The timeline in Grey's Anatomy doesn't coincide with the seasons. It took three seasons for one year to pass, and in season 5, the Chief establishes that it's been another half-year into year 2. So as of season 5's end, it's been a year and a half.
Desmond, let me preface this by saying that my knowledge of the sports-arena is lacking so please forgive me. Say you've been on your team for five years, and for the first four years, you've been utilized as much, if not more on certain games, as your teammates. Then on your fifth year, your coach underutilizes you, for that one season. You still play, but you're not as visible as you were in the previous seasons. Now, your contract with the team is for seven seasons. Because you were under-utilized for this one season, do you request to the owners and coaches to be let out of your contract so you can no longer play even though that the owners and managers will still let you play for two more seasons?
I would think you would.
TR Knight's contract wasn't expiring; the original cast were all contracted to stay with GA for seven seasons. Seven. The only exception to that was IW because of the incident that happened mid-season 3 and ABC had to answer for it. TR Knight was offered renewal. TR Knight refused.
As for your question, I can't speak for Shonda nor do I know the motives behind it, but what I do know, in accordance to what she had stated in an interview, that the lack of George in Season 5 was to set up the finale. And George did play, granted not as visible as in previous seasons, but he did play. Now for me, it made sense cause there were numerous reviews out there that the first 3/4 for the finale (both halves of part 1, and the first half of part 2) that stated they were so used to George not being there that it was that much of a shock once George was revealed to be John Doe.
And for those that state that they knew it was George from the beginning, congratulations on your intuitiveness, but you're the exception. Out of an average of 14 million viewers (excluding online-users), you're the exception.
And as for sports analogy goes, if your coach benches you for an entire season, isn't it most likely that they're just going to trade you to another team or drop you completely? That wasn't the case with TR: he was offered renewal, and he refused.
Now it terms of TR moving on to do what's best for him, I wish nothing but complete success in whatever he does. But he made a choice to leave. He's not a victim. He chose to leave. He was offered renewal. He chose to refuse it.
I don't blame Shonda or TR for their decisions. They aren't bitching or moaning about it; both were very respectable and cordial and professional. Other than heresay, they left on good-terms.
However, the major hardcore bias of George fans are ridiculous because TR is such a victim and he had to leave and oh woe is him and Shonda is the devil. Please. TR is an adult. He made a decision. Shonda (if the death is for real) reacted towards that decision.
And for those that say, well Shonda knew he was leaving, they should have catered a proper goodbye to him...
Seriously?
This is Grey's Anatomy. What kind of heartfelt goodbye would there be? The finale was shot and filmed and writted before TR confirmed he was leaving. Is she seriously going to base an entire 'goodbye' episode to a character that has an actor who may or may not be coming back next season, and that decision is dependent on the actor? Seriously? Not going to happen. If anything, the cliffhanger was shot so that if TR Kinght refused to come back, there was an exit vehicle and if he did come back, the story would focus on him on Season 6.
Do you honestly think ABC executives, Shonda, or the writing staff would pen an episode with the basis of a 'maybe'? Seriously? In the wonderful world of TV magic, writers don't reveal the future: this is why they're called cliffhangers, for you to tune into next season.
What's that expression? "Leave them wanting more."
At the end of the day, TR refused to come back. There, that's why George is dead.
Oh cry me a river already. It's well known industry practice that the writing staff does not get together and start drafting the next season until the actors have been sent their renewals and accepted.
For primetime shows, they had until June 30th to distribute renewals. GA-actors got their renewals mid-to-late July. TR declined. TR left. TR QUIT.
So, if Shonda killed off George O'Malley, it's because TR no longer wanted to be part of the show.
Those are the facts. Remove all the rumors, all the crap you heard, all the theories, and all the unconfirmed and unsubstantiated heresay: boil it down to this, George O'Malley is dead because TR left.
Plain and simple.
It's Shonda's character. If she kills George, then so be it. As creator of GA, she giveth and taketh away. Other than George's image, TR Knight has no claim, no bearing, no possession of George O'Malley. He left. For whatever reason it was, he left.
