Shonda Rhimes on Burning Down The House...

Original airdate: 5/17/07

So the third season began with Meredith helping Izzie remove her prom dress and ended with Meredith helping Cristina get out of her wedding gown.  I don’t know if you’ve noticed but…I like a little symmetry.

This season was important to me.  It wasn’t as light as Season Two and for good reason – our characters were in a darker place.  I needed to put Meredith’s mother to rest, Izzie’s grief to rest, and the race for Chief to rest.  George needed to grow up on a monumental level and then come full circle to where he was when we first met him in the pilot.  Meredith had to finally try to face the fact that she’s damaged when it comes to relationships.  I wanted to put Bailey on the path of questioning her standing as The Chosen One.   Both Burke and Derek needed to hit a relationship wall, each in their own ways.  And then there’s Cristina…

Oh, the Cristina of it all.  What this season is about most of all – for all of our women – is  the idea of “having it all” is a myth.  And that was true for Cristina more than anyone.  Slowly, over the course of the season, we’ve watched as hard-nosed Yang sliced off little pieces of herself to accommodate Burke.  From helping Burke hide his tremor to Colin Marlowe telling her she’s not the woman he knew to prepping for the wedding, she slowly morphs from kickass surgeon-girl into a woman we don’t quite recognize in that wedding dress with penciled eyebrows.   I wanted you to have the feeling in the finale that she’s become this painted doll – beautiful, everyone’s fantasy bride, but a painted doll all the same.  No longer our Cristina.  There’s that wonderful moment where she begs Bailey to let her cut because a part of her knows she’s becoming someone she doesn’t recognize.  And then, just as she’s lost almost all of herself standing there in that gown ready to walk down the aisle, Burke is telling her that he can’t marry her.  Because even Burke realizes that this Cristina is not his Cristina.   It’s devastating.  I hope you noticed that in the beginning of the episode Cristina talks about a heart as a purely anatomical thing (“it pumps blood”) and then Burke’s vows are all about the heart as an emotional thing (“I promise to lay my heart in the palm of your hands”) and it’s so sad to realize that they have completely opposing views of the world.   I feel for Burke and you should too because he knows that, in a way, by leading, pushing, cajoling her down this path to being together, he’s done this to her – he’s changed her.  That the only way to save her from disappearing completely is to set her free.  And then in that wonderfully painful moment (how much do we love Sandra Oh and her incredible talent?) in the apartment, Cristina turns to Meredith and says “He’s gone.  I’m free.  Damn it.”  And it’s so nuanced and so layered and so tragic because she’s relieved and terrified and heartbroken and suffocated all at once.  Watching her journey back from this is going to be amazing next season.

George and Izzie and Callie:  you all have your opinions, very strong opinions, on how you feel about this love triangle.  I’m glad – strong opinions mean you care what happens.  In the finale, Izzie’s declaring herself and Callie’s fighting for her rightful territory.  That moment when Callie casually lets Izzie know that she’s not only been named Izzie’s boss but that she and George are trying to have a baby is very interesting.  Callie’s saying “don’t mess with me” in the only way she knows how.  About the baby thing – for the record, I am very strongly against anyone trying to have a baby to save a relationship.  It’s crazy because it never works and I highly recommend you don’t do it.  Plus it goes against every feminist bone in my body.  But it is also human to delude yourself into believing that you’re not having a baby to save your relationship, that instead having a baby is a way of taking your relationship to the next level.  And Callie gives that great speech about her hormones and her body.  I’ve been there and I know that it is real, this sudden baby rush that happens and, if you are firmly into your career, it freaks you out.  Callie’s just being as honest as she knows how to be with George.  Because she can’t bring up Izzie again – not when the last time she brought it up, George called Izzie a supermodel thereby suggesting that Callie was, well…not.

George is interesting is this episode.  Did you notice that after he looks at his test scores, his entire demeanor changes?  How he’s vulnerable in a way that we haven’t seen in a long time?   My favorite moments for him are in that scene with Bailey where he says he can’t repeat his intern year over again.  He just can’t.  And then when that girl in the locker room (Lexie Grey!  Lexie Grey!) asks if he has any advice, he says simply “No.”  I love that.  Because he doesn’t have any answers.  He thought he did and then he fails his intern exam and Izzie has to go and tell him she’s in love with him.  He has no idea what the future holds.  His whole future is one big question.

Alex and Ava.  My heart beats for them.  How amazing was Ava in those scenes?  And Alex…I’ve said before that Alex is Meredith’s mirror and I’m saying it again.  He’s too screwed up to give Ava a reason to stay because he doesn’t think he’s good enough.   And it’s no coincidence that this scene comes right before the MerDer scene where Derek is asking her, all pained and raw, to put him out of his misery and Meredith is WAY too screwed up to give him an answer.  They’re damaged people, Alex and Meredith.

What I love is that for Meredith, Cristina getting married has become this incredibly important thing – this sign – that maybe she and Derek can make it through.  That she can be healthy enough to let herself have this, have him.  She keeps saying to Cristina “you can do this” and she needs it to be true.  She needs it desperately.  Meredith, the girl with no family model for how a relationship works, looks to her best friend. So when Burke shuts the whole thing down, Meredith is almost as devastated as Cristina.  She does that long walk down the aisle, gets up in front of the wedding guests and tells them it’s over.  And she doesn’t just mean the wedding.  She means everything she hoped could be true.  She means the fairy tale.  She means the MerDer of it all.  It’s over.  It’s so over.  Because she no longer believes.

Bailey’s got a lot to contend with next year.  She thought she was going to be Chief Resident – she really believed it.  After all, the Chief spent the season practically anointing her with Chief Resident oil. But he also spent the season warning her.  Because from his own life, he knows what it is to get so caught up in a job that you neglect your family.  And he wouldn’t wish that on anyone.  That is a lesson Bailey’s not ready to learn – the fact that there may be a choice between family and career isn’t something this generation of women has been raised to believe.  It’s not something I’m ready to believe.  But, like I said, what the women start to see this season is that maybe they may not necessarily be able to have it all.  Because maybe having it all has a price.  Is it fair that Bailey has to pay this price?  Absolutely not.  But isn’t it ironic that Bailey’s got the strong family and (in her mind) a shaky career while Callie’s got the solid career and the shaky family life?

The Chief.  Aah, my Chief.  I love his full circle journey this season.  His wife starts out leaving him and now she’s come back.  And Derek hands him back the Chief job.  Which opens all sorts of possibilities.  Because if he’s going to do it all over again, how will he do it differently?  Is it possible for him to have it all?  Will he get Adele back if he chooses to stay Chief?  I love the wonderful moments with his wife, when they’ve lost the baby and he’s there for her.   For me, in the face of the supposed fairy tale playing out with Burke and Cristina, this is what real love is.  After years of mistakes and pain and problems, real love is two people standing together, choosing to be together, despite all that has gone wrong.  It is very grown-up, the Chief and Adele of it all. 

Derek.  Poor Derek.  He’s done his best to pull Meredith forward.  He’s done his best to be in this relationship and help her be in it too.  He has tried to be the best man.  But it wasn’t enough.  He can’t save her.  And so in that last moment, when he’s sitting with the Chief, and he tells the Chief that he can’t take the job, it is about so much more than just the job.  It is about his belief in himself.  I adore the moment in the locker room when he tells Mer that she’s the love of his life.  Mainly because Patrick says things like that better than anyone I’ve ever seen.  But also because he’s desperately trying to get through to her.  And when he says that he can’t leave her, he won’t leave her, because he can’t – it’s sad.  And she looks at him and just sort of…freaks out and and he pleads with that one word “Meredith”…it’s all so…the way he puts his head back as they leave the locker room…He can’t be more of a best man.  Where he’s going next season is going to be interesting to watch.

Last but not least are Addison and Mark.  We don’t see a lot of them in this episode.  And for good reason.  Their stories were done, finished, earlier.  For Addison, there’s a brand new future ahead over at Private Practice (Wednesday nights at 9 pm!).  For Mark, he starts fresh over at Grey’s next year.  Without Addison.  He’ll get to stand on his own and I think you’ll enjoy seeing it.

So that’s it.  That was our season.  I did my level best to burn it all down this season, to burn it to the ground so that we can have a place to build from next season.  Burning it down was hard.  But next season…oh, next season is all about the fun and the pain and the new beginnings.  Because our interns are going to become residents.  Because everyone is single again -- well, there is the little matter of Izzie and George and Callie…but still…

…the future is wide open, people.

