10 Times TV Shows 'Did Right By The Fans' (And Pissed Everyone Off)
3. Dead And Recovering Nicely - Grey’s Anatomy
Medical drama Grey’s Anatomy has been on the air for a really, really long time.
The comings and goings of Seattle Grace Hospital first started back in 2005 and, at the time of writing, it’s still on the air. Meredith Grey, the character the show is named after, isn’t even a series regular anymore. That’s how long it’s been.
Since it’s been around since the dawn of time, the showrunners have often come across issues with regards to popular characters that may have been killed off too soon. Nostalgia for these fallen favourites has only intensified over time and the writers continue to cave to audience demands by bringing them back.
Denny, Izzie’s former love interest, returned as a hallucination for several episodes in Season 5, Patrick Dempsey’s beloved Derek Shepherd came back in a COVID-induced dream in Season 17, and then there’s the episode Flowers Grow Out of My Grave, which revived five deceased characters in a montage.
Six if you count Doc the dog.
This trope has, ironically, been done to death by the show, becoming less and less effective every time.