It's so easy for you hardcore George-only fans to lay ALL blame and ALL accountability on Shonda for the demise of George when TR Knight, YES, was also to blame. He QUIT! You weren't there. You don't know what happened. So don't cry out to the heavens damning ONLY Rhimes because you have bits and pieces that you synthesize so it makes TR Knight a victim. Please. It's spinning at best and complete bias at worst.
He wasn't fired, he wasn't dismissed, he left. He quit.
Yes, she could have left the door open for him to return in a more pleasing and convenient way, but COME ON people, this is Grey's Anatomy, when has the premise been ever pleasing and convenient?
And when has death every closed the door to return? Hello Bonnie. Hello Nurse Fallon. Hello Dylan. Hello Doc. Characters have all died. Characters that still came back. And they came back because the actors that played those characters did come back. Denny died in season 2, and he came back as a disembodied voice in Season 3, and during fantasy/tumor scenes in Season 5. DEATH does exclude the possibility of coming back. That door is still open, AND, it will always be open. It's up to TR to walk through it again.
And again, there is NO confirmation that George has actually died! It's circumstantial evidence at best. Hello, this is Shonda Rhimes, misdirection is a keynote trait of Grey's Anatomy. Beginning of Season 5, they had Derek Shepherd dead. A dream. Who's to say this isn't a fantasy scene or whatever?
And for the record, I loved George. I thought he was an awesome character and I thoroughly enjoyed TR's portrayal of him. I thought Shonda wrote and created a very interesting character and gave him a unique voice that TR conveyed. But I loved George as much as I loved Meredith, and the rest of the original interns. For me, I don't watch GA just for one character, I watch it for all the characters because each one contributes to the story of GA. I was saddened that TR has left, but that's life. People move on. I don't begrudge TR Knight and I don't begrudge Shonda.
I don't know what happened, whose to blame, whatever, I don't care. Grey's Anatomy still moves on. And I still continue to watch.
Oh and btw, the statistics of TV rankings is taken out of context. Yes, viewership is on a decline for over the past five reasons, but those ranking preclude online streaming and third-party providers because the availabilty of technology. From 2004 to 2009, TV shows have substaintially shifted their position by offering their products through online-distribution. Um, hello, that's what the WGA strike in 2008 was about, online distribution and how writer's contracts had to be altered to take a fair share of the online revenue that consumers are utilizing. Also, take into the context what those numbers mean in respect to the rest of the TV industry.
Season 1) Ranked 9
Season 2) Ranked 5
Season 3) Ranked 8
Season 4) Ranked 10
Season 5) Ranked 12
Failing? Seriously? For a show to stay in the top 10-15 for five years while competing with reality shows such as AI and DWTS not to mention new TV shows that premiere during that time is difficult. And for a show to be nominated by an multiple emmys (other than actors, such as writing, directing, etc.) consistently between those seasons is again difficult.
Failing? Seriously?
Again, this is an example of how one-sided information can truly get. Yes, from the Nielson ratings, the show is "failing". But that's one biased, very agenda-pushing perspective. Get the entirety and the context of those ratings, and guess what? No... NOT FAILING.
So for those hardcore George-only fans, you're looking only at the Neilson ratings without any context, and then crying out failure only on Shonda's part.
If George is to die, he died as a hero. Everyone is stating how brutal his death was, and how bad Shonda this and bad Shonda this, honestly, if she wanted to kill George as a means of carrying out a vendetta, why make him out a hero? Why have him sacrifice his life for another? Why do something that other characters would hesitate to do?
If he does die, why view his death as something horrible? He died in the most noble way possible: not by getting hit by a bus, but by sacrificing himself so that another could live, and a stranger no less. If anyone were to die in anyway possible, as a doctor, saving a life, wouldn't that be the best way to go?
And just because a character has died doesn't mean they can't come back in some shape, way, or form. Bonnie, Nurse Fallon, Dylan... even Doc came back for an episode. Death doesn't exclude that possibility.
Now, with that said, ultimately, if Shonda wanted George to come back, guess what, it's up to TR KNIGHT to do it.