Special thanks to Tony Phelan and Joan Rater for writing an excellent finale. And to Shoots With No Script for...well, shooting with a very long script.

Have a good summer.

Comments

[Jen]

Why is every couple breaking up except for George and Callie when they are the only ones who should be breaking up?!?!

Since it's a starting a new year, is there going to be another Dead Baby Bike Race?

[Brandi]

Wow, I do not know where to start…did she really break up with him? Seriously? Did she or was that the cliffhanger because I’m just not getting it? I guess I have to see her say it to his face that it is over for it to be real for me.

I’m hesitant to say it, but a tiny part of me wishes that Meredith would tell him it is over just to do to him what he did to her. I kinda like that Derek is in Meredith's Season 2 shoes. Maybe they need to break each other so that they can fix this in the end. But the bigger part of me not set on revenge wants Meredith to put herself out there and let it go right for her for once. You asked the audience to take a leap but maybe it is Meredith who needs to take that leap and see that she doesn't need Christina to get her happily ever after for her to believe in them again. Maybe she needs to leap and see that she can make her own happily ever after. I hope that is where this whole thing is going next season. I think everyone else has enough drama to make up for Meredith and Derek getting to be happy. Meredith especially needs happy right now. I’m kinda done with the whole Mer/Der angst fest. They need to be happy for once.

Okay enough of that, it was a good episode. It felt very weird and like everything was on the verge of something else but I think that was the whole point. They are all on the verge of something new. And do they go back to the beginning and try it all over or do they take the leap and go on to the next thing. I can’t wait for Season 4. I hope it is as good as I think it COULD be.

P.S. Lexie Grey has a lot of potential. Please keep her potential away from Derek! If Lexie and her potential even so much as touch Derek with a ten foot pole on fire, I’m done with this show. Give her to Mark (admit that that would be awesome). This is not the O.C. so leave the estranged sisters fighting over a guy to the soaps.

Breaking up Mer/Der - it's over for me as a viewer. And this is coming from someone who has supported you non-stop.

[Laura]

Thank you so so much for keeping George and Callie together! I love them and hate Gizzie!

[robin]

OH MY GOD SHONDA! How could you do this to me? How will I survive the summer? since the episode was over my heart is pounding (paging Dr. McDreamy)! My stomach is alltied in knots? What is going on? I feel like everyone's life on the show is coming crashing down! Help! I love these people. I read a spoiler that the woman in the bar was Mer's sister but I thought it was too outrageous to actually happen. I know see never to underestimate you- nothing is too much for you. Please give me some info on next season- unless you want me to have amiserable summer worrying about christina, Mer, George, Derek... I have enough problems without worrying about fictional characters! By the way loved this episode- as I do every, Love you- brilliant creator. Thanks for a great season and good luck with next- please give me some peace of mind in the season premiere- I know not going to happen this is Grey's. Love you more then you can imagine. Gotta go my breathing is not so good-HELP!

[gamaka]

great finale, I laughed, I cried!

[bonnie]

my heart is so incredibly sad. they can't just be in stasis like that for the summer. everyone's hearts are so sad. if i were to list the entire cast of characters on grey's anatomy, they would all be heartbroken.

my heart is sad, shonda.

[Angela T]

I hope you don't censor this. I could say a lot about the season finale, but I'll concentrate on the one issue that stands out.

The Alex story should not be about how damaged he is that he can't give Ava a reason to stay. It should be about yet another doctor having inappropriate feelings for a PATIENT. You know, I was fine when it felt like a brother/sister thing. You even had Alex say he treated Ava like his SISTER. What was the point of that? Let me tell you something. Doctors don't all fall for their patients. And, not just doctors in horrific relationships with other doctors. I wasn't thinking "poor Alex, why is he so damaged, what happened to him?" Maybe I would have been thinking that, but instead I can't believe you went there and made Alex into Izzie circa Denny. It wasn't inevitable. It didn't have to happen.

Despite what you did, I still love Alex. Please go back to ignoring him so that I don't stop loving Alex. You know early season 3? When Alex was supposedly not getting any stories? Only he was standing up for Bailey at the M&M and recounting boxing stories to unborn babies, and even putting his jacket around Izzie and leading her away from the hospital after she stood outside it all day? Those were great! The Ava thing could have been great if it had stayed with Alex becoming a more caring DOCTOR and even realizing he might have been overstepping his boundaries when he treated her like a SISTER. But, no, it had to become an inappropriate thing. And, to top it off, it had to be with a MARRIED patient. Hoping is too strong a word, but I truly would like to never see Elizabeth Reaser on the show again. Maybe by the time season 4 roles around, Alex will have shaken off what you did to him at the end of this season and will still have the greatness he had in the beginning.

Shonda, marriage is not evil and wrong by definition. Stop acting like all marriages are meant to be broken.

I'm sure others will take care of the other stories.

[AmandaCB]

Seriously???? SERIOUSLY???? You are leaving me with that for the entire summer?? OMG I can't even begin to stop and count how many times I *gasped* during this finale! And I cried. And I laughed. And everything seemed to be happening at once....oh, and I kept saying "oh no, oh no, don't do that, oh no!". Argh. Shonda, I am shocked. You completely burned me down, ground level momma! To the ground! Whew...it's been an intense ride this season, and as Desi would say, "You'ze got sum essplaining to do, Lucy!!" Sooo much to explain, so many questions unanswered. I guess the biggest is....NOW what?? Love you and your team so so so much Shonda. Anxiously awaiting the next season!

[devastated]

wait so, um, they did? break up? meredith and derek, they broke up. i am speechless.

[Tamika]

And seriously if you have derek and lexie hook up, i really will have lost all faith in you! And you're ability as a writer!!

Seriously all the actors on this show deserve better than what you're giving them!

[Dr Izzie]

Shonda...I`ve followed through thick and thin but how can I say this? I`m a bit disappointed in everything that has happened since the ferry epis...

I don`t know what happened but I hope you bring back GA...not that this season was bad or anything but it has left me with an aftertaste in my mouth that just doesn`t feel right if you know what I mean

I`ll be there at the beginning of season 4 but if it continues like this, I don`t know if I`ll be able to watch season 4 and it breaks my heart!!!

Anyhow have a nice summer and the aftertaste will probably be gone in the fall when I see my favorite interns (oops! residents) come back on screen!

Have a nice summer!!!

[McDark&Twisty]

I HATE YOU.

Okay, I take that back. I won't be so harsh since I'm sure many others will be.

But I HATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

What I just saw wasn't you asking us to lie back down and leap with you. When I read that, I was all for leaping. A small leap, okay, a three story leap, why the hell not. But what I just saw was you asking us to leap off the Empire State building with you, and NOBODY wants to do that, or will do that. Except for maybe everyone at Seattle Grace hospital.

[I'mbreathing]

Oh my gosh. That was amazing. Literally, I don't think I can wait all summer.

p.s. However, I think Meredith and Derek should just, you know, stay together and stuff. It took them like half way through season three to finally be together, and its over already?!? I can't take it.

[Matthew Rushing]

Derek did it; he said what he needed to say. Meredith is the love of his life! He wants her to need him. He wants her to let him be in her life like she has let her friends in. He wants to be there for her for better or for worse. He would never cheat on her. The problem, Meredith does not get it yet. She dose not understand how to have a healthy relationship. She has kept him on a relationship yo-yo and he is still in. That is love. All she has to do is chose him. He said to her what she said to him in the scrub room, when she told him to love her and pick her. I think that she will pick him. Shonda said that she does not drown people for no reason. Meredith realized then that she could not just have breaths of Derek; she had to have all of him. She will chose him! It is the only thing that makes sense. How could you say no to Derek after you really thought about what he said?
Burke and Cristina. Burke did the hard thing and I do not know if it was the right thing. Cristina seemed to be really upset about the newfound freedom. She does love Burke and wants to be with him. I do not think that they are done. I think that they are going to work it out. Burke will learn to love Cristina, the real Cristina.
George is not leaving. I think that he will take a page from Izzie’s book and do what it takes to come back. He and Callie are not going to be having a baby. They are going to end next year, because Callie wants a person that wants her. George is Izzie’s now. He loves her. Callie has always been ahead of George in feelings and now she is not anywhere close to him. They are worlds apart. George just has to hunker down and plow through the next year. He will make it.
Alex’s story was sad. Not really a lot to say, but I cannot wait to see him grow.
Richard is going to stay and be the chief. He has too. He is the man and there is no one to take his place.
This sets us up for a great year next year. Shonda will not let us down. I trust her. Thank you all for an amazing season, I will be back next season for the best show on TV.!

