Grey’s Anatomy Season 9 Flux, Season 8 Finale “Complex”

Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Shonda Rhimes has been in an awful state of anxiety not knowing which of Grey’s cast members would be returning next season. With everything in a state of flux, Rhimes needed to just suck it up and plan out the current season’s complex finale and figure out which characters would be back next season at a later time. I can only imagine the frustration that must come with mapping out a finale with so many pieces moving behind the scenes. But from what Rhimes says, the ending she has planned will be the best way to finish the season.

Rhimes spoke with TVLine about her troubles, explaining her original plan for the season finale was to wait for all negotiations to finish so she could write it knowing exactly who would be staying and who wouldn’t. Once that way of thinking began to make her nervous, she caved and began plotting out the finale, something she usually does before a season even begins. I’m sure it was a huge relief to finally figure it all out despite the ongoing cast negotiations.

Unfortunately, Rhimes has no input, or even any solid idea, on how the negotiations will turn out. She is just as in the dark as the rest of us. Regardless of the outcomes, they will hugely impact the future of Grey’s, but no one will have a greater effect than Ellen Pompeo, who plays the show’s titular character Meredith Grey. If she ends up not coming back, the very nature of the show will change.