From Joan Rater, one of the writers of "Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response" (hour 1 of the 2 hour finale)

Original Airdate: May 15, 2006 (Note: The second hour of the two hour finale, titled "Losing My Religion," was written by Shonda, and she will be sharing her thoughts on that one herself in a bit...)

I know, I know, I KNOW!!!!!!  Denny's dead and it sucks.  More than sucks.  Blows.  Feels awful and empty and seriously, why couldn't Denny have lived?

Well, if you'd been hanging around the Writer's Room in March you would have heard the writers asking that very question, day after day.  Does Denny really have to die?  There was one particular day when most of the writers had decided that Denny couldn't die.  He had to live. Seriously.  Why not?  And when Shonda came into the Writer's Room and Krista said, "Does Denny have to die?", I think Shonda's head almost exploded because it was about the 12th person that day who had asked the very same question.  And here's the thing.  The person who wanted Denny to live the MOST is Shonda.  We all love Denny because he's so charming and Denny-ish and the actor is even more charming and Jeffrey-ish, but let me tell you there was no one more tortured and torn up about it than Shonda.  So you say to yourself, okay, you're the writers, you could have saved him if you wanted to.  But we couldn't.  Denny had to die. And not for plot reasons or anything like that, it's just ... it's hard to explain.  As bad as it felt, it also felt right.  “Right” is so the wrong word, but it felt inevitable.  But since Denny didn't die until hour two, and Tony and I wrote hour one, I'll leave it to Shonda to talk more about Denny ...

What I really want to talk about is you guys.  The fans.  I mean, we all know it was one hell of an emotional roller coaster, these last three episodes.  And a lot of things are still up in the air … Mer/Der/Finn in particular.  I watched last night with my nieces and nephew who literally were begging me for something, anything about next season.  I so wanted to tell them that no matter what happens with Izzie, or who Meredith picks, it's all going to be alright (I'm a mother, I have 2 kids, so I'm inclined to want to make it all better and for there to be band-aids put on skinned knees and happy endings at the end of stories).  But before I became a mother, I was a single woman living in New York City through most of my twenties.  And I know from experience that before the happy ending there's a lot of bad choices, bad luck, one night stands and tequila.  Not to mention amazing, magical times that make all those bad choices and one night stands worth it.  Your twenties are when you figure out who you are, and what matters to you.  You're forming friendships that will sustain you.  You're making plans.  Looking for your soulmate.  Wondering if there is such a thing as a soulmate. These interns are struggling with all that while learning to be surgeons.  I started this paragraph saying I wanted to talk about you guys, the fans, and I ended up talking about myself (something Tony says I do a lot).  I guess it's because when I read your comments, I can relate.  I might not agree, but I usually get and appreciate how you feel and where you're coming from, even if it's an angry rant about how dare we kill Denny.  Seriously, you guys, we feel it too.  All we're trying to do is do right by these characters, and write stuff we'd want to watch.

So I’ll leave you with what I told my nieces and nephew last night about next season:  It’s gonna be great.  You’ll laugh … and cry … and hate our characters one minute … and love them the next.  And throw things at your TV. 

And we'll keep doing our best to bring you stories about the messiness of being human.

Comments

[MN Mike]

Just wanted to be the first to post. Can't wait till next fall.

[Jamie]

Am I seriously the only person who is OK with the fact that Denny died?

[Jackie]

I don't care what anyone says, that was great TV.

[kalisah]

You guys blew it.

The finale was pandering and boring. You should've ended it with Sunday night's ep which was intense and had a great cliffhanger ending.

Whitney Matheson at USA Today trashed it and everyone's comments are, "I loved this show....up until last night."

And fire your hairdresser. It's getting pathetic.

[KJR]

Can't wait until next season. I am still breathless from last night, but at least the tears stopped. Thanks for a great finale!

[Riley]

It was a great episode. I was upset with Denny dying at first, but I think I am okay with it now. I just can't wait to see the next season to find out how things work out.

[Lisa]

I can't wait the whole summer without Grey's. Seriously. What am I supposed to do now?

The whole finale was amazing. I need answers to the questions, people.

Keep up the amazing work, you guys.