[exfan]

If George leaves, so do I.

[Dustin]

Wow...dont know what to say. Next season better be good.

[tracy]

first comment? seriously? loved it! can't wait for fall!!!

[bonnie]

my heart is so sad. you can't leave them all in such horrible heartbreak all summer like that... if i were to list every character of grey's anatomy, they would be heartbroken right now.

my heart is sad, shonda.

[McDark&Twisty]

"Have a good summer"????

I- I don't even know what to think about that. I'm speechless.

But, especially at the end but throughout the whole episode, I cried. But it wasn't the good, emotional cry you get when you see something sad. It wasn't like the bomb episode cry, or Meredith's mom dying cry. It was a loud, gasping, more-noise-less-tears cry. That's not the kind of cry you want someone watching your show to have.

[Melissa]

Shonda,

In Jan of 2006 I sat in front of my tv scanning the channels, not expecting anything, looking aimlessly to pass the time. Then I came upon Grey’s Anatomy. You see I had heard about it, heard it was brilliant and so I decided to give it a try…and instantly…in one hour I fell in love, and I am not someone who falls in love with a tv show, but your’s I did…and I fell fast.

It captivated me, enthralled me, and intrigued me. I fell in love with the characters, their friendship, their struggles, their relationships. And in one week I found every episode up to that point so I could catch up before the next one aired. It made me smile, made me laugh, made me cry, but it always worked out. And in the end I always was left waiting for the next episode. For an hour of my life, each week, I turned on the TV and I was given a reason to hope.

Then May 17, 2007 came…and with in one hour and fifteen minutes my hope was shattered, torn apart. I was left feeling as though my heart had been ripped out and stomped on…

You see, along with falling in love with your tv show and characters I fell in love particularly with Meredith and Derek, though not together at the time they completely sucked me in. I felt their love, their pain, their struggle, and instantly I found myself pulling for them. I waited for them for the through out season two and as we entered into season three I waited for the payoff. The payoff that still hasn’t come…

And now as a Meredith and Derek fan I feel cheated. I feel thrown out in the cold, watching and waiting diligently for something. Perhaps some love, at least a few tender moments. I even waited for some honest problems, not plot devices and last minute thrown together writing. I waited for some screen time for the main couple of the show. I trusted you. I trusted you were leading somewhere greater. I trusted in the end it would be worth it, and tonight that trust died. I realized that the Grey’s I feel in love with was no longer on my TV screen. I have no more in me…nothing left to give…for you left us nothing to go on…nothing to look forward to…to watch season four for…you left us no hope…

I may be the only fan out there feeling this way, but I do not believe that is the case. I believe there are plenty more like me. Considering the ratings clearly show the decline. Last year the episode before the finale brought in well over 20 million, yet last weeks episode brought in 19 million. That should tell you something. So I hope for you and for them that you take the summer and think, think of your fans that made your show the success it is and what they want for a change. And for them, the ones that stick around, I hope you fix it and you bring Grey’s back…

For me though, I am not sure its a leap I am willing to take. My faith may have just been stomped on for the last time. Tonight, that episode, really may have been one time too many. It hurts me to say that. It left me in tears tonight, and actually not for any couple. I was left crying for the loss of the real Grey’s I feel in love with. If I don't see you in season four, I will forever live in the brilliance you created for two seasons. I guess I can Thank you for that.

Melissa

[Kimberly]

Shonda,
Thanks for the different perspective. It nice to know whats going on in the characters heads. When you say everyone is single again...does that include Meredith and Derek?

[brittany]

i'm extremely sad.. i have to say that i hated this finale until i read your blog shonda.. i'm still not happy, but i think that's because i'm so invested in this show. i'm totally commited.. thanks for a wonderful three seasons.. can't wait for number four!

[Theresa]

Ahhh, reality. Good episode. Bathed in pain but seemed to reflect more reality in that pain.
All the characters will be in such pain for the summer- looking forward to episode 1 Season 4!

I am beyond sad about Meredith and Derek.

[Julie]

How can you do this????? How can you so utterly and completely destroy your faithful MerDer fans?
So now I've pretty much lost all hope in Grey's, and that won't change all summer...

Why WHY torture us with such a terrible cliffhanger? I'm really hating this right now...

[Laura]

Wow- you really did burn it all down, but somehow it was still good TV! Great job- can't wait for next season.

[Julie]

How can you do this????? How can you so utterly and completely destroy your faithful MerDer fans?
So now I've pretty much lost all hope in Grey's, and that won't change all summer...

Why WHY torture us with such a terrible cliffhanger? I'm really hating this right now...

[Lisette]

You got to be kidding us. Wishing us a good summer when you ended Mer/Der. How can we a good summer knowing that?

I understand the idea that you need to burn everything to the ground in order to have new places to travel next season. Yet I am beyond sad about Meredith and Derek.

[ali]

amazing episode. Amazing end to quite a season.

Currently, I'm FREAKING OUT. But what good season finale doesn't do that?

This was such the upitame of this season, and has set up quite a place for season four to pick up. I'm excited. Terrified, too, but beyond excited.

Thanks for a great season. I love you guys.

[chaplinut]

Thank You. I will come back next year.

[Aisling]

if merder don't end up together and der ends up with freakin lexie i will stop watching...so will most people i know. this finale ended everything that i liked about grey's.

EVERYTHING.

[Christina]

Thank you for putting up the blog so soon. Thank you for burning down Season 3 to make way for Season 4.

[Mandy]

Please end George and Izzie as lovers next season. I want George and Callie to work out. I can't wait for everything else!

[mowhit25]

I got the whole resident chief thing. Alot of the comments you will see will be why did Callie get it blah blah blah, but like you said there were hints from the start that she would not get it. I am not slow like others. I wanted Bailey to get it but like you sid those warnings made me realize she would not. Plus she loves that clinic so much. That place needs her. I am glad Callie got it. After all the crap she has been through. I also lovd that line Callie threw at Izzie in the church. I would rather have seen her kept slapped, but that line fried Izzie right down. I would have like to see what came of the triangle. I have not cared for it never will. I don't care who goes with who just make a choice.

Burke cleared out of there fast. Sandra Oh was on point tonight at the end with her I am free thing. She was like a robot slave with him. I wish this were a 2 hour episode. I am glad my favs are coming back next season. Eric and Sara I love them. I will be leaping for sure now. All the unanswered stuff is making me AHHHHH! I am addicted to the show. We all are. hate it or love it.

[Shannon]

Shonda you're KILLING ME!!!!!

[Michelle]

To borrow your verbage - SERIOUSLY?

I can't even imagine that almost exactly a year ago I was saying that your season finale was one of the best hours of television I have ever seen. And this season we get THIS?

You have pimped MerDer up to be so much. We fell in love with them. In the beginning you wrote them brilliantly. And you destroyed them without rhyme or reason. Why can't you let your characters be happy? I have wasted so much energy rooting for these characters for it to be ruined in a split second.

I just don't even know what to think.

[Amercy]

Oh. My. God.

[Tianna]

Shonda! Oh My! This episode was an emotional rollercoster..Is that Meredith's sister? I almost choked! I knew they were not going to get married (Burke and Christina) but I did not know that he would be the one to call it off..jeez. Am I correct to assume that he is no longer a part of the cast? I think so. I am looking forward to season 4. Don't let me know..Not too sure about private practice..but I'll give it a shot. I do like to leap with you!

[Sarah]

Amazing. This episode had so much to it. I don't know how I'll wait until the fall. The angst is going to kill me.

[tk]

the roof
the roof
the roof in fire
we don't need no water
let the m*f*r burn.

burn it down, shonda.

[Shannon]

Shonda you're KILLING ME!!!!!

[Sarah]

My wish for season 4:

An end to Gizzie.

Please put Izzie with Alex and give Callie and George some marriage dynamics to work with!

[Star]

SHONDA! I am crying harder than Cristina right now!!! How could you do this to us???? Why would you do this to us??