I'm so tired of this dicussion being so one-sided. Shonda's the bad guy and TR Knight is automatically a victim. No one is a victim. You can't blame Shonda and then turn around and have TR Knight blameless. TR Knight chose to leave. You can't compare that with Isiash Washington who was fired. You can't compare that with Brooke Smmith who was fired. TR quit.
Honestly, as a writer, Shonda was BOUND by contract to keep TR Knight and everyone else in the show for 7 seasons. That was their contract when the principal actors signed on the show. Baring a huge diaster that ABC would have to answer for (i.e. Isiash Washington), the original cast were all contracted for seven seasons. So as a writer, Shonda planned to keep them around for SEVEN seasons. How can you not hold TR Knight accountable when he was ask to be released from this commitment?
At end the end of the day, if George is truly dead, it's not directly by Shonda's doing, it's a reaction to TR Knight NOT renewing his contract and choosing to QUIT. If the character of George is truly dead, then you must hold TR Knight RESPONSIBLE.
And for those fans that watched GA just for George, your choice in no longer watching this show is because of TR Knight... not Shonda Rhimes or the rest of the writing staff.
And as a writer, as a creator of GA, the characters are Shonda's. Not Ellen's, not Patrick's, not Katie's, not TR's, the characters are Shonda's. A writer doesn't stop loving her creations simply because the vehicle that allows that character to be represented no longer wants to be a part of the story. It's never easy for a writer to kill off a character they have been developing for 5+ years. It's never an easy decision.
You guys are WAY too harsh on Shonda and WAY too lenient on TR.
Remember how Season 5 started? Derek died.
Remember 100th ep it seemed like Der and Mer were gonna get married? They didn't.
Remember how Denny was supposed to be this ghost? He wasn't.
Shonda does a lot of misdirection, until we actually see the entirety of 6.01, we really can't jump to any conclusions. MA may have stated that the priest is for a "less than celebratory" scene, but that doesn't mean it's not a dream.
I wouldn't say that George had no breaks at all. I think George has received as much breaks as anyone else, I just think the people commenting on that is very biased because George is their favorite character.
Let's review:
- He was the very first intern to fly solo, both earning him "007" and the "Heart in the Elevator Guy".
- He became "Burke's Guy" and was involved in nearly all his cases, especially the heart exploding into fire case.
- He was the one who saved Joe from bankruptcy by finding a finanical-solution to Joe's standstill operation, even garnishing a hug from Alex Karve.
- George got major focus in Season 3 during his Dad's operation and eventual death that showcased TR's acting ability.
- George was the FIRST character other than Meredith to narrate an episode for "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" again having the focus of that episode being about him. This also lead the remaining episodes of Season 2 to center upon him, him & Callie, him & Burke, him & Christina, him & Meredith, and then their eventual reconciliation.
- George FAILED his internship exam, and was allowed to retake it; George's monologue even said stated that although Meredith's (step)mom died, got slapped in the face, almost drowned, and she still passed (which by the way it was George who pushed the Chief and everyone else to rally behind her).
- Other than Christina (CT) and Alex (neonatal), George was the only other intern to show true promise in his surgical specialty (trauma).
- George went from 007 to saving a girl from getting hit by a bus. You think Izzie came along away, look at George.
- Izzie said it best, "You put in more hours in the labs and more skills and research more than anyone else in this hospital, you're a better doctor and you're not stepping on anyone to get there. It would be an honor to be the new George."
George has always been an underdog and yet he's always managed to pull through. He was been great, and yes, it sucks that his character (most likely) may or may not be apart of GA anymore, but come on people, that's life. Let's just roll with it.
Let's not place blame here or there or hate on Shonda for doing what she needed to do to serve the ultimate goal of the story. George and TR were not victims; they played an intergal part in the WHOLE show, and yes, Season 5 was diminished, but come on people, look at the BIGGER PICTURE.
Remember what Bailey said about "the bigger picture." Stop focusing on the pieces of Season 5 and look at the entire body of work.
And FYI, the finale was written and shot without knowing fully (according to both TR Knight, his reps, ABC, and Shonda) if TR Knight was going to withdraw from Season 6. He was offered renewal, he decided it was time to move on. She tried to negotiate a couple of eps in season 6 for TR to be featured in, it doesn't seem he wanted that.
