SPOILERS: Just to warn if you have not seen the show.
As most of you know, one of my all time favorite shows has turned out to be a pretty mainstream one, "Grey's Anatomy." I have now watched it twice through and continue to watch it as it airs with new episodes.
During my first round through the series, I realized that even after 13 years, this show was still kicking and doing well. It never really got boring and the story line continued on in a way that made it "okay" to kill of main characters, like Rhimes tends to do with her shows.
For a show to be able to kill off main and likable characters and still survive says a lot about how well written the show truly is. The second time around watching the series, I realized where the show's success relies on, Meredith Grey and her character development.
One of my many hobbies includes film analyzing and criticizing. I enjoy the plot, the setting, the characters, and how each little lighting effect or sound effect can make or break a show. What makes "Grey's Anatomy" so epic and binge-worthy is what could be considered obvious, it is Ellen Pompeo and the character development of Meredith Grey.
Meredith Grey starts the series hooking up with a handsome man in a bar and then goes to the next morning where she starts her first intern year at Seattle Grace. The show starts at the very beginning and where Rhimes takes it from there with Meredith's story is beyond imaginable. The handsome man in the begging becomes her love interest that follows Meredith's story throughout the entire show, even after his death. How she handles each and every situation thrown at her and how she grows from it all is what makes her an inspiration.
Meredith throughout the series grows as a surgeon, as a person, as a mother, as friend, and as a family member. She goes through tragedies after tragedies, losing those she loves. People are constantly coming and going in her life and throughout the series, you can clearly see how she evolves to become a wonderful human. She is a relatable character for how she handles these situations with a reality check.
She does have down falls and she comes back from them in a "normal" person type of way where we can apply the feelings and situations to our lives. She gives constant advice throughout the series that is vague enough that can be relatable but means something to everyone. Most series by the 14th season seem to have dragged on too long and fans want it to end, but with "Grey's Anatomy," the ratings remain high and Grey's story is far from as she continues her life as an award winning surgeon for Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. As great as the writing is, Meredith has come to life due to the actress, Ellen Pompeo.
Pompeo makes Meredith Grey who she is and portrays the character with a sparkle in her eye. The emotion that comes from Pompeo is easily seen as real and can tend to effect how our emotions are towards what is happening on screen.
The chemistry between Pompeo and the other actors is believable to the point that you forget that her and McDreamy aren't actually married in real life. When it comes to surgeries and the medical side of the show, she does not miss a beat. I would let her perform an appendectomy on me if I needed it. "Grey's Anatomy" would not be Grey's without Pompeo and I am excited to see what season 15 has in store for Meredith and company.