[Trevor]

For what it's worth, this was the single best written, directed, and produced episode this year. It was, as you said, a culmination of everything finally boiling over and walls crumbling to the ground. I laughed and I cried. I hated parts...not because they were bad but instead because the emotion was real, raw and painful. I'm sure there's plenty of people waiting to spout their displeasure about this episode and that's fine. It's good that they're passionate. But I urge them to watch it again. This episode is what Grey's Anatomy is all about. Thanks for an OUTSTANDING season and an amazing finale.

[McDreamyFan]

Everyone is single again? So Meredith and Derek DID break up? SERIOUSLY? SERIOUSLY? I can't believe you're not going to let them be a couple. It seems like it hasn't even been a month in Grey's time.

You've been pushing and pushing Derek and Meredith together since day one and now it's over. Yet again. This is very disappointing.

I hope next year is better. Derek and Meredith deserve better.

[laurin]

ummm...everyone is single? everyone?!?

you've left me with a lot to think about this summer.

HAGS

[Sharon]

Dammit Shonda!!! I wanted this to end all nicely wrapped up in a little bow! Now I am in suspense til what, September? Keep up the great writing...can't wiat for Private Practice!

please give us ALEX and MER! you said they're mirrors of each other anyway. please!

[McDark&Twisty]

You know what I wish? If I couldn't change the finale, but could change something else about this TERRIBLE season?

I wish that you had given us ONE episode where Burke and Cristina were happy the whole time. Just one.

I mean, if you were planning this all along, then you could have given us that one thing.

They deserved to be happy. The had come so so far. They deserved to be happy. And if you weren't going to give them what they deserved in the end, you could have given them that for one episode.

But apparently, you don't give that kind of thing. You give "Have a good summer"s. You give us promises of a better, lighter season next time, which you'll probably break. You give us storyline that go to crap because you make them that way. You give us statements that the future is wide open.

We don't want the future to be completely open. That's what the beginning of a show is for.

You didn't have to burn it all of it down.

[Robin]

Why did we not get any Addison goodbyes or closure? Hate. Hate. Hate.
Oh and on that topic I wish you had never even toyed with Addison and Alex. What an absolute heartbreak for it to go down like that. Rebecca? WHAT. THE. HELL?

[Lola]

Simply amazing. That's all I can say. GA always serves up amazing finales. Job well done -- am doing a standing ovation at my keyboard for all -- writers, directors, actors, crew, etc. -- right now. Can't wait for September!!

[Suzanne]

Shonda and company:

Bravo! We got questions answered and new ones to ponder. I am starting nursing school in the Fall so I hope my DVR can hold it all until I go on winter break because I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Thanks for being original and creative :-)

[Vy]

All I ask is:

PLEASE DON'T RUIN MER/DER.

Thanks.

[whatanending!]

Now that was more like the Grey's we fell in love with back in Season 1. I loved this episode! Lexie Grey though? Seriously? Doesn't Mer have enough issues?

[Debbie]

Please don't take George away.....

[GreysFan]

Everyone's single???? How? Why??? Meredith and Derek fought and cried for this relationship, and the fans did too. We cried, and waited, and texted you, and waited. What? Is this going to be every season? Because Meredith has had nothing but pain and suffering, and we as fans watch. And we wait. We watch hoping that Meredith and Derek will be okay. And that everything will go according to plan. The plan of faith in love. Not perfect love, but not the roller coaster you have created. NO ONE has these many struggles. Every finale there is contemplation?? Come on. If losing the show's fans is your goal, then you are a season away from accomplishment.

[Nina]

I really loved this episode, except I don't want MerDer to be over. I'm glad Christina and Burke broke up, and there wasn't that much gross Gizzie so I was very happy!

[Susanne]

Definitely a lot different than the ending of last season. I get that it has to be torn down to rebuild it all again next season. I liked the ending but yes it was dark and I just feel kind of depressed. But I am SURE that it will all be worth it when GA returns next season!

[Michelle]

that episode was increadible...as soon as it ended I checked the blog, and well i cant wait for the podcast tomorrow. But here I am sitting on my couch at 1030 jaw still on the ground wondering what is going to happen next.

[reggie]

Wow. Amazing. Its going to be a very long summer. Thanks for another seriously fabulous season.

[Pamela]

Thank you Shonda for an excellent Finale. I look forward to next season, and hopefully, a reuniting of Meredith and Derek.

[rosalinda]

i was really surprised this episode. disappointed and shocked, actually. burke and cristina were so much to me- i don't think that cristina changing was a bad thing. she let him in. she loved him the only way she knew how and realized that maybe she needed to let him in. i am seriously hoping that this does not mean that isaiah washington is finished on the show. i felt my heart sink as he reached for the door and all i could think was 'oh no- he's leaving...' i really hope that there is still a place for him on grey's anatomy because i for one am a fan. people make mistakes and he is too good an actor to let go. i'm still up in the air about most things, but i wanted to comment on this. i'm all about 'dark and twisty,' but there was so much left unresolved at the end of this episode. please keep us updated through the summer hiatus!

[Kate]

Sanda Oh made me cry. Christina was just amazing tonight.
Please, please, please have George choose Callie! I want him to have a baby and for Izzie to become less selfish and get with Alex!

[Sam]

OMG! Derek can't go for Lexi, he just can't! If he did, that would just be plain CRUEL to Mer, going out with the daughter of the father who left her to be so freaking damaged! Please don't do that to this show, you've already overused the 'MerDer break-up, MerDer back together, MerDer break-up' far too many times. To tell you the truth, it's getting annoying. Please get back to the old, non-Soap Opra-y Grey's that we all used to know and loved-- because this new Grey's leaves is left behind in shambles.

[Grey'sFan]

I'm disappointed Shonda. I'm very disappointed. That's all I can say.

[Mary from West Hollywood]

Ouch Shonda... ouch. Why did Mer fight so hard for Derek last season when you was too damaged to keep him. And now she's gone and made him damaged. And everyone is damamged. And it's painful. I need a summer long break from Mer tragedy. Please bring back some of the fun next season. Please? Seriously.

[Natasha]

Am I the first person? Whoo Hoo! Can I just say that I totally feel where Cristina is at at the end? Terrified but so thrilled to be free of it all. This was a great episode, although I think it's bull that Callie got chief resident. She doesn't even have her own interns. and George absolutely has to stay next year, or else he can't get with Izzie!!! I don't know how you can start over again next season, but I hope it is with meredith and derek getting it together. they NEED to be together shonda. addison's show looked ok...but what was the point of saying it wasn't a spin-off? you know your watchers are smarter than that. I hope you can give taye diggs the show he deserves (and a bigger dog!)Alex is a story I am waiting for next season,along with sloane. have a good summer over there and hurry back!!!!

[Annetz]

Thanks for breaking it down and answerring some of the questions we were left with after the finale!
Seriously, we should be done with the drama because actors' perfect acting is getting deep down in viewers' souls and sometimes it is just as painful for the fans as for the characters!
So, let's move on to the fun Grey's that it was in Season 2. More porn as pain management, more hot dog eating contests, more McDreamy moments in the elevator! One request though, Shonda, please make Meredith less dark and twisty and more shiny or at least a bit happier! The girl has had enough and deserves some great moments in life!
Thank you from Grey's biggest Ukrainian fan(me) for this season! Keep up good work!

[Theresa]

I hope you are right that season four will be fun. I hope you are right that Private Practice is a good idea. Right now, looking at the past and seeing the possibilities in the future, I hope you are as good as we all think you are, because you seem to be in this pretty deep. I hope you can dig yourself out before it is too late.

[NotADuhMe]

KUDOS, Shonda!!! My boyfriend hasn't watched an episode in several weeks and he was glued to tonight's episode. When it was over, he asked me to get the whole season's worth of recordings together so he could watch what he'd missed. He's re-hooked and I never once became unhooked! YAY to season three and bring on season four!!! Have a great summer, to you too!

[Mel]

WOW! I'm on the edge of my seat, shouting at the TV, shouting at my husband that I cannot wait until Season 4! What am I going to do all summer?!

I loved this season! The characters have evolved so much and I cannot wait to see what else you have in store for them!

Thank you so much for creating this show and these characters! I will literally be counting down the days to Season 4!

[FIRST! :)]

Oh my god. That's all I can say for now. Oh my god.

[Sara M.]