Don't cry out in objection that Shonda jerked TR Knight around and screwed fans over for not properly giving TR Knight a goodbye on the season finale, but then say, "oh what did you expect TR to do? Stay where he wasn't wanted?" for not choosing to participate in Season 6 and a guest-star.
And through it all, this is GREY'S Anatomy, Not O'MALLEY's Anatomy or STEVEN'S Anatomy, this is GREY'S Anatomy. It's all about her and everyone else just supports Meredith's rises and falls.
I think it's really easy for us, as audience members, to sit back and place judgment and blame on either TR or Shonda. I think at the end of the day, we really don't know the real answer or motivations to have actors move on. I think it's unreasonable for us to demand what we want, because, ultimately, it's not really up to us; it's up to Shonda and the rest of the writing staff to determine their story and let it unfold.
As audience members, as participants, we choose to either accept the story and follow it through, or we abandon it as soon as we get to a part we don't like or favor. Quality shows, I believe, or any quality-medium doesn't alter or change the story just to satisfy our demand; if it's right for the story, then they should have license to take it where it goes. Those that comment here, those that right both positive and negative things about the show, about Shonda, about TR, have been with the show since season 1, and followed it through. If it comes to a point where you, as an audience, feels that it no longer reconciles with your interest, then of course it is your right and your decision to disassociate yourself from that medium. To criticize it, however, because it doesn't fit your specific needs, I think, is unreasonable. Writers right to fulfill a story, to play out a character to the best because they know where that character ultimately lies. And as much as we think we have some claim or some attachment to that character that gives us credence to cry out blasphemy when it goes against our expectation, we really don't.
I think what separates this medium from a novel is that when you pick up a novel, for the most part, there is a conclusive end. All the mystery and intrigue and all the small subtleties are ultimately revealed by the end. Television shows that have somewhat of a linear development and story, like this one, do not have such luxury because we, as "readers", are guaranteed an end. We get an act, a chapter, a section that ends, but until the network decides to finally either shut down the show due to low ratings or give it a series finale, then there is no end, and we are pulled along with it.
Also, sometimes actors just want to move on, and writers change the story a bit to reconcile with their departure. As with TR, season 5 was not his only body of work. He has had four seasons, the first of three I might add, that focused as him as a character, and allowed him to grow. We saw him stumble as an intern, fall in love and know the object of his affection could not return it back, feel the loss of his father, clinging to the temporary happiness of marriage, suffer a professional set-back that pushed him to try harder, and have a meaningful relationship with his best friend that, at certain points, at that moment, felt more and resigned itself to just friendship. TR has conveyed these stories over the past four to five years beautifully and the words he spoke and acted were not only just a reflection of his incredible talent, but also the incredible storytelling of Shonda and the other GA-writers.
In turn, Shonda explained the lack of George-content this season. Whether it was true or not, it's not our place to discern, however, she was correct, at least for me. If George had been an active role in season five, I would immediately missed his presence in the season finale and the surprise twist at the end would not have as much impact as it did. For 23-24 episodes, Shonda has pulled George further and further back into the background, acclimating us to his absence, almost to a point where enough absence became an accepted reality. When the second-part of the season finale aired, and George was not present, it was something I had already was used to, and thus in my mind, I thought that George was alive and well and simply out of focus. When George so painfully wrote, ached fingertip upon Meredith's palm, "007" the mere surprise floored me because I had this expectation that George was simply in the background. Now, he was thrust forward. I agree with Shonda that had George not been pulled back, it would have been not as big as an impact.
So I think we shouldn't set blame or point fingers. If both TR and Shonda have not, and they were the ones at the center of it, then I don't believe we should feel entitled to place blame as well. We should support the decision of both the actor and writer and see where the next story takes us.
Reading all these comments, some negative, some positive, I remember the words of Meredith echoing in my mind...
"We all think we're going to be great. And we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren't met. But sometimes our expectations sell us short. Sometimes the expected simply pales in comparison to the unexpected. You gotta wonder why we cling to our expectations. Because the expected is just what keeps us steady, standing, still. The expected is just the beginning: the unexpected is what changes our lives."