I'm okay with the fact Denny died - I expected him to die. It's a story about surgeons and their lives, and Denny wasn't a surgeon.

[Andy]

I think that I'll need some proffessional help because I was so sad after this episode. I wasn't as crazy about Denny as everyone else was, but seeing him die and then seeing Izzie in the elevator with the biggest smile on her face was the most depressing thing that I've ever seen. And then we saw that flash of human in Alex. Human in ALEX?? I didn't know that was even possible! Hopefully though, Izzie will be back at some point next season 'cause I don't think the show will be the same without her.

[Chelsey]

I agree. Denny had to die.

As for the rest, well, i have full faith in the writers. Because there's not a character on the show who I don't realize is flawed and has a reason for their actions. I can relate to all of them.

You guys are incredible.

[Nancy]

Jamie: I was okay with it too. He was a guest star; a secondary character. The actor did a wonderful job with it, and the storyline was engaging. But, yeah: It was okay that he died, because it will spawn a whole new storyline for Izzy, as she searches her soul, examines her actions, and faces the consequences.

[Jessy]

The season finale was great couldn't have been better and a great cliffhanger I'm so anxious for next season I couldn't even sleep last night...
Poor Denny I love'd him...

[Jake]

Denny wasn't a metaphor for the Meredith/Derrick relationship, too, was he?

[Alex]

omg! omg! omg! omg!

doc's dead. denny's dead. OMG!

[Sam]

I threw SO many things at my TV lastnight, but thats a good thing. AMAZING finale. Cant wait till season 3.

You guys are incredible.

Keep up the good work.

[alyssa]

i'm sort of ok with denny being gone. i'm not so ok with mer & derek hooking up again. part of me wants that, and part of me wants them both to get over each other. and i'm starting to like addison. a little. oh, stoked about the move to thursdays too!

[Shannon - WI]

I'll admit, I'm one of those people that cried ... and I mean sobbed. But it was an awesome episode and I wouldn't have changed anything. We got to see that Alex isn't really that much of a jerk after all. I can't wait til next season!

[Jenny]

I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the summer without Grey’s. It was an amazing episode, I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat, and then I cried again. I can’t wait for next season. And I can’t believe you made us love Alex again!!

[Kate]

Tears were shed. seriously.

Mostly over Doc being euthanized. Even though I kinda expected Denny, it was still really heartbreaking.

[Kim]

I'm okay with the fact that Denny died. But I was actually wondering when season 3 started?

[Christine in CT]

I love a show that leaves me thinking - feeling - about each episodes for days. Thank you for sharing precious pieces of yourselves through the GA characters.

[Maria]

I also don't mind really that Denny had to die. While I think his character was charming, it was much to creepy for me to see his "Dr." falling for him. That is just so wrong. Plus, look where that got her.
Thanks for finally having George apologize to Meredith. I think was in the first hour? IT was way overdue!

I LOVE FINN!!!! I know the Meredith/Derek stuff was the last hour, but he was SO my hope for her to move on to someone who will love her, for her, and not tie her up in all this I'm married, crap. PLEASE DON'T LET FINN LEAVE HER LIFE!!! HE IS A GREAT GUY! He is what she needs, and she was starting to come around. Sign him for more episodes next year, shave that crap on his face, and let's see them explore putting themselves back together-together!!!
Thanks for all your time, can't wait for Sept.!

[Nicole B]

Did this on the 17 seconds post, but am reposting here:

Ok, so seriously people. I know the rumor about how Heigl (Izzy) only signed on for 1 year and how she wants to go do movies now or something but really - is it too much to ask that she gets a happily ever after send off like Carol Hathaway did in ER with the babies and her running off to a life with Doug so that you always know that she and Doug are together and happy and you can make up a life for them? (Yes, I know that is a run-on sentence) Nope. Not here. Yes it makes for great TV but every woman should be blessed with her own Denny to have a beautiful future with. Imagine, the only man who ever saw Izzy as a bright, funny, loving woman rather than just a "hot chick" is "killed off". How devastating for her?! How will she ever trust now that she will find anyone else who sees her that way? I guess we'll never know if she is indeed leaving the show to pursue the silver screen.

