or reasons for the departure of Patrick Dempsey from the show, and ultimately the death of Derek Shepherd in the storyline of the TV series, what is clear at this point is that “Grey’s Anatomy” will have a rebirth when its Season 12 premieres on September 24 on ABC now that McDreamy is all gone.
Close to being a reboot
Actor Jason George, who plays Dr. Ben Warren, the husband of Dr. Miranda Bailey in the TV series, says that the upcoming Season 12 of “Grey’s Anatomy” is close to being a reboot because there have been a lot of things that changed to make everyone feel that it is a brand new show.
However, he added that the TV series still has the lightness and sense of humor that people and viewers fell in love with in “Grey’s Anatomy” in the first place, cites Entertainment Weekly.
George also confirmed rumors that sexy is back on the show. He teased that there are a lot of people who are not in couples now will be falling into bed and every character in the show will have a little bit of loving.
The actor admits that “Grey’s Anatomy” is indeed different now that Patrick Dempsey is no longer with them, but change is necessary even if it takes certain characters in a sadder direction.
He added matter-of-factly that people think they want everything to stay the same and everyone to be happy, but happy people make for boring television ultimately.
With the departure of Patrick Dempsey, the show has lost its resident McDreamy. While there are still a couple of male eye candies in the series including Justin Chambers, who plays the temperamental Alex Karev, and Jesse Williams, who plays Jackson Avery, there is nothing like Patrick’s full head of wavy hair to bring the thrills and shrieks to many female fans of “Grey’s Anatomy.”