Grey’s Anatomy Season 6 Spoilers: Lexie Taking Over for Meredith?
July 23, 2009 by Ingrid Diaz
According to Shonda Rhimes, season six is going to be about transitioning. It seems to have occurred to the exec producer and creator that eventually most of the cast will want to move on and while I think a lot of us would agree that’d be the right time to pack it up, Rhimes thinks the show could have a future beyond the core cast, if they play their cards right. What brought all this on? Well, there’s T.R. Knight’s decision to leave the show, as well as Ellen Pompeo’s upcoming maternity leave.
Here’s the full quote from Shonda Rhimes about Ellen’s maternity leave and the future of Grey’s:
“Ellen is incredibly optimistic and somehow thinks she’ll be back and ready to rock ‘n’ roll. [But] I have a child, so I know that that’s not true. [So] we have a lovely story [on deck] that will take us into her maternity leave. And we have plans for some really interesting stand-alone episodes for [while she's gone]. But we’re heading towards the future of the show and eventually, unless we’re really lucky, everybody’s going to go. That’s what the end of season 5 taught me. So we’re looking at, How do we mess with that structure now while we have everybody and figure out ways in which, ‘What would we do without Ellen? What would we do if we had an episode without Patrick Dempsey?’ So season 6 is important. A lot of shows don’t make it through season 6 because they don’t know how to transition.”
A show without MerDer? Would you watch it??
Shonda Rhimes isn’t entirely certain that you’d watch it either, but she seems ready to try to make it work, should the day ever come when a MerDer-less series is what she’s left with. As she points out, “But [at least] we have Lexie Grey.”
Okay, I admit I really love Lexie, but I know a lot of you can’t stand her. Would you watch a Grey’s Anatomy in which there was no Meredith, no Derek and in their place there was Lexie? Let me know in the comments.
But let’s move on from these depressing thoughts because Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey and the rest of the cast seem to be staying put for now.
So what else is headed our way in season 6? Well, there’s no pregnant Meredith, that’s for sure. So if you were still hoping for that, let it go. Meredith might get pregnant sometime down the road, but not now.
Ausiello also mentions that it’s possible that Owen’s PTSD might “flare up” in the season premiere, since Amy Madigan – Seattles Grace’s number one shrink – will be guest-starring in the second hour.
And that’s about it for now!
What are your thoughts on this notion that Grey’s Anatomy could go on without the core cast? Do you think it’s got a shot? Would you consider watching it?
Via | Ausiello
I would NOT watch the show. I have been watching from the very beginning and i am one of grey’s biggest fans. But if meredith and mcdreamy are not together or leave the show and the rest of the cast goes too..there is just no way. NO WAY!!!!
No Meredith? Sweet!!!! She has been grating my nerves since season 2. All other characters seem realistic, but Mer is just to ego-centric. Everyone is supposed to stop, start or learn some new valuable lesson, but not until Mer explains it to the rest of them. I mean COME ON!!! I think it will be good to even the playing field instead of fully basing the story around a spoiled, naive half-doctor.
No I would not watch the show without Meredith and Derek, they are the show and they are the reason why I got hooked on the show. Lexie is not a character that would keep me watching. Greys without meredith and derek will just be another crappy show who lost its main characters and is still trying to go on and its just gonna suck.
Lexie Grey! So the show is continuing to be Grey’s Anatomy, but not the Grey we used to know.
Yeah. I love all other characters, of course. But MerDer is the main, the core, the vital.
And I agree with someone saying that taking Owen into the plot isn’t that smart. He is not as interesting as Burke.
I miss Burke, really. Wish they’d bring him back.
Anyway, 6 seasons is rather reasonable. Plz finish all the stuffs here and get gone in glory.
NO I WOULD DEF NOT WATCH IT WITH OUT D AND M BEING TOGETHER AND I HAVE WATCHED THE SHOW FROM THE VERY FIRST EPISODE
I AM OBSESSED WITH GREYS ANATOMY
but i will cry so so much if mer/der are not the leading roles… you cant be seriously considering doing greys without them?! i personally think it would be a real shame! already seeing as i miss george so so much
i love you greys. please continue to be amazing… and dont ever stop!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
OMG!!! That’s incredible! Is that possible Grey’s anatomy without Meredith and Derek? Of course not! They ARE the show! I saw the season 5 premiere last month and I was SO crying just thinking maybe Derek could possibly die! It’s a shame to see Grey’s anatomy without that relationship. The first episode of the first season beginning with Derek and Meredith, so we supposed that they are on the show as long he will be on TV no? So… I’m just saying they can’t do a Grey’s anatomy without them!