For the longest time over this past season, I didn't understand what you were doing. For the first few episodes, the characters were progressing slowly and not much was happening in the way of the characters' lives. But then, after the month hiatus- charaters were hooking up, breaking up, getting engaged, getting married, dying, and so on. It was a tangled web of emotions and personal issues that these characters were working through. I, nor other fans, did not see where you were going with Season Three. We speculated, argued, discussed, and fought over where the writers were taking this season. With this season finale and your explanation, now we know. The symbolism in the episodes and crafting the writing of the episodes forces the audience member to look past what's in the foreground to see what is -really- there. It requires thought, and with this explanation, I now understand why I, as I am sure many others, were so frustrated. We had no idea in the short term why the writers chose to point the characters in the direction that they were going. But, this season finale opens up those doors and makes the entire season make sense when you look back on it. Can't wait for Season 4!

[OHMYGOD]

PHENOMENAL.

AMAZING.

THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

BEAUTIFULLY EXECUTED.

BEAUTIFULLY ACTED.

I LOST FAITH IN YOU THIS SEASON, BUT IT'S BACK.

EXCEPT I STILL REFUSE TO BELIEVE THE ADDISON...WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT THING.

BUT STILL.

GREAT EPISODE.

BAWLING LIKE A BABY.

[Sarah]

I'm bummed! The main reason we (me and a dozen friends) watch this is to finally see a healed relationship between Der and Mer. What happened to the hot, steamy vibes - remember last year's finale? That's what we have been waiting for all season, and they were never once in a good place this year.

[Kate]

PLEASE tell me you're going to wrap up the Addison storylines in 4.01? You cant say theyre stories were done much earlier because they werent...I feel like we were left hanging with Addison

Also thank u for cutting the Meredith and Derek cord...theyre boring

[agvjm]

I get it. I get the burning down.....but did it have to hurt one and all? I can't wait for next season!

[Niki]

I have to stay that I just don't know if I will be tuning in next season. Maybe I'll give Addy's show a try for Taye Diggs's sake and his alone. He's superb.

Grey's has morphed into something that's beyond my comprehension. I'm really in disbelief at it all. New interns? Not interested. BURKE LEAVING CRISTINA???? You just broke my heart. And to throw that McBarSlut in the mix is just...well, lame. You keep saying that new season will be amazing...who are you trying yo convince: us or yourself?

[Emily]

I was so angry when I watched the finale, but now that I've read this, it makes sense. I thought this season wasn't as good as last season, but breaking things down like this is much harder than building things up. I can't wait for Season 4.

[Lindsay]

OK I am probably one of the biggest Grey's fans that there is. I want to continue to love this show, but I don't think I can... I am not excited for next season I thought this was the worst episode I have ever seen. I don't like anywhere that this went. Meridith is messed up but she is also part of MerDer and they need to work out and she needs him and he is great for her and I was so happy with where things were going and now I don't know if I can watch anymore. Also, if Derek tries it with Lexie Grey that will be completely ridiculous, the whole thing is too similar and it's supposed to be Meridith and Derek!!!!! Also, I'm glad that Burke decided to let Cristina be her again if they do make it, it will be Christina and Burke not this doll she had become. There is so much more but this is so long as is... Please save MerDer and the show, as of now I am not even excited for next season and I don't want to watch what happens next, I feel like everything I love about Grey's is over...

[Ashley]

Shonda, I think everything was done right for this episode. It was great, perfect even. The only thing that is going to ruin the show is Lexie Grey. So many things that are wrong with this. Her name doesn't even sound right. Wouldn't the chief have known she would be an intern, and I don't know, maybe TELL Meredith? Shouldn't this Lexie have known about Meredith and where she freaking worked? The only thing she's going to do with create frustration and give Grey's Anatomy the kiss of death. Didn't you say that there were to many characters anyway? What happened to downsizing? Just let me say that BarSlut aka Lexie Grey shouldn't even be at the hospital.

[robin]

Hi, me again. Just needed to add a few more comments. What do you mean everyone is single again- does this mean there is for sure no merder- help!How can you do this to me. Please do not let Derek get together with Mer's sister it would just be too mean to me and oh yeah to Mer. Also you didn't have to work so hard to burn everything down I liked it when nothing was on fire! Shonda what are you doing to me- you are killing me! I know you don't really care what my ideas are and you shouldn't after all you are the briiliant creater but please think of me and just get everybody happy again- and oh say hi to Patrick from me! You'll still be hearing from me- I'm still trying to cope and comprehend everything that happened. Bye for now.

[Erin]

Hi Shonda, congrats on a great finale episode!

However, the George/Callie/Izzie triangle I am not so happy with. There is a HUGE group of Greys fans who hate the George and Izzie affair. I would say there are far more fans who hate it than like it. We liked them as best friends, but they don't work romantically at all. Plus, its just so wrong that it turns our stomachs. George and Callie are cute together and I think she should try to work it out.

[patti]

how can i have a good summer when i don't know if george will be back? and is burke gone? he must be, he took his lucky surgical cap with him. but george? what about george? i love george. maybe, at the beginning of the season, they will find they mis-scored his test? he'll get to go on with the program? yeah, that's it. it was all a dream....and i think izzie needs to learn/realize that she's poured all her love of denny onto george, and that they can still be best friends, but will not be "together" in a healthy way, even if he leaves callie; and i love callie, but she is too insecure for george - he has too many issues of insecurity in himself to be able to keep reassuring callie that she is alright - so hopefully they didn't make a baby then, 'cause you are so right - you don't have a baby to save a relationship, and you also don't have a baby to make you feel better about yourself. i hope we have not seen the last of meredith's dad - what an awesome actor! and he and meredith have so much growing and healing to do together. but i could have smacked meredith when she walked away from derek in the locker room. he laid his heart out, and she stomped it. much more sympathy for derek that meredith right there. sure, she's damaged. but sheesh - get over yourself! like addison says, you don't get chances like that every day. i am going to miss addison - but i did like the looks of the new show - i like all the people in it - should be fun. but, what about george??!! i LOVE george.....

by the way - i have NEVER cared about a show the way i care about this one - it's kind of scary. but thankyou. and you have a good summer too. just take care of my george...

[Amber]

Shonda,
Rats! I just posted my comment on the previous post. But I'm glad I wrote my comment before I read this, because then I wasn't influenced by this post and I can see that I get it. I truly get it and I'm so excited for next season and for Private Practice.

Thank you for a great show and have a great summer!

[Lucy]

No... for the love of God.. no not everyone is single u cant tell me that mer and der are single cos to me that puts me back in the boat of without hope without faith and i was there for a long time tonight and im back in the faith boat dont take me out.. im the first mate of the boat of hope/ship of faith...

that leaves crappy flirty possibilities of lexie and derek and thats wrong.. we hated her (knowing it was lexie) and calling her bad names.. lexie has a few things she needs to follow if shes gonna be an intern..

1. stay away from derek
2. stay away from the loser interns
3 hang out with george and his friends
4. make friends with ur sister

i like alex/ava and im a gizzie fan..

mark.. not enough of him.. ED is hot! (not as hot as PD but hot nonetheless)

umm Sandra Oh made Canada proud baby. wow..

umm can u answer a question (like bring back faq or something) cos didnt u say before that callie was only a 3rd year resident and the whole no female interns bailey's year.. im confused.. i know sidney transfered but i didnt think callie did but either way u said she was 3rd year before and now she's going to 5th year cos thats what the CR is? im lost..

kinda excited about PP but we'll see.. i'm gonna miss addi..

is there going to be a wrap of addi in the beginning of season 4 like her telling people she's going or is she just gonna take off like she did before?

that's all i can think of for now..

oh and i love george and bailey scenes they are the best.

umm i understand where mer is coming from but i still need her to regain her sense of self and worth so her and derek can get back what has been screwed up since she drown :(

still holding out hope over the summer..

[alovene]

Superb. Fulfilling. Shonda you have fed us quite a bit in this epi. Entree was easily Burktina. As much as I loved them together, the end of them was as tragically beautiful as their entire romance has been meaty and full. Had to happen and yes, Sandra Oh definitely deserves an award or two for that scene.
Seriously.

Just so much to digest, I'll have to comment more later.

