Warning! This story contains spoilers for the March 5 episode of "Grey's Anatomy."
In some ways, Thursday night's episode of "Grey's Anatomy" turned out to be exactly what fans expected.
After all, they've known for a long time that Dr. Alex Karev has not wanted to return to the halls of Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital since the actorJustin Chambers announced his decision to leave the hit series after 15 yearsback in January.
And fans also know that any ending to "Grey's Anatomy" is sure to be a surprise.
But that's where all expectations ended on Thursday, as viewers couldn't possibly have seen itthis is coming.
As Bailey (Chandra Wilson) revealed, the good doctor — who was one of the original interns back in the days of Seattle Grace — didn't just quit his job.
“Alex Karev isn't coming back,” she said, holding a letter from him. "Left his wife, his friends, his job..."
Yes, bombshell number 1 is that Alex has dumped Jo (Camilla Luddington), who he married just two years ago. But get ready for number 2!
“Alex Karev is now a father of two… with Izzie Stevens,” Bailey continued.
Never before have so few words caused so much shock.
But the chief of operations wasn't the only one to receive a letter full of juicy details. Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), Jo, and Richard (James Pickens Jr.) also received letters, and they all shed light on Alex's apparent deviant character.
It all harkened back to events from earlier in season 16, including Meredith's big lawsuit to keep her medical license — an event that led Alex to reach out to old associates on her behalf, even his ex-wife, Izzie, from who he discovered started her. a family with embryos that they had frozen during their marriage. So suddenly he was the father of 5-year-old twins.
And apparently that's all it took to change my mind about everything. Or, as he put it in his letter to Jo: "When I told you I loved you, I meant it, but Izzie has our children, Jo."
Van.
That expression of pain is not only on behalf of Jo, but also on behalf of all loyalists'Grey's' lovers who are spoiled by Alex's departure.
There were many ways@GreysABCcould have written the end of Alex Karev. Leaving Jo for another woman, let alone Izzie, wasn't one of them. I've never hated an episode as much as this one and there have been 356 of them.#Grey's anatomie https://t.co/x4vEXVVwCM
— Cindy (@cschlorf07)March 6, 2020
As if George O'Malley getting hit by a bus, Lexie and Mark dying, Cristina Yang going to Switzerland, Derek getting hit by a car, Callie Torres leaving, April and Arizona leaving the show wasn't enough, they had to get the worst ending for Alex Karev.
— ardentdreamer08 (@ardentdreamer08)March 6, 2020
me at the moment::#Grey's anatomie pic.twitter.com/ejnNXSpCT7
Alex, suddenly going back to Izzie, was righteousa plot point for far too many people, who indicated that they would have preferred to see himkilledthen to leave as he did.
#Grey's anatomieIf Alex gets hit by a truck, it would hurt less
— lauradaniels (@lauradan81)March 6, 2020
I'm going to forget I ever saw this episode and tell myself that Alex has died.#Grey's anatomie pic.twitter.com/UeJdX769lD
— Christalyn S (@Christalyn13)March 6, 2020
— Harshal (@iHarshalWatts)March 6, 2020me: They better NOT KILL ALEX, I swear
me this week: ......they should have just killed him......#Grey's anatomie pic.twitter.com/Z8NCN4PY3A
Some even went so farwrite their own conclusion in that direction.
I have concluded that Alex Karev died on the way to his mother and that his body was never claimed. End.#Grey's anatomie pic.twitter.com/TGmXBZn7bL
— Chart (@DCalyne)March 6, 2020
A person whodeedDo you appreciate Alex's farewell? Pompeo, the star of the show.
“For me personally, Karev was going back to the beginning… the best possible story,” she wrote in oneposts on InstagramFriday. “It's a tribute to the incredible early years and the incredible cast... who created a foundation so strong that the show still stands today.”
But fortunately or not, it's really over.
“There is no good time to say goodbye to a show and a character that has defined so much of my life over the past 15 years,” the star says.Chambers said in a statement to TODAYwhen he first announced his departure. "However, I have been hoping to diversify my acting roles and career choices for some time now. And now that I'm turning 50 and blessed with a remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is the time."
And Alex is blessed with surprise twins and... Izzie?
Rie Hines
Ree Hines is a freelance writer and editor covering pop culture, lifestyle stories and trending news. She is also a soul music-loving, coffee-obsessed member of both Team Cat and Team Dog. Ree lives in Tampa, Florida and is a regular contributor to TODAY.com.