Yes I would cause it’s better to have a show than no show. And I love every caracters in the show so I would not mind so much…
So continu to do your great work! I love you!
Seriously, what would be the point of watching the show? I don’t really like Lexie. As much as I like Callie or Bailey or Alex. Without Meredith GREY or Derrick it wouldn’t be the same and I’d sooner watch another channel. The side characters better have something interesting because I am already dreading the Maternity leave of Meredith. Not to say Lexie doesn’t have the chops, but it don’t mean a thing if it aint gat that zing. Cristina’s character cannot stand along without her person. I hate to say it, but I don’t like Owen, he’s a bore. The show we get such a boost if they were to recast Isaiah, he could be a guest star and let people decide upon whether they liked him. If they do, and it’s a plus, why not? It would be nice to spice things up. Right when you think Yang is making a break through with Owen, throw a wedge into it…. They could write it like Burke is at Mercy West since there’s going to be a Merger.
No I wouild not keep watching the show with MerDer. As I remember, the show started up with the Meredith as the main character,and then McDreamy and the rest of the gang. All of them were wonderful together until Lexie was brought into the show. Lexie has had a lot of airtime in the 2 seasons, mostly in season 5, and quite frankly she is not interesting at all. George was funny and king and together with the rest of the gang, they made the show interesting to watch. Season 5 was boring, boring. We hardly got to see MerDer, George etc and Dear Shonda, these people are the reasons why we fell in love with the show, not Lexie and the boring Marc and the lesbien stories. You took a show that had a lot of potential and turned it into a day soap opera kind of story by adding Lexie Grey. The true Grey in Grey’s Anatomy is Meredith and I don’t think you will succeed by changing what you did so well at the beginning of the serie. You want to kill your show, well just make it about Lexie and you will succeed.
OOPS, I meant to say: I will not keep watching the show WITHOUT MERDER. I thought I make that clear.
YESSSSSS! i HTE MEREDITH!!! derek too awesoem for her.. shes so old and ugh! i lvoeeeeeeeee lexie and mark they ARE THE new couple faces of grey’s !!!! he maybe older but they have awesome chemistry!!
I have been watching the show since season 1. I think all other characters could be written off (with good characters left in their place) except Meredith, Derick, and Yang! They are the best and one of the main reasons I watch! I think they should spice it up….have Burke come back for at least one episode! It would really throw a wrench in things! MerDer is vital to the show….please don’t cut them out!!!!!!
No i would not watch without the main characters.. george leaving was enough.. please dont ruin a good thing.. the cast you have now is goldne.. dont fix what aint broken!!!!!!
No I would not watch anymore if main core characters continue to drop off i.e. Meredith and Derick. I do like Meredith, Derick, and Yang. They are flawed human beings, and yet likable contributors in the world of the TV show. Doctors saving lives, making mistakes, having personal lives. They grow and change and transition before our eyes in an hour. I grew to like the show. I use to like ER. A couple of the main characters left and then ER decided to get rid of most of the core cast, the show became weak and unwatchable. I sure hope that Shonda Rhimes realizes that characters and their stories grow – on – people. Transitioning isn’t about replacing but growing each character, stretching the character and the drama. I think Ms. Rhimes was brilliant in the creation of the show thus far however, I don’t tune into see her visually each week. She is only a star as long as her stars are twinkling. Once she looses them she looses her twinkle too.
I would definitely not watch the show. I hope the writers and directors listen to the opinions of the fans.
I could live without Meredith, but not McDreamy, Mcsteamy has great possabilities, and I like him and Lexie together, the show is built on strong characters, so Yang, Bailey, Derek, and Mark, with a few new good looking, strong people could work.
Living in England, we do not have series six yet (we are all tearing our hair out) so can’t comment on that.
So come on Shonda get your thinking cap on. But don’tlose the series, I love it.