Also, Shonda specifically said that the brain condition was not a tumor; doesn't mean it can't be an aneurysm. Remember Season 2 Episode 1 and the standstill? Joe had that all of his life and it didn't affect him one bit until something made it swell. Though, I think it's hard for Shonda to say it's NOT a brain tumor since Izzy is showing classic markers for it. Remember the vision thing? Flashback to when Meredith was doing a vision test on Richard O'Meara's character, aka Brother of Bear Attack. Remember how he couldn't see the fingers until a certain point? And Meredith did mention that during the whole 'Andre' incident, even thought he ended up being real, that the tumor could've caused the man's existence. I kind of feel that all these episodes leading up to Denny were subtle hints to Izzy's symptoms.
Burn Notice
Comments by Ace (Page 17)
Grey's Anatomy Spoilers: Right Where We Left Off
The timeline in Grey's Anatomy doesn't coincide with the seasons. It took three seasons for one year to pass, and in season 5, the Chief establishes that it's been another half-year into year 2. So as of season 5's end, it's been a year and a half.
Grey's Anatomy Spoilers: The Priest's Purpose
Grey's Anatomy Spoilers: The Priest's Purpose
I would think you would.
TR Knight's contract wasn't expiring; the original cast were all contracted to stay with GA for seven seasons. Seven. The only exception to that was IW because of the incident that happened mid-season 3 and ABC had to answer for it. TR Knight was offered renewal. TR Knight refused.
As for your question, I can't speak for Shonda nor do I know the motives behind it, but what I do know, in accordance to what she had stated in an interview, that the lack of George in Season 5 was to set up the finale. And George did play, granted not as visible as in previous seasons, but he did play. Now for me, it made sense cause there were numerous reviews out there that the first 3/4 for the finale (both halves of part 1, and the first half of part 2) that stated they were so used to George not being there that it was that much of a shock once George was revealed to be John Doe.
And for those that state that they knew it was George from the beginning, congratulations on your intuitiveness, but you're the exception. Out of an average of 14 million viewers (excluding online-users), you're the exception.
And as for sports analogy goes, if your coach benches you for an entire season, isn't it most likely that they're just going to trade you to another team or drop you completely? That wasn't the case with TR: he was offered renewal, and he refused.
Now it terms of TR moving on to do what's best for him, I wish nothing but complete success in whatever he does. But he made a choice to leave. He's not a victim. He chose to leave. He was offered renewal. He chose to refuse it.
I don't blame Shonda or TR for their decisions. They aren't bitching or moaning about it; both were very respectable and cordial and professional. Other than heresay, they left on good-terms.
However, the major hardcore bias of George fans are ridiculous because TR is such a victim and he had to leave and oh woe is him and Shonda is the devil. Please. TR is an adult. He made a decision. Shonda (if the death is for real) reacted towards that decision.
And for those that say, well Shonda knew he was leaving, they should have catered a proper goodbye to him...
Seriously?
This is Grey's Anatomy. What kind of heartfelt goodbye would there be? The finale was shot and filmed and writted before TR confirmed he was leaving. Is she seriously going to base an entire 'goodbye' episode to a character that has an actor who may or may not be coming back next season, and that decision is dependent on the actor? Seriously? Not going to happen. If anything, the cliffhanger was shot so that if TR Kinght refused to come back, there was an exit vehicle and if he did come back, the story would focus on him on Season 6.
Do you honestly think ABC executives, Shonda, or the writing staff would pen an episode with the basis of a 'maybe'? Seriously? In the wonderful world of TV magic, writers don't reveal the future: this is why they're called cliffhangers, for you to tune into next season.
What's that expression? "Leave them wanting more."
At the end of the day, TR refused to come back. There, that's why George is dead.
Grey's Anatomy Spoilers: The Priest's Purpose
Grey's Anatomy Spoilers: The Priest's Purpose
For primetime shows, they had until June 30th to distribute renewals. GA-actors got their renewals mid-to-late July. TR declined. TR left. TR QUIT.
So, if Shonda killed off George O'Malley, it's because TR no longer wanted to be part of the show.
Those are the facts. Remove all the rumors, all the crap you heard, all the theories, and all the unconfirmed and unsubstantiated heresay: boil it down to this, George O'Malley is dead because TR left.