[Monami]

Interesting but I'm done. Thanks for the season. Too bad Callie made Chief becuase I would have like to see her dump George and move to California with Addison. Can't wait for Private Practice

[Just Curious]

I'm sorry, but I have 3 words for you... "Jumped the Shark". I have really appreciated the work that was put into plot and character developement on Grey's in the first 2 seasons. Unfortunately, their is little of any redeeming value left. The season 3 finale has to be the most depressing, self involved, lacking in redeeming quality, piece of schlock that I have ever seen.

On a separate note, the casual approach to anything even moderately resembling an the actual lives of medical professionals has devolved from a mildly amusing suspension of disbelief, to an absolutely ridiculous mockery. Why bother setting the show in a hospital if you aren't even going to try to make the experiece even moderately realistic? Since when, in any hospital in the country, is an entire sugical staff dispatched to receive ambulance loads of frost-bitten mountain climbers. Doesn't Seattle Grace hav an emergency staff? Guess what we have been watching this stuff for years on Thursday nights over on NBC. The show is called E.R. Have you heard of it?!?!

Finally, how can you, with any sincerity, call yourself a feminist in one statement, while defending the foisting of yet another lame reproductive crisis on your audience? These people are supposed to be doctors! Yet none of them seem to have ever heard of birth control! I have honestly lost count of how many pregnancy scares you have thrown out there since the show debuted. LAME!

Were it not for the talent of your cast, the entire show would be a goner. Your writers hardly seem to deserve the praise you lavish on them. And your audience deserves better.

[Megan]

I know you like your audience to have a very visceral reaction to your show and let me just say that this audience member was screaming at her TV for most of the episode. Burning it down was a good way to put it because everything I thought these characters were going to be has gone in a completely different direction and somehow, I still love it. It makes me crazy that Derek was so the perfect man in that moment in the locker room and Meredith couldn't take herself back to the place she was when she was almost dead saying "I had intimacy issues... Do you know how stupid that sounds? It's not enough... just a whiff of Derek..." Those words were so expressive and I just wish for her so much that she could tell him about those obviously very strong feelings, just let him in enough to know that she really does care.

It's all so sad to me and then I realize it's ok because it's just TV.

[Marie A.]

OMG................it was riviting sitting on the edge of your seat kinda pain. It was painful to watch our beloved characters go through so much pain. I knew the wedding wouldn't happen, that was anticipated, but the way it went down, that was heartbreaking. MerDer.........Oh my poor Derek! My favorite scene of all though, that brought so much emotion to me was George and Bailey sitting outside the ER, them both feeling defeated. Shondra said she was taking us for a ride, and I did hang in there, and boy the ups and downs I love them, and I hate them at the same time. I can't wait for next season! Thanks Grey's Staff!

[Michelle]

Amazing! I don't think that I can wait all summer for this to mend itself back together! I love Greys so much! and Derek better not get with Mer's sister...that's so wrong, on so many levels!

[asdfghjkll;]

Shonda this is horrible. I trust that you know what you are doing...but i still feel horrible. Horribly confused and horribly terrfied yet excited for next season.

We thought it would work. We all knew that MerDer would have their problems forever but christina and burke were my couple...they stuck together.

And what about Bailey? What is she going to do after all of this. She has a family, sure, but she is such a powerful and strong woman...Why take that away from her?

I trust you shonda, really i do but please.......don't let me regret it. You have created these characters that i feel like i know. They are like my best friends with totally screwed up lives, but they make it through. They have to make it through!

[jane]

Wow....so everyone's single again next year??? Is it too much to ask to have a little bit of happy Meredith ending? I guess we're back to square one with the whole Mer/Der thing. Sandra Oh was awesome tonight--that's the only positive thing I can think of!

[Jen]

I am really, really, really angree. Really upset. I love Grey's Anatomy. The reason I fell in love with Grey's Anatomy is MerDer. I understood that it couldn't be an easy road and so I had faith in the writing. For the last TWO seasons, I sat and trusted--that the magic of season one would come back.
I am tired of being taught a lesson. I am tired of enduring the sad storylines without a little payback. I am really really tired of watching Mer and Der break each other apart.

[McDark&Twisty]

You just don't do that. You don't put you characters in love, put them through hell, all to just tear them apart.

Yes, Burke and Cristina are in love, don't give me that crap about him not loving the "real" her.

You don't get to start completely over again. It's not even asking us to leap with you, that's saying, "Hey, we changed our mind, we're not leaping at all, we're taking a death trip up a mountain, to go on a new crappy adventure!"

None of us signed up to climb a mountain when we started watching this show.

Speaking of your whole "leaping" metaphor, ENOUGH with the metaphors already! The episodes have been packed with them. Some are nice, but they're getting old.

Of course, just like Burktina's problems before you decided to burn it all to hell, you must be making those just for the hell of it too.

If you are, please, get a hobby.

[Done]

Well, you have asked us to "leap" with you, and I have been leaping for 3 years. I've been on the message boards daily, read every blog, listened to every podcast.. but I can officially say that I am done.

This has been an amazing ride. I have laughed, cried, jumped for joy but I can't take this roller coaster anymore, it's time to get off. I have never been more depresssed from a show in my life. This season alone should have prompted me to get on some type of anti-depressant. This finale alone has literally broken my heart.

I know you said you have done this for a reason but you need to get back to the basics, where is the show we fell in love with the couples we fell in love with? I find myself going back to Season 1 for comfort.. comfort that I dont ever forsee coming back. We've lost the heart of the show and I dont think it can ever be repaired.

The MerDer of it all.. you make us fall in love with this amazing couple.. now were supposed to believe that Mer isnt in love with him? That they dont belong together? After everything they have been through? Now you bring in Lexie? Which Im sure is to start trouble.. Please another triangle.. been there done that.. I thought you were different, that Grey's was different. Be original Shonda for once, listen to you fans.

Dont be suprised at the ratings drop. I won't tell you I told you so!

Thanks for the ride, my stop is here.

[A true believer]

You know, as a woman that has been with my husband for going on seven years now,I feel that I should let you know, that happily ever after does exist. Because you seem to have something against that and I now see that you are writing a show in which you don't believe.

You say this season was about the fact that there is no having it all, well I completely disagree. Maybe you haven't been there yet, but it does exist. I live it every day.

We don't need dark and depressing. Or some new intern that is Meredith's sister with her hands all over Derek. If that is where you are headed, go right ahead. It will be without me. Derek and Meredith both deserved thier happily ever after.

It is sad when everyday life brightens your life more than the show you used to anticipate.

Hope you have fun in Season four...

[icky]

please do have derek date merediths sister. that's just gross. i don't think i could stand the sight of derek with someone else. can he just be by himself for a long long time. he could really use it.

[Mari]

Meredith's sister is the bar whore? MEREDITH'S SISTER IS THE BAR WHORE???

What is wrong with you people??? I did not enjoy this. Meredith and Derek can't be over just like that...and for Derek to go with Meredith's sister...that just can't happen. So again I ask WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE???

[Ashlee]

Awesome explainations of all the events. It does put things together. I do agree though, please keep Lexi grey out of derek life....gross!

[Ciji]

Burning it all down is right. Now that i think about it, that's exactly how i felt when the show ended. I think i felt worse knowing i have to wait so long to see them pick up the pieces.

Christina- I understand he had changed her but somehow i don't feel like she compromised herself too much. I mean if she had she would have ran. Its evident that she loved him or else she wouldn't have been able to point out every missing item in his apartment. She wouldn't have broken my heart standing there in that wedding dress suffocating. why couldn't he see that the more doubts he had the less she had. why couldn't he see that love is sometimes about compromise. like relocating to a new city because your husband gets a new job and your job is flexible. everyone thinks IW has left the show and i've bet my friend $20 bucks he hasn't.

Gizzie + Callie-- giving Callie the chief resident job gives her a new storyline. i get it. but you crushed my bailey. george. where is george going to go? he has to repeat his year. he just has to. or at least find another area to work in. another program. maybe having callie to study with wasn't enough. maybe he should have studied w/ the group like they used to do. why can't izzie fall in love with someone else. i love them but the timing is off. what about her daughter? she needs something else to focus on. bring her kid back.

Alex & Ava---maybe he can still find her. maybe she left something in the room. she was leaving her husband anyway. i think we need to get to know him next season. see why he's so dark and twisted.