Grey’s without Derek and Meredith would be like an anatomy sans lungs. If it is interesting, I shall watch it, but, I will not be as eager to watch it without Mer-Der.And soon, the exuberance of watching Grey’s Anatomy would jade away.
SEASON 6 REVIEW – WAY TOO CHAOTIC!!!
OK I love Grey’s for the witty banter, the philosophical touches, the romantic intrique… but I AM NOT liking season 6 so far. All the delicate plot lines are being turned into aggressive mania. The whole fight for your job thing with the Mercy West merger is getting old fast, there is only so much sniping and weeping that Grey’s fans can take. Come on writers, get back to the magic of the show…
For me, it was hard enough seeing T.R. Knight leave, although I do understand that these actors are not bound to the show. But still, altogether heart-breaking. I have grown to love and relate to each of the core characters on Grey’s and am not certain that I could ever feel the same if they decide to leave. Especially Ellen, I was irate that they even brought in Lexie, although I’ve learned to accept her, I think the writers need to be cautious about letting her overpower Ellen’s character. Ellen and the rest of the core characters are the foundation of this show – messing with it – well, it’s unjustifiable.
It has been amazing to watch each of the core characters grown and learn and adjust to life, Christina and Mer aren’t so dark and twisty, although, they can’t always be happy peppy either, we need the dark and twisty at times. Alex has turned into a wonderful caring guy, and Izzy, well we need her BACK! 5 episodes it’s torture! along with meranda, derek, callie, mark and richard!
I do however, completely approve on arizona and owen becoming a main focus too! but we NEED a cardio god for christina!!!
no!!!! I have watched from the very beginning and will not watch if mer is gone!! I think the show needs to pull it together… mercy west? come on!!! bring burke back and get rid of the new characters. The original cast is great
I don’t know if I would watch it. I know I never watched New York Undercover again after they killed off one of the main characters. I am surprised Greys can go on without George… (I loved the first season and George was great). But if any other core characters go… (by core I mean Meredith, Derek, Izzy, Cristina) then I’d probably stop watching it as faithfully as I do now… Side note Alex is cool… but if he had to leave I don’t think I’d miss him that much. Oh and I do miss Burke still. There’s been no steady cardio dr. and no steady man for Cristina with Burke gone. I liked Owen at first but now… he does seem boring… perhaps its the writing for his character?
burke got sacked because he was a jerk. bringing him back would be like saying “ok everyone has forgotten what you did, so come back now, it will be good for ratings”. also, lexie is a bad character. too jittery, dont like her at all. and i will probably not watch if mer/der arent on it. though you cant expect them to hang around forever.
I WILL ALWAYS WATCH THIS SHOW EVEN WITHOUT DEREK OR MER…I HAVE FOLLOWED GREYS SINCE IT STARTED AND I OWN EVERY SEASON ON DVD…SINCE ER ENDED IT IS THE ONLY MEDICAL DRAMA ON TV WORTH WATCHING ASIDE FROM PRIVATE PRACTICE…I AM A SERGICAL TECH AT A MAJOR FLORIDA HOSPITAL AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT THIS SHOW HOLDS SO MUCH REALITY IN IT…BUT I WILL SAY THIS I HATE THAT GEORGE AND BURKE ARE GONE….IS THERE ANY WAY TO MAYBE BRING BURKE BACK NOW THAT GEORGE IS GONE…EAITHER WAY I WILL WATCH IT NO MATTER WHAT…
WE WANT BURKE BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK………WE MISSS BURKE….. BRING BACK BURKE
I would never watch again. Mer and Derek are everything, the show cannot survive without them. And, in my opinion, this season is a boring crazy mess. I hate that persons from mercy CRAP west, at the show. They don’t fit there. I am missing the crazyness from Cristina, the stupid from Alex and the passion from derek and meredith
And another thing. BURKE REALLY NEED TO COME BACK!
yes I wouldn’t watching this show without meredith and derek but everyone think that lexie is not so important but for me she play a big part in this show now!I think the story between derek and meredith is a little boring and there was no rebound !hope something new will come to them !!
it seems that you delete character to the suspense and surprise but I think its not work very well.So I hope that no main character will be deleted, we all had our account of the above!