Plain and simple.
It's Shonda's character. If she kills George, then so be it. As creator of GA, she giveth and taketh away. Other than George's image, TR Knight has no claim, no bearing, no possession of George O'Malley. He left. For whatever reason it was, he left.
It's so easy for you hardcore George-only fans to lay ALL blame and ALL accountability on Shonda for the demise of George when TR Knight, YES, was also to blame. He QUIT! You weren't there. You don't know what happened. So don't cry out to the heavens damning ONLY Rhimes because you have bits and pieces that you synthesize so it makes TR Knight a victim. Please. It's spinning at best and complete bias at worst.
He wasn't fired, he wasn't dismissed, he left. He quit.
Yes, she could have left the door open for him to return in a more pleasing and convenient way, but COME ON people, this is Grey's Anatomy, when has the premise been ever pleasing and convenient?
And when has death every closed the door to return? Hello Bonnie. Hello Nurse Fallon. Hello Dylan. Hello Doc. Characters have all died. Characters that still came back. And they came back because the actors that played those characters did come back. Denny died in season 2, and he came back as a disembodied voice in Season 3, and during fantasy/tumor scenes in Season 5. DEATH does exclude the possibility of coming back. That door is still open, AND, it will always be open. It's up to TR to walk through it again.
And again, there is NO confirmation that George has actually died! It's circumstantial evidence at best. Hello, this is Shonda Rhimes, misdirection is a keynote trait of Grey's Anatomy. Beginning of Season 5, they had Derek Shepherd dead. A dream. Who's to say this isn't a fantasy scene or whatever?
And for the record, I loved George. I thought he was an awesome character and I thoroughly enjoyed TR's portrayal of him. I thought Shonda wrote and created a very interesting character and gave him a unique voice that TR conveyed. But I loved George as much as I loved Meredith, and the rest of the original interns. For me, I don't watch GA just for one character, I watch it for all the characters because each one contributes to the story of GA. I was saddened that TR has left, but that's life. People move on. I don't begrudge TR Knight and I don't begrudge Shonda.
I don't know what happened, whose to blame, whatever, I don't care. Grey's Anatomy still moves on. And I still continue to watch.
Oh and btw, the statistics of TV rankings is taken out of context. Yes, viewership is on a decline for over the past five reasons, but those ranking preclude online streaming and third-party providers because the availabilty of technology. From 2004 to 2009, TV shows have substaintially shifted their position by offering their products through online-distribution. Um, hello, that's what the WGA strike in 2008 was about, online distribution and how writer's contracts had to be altered to take a fair share of the online revenue that consumers are utilizing. Also, take into the context what those numbers mean in respect to the rest of the TV industry.
Season 1) Ranked 9
Season 2) Ranked 5
Season 3) Ranked 8
Season 4) Ranked 10
Season 5) Ranked 12
Failing? Seriously? For a show to stay in the top 10-15 for five years while competing with reality shows such as AI and DWTS not to mention new TV shows that premiere during that time is difficult. And for a show to be nominated by an multiple emmys (other than actors, such as writing, directing, etc.) consistently between those seasons is again difficult.
Failing? Seriously?
Again, this is an example of how one-sided information can truly get. Yes, from the Nielson ratings, the show is "failing". But that's one biased, very agenda-pushing perspective. Get the entirety and the context of those ratings, and guess what? No... NOT FAILING.
So for those hardcore George-only fans, you're looking only at the Neilson ratings without any context, and then crying out failure only on Shonda's part.
Grey's Anatomy Spoilers: The Priest's Purpose
If he does die, why view his death as something horrible? He died in the most noble way possible: not by getting hit by a bus, but by sacrificing himself so that another could live, and a stranger no less. If anyone were to die in anyway possible, as a doctor, saving a life, wouldn't that be the best way to go?
And just because a character has died doesn't mean they can't come back in some shape, way, or form. Bonnie, Nurse Fallon, Dylan... even Doc came back for an episode. Death doesn't exclude that possibility.
Now, with that said, ultimately, if Shonda wanted George to come back, guess what, it's up to TR KNIGHT to do it.