Mer & Der-- did she cut derek off so that she could do it first before he decided to leave her like everyone else? i feel like she loves him and she wants this but she's holding up this wall still. just in case she gets hurt. How sweet and McDreamy was Der when he said you're the love of my life. I instantly forgot about his moodiness. He cant let her go without a fight. I just want to slap her again and make her see what she's throwing away. she can't base her happiness on christina. i know she has no real model no i take that back. she has the chief. she tells him he's not her dad and then adele tells her how she watched her grow up and its like she was the kid they never had in a distant sort of way. look at what they went through and survived. i still have hope for them. its diminshed some but i'm gonna still hold out.

Addison-- yay for the new show. two nights in a row of greta tv.

have a good summer and don't disappoint us next season!

[Laura]

Damn.

[lost]

oh my God...That thought is literally circling in my brain over and over...OMG.
Here McDreamy's has been all McJerky and now he's back to McDreamy in the locker room. My heart broke for him but almost more for Meredith. Poor broken Mer. I understand her, I am her just in a much more conservative (not sleep with random people when drunk) way.
And how can George fail the intern exam and how can he not go on? And...and...and...It sure is going to be a long summer.
My one pause during this wonderful season finale was Mer's sister - yep knew it was her sister last week - Why bring her in. I hope it's good and she doesn't turn out doing right everything Mer did wrong, or doing everyone - well Derek.
Alex really is a good guy he just can't see it...The amazing part of Grey's is that I do care about all of the characters - to me they aren't characters their friends (sad I know). And I love George and Izzie and Cristina had become someone she wasn't and wow - great show, great writing and great acting - job well done...now hurry up for next season please :-)

[Presley]

Oh you gonna get so much crap for this episode.

It was depressing but I still loved it. The only thing that wasn't depressing was finding out Adele was still alive. As a huge George and Izzie shipper I was hoping for one more scene. But I can wait til next season. The only thing I didn't like about the episode was Callie getting chief resident. That one just came out of nowhere, it doesn't make any sense.

Looking forward to a lighter Season 4.

[Laura]

It was an amazing finale. I loved it. Great job.

Does this mean Isiah is off the show for good? I'm so confused about that part.

[June]

Strangely...I have faith. This has been a roller coaster year. Between the ups and downs of Meredith and Derek, the ups and downs of Izzie's CRAZY life, and the ups and downs of everyone else, I have faith for next year. I have to say I was freaking out after the finale. Which, Sandra Oh's performance was stellar, but still, I was freaking out. Everything we had worked to for THREE YEARS was ending. Everything we knew and loved was over. But I loved how Shonda said she "burned it to the ground". They can start fresh, start from the beginning. Which, I know it feels like ten steps back, but I feel like a fresh start will make things better. My concern is that Meredith will never be able to make a relationship work, and it hurts me to say that Derek can not be her knight in shining whatever if she physically, mentally, and emotionally can not make a relationship work. I am keeping the faith and looking forward to next year. I have no given up hope, because I do see Shonda's reasoning for all of this, even if I don't personally agree with all of the choices made this year. Please Shonda, bring our fun, flirty, sexy show back. I miss the fluff. I miss the innocent flirting and banter. I miss the drive to be number one. I have faith.

[Sarah]

I was devastated at first. Numb. Speechless. Shocked. But after a while, I realized how that THIS is how a good SF is SUPPOSED to be.

Quick comments:
Cristina- Sandro Oh deserves a freaking Emmy for her outstanding performance.

Burke- he is an incredible actor and an integral part of the cast/show; i think it will be a mistake to cast him off (I know he has his own issues, but seriously.....)

MerDer- PLEASE TELL ME/US that you are not referring to the END of their relationship. Again. A lot of us want closure with them. GOOD closure. If this doesnt occur, a lot of viewers will be lost (not me, but you know..)

Derek- is absolutely fabulous. He is all McDreamy again. I wanted to shake Mer during that locker scene. I mean... what he said was PERFECT, and all she did was runaway at the end. I will admit...tears started to flow.

Chief- okay, basically, I LOVE CHIEF (after derek =] ) I want to give him a big bear-hub b/c he is like a big, sweet teddy bear to me. I cried for him several times this season. He is a good man and I am glad he is staying.

Alex- God, I wish he stayed with Ava.. i hope we get to see more of him next season dealing with his past.

Izzie/George/Callie/Bailey- I heart Bailey. I hope something good happens for her before she leaves the program or something. Callie...im not sure yet. Izzie...the same as with Callie. George, i hope does not repeat his intern year =/ after all he did.. think about it... wish there was some loophole =[

Lexi.....nooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Shonda, you will keep a lot of viewers if you keep mer/der together. All this back and forth is killing it. And NOT havng them together would be hypocritical after all theyve said to each other and been through.

p.s. addi needs to stay...and im glad mcsteamy is coming back.

shonda, you are amazing. youre abilities are outstanding. please dont let us down.

[Alexa]

I'm sick of no one being happy on this show. I'm sick of you dragging us through storylines of meredith and derek of them being happy, then said, then happy, then sad again. Just for gods sake let them be happy for more than an episode.

Lexi Grey? Come on. Please don't tell me she's going to be 'just a girl in a bar' part 2 and Derek is going to have a thing for sleeping with interns named grey whom he meets randomly in bars. Does Meredith honestly need more family members to hurt her right now?

And George not passing his intern exam? What is he going to be Callie's housewife for his life? Lame. Lame. Lame.

Honestly, this was a shitty ending to a shitty season, and I pray that season four turns out more like season one and two, otherwise you might have one less fan.

[Fabi from TX]

i hate you shonda! i hate you and your incredible, amazing, fantastic writing ability!! i hate what this show does to me but i love it all at the same time! I honestly have never, everrrr, watched a tv show like this before. Friends? was never into it until it was over. Er? blah... but this show is just... i don't know! it just feels like i know these characters.

Mer/Der... o m g. seriously? I loved them when they were happy and flirty. But...i can kinda, sorta, see them apart (ducks from objects being thrown by other fans) but i know it will be kinda weird too. I guess I'll just have to wait and see huh?

Izzie/George/Callie dang! I absolutely love Katie and the acting she has done w/ Izzie. When Izzie told George she loved him (and that oh so long gaze) I was like yay!! but then george never said anything and i was like crap...now i have to wait 'til next season...I love them together but i also feel bad for Callie. She's his wife! I was so mad at her for telling Iz that they were going to try and have a baby... i was like "b!tch" but then i thought about it, and Callie totally has the right... OMG can't wait to see how this love triangle plans out!

Alex/Ava haha i love Ava!! the whole "did you sniff too much glue as a kid" toooo funny!! So sad that she left though. Will she be back???

Cristina/Burke Holy Mother of Destruction!!!! I soooo didn't see that coming! I mean I could totally see Yang backing out but Burke?? Man I was in shock!! She is my FAVORITE character and it was so sad to see her abandoned. But we have never really seen her single, so i can't wait for that!!

It is going to be a verrrry long summer...Thank goodness I have occupied my summer with classes though...that will make it go faster...hopefully

To the wonderful cast and crew Have a Great Summer!

[Seriously?]

OK, Derek has NOT tried his best, unless you mean tried his best to be a self-absorbed, narcissistic, indecisive, emotionally abusive jerkoff. Then yes, he has tried his best.

If Chief and Adele is true love, I have no hope for the world.

Alex and Ava? Seriously? Do you refer to her as "Denny 2.0" in the writers' room?

Bad, really bad season. I really hope season four rocks HARD at the beginning, or I'm done.

[Catherine]

very very very sad/disappointed/upset/hurt/angry. OMG HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN??????????? everything is over. how can you ever pick up next season. terrible! seriously burke and christina are over, george and callie are trying to have a baby, what will happen to george and izzie, and OMGGGGGGGGGGGG MEREDITH AND DEREK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO they cant be over. SERIOUSLY! and merediths sister THE ONE FLIRTING WITH DEREK AT THE BAR??? soon to be a new intern? this is just so terrible i cant believe this is happening.

[ex-fan]

So is this how it goes then? We build things up in order to burn them down so we can build them BACK up? If so, you're mistaken to think that anyone would put anything into Season 4, knowing all the progress made is simply being made in order that it might be burned back down again to start anew - AGAIN.

Just like Meredith's character ... you break her down completely, literally kill her, bring her back for a new start, and she has hope and bright eyes for it .... but then when it starts to look like she has made progress, you tear her down again and void all of the building she had done.

This thing of one step forward and two steps back isn't going to prove very fruitful for long.