The only thing that could save that show without Mer and Der, is if they bring Burke back, and put Yang in a love triange (everyone loves Yang), and everyone would tune in just to see Burke, can’t help it we love the guy. That would keep the fans busy and provide Ellen with all the big belly time she needs. I pray they don’t try to write in those doctors from the other hosipital (i could write that). Looks like they are trying to push the show to Izzy and Karev, I’ll stop watching right there, they have had enough dramma, writers are no longer being creative. The lost of George was no big deal, no one ever watched for George. I also think they need to do more with Bailey’s role, the material is getting bad. And she’s the rock of the show.
Derek and Meredith’s moments amidst all the trauma and emergency in Seattle Grace makes the Grey’s Anatomy an exciting watch. So, would not want to watch a Grey’s Anatomy without the original Grey and McDreamy….
A Grey’s Anatomy … with a different Grey? Um … no. I admit, I like Lexie, but I really don’t think she could keep a mature cast onboard. Meredith and Derek, among others, keep the plot of the show on a serious base. How can we expect to get anywhere serious with Lexie, who’s starting right from where it took Meredith five seasons to get? And she did it in two seasons, come on! Lexie’s is like the ‘Robin’ (From Batman) of Grey’s Anatomy. Funny, cute, immature, but she can’t really do the whole ‘Dark and Twisty’ thing, can she? I would probably still watch the show, but it wouldn’t be half as enticing. Right now, its that show you get a speeding ticket for rushing home to see, but without Meredith, (or Derek, Cristina, or other leading roles) it’d be the show you watch half-heartedly, and you’re not afraid to miss when a movie you like is on. Keep as much of the original cast as possible.
NO. it’s that simple. it’s happened to many of my favorite shows, but most recently One Tree Hill lost 2 of its main characters, and after watching this show for 6 seasons (it was my life) i could care less about the show now. Without Meredith and Der, the show would not be the same. It MIGHT be an “okay” show.. but i wouldnt watch it, and it would lose SO many fans.
Personnellement, j’aime beaucoup le personnage de Lexie tout comme celui de Bailey. Je trouve également géniale la relation “Arizona-Callie”. Mais je pense que sans MerDer, IZZY, Georges, Alisson..etc la série n’aurais plus rien en commun avec le tout début, alors garder le même nom ne voudrait rien dire. Pourtant, vous avez toujours réussi a nous captiver malgrès ces grands changements, on ne sait jamais ce que vous seriez capable de faire…
Mais il est évident qu’ avec la nouvelle perte d’un personnage principal (tel que Chistina, Callie ou encore Bailey), vous risquez aussi de perdre et de décevoir de nombreux fans du monde entier.
En tout cas merci pour tous ces nombreux épisodes que j’ai suivi avec un énorme interêt (tout comme ceux de Private Practise).
I just think the show is getting worse every day. And what does it means : the clue is in the transition? because if they do everything like with george and izze… i think it’s pathetic the way they ended it
The show seems to losing interest with the merger. Bring in the new people and do the firing or whatever needs to be done, once and for all create the conflict and give some excitement to Yang and the McDreamy couple.
Looks like you may have something up your sleeve for the big eyed, short haired doctor and Alex, not sure what.
Needs more interest. I like the show but I for one am starting to lose interest and follow more to Private Practice.
Sad that George left.
Shonda Rhimes,
Every character in Grey’s Anatomy can stand on their own in terms of plot…but losing the two MAIN characters would change the entire vibe of the show. Having captured the hearts of such a huge audience, drastic changes in the supporting leads are risky enough. Writing off characters who are as influential as Derek and Meredith would be absolute suicide.
People need a base personality to connect with in order to become attached to a show. That comfort character should always be there to survive the dramatic twists that come along no matter how difficult they may seem. It may not be realistic, but that’s the beauty of television. Making such a drastic change as to switch the entire focus from one person to another is far too complicated for anyone to adjust to.
It has nothing to do with whether or not the supporting leads are influential enough to keep up the quality of the show. The entire cast is fabulous, and they all carry their own weight. Nonetheless, Grey’s began with Meredith, not just as the main character, but the narrator; the voice of reason throughout all of the chaos came from her mind. Without that same voice, it would be a different mind and an entirely different show.
