Ellen Pompeo stepped down from her series regular role in Grey’s Anatomy season 19, but Meredith has awkwardly hung around the series since, proving it’s time for them to part ways. Meredith had a disappointing exit in Grey’s Anatomy season 19 that left many viewers wanting more. Yet, even with the sendoff she received, she has played a major, inconsistent role in season 20. It has been confirmed that Pompeo will appear in the Grey’s Anatomy season 20 finale, meaning Meredith will have been in half of the 10-episode season by the time it ends.

When Meredith left in the Grey’s Anatomy season 19 mid-season premiere, viewers knew it wasn’t her final episode. Meredith was already set to return at the end of Grey’s Anatomy season 19, giving her appearances in just under half of the 20-episode season. Even after leaving, Meredith was somehow more involved in Grey’s Anatomy season 20 than in season 19. With Grey’s Anatomy season 21 confirmed, it begs the question of how involved Meredith will be in the future. There have already been character cuts and reduced cast roles, and Meredith could and should be one of them.

Meredith Grey’s Storylines Are Too Out Of Character

Meredith’s Character Has Regressed In Grey’s Anatomy Season 20

Meredith’s Grey’s Anatomy season 20 storyline revolves around the controversial, potentially groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research she’s been conducting behind Catherine’s back. In doing this, Meredith has dragged multiple characters into her lies, including Amelia, who she’s doing the research with, and Teddy, who has helped fund it. This isn’t the first time Meredith has made a bad decision in Grey’s Anatomy, but it should be the last. Meredith is no longer a young intern or resident rebelling against the system, she’s a seasoned doctor playing games with her boss and leaving people’s jobs in the balance.

Though Meredith told Nick she isn’t afraid of being fired as she can continue her research elsewhere, not everyone is in the same position. When Catherine found out about their secret research, she fired Teddy from her position as Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital Chief of Surgery. Teddy risked her job for Meredith, but all Meredith cares about is the research. Meredith even guilt-tripped Amelia into continuing their work by talking about honoring her dead mother when Amelia said she couldn’t lose her job.

Amelia and Teddy have young children, and while Meredith was able to uproot her life and bring her three children to Boston, Amelia and Teddy can’t necessarily, and shouldn’t have to, do the same. Meredith’s Grey’s Anatomy season 20 storyline is causing a disaster not just for herself, but those around her, and she doesn’t seem to care. Meredith’s character has always had problems in Grey’s Anatomy, but season 20 has proved she hasn’t learned from her mistakes, and it’s ruining what was left to enjoy about her character.

Meredith Grey’s Comebacks Are Taking Valuable Screen Time From Other Characters

Grey’s Anatomy Is An Ensemble Show

Many viewers, even the most loyal, have wondered when and how Grey’s Anatomy will finally end. With the revolving door of characters, and only three remaining from the first episode, many have felt like Grey’s Anatomy has needed to pull the plug for years. Yet, Grey’s Anatomy season 20 breathed new life into the show by introducing the first exciting intern group in seasons. Sadly, Yasuda is leaving Grey’s Anatomy in season 21, and season 20 has also teased Lucas leaving.

These exits feel premature, not just because they’ve only been around for two seasons thus far, but because the show hasn’t allowed viewers to spend enough time with them in said seasons. This is partially because Meredith’s Grey’s Anatomy season 20 comebacks take up valuable screen time from the interns and other characters. Since only a few characters know about her research, Meredith’s storyline feels too isolated, thus taking away from Grey’s Anatomy as an ensemble show. Meredith’s Grey’s Anatomy exit was supposed to be good for the interns, and her sticking around has only hurt them and others.

Meredith’s Grey’s Anatomy Returns Feel Forced

Meredith’s Grey’s Anatomy Appearances Are Inconsistent

When Ellen Pompeo announced her reduced Grey’s Anatomy role, she said she wanted to make room for other projects after focusing almost solely on the medical drama for almost 20 years. This is great for her career, but it should’ve meant a complete departure from Grey’s Anatomy. Meredith comes and goes in her comeback episodes, likely because they have to be filmed around Pompeo’s schedule. Not knowing when she’ll show up makes her Grey’s Anatomy season 20 appearances feel random and shoehorned.

Grey’s Anatomy can survive without Meredith, and the seasons 19 and 20 episodes in which she was absent proved this. Yet, it seems like those behind the show don’t believe this, causing them to force a Meredith storyline into Grey’s Anatomy season 20 when everyone else, including Meredith, was ready to move on. Though the Alzheimer’s research storyline could be seen as fitting by bringing Meredith’s storyline full circle, it also needs to be how her Grey’s Anatomy story finally ends.

Episode #
Title
Release Date

1
We’ve Only Just Begun
March 14, 2024

2
Keep The Family Close
March 21, 2024

3
Walk on the Ocean
March 28, 2024

4
Baby Can I Hold You
April 4, 2024

5
Never Felt So Alone
April 11, 2024

6
The Marathon Continues
May 2, 2024

7
She Used to Be Mine
May 9, 2024

8
Blood, Sweat and Tears
May 16, 2024

9
I Carry Your Heart
May 23, 2024

10
Burn It Down
May 30, 2024