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Grey’s Anatomy season 16 episode 16 preview: Goodbye, Alex Karev

By Meg Dowell

GREY'S ANATOMY - "My Shot" - Meredith faces the medical board as her future as a doctor remains uncertain, and she's forced to reckon with her past in some challenging ways. Meanwhile, the interns are put to the test as they are each vying to be the most successful on their respective cases in the absence of some of the attendings on "Grey's Anatomy," THURSDAY, NOV. 14 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/Christopher Willard)GIACOMO GIANNIOTTI
GREY'S ANATOMY - "My Shot" - Meredith faces the medical board as her future as a doctor remains uncertain, and she's forced to reckon with her past in some challenging ways. Meanwhile, the interns are put to the test as they are each vying to be the most successful on their respective cases in the absence of some of the attendings on "Grey's Anatomy," THURSDAY, NOV. 14 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/Christopher Willard)GIACOMO GIANNIOTTI /
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Grey’s Anatomy fans who hoped for closure will get to say goodbye to Alex Karev in this week’s farewell episode.

There’s a lot going on in the lives of our favorite Grey’s Anatomy characters right now. Ben and Miranda have a new “son,” Link and Amelia are no longer on speaking terms, and the Teddy-Owen-Tom love triangle keeps getting more complicated.

But most devastating of all is the reality we’ve all been trying to ignore for months now: Alex Karev’s official departure from the show.

Ever since Justin Chambers announced the end of his Grey’s Anatomy run — one that lasted almost 16 years — fans have been wondering how the show would handle the abrupt exit. Now it’s time to find out, and we’re not ready.

His story could end in several different ways. Most aren’t buying the idea that he left without cause or explanation — it would just be too out of character for him at this point.

And as much as viewers don’t want to see him killed off, this appears to be the preferred outcome among most if we have to choose between the two. Meredith deserves it. Jo deserves it. Alex deserves it, and we deserve it. All deserve better, but we’ll take what we can get.

Because Chambers won’t be returning for the episode, it looks like we’re going to get plenty of flashbacks to make up for his absence. This isn’t a bad thing — these scenes will crank up the nostalgia and probably contribute to most (though not all) of our tears.

And for many fans, it’s probably been a while since we’ve seen older episodes of the show. You know, back when Alex was a terrible human being. Back when we figured the OG cast would hopefully stick around for the entire run of the series.

Chambers had his own private reasons for leaving, and we really can’t hold this sudden departure against him. Things happen, and all things considered, the show’s creators are doing the best they can to make the most of an unfortunate situation.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t be sad. We already are. And it’s not even Thursday yet.

How do you think the show will end Alex Karev’s story? What’s going to give you the closure you need to move on?

Next. There's only one way to write Alex out of Grey's Anatomy. dark

Grey’s Anatomy airs this Thursday, March 5 at 9 p.m. ET.

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