‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Fans Predict the Show’s Ultimate Ending & It’s So Grim
Grey’s Anatomy is returning for Season 22 this fall on ABC, thus continuing its streak as the longest-running primetime medical drama on television. However, questions about how much longer the series will run have been continuing to surface in recent years, especially after it was scooted to the 10/9c timeslot starting in Season 21. So, naturally, some fans are already starting to envision where the show might be heading for its eventual grand finale.
On Reddit, one Grey’s watcher offered up a theory about the ultimate ending of the show that is based on recent events — chiefly, the fact that Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) has devoted her professional life to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, the disease that claimed her mother’s life.
“If it ever does end I think it’s pretty obvious Meredith will get Alzheimer’s while working on the cure and use it to cure herself. I think that’s where it’s headed personally,” the original thread poster predicted.
Another user responded with a bit of disagreement, predicting, “Meredith gets Alzheimer’s just short of the cure or finishes it right as Alzheimer’s hits hard.”
Yet another user concurred with the prediction that Meredith would become afflicted by the disease she’s feared so well all season long and even conjured a specific scene in which that may play out, writing, “I am imagining Meredith talking with someone and they mention how Derek would love to see how far she’s come as a surgeon after doing x , y , z, legendary, groundbreaking, never before seen work. Then she says ‘Who is Derek?'”
Another who agreed that Meredith getting Alzheimer’s is the obvious direction the show is heading for had a similarly gulp-inducing vision for how that will look, writing, “It is my thinking that in the last episode, the Alzheimer’s causes Meredith to go back before she had Ellis and she is searching for Derek, which breaks Nick’s heart.”
At least one poster had a different theory about where the long-running Alzheimer’s thread may be sewn up, turning to Ellis Grey’s (Kate Burton) other daughter, Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary), instead. The poster wrote, “I do think Maggie is gonna get Alzheimer’s and Meredith will discover a cure, maybe too late for Maggie, but before Maggie dies, she gets the first dose. It will be unexpected since she most likely has the gene, too, from Ellis, but the focus is so much on Meredith with Alzheimer’s, it’s gonna sneak attack.” (It’s worth noting, of course, that Maggie is no longer a regular character on Grey’s Anatomy at this time, but she has popped back into the show on occasion.)
Meredith’s fate wasn’t the only subject of the thread, of course. Other predictions about the future of Grey’s included a theory that Amelia Shepherd might eventually become chief of surgery, Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) could ultimately succumb to her cancer, and Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) and Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) might perish in an accident.
One commenter had a much brighter vision of the future of Grey’s, however, writing, “Bold of you to think this show is ever going to end. I swear Shonda [Rhimes’] children are going to inherit the show after she dies.”
We’ll have to wait to find out what’s ahead for Grey’s Anatomy when the show returns for Season 22 on October 9. Until then, what are your thoughts about how Grey’s might end? Hit the comments below to weigh in on these theories and/or offer your own!
Grey’s Anatomy, Season 22 Premiere, Thursday, October 9, 10/9c, ABC
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G
These are all good speculations but I for one am not ready for it to end. I’ve been binging and just realize what a great show I’ve been missing. The only thing I’d change is to quit having accidents every time staff steps foot in a helicopter or vehicle. That is a pedal point that is played out. They could also hire me for the show. I’d shake things up lol
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O
Think St Elsewhere. None of it happened. Merideth has had Alzheimer’s all along and the past 22 seasons never really happened
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P
I've thought this at times also and it upsets me so bad...
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R
That's a great point! I think that type of ending is a total cop out though. I hope they don't end this amazing series that way! I would be SO disappointed! I expect so much more from Shonda! 🫶🏼
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G
At the end Derick wakes up from a coma and says he had the most vivid dreams including what would happen to Meredith if he died!
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B
The show will have some years go by Meredith may get alzheimers and the person who finds the cure will Zola using her mother's research
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B
It's been a fun show to watch but it's really dragging now. It really needs to end.
I want the final scene to be Meredith and Cristina dancing it out.....
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G
There's so much death and destruction in the world...too much reality! It's sad and depressing! We watch these shows to escape that for just a little while. Can't it just end with some sort of "happy" ending? Please?
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Unfortunately Shonda is completely against ANYONE being happy and I hate her for it.
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G
Maggie gets Alzheimer's and she dies. Owen dies in an accident. Teddy and Amelia fall in love. Izzie relapsed and died so Alex comes back to Seattle with the twins and takes over as chief of peds again. Catherine dies (never liked her). April and Jackson move back to Seattle, married again and have another baby. She is chief of trauma and of course Jackson is chief of plastics. Now Ben is back we can have the plastics team again! I also want Casey Parker back on the show. I loved him so much 😍
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G
I like your theories! What are your thoughts on Amanda Bailey and Richard Weber?
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O
Zola finds the cure
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ROB LOWE WILL JOIN AS LOVE INTEREST OF METEDITH GREY.
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G
Meredith will run into Alex at a conference out of town and in a drunken stupor theyll sleep together and he will confess his undying love for her... Then Izzy will show up to surprise Alexand find them together. Then they'll just end it with the door opening with her, seeing them together. Lol
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