[Catherine]

I am so sad, i just cant even explain it.

[Becky]

SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!!?

[Maggie]

I loved this. I loved every minute of it.

But. Please oh please fix my George. I don't want him to do the George thing where he makes rash life decisions in the wake of horrible news. Please?

[Excited for Next Season...but dying in the meantime]

AHHHHHHHH MY HEART HURTS!

[Huh?!]

I agree with the first post. How is a relationship so shaky as George and Callie become okay at the end of the season when, in fact, their relationship has never been stable in the first place. I mean she is using a baby to save a relationship that she knows deep down isn't well.

Now I adore George and Izzie. I truly do, but a baby is an innocent. It's not fair to the child, and it's not fair to Izzie, Callie, and George. I hope you close this triangle and end G/C marriage. It's hard watching it.

[- R.]

I'm giving this show one more episode before I'm out. Next season's premiere better rock my socks off to make me come back for more. And if Elisabeth Reaser comes back, I'm going to be gone faster than you can say Ava.

You can't keep treating your fans like complete idiots and expect them to keep coming back. I'm down to caring about one or two things on this show, so I'll just comment on that.

Alex and Ava. Are you SERIOUS? She's the woman he referred to as his sister. She's the woman who's been pushing him to go after Addison. Where on earth did the "they're in love with each other" thing come from? And what, you've run out of hospital staff marriages to ruin so now you're going after the patients' marriages? Where do you draw the line?

Did you seriously think that we're gonna buy into that storyline after everything Alex and Addison went through? Are you seriously telling me that there were no feelings there, that he was pining for Ava all along? That's a load of crap, I'm sorry to say, and I will never be sold on the idea. You pretty much erased everything that you wrote for Alex and Addison this season with that little speech at the church. I'm heartbroken and disgusted. They were the saving grace of this season and you totally destroyed that.

I don't understand how a show that used to be so witty, smart and enticing be reduced to this. It's such a shame. Your show is dying, people are tuning out, and you don't even seem to care. Why?

Take a look at the message boards and fansites, Shonda. There are no fans left that you haven't pissed off or disappointed. If this show doesn't pull itself together, season 4 might very well be the last, and not a lot of people will be sad to see it go. No viewers = no show.

I adore Addison, but I'm not even going to bother with the spin-off, because what's the point? I wasn't impressed with the pilot in the first place, and the writing is bound to get even crappier as the show progresses.

A year ago, GA was one of my favorite TV shows. Now I'm embarrassed to say I'm still watching. What a shame.

[Katherine]

Shonda, I am lost. You did burn everything down. I feel like I'm in suspended animation. I want to know where this is all going, but I will have to wait all summer! I do love Addison, but honestly, the characters on her new show and the show in general was a snoozefest! I tried watching last week's show again when it re-aired on Friday and it was still a snoozer! So sadly, I don't think I'll be watching Private Practice, but I'll always love my Grey's! We all have our favorites of who we want to end up together, but c'mon now! Mer without Der? Please don't disappoint! Thanks for a great season!

[Erin]

There are no words to express my deep emotional pain that i am feeling..... and if you dont fix meredith and derek within the first 2 episodes ITS OVER for me!!!

[McDark&Twisty]

Hm. It seems as none of my other comments were posted...

I knew they were too mean and nasty. Oh well.

I'll just get across my original message again.

Terrible. I hate what you're doing. That was asking us to leap off the Empire state building with you, and nobody wants to do that.

Have a good summer too. You'll need it.

[andiepie]

I've been thinking about this episode; replaying it in my head (why I didn't just rewind the tape I don't know, but...) connecting the symbols from the last season finale to this one. All the symbols that I've been collecting and gathering all season long, and then I read your blog and there they all are. Everything I was thinking. Everything I was connecting. I'd say that you stole my thoughts, but you had them first, just took your sweet time to show them to us.

This was a great season, can't wait till next one.

[Katie]

I am really really praying that T.R. isn't leaving the show. Like Izzie said, George is the glue. I think I'd be really heartbroken if he left, he is the reason I kept watching the show (the first episode I saw was the tragic sex with Meredith) because his performance was, and still is, out of this world.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep George forever. ANd also, please let him realize that a baby will fix nothing.

And please let him choose Izzie. The girl deserves a break.

[Christy H]

I love everything you guys are doing with the show! I cant wait for next season!

[Kristina]

There were moments I enjoyed in the episode: Burke's wedding vow speech, Meredith's talk to Christina before her walk down the aisle, George and Baily's conversation, and even Derek's love-of-my-life speech to Meredith. However, my enjoyment of the finale was diminished by contrived plot devices that were predictable and seemed to come out of nowhere. I have to say, I am very disappointed that you chose to take the romantic route with Alex/Ava. It didn't make sense in the context of the season and I thought it was clear early on that Addison meant more to Alex than what was suggested by her speech at the end. Also, the introduction of Lexie didn't peak my interest at all, nor did Callie's desperate behavior to hold on to her marriage. I won't even comment on the whole George/Callie/Izzie relationship. I realize that you want to provoke strong reactions in your audience, but please try to stay true to your own storylines and characters. I recently rewatched episodes from what was an amazing beginning for Season 3 and somewhere, it seems you guys seemed to have lost your focus. I am actually not sure if I will continue to watch next season and not sure if I even care about the characters who have now become so unrecognizable to me due to continuous recycled plot lines and character assassination. I may just watch your spin-off considering Addison is the character I feel is true to herself (even though it seems that you wanted to make her character feel worthless and that she doesn't have a life if she doesn't have a man - please stop doing this to your characters!).

[Veronica]

Your explanations make sense, but I am still very sad at how this all ended. You said, "I did my level best to burn it all down this season, to burn it to the ground so that we can have a place to build from next season." I wonder why that was needed. Why start over? Why do shows need to leave us in a negative space to entice us to watch next year? I am more inclined NOT to watch since this is they way you felt you needed to leave it. I don't need everything perfect and tied up with a bow, but this is just harsh across the board. Twins for the guys at the bar MAYBE and the chief and his wife being nice to each other....that is all the good news you could manage? Let's just have a big 75 minute bummer fest and see you in a few months! Sorry, I expected more from this show.

[Karolyn]

The finale was definitely a cliff hanger! I can't wait for next season! But I agree keep Lexie away from Derek. It would be a kill-joy to see relatives duking it out over a guy. It would be interesting to see her with Mark or Alex (or both)...

[Cathy]

it will take all summer for me to decide whether to watch greys next season, im so hurt.

[Ciji]

Oh i forgot about Lexie Grey. somehow i knew that would be her sister. how funny will that be when derek finds out who she is. let alone when meridith finds out. they dont even know each other. i'd like for them to become close though. she doesnt have any family. maybe lexie can be that one family member that she can talk to since they have the same career goal and taste in men.

[McDark&Twisty]

Hey, you did post all my comments.

Go figure.

[Disappointed]

What do you mean "everyone is single again"? Derek and Meredith aren't single. You can do what ever you wish with every single one of them (the characters) but you need to keep Derek and Meredith together. Didn't you promise season 4 will be fun? Well, if you do anything but making Derek and Meredith find their way to each other and prove that there is a happily ever after, it won't be fun. And if it's not fun for us to watch, it won't be fun for you and ABC either.

[Sara]

Wow. Loved how the Ava/Alex thing came out of no where. Loved how you took the one best thing about season three and did everything humanly possibly to destroy it. Loved how you gave me no reason to tune in next season to either shows. That whole running through the ER, that should of been Alex running after Addison, and that's what all signs were pointing to until 'spinoff'. You obviously do not care in the slightest what your fans think or feel. So if you don't, why should I?

This is for Shonda. I'm sort of devastated. No, I truly am devastated. I can't believe the intense feelings the last two episodes of this season have given me. I told a friend that last week's episode made me so mad that I spent all of Friday in a terrible mood and she said "TV did that". Yes, it did. Addison's episode and then last week's Testing 1 2 3 and the writer's blog for Testing 1 2 3 just hit me hard. I had a giant test last week myself -- I was going through an IVF cycle and last Thursday, three days before my scheduled retrieval and 5.5 hours before Grey's, my nurse called me and told me I couldn't continue because my progesterone went too high and I was starting to ovulate. Talk about a test -- this was a test of faith. I have had two miscarriages, one ectopic pregnancy, found out I have a bala