So McDreamy and McTramp'n'whiny got it on. Ok, so I have to admit that scene was waaaay HOT. But come on Derek, grow a pair and make a choice already! You CAN'T have your cake and eat it too. Own up to your mistakes and responsibilities for once. All that's left in your marriage is friendship and friend-like love. Not romantic love. Not passion. Why try and fake it? Leave now before you have Addison, who has become one hell of a glorious woman, permanently hating you. Let her go before any more damage is done. Let Addison live her life with McSteamy, McVet (there were some sparks at the very end) or McJackhole (Alex) but for God's sake, don't leave her hanging on to crumbs anymore. It makes you look like the king of jackholes.

Addison. What can I say? You've grown on me. I like the fact that you admitted your mistakes and hav fought valiently for your marriage, however, I thought you had started to take the blinders off to your husband and Meredith, but in the end it seems like you choose to ignore it. Take them OFF! You are incredible, glorious, gorgeous and smart but when it comes to facing facts you're dumb as a post. You will never be happy until you give your husband the boot and find your own McDreamy. I'm rooting for you!

I've been reading the boards and see that a lot of people don't like Callie and George b/c "she's too big for him". Who cares. She is a true WOMAN! She's sharp, she's sassy, she's gorgeous and she's vulnerable underneath that tough exterior. I adore her. The size of her body shouldn't matter, only the size of her character and heart. Granted, she was being a real "B" but she stepped up in the end and worked to overcome her insecurities and negative feelings. I LOVES the look she threw McD as she's tying Meredith's bow - giving him the put down look of disgust he so rightly deserves. (For the love of God man, it just makes you look McCreepy to boink the person you truly love while you're lying to your wife about trying to work on things)

Alex, who knew you had such a huge heart under that jackhole exterior?! First with the heart-wrangling for Denny and then with the whole comforting Izzy at the end. I think I might just like you afterall. I think you'll make a great grown up someday.

You too George. I like that you stepped up and admitted that you didn't love Callie but that you wanted time to try and you weren't going to say the "L" word back just to be reciprocal. You're showing signs of growth and maturity instead of the Bambi and it looks good on you!

I LOVED Adele's chewing the Chief a new one! He deserved it. Did he honestly think that he could keep the affair a secret from his wife forever? Seriously?! I really hope to see more of her next season. She's awesome! Chief, you're lucky to have her. Give her the honor and respect and love she deserves.

Christina, Christina, Christina. Oh girl. What can I say about you? I lost respect for you when you walked away from Burke not once but twice. So you're becoming human. It's not so bad, but did you have to let down the person who loves you when he really needed you the most. I understand that your tough exterior and your uncaring, unfeeling attitude is b/c you're compensating for really being weak on the inside, but walking away from Burke? I just hope that you coming to his side at the end isn't a case of too little too late.

Bailey, you had me at va-jay-jay. You are my favorite character. Seriously. Every scene is perfectly acted and never overacted.

Burke, not much I can say about you except allow yourself to lighten up - especially if the surgery did do permanent nerve damage and you can no longer operate. Tell Shepherd about it. He needs to know. You're one great guy, I hope you're staying around.

And lastly on this little tour of the main characters...
Meredith. Ohhhhh, Meredith. *Shakes my head* You're beautiful when you smile and yeah, you finally know how McDreamy feels about you - relatively speaking - but really...screwing him while he's still with his wife, that kind of thing should be beneath you. But it's not. You're our favorite little mess. But please, for the love of God - STOP WHINING! It's about as pleasant on the ears as nails on a chalkboard. Make a decision, stick by it and endeavor to be happy. Whether it's McVet or McDreamy, just make a choice and keep it. Unless you're one of those who has to be miserable b/c you're happier being miserable than you are actually being happy. I have hope that you can pull yourself out of the gutter of gloom in which you live and actually find happiness.

To the writers, THANK YOU for a wonderful final - even though you killed off Denny. Jackholes. I can't wait to see what you cook up for next season. Oh, and can you PLEASE release the DVD's sooner than September 12?!

[Fran]

I can't care about Meredith anymore. Too many mistakes in the same vein make her seem not young and confused confused, but simply unable to learn.

Great epidsodes. Love the Denny/Izzie developments, and George's apology.

Great season!