I'm so tired of this dicussion being so one-sided. Shonda's the bad guy and TR Knight is automatically a victim. No one is a victim. You can't blame Shonda and then turn around and have TR Knight blameless. TR Knight chose to leave. You can't compare that with Isiash Washington who was fired. You can't compare that with Brooke Smmith who was fired. TR quit.
Honestly, as a writer, Shonda was BOUND by contract to keep TR Knight and everyone else in the show for 7 seasons. That was their contract when the principal actors signed on the show. Baring a huge diaster that ABC would have to answer for (i.e. Isiash Washington), the original cast were all contracted for seven seasons. So as a writer, Shonda planned to keep them around for SEVEN seasons. How can you not hold TR Knight accountable when he was ask to be released from this commitment?
At end the end of the day, if George is truly dead, it's not directly by Shonda's doing, it's a reaction to TR Knight NOT renewing his contract and choosing to QUIT. If the character of George is truly dead, then you must hold TR Knight RESPONSIBLE.
And for those fans that watched GA just for George, your choice in no longer watching this show is because of TR Knight... not Shonda Rhimes or the rest of the writing staff.
And as a writer, as a creator of GA, the characters are Shonda's. Not Ellen's, not Patrick's, not Katie's, not TR's, the characters are Shonda's. A writer doesn't stop loving her creations simply because the vehicle that allows that character to be represented no longer wants to be a part of the story. It's never easy for a writer to kill off a character they have been developing for 5+ years. It's never an easy decision.
You guys are WAY too harsh on Shonda and WAY too lenient on TR.
Grey's Anatomy Spoilers: The Priest's Purpose
Remember how Season 5 started? Derek died.
Remember 100th ep it seemed like Der and Mer were gonna get married? They didn't.
Remember how Denny was supposed to be this ghost? He wasn't.
Shonda does a lot of misdirection, until we actually see the entirety of 6.01, we really can't jump to any conclusions. MA may have stated that the priest is for a "less than celebratory" scene, but that doesn't mean it's not a dream.
Grey's Anatomy Spoilers: The Priest's Purpose
Let's review:
- He was the very first intern to fly solo, both earning him "007" and the "Heart in the Elevator Guy".
- He became "Burke's Guy" and was involved in nearly all his cases, especially the heart exploding into fire case.
- He was the one who saved Joe from bankruptcy by finding a finanical-solution to Joe's standstill operation, even garnishing a hug from Alex Karve.
- George got major focus in Season 3 during his Dad's operation and eventual death that showcased TR's acting ability.
- George was the FIRST character other than Meredith to narrate an episode for "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" again having the focus of that episode being about him. This also lead the remaining episodes of Season 2 to center upon him, him & Callie, him & Burke, him & Christina, him & Meredith, and then their eventual reconciliation.
- George FAILED his internship exam, and was allowed to retake it; George's monologue even said stated that although Meredith's (step)mom died, got slapped in the face, almost drowned, and she still passed (which by the way it was George who pushed the Chief and everyone else to rally behind her).
- Other than Christina (CT) and Alex (neonatal), George was the only other intern to show true promise in his surgical specialty (trauma).
- George went from 007 to saving a girl from getting hit by a bus. You think Izzie came along away, look at George.
- Izzie said it best, "You put in more hours in the labs and more skills and research more than anyone else in this hospital, you're a better doctor and you're not stepping on anyone to get there. It would be an honor to be the new George."
George has always been an underdog and yet he's always managed to pull through. He was been great, and yes, it sucks that his character (most likely) may or may not be apart of GA anymore, but come on people, that's life. Let's just roll with it.
Let's not place blame here or there or hate on Shonda for doing what she needed to do to serve the ultimate goal of the story. George and TR were not victims; they played an intergal part in the WHOLE show, and yes, Season 5 was diminished, but come on people, look at the BIGGER PICTURE.
Remember what Bailey said about "the bigger picture." Stop focusing on the pieces of Season 5 and look at the entire body of work.
And FYI, the finale was written and shot without knowing fully (according to both TR Knight, his reps, ABC, and Shonda) if TR Knight was going to withdraw from Season 6. He was offered renewal, he decided it was time to move on. She tried to negotiate a couple of eps in season 6 for TR to be featured in, it doesn't seem he wanted that.