Examples:
FRIENDS without Ross and Rachel
DAWSON’S CREEK without Dawson and Joey
WILL AND GRACE without Will and Grace…
THAT 70’s SHOW without Eric and Donna
LOST without Jack, Kate, and Sawyer
THE OFFICE without Michael
SEX AND THE CITY without Cary
Look what happened to the OC without Marissa…they couldn’t even finish their season. Please don’t let that happen to Grey’s Anatomy.
If it is an issue of the pregnancy leave…break for a year before shooting another season. People will wait. As a proud fanatic of Grey’s Anatomy myself, I would rather wait for the real show to return rather than have to adjust to the sequel-like version that would take it’s place.
Sincerely,
An overly opinionated fan
Simply enough, no the show would not work with out the main characters . Last week with Mer in bed recuperating from her surgery you seriously noticed her missing & that the vibe had changed. So no .
I WOULD NOT WATCH THE SHOW. THE ONLY REASON I WATCH IT NOW IS FOR DEREK AND MEREDITH. IF SHONDA GETS RID OF THEM THE SHOW WILL LITERALLY BE OVER. WHILE SOME OF YOU DONT LIKE MEREDITH THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY (99%) WOULD NEVER WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN. AND DEREK. DEREK. DEREK. CANNOT LEAVE. HE JUST CANT.
“Grey’s began with Meredith, not just as the main character, but the narrator; the voice of reason throughout all of the chaos came from her mind. Without that same voice, it would be a different mind and an entirely different show.”
I very much agree. You can’t get rid of the narrator of story in the middle of the story. Derek and all the other main characters, wile important, aren’t necessary and the show can survive their replacement but not Meredith’s.
If they are going to take her out of the story they should scrap the series and start a spin off show, maybe with Lexie as the narrator. Otherwise you end up with just another crapy soap like General Hospital; and it’s been spewing it’s stink for that last fifty years.
Absolutely not. There would be no point to watch. I have been a faithful fan since season 1, own all the DVDs, and if Meredith and other core cast members are taken away, the show would loose it’s original pizazz. Continuing a show without the original cast is a mistake, it would never be the same. The new 90210 series was a disaster, and I feel like slowly replacing the core characters would be headin in the same direction…
No, i would not watch the show if Meridith and Derek was not in it, they make the show!! Much love ben – Greys lover.
I love this show.
I’D WATCH IT UNTILL IT ENDS.
My husband and I started out watching this show, looking forward to every Sunday night. We loved the light and breezy air to the show. I realize this is a medical drama, but we think the show has been too heavy for the past 2 years. My husband no longer watches to the show with me. We both love the story of Meredith and Derek. It would be nice to see this relationship continue to grow. They are middle age doctors that deserve a realistic shot of being happy. I did not like when they were broken up. There is much to explore with this couple.
One character that has really brought the show down is Izzy Stephens. I am so tired of her over acting and the drama associated with her character. I would love to see this show lightened up a bit. The first year had a magic to it. It was funny, heartwarming and lively. There is far too much drama on TV and Grey’s Anatomy used to be a nice change of pace. I have been very happy to watch the show since Izzy has been on hiatus for the past few shows. I was disappointed by her return tonight. All of a sudden, that same down-hearted drama was back on the set. If Katherine Heigl wants to explore here acting abilities, perhaps she should stick to the movies. The ironic part is….she mostly makes comedies. Why can’t she bring that to this show.
I am on the verge of joining my husband if the show does not go back to the way it was. I have been patient, hoping for a turn around. I love Bailey, Alex, Meredith, Derek and Yang. Lexie does not have leading lady capabilities to replace Meredith. Owen is really boring to watch. I like the new cardiologist introduced tonight. Arizona is great also. I am not comfortable with lesbian scenes, but I think they are more tasteful since the last cardiologist left.
I have to mostly agree with the above post. The show was light but then it had some great seriousness to it also. The bomb in the patiesnt is a perfect exanple. It was serious however they found ways to really lighten it up. Remember that lady screeming constantly and the only way to quiet her was Alex getting right in her face and screaming back at her. And lets not forget the famous Va jay- jay! I am also very tired of Izzy and KH! This show really put her out there and she is using it now. It makes me wonder what would happen if all of the other actors demanded the same thing. This hiatus stuff is not fare, it makes Greys Anatomy as a second choice show. I still continue to watch however it is no longer my favorite #1 show anymore,