Grey's Anatomy Season Finale Redux: Which Beloved Doctor Died?

Find out which beloved character didn't survive the ABC medical drama's traumatic season ender

By Christina Dowling May 18, 2012 3:37 AMTags
GREY'S ANATOMY, SANDRA OH, JESSE WILLIAMS, SARAH DREWABC/RON TOM

Warning: If you have not watched tonight's finale and do not want to be spoiled, do not pass go. Do not collect $200. 

We consider ourselves veteran Grey's Anatomy watchers—this is not our first time at the rodeo, folks—but nothing could prepare us for this heartbreaking season finale. We will be sending our therapy (and tissue) bills to ABC.

It was a plane crash right out of our worst nightmares—train travel is sounding really good to us—so which beloved character died? And why do we keep vacillating between jagged sobs and absolute rage? Find out now: 

WHAT WE LEARNED

Man Down: We all saw in the promo from last week that Lexie (Chyler Leigh) was very badly off, crushed under the plane and bleeding. But for seven whole days we convinced ourselves that her death would have been too obvious and predictable. We should have guessed that the fake-out would have been too obvious for creator Shonda Rhimes. We keep ugly crying and then want to throw stuff at our TV. We cannot accept that our favorite Grey's character is actually gone. There go the waterworks again. 

Forest Reunion: If there is any sort of silver lining in this heart-wrenching episode, it was that Mark (Eric Dane) and Lexie fans finally got their (short-lived) reunion. Congrats, guys, you've only waited years for this moment. So seriously messed up. And so so incredibly tragic. We're glad Mark was by Lexie's side at the end, but this is definitely not how we wanted their professions of love to happen. 

Back in Seattle: Logically, we know that the other doctors don't know what's going on in the forest, but we can't help but being angry with the guys back home. What might have been slightly dark and ill-timed humor hit a little closer to the poor taste line—but that could be the grief in us talking. Some big lingering decisions were made. Jackson (Jesse Williams) is going to Tulane. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Ben (Jason George) are getting married. April (Sarah Drew) is still whining about losing her virginity. And Teddy (Kim Raver) was fired by Owen (Kevin McKidd). 

Big Cliffhanger: Well, the big cliffhanger was just another emotional knife to the heart. Surprise! All this pain you experienced for an hour is not over yet. Grey's is going to extend your emotional trauma through to next season. Mark is barely hanging on and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) let out a not-so-great sounding cough. No food or matches are left, and the surviving doctors will have to hang on until season nine. 

Who will survive to the next season? Are you heartbroken by tonight's episode? Still praying for a smoke monster? Hug it out or rage away in the comments!

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