Don't cry out in objection that Shonda jerked TR Knight around and screwed fans over for not properly giving TR Knight a goodbye on the season finale, but then say, "oh what did you expect TR to do? Stay where he wasn't wanted?" for not choosing to participate in Season 6 and a guest-star.
And through it all, this is GREY'S Anatomy, Not O'MALLEY's Anatomy or STEVEN'S Anatomy, this is GREY'S Anatomy. It's all about her and everyone else just supports Meredith's rises and falls.
Fact: TR Knight is not bitching.
You shouldn't be either.
T.R. Knight Issues Statement on Grey's Anatomy Departure
As audience members, as participants, we choose to either accept the story and follow it through, or we abandon it as soon as we get to a part we don't like or favor. Quality shows, I believe, or any quality-medium doesn't alter or change the story just to satisfy our demand; if it's right for the story, then they should have license to take it where it goes. Those that comment here, those that right both positive and negative things about the show, about Shonda, about TR, have been with the show since season 1, and followed it through. If it comes to a point where you, as an audience, feels that it no longer reconciles with your interest, then of course it is your right and your decision to disassociate yourself from that medium. To criticize it, however, because it doesn't fit your specific needs, I think, is unreasonable. Writers right to fulfill a story, to play out a character to the best because they know where that character ultimately lies. And as much as we think we have some claim or some attachment to that character that gives us credence to cry out blasphemy when it goes against our expectation, we really don't.
I think what separates this medium from a novel is that when you pick up a novel, for the most part, there is a conclusive end. All the mystery and intrigue and all the small subtleties are ultimately revealed by the end. Television shows that have somewhat of a linear development and story, like this one, do not have such luxury because we, as "readers", are guaranteed an end. We get an act, a chapter, a section that ends, but until the network decides to finally either shut down the show due to low ratings or give it a series finale, then there is no end, and we are pulled along with it.
Also, sometimes actors just want to move on, and writers change the story a bit to reconcile with their departure. As with TR, season 5 was not his only body of work. He has had four seasons, the first of three I might add, that focused as him as a character, and allowed him to grow. We saw him stumble as an intern, fall in love and know the object of his affection could not return it back, feel the loss of his father, clinging to the temporary happiness of marriage, suffer a professional set-back that pushed him to try harder, and have a meaningful relationship with his best friend that, at certain points, at that moment, felt more and resigned itself to just friendship. TR has conveyed these stories over the past four to five years beautifully and the words he spoke and acted were not only just a reflection of his incredible talent, but also the incredible storytelling of Shonda and the other GA-writers.
In turn, Shonda explained the lack of George-content this season. Whether it was true or not, it's not our place to discern, however, she was correct, at least for me. If George had been an active role in season five, I would immediately missed his presence in the season finale and the surprise twist at the end would not have as much impact as it did. For 23-24 episodes, Shonda has pulled George further and further back into the background, acclimating us to his absence, almost to a point where enough absence became an accepted reality. When the second-part of the season finale aired, and George was not present, it was something I had already was used to, and thus in my mind, I thought that George was alive and well and simply out of focus. When George so painfully wrote, ached fingertip upon Meredith's palm, "007" the mere surprise floored me because I had this expectation that George was simply in the background. Now, he was thrust forward. I agree with Shonda that had George not been pulled back, it would have been not as big as an impact.
So I think we shouldn't set blame or point fingers. If both TR and Shonda have not, and they were the ones at the center of it, then I don't believe we should feel entitled to place blame as well. We should support the decision of both the actor and writer and see where the next story takes us.
Reading all these comments, some negative, some positive, I remember the words of Meredith echoing in my mind...
"We all think we're going to be great. And we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren't met. But sometimes our expectations sell us short. Sometimes the expected simply pales in comparison to the unexpected. You gotta wonder why we cling to our expectations. Because the expected is just what keeps us steady, standing, still. The expected is just the beginning: the unexpected is what changes our lives."
-Ace
Shonda Rhimes Denies Heigl, Knight Leaving Grey's Anatomy