This 'Grey's Anatomy' Death Changed the Series Forever

The Big Picture

• Grey's Anatomy is known for killing off the main characters, which always proves to be devastating and unexpected.
• George O'Malley's death was a major shock, as he was a beloved character, and played an important role in other characters' lives.
• George's death signaled that no character, even the main characters, was safe, which changed the trajectory of the show going forward.

“It’s a beautiful day to save lives,” being one of Grey's Anatomy’s most famous quotes is ironic considering just how often the show tends to kill off its characters. It’s expected in a medical show for patients to sometimes meet a tragic end, especially with some of the absurd cases that come through the doors. But to kill off main characters? That’s a pretty risqué move. Yet Grey’s went there, and has continuously gone there throughout the series. Every fan has that one character death that affects them more than the others, but looking at the show from a non-biased standpoint, there’s one death that truly changed the show and turned it upside down. And it’s probably not the one you think.

Grey's Anatomy

A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Has Killed Off A Lot of Characters

It can be funny to joke about how Grey’s Anatomy has a penchant for killing off its characters, but when you really take a step back and look at the sheer volume of deaths that have come out of the show, it’s a little jarring. Even the ones who managed to escape Shonda Rhimes' pen of death suffered a major trauma at some point in time. The first major character we said goodbye to was Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) back in Season 2. Denny was a heart patient who fell in love with Izzie (Katherine Heigl), and while his fate never seemed all that promising, fans (and Izzie) still rooted for him to make it out alive. It even seemed like he was going to do just that until his heart finally gave out on him once and for all. It was a majorly tragic moment, especially so early on in the show, but it didn’t affect the show or the rest of the characters the way other deaths did.

When you think of the major Grey’s character deaths, the first to come to mind is likely Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). After all, he’s McDreamy. How could the show possibly go on without him? Or maybe you think of Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) and his impeccable charm and character development. Both are solid choices. Heck, all the deaths in the show got me good. But there’s one death that happened earlier that not only broke the hearts of fans everywhere but quite literally changed the trajectory of the show forever.

George O’Malley’s Death Was a Major Shock

George O’Malley (T.R. Knight) was without a doubt one of the most beloved characters on Grey’s Anatomy. Not only was he one of the O.G. interns, so he had that going for him. But he was also just a total sweetheart. He wore his heart on his sleeve, cared for his friends more than he did himself, and was always willing to help whoever he could. So killing him off was about the boldest move the show could have made, aside from killing Derek or Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). And the show didn’t just kill him off, it gave him one of the most torturous deaths in the whole show. He’s brought to the hospital as a John Doe after being hit by a bus. A freaking bus! And since he was brought in as a John Doe, and can’t speak to give his name, no one knows who he is, and therefore no one can call his family or friends to tell them what’s happened.

The doctors scramble to save this man’s life, all the while not knowing that he’s one of their own. Until he writes “007” in Meredith’s palm, and then it suddenly clicks. It’s George’s nickname. The patient on the table is George. Meredith’s cry is gut-wrenching when she realizes it, and everything seems to freeze when she announces it to her fellow doctors. Suddenly, it’s not just a patient they’re doing everything they can to save, it’s one of their own, and the stakes are so much higher.

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George’s Death Changed 'Grey’s Anatomy'

George’s injuries prove to be too severe, and he passes away among his friends and colleagues. It’s tragic and still gets the waterworks flowing all these years later. And yes, that’s partly due to how beloved a character George is, but it’s also because you quickly begin to realize once he’s gone just how much of an impact he had on everyone around him. He was Izzie’s best friend from day one. He and Callie (Sara Ramirez), despite being divorced from one another, were still close friends and had a lot of love for one another. He was one of the few men who hadn’t let Meredith down. Lexie (Chyler Leigh) had a crush on him. And Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) named her son after him for crying out loud. She even admitted that he was her favorite intern.

George touched everyone’s lives in some way, big or small. But more than that, his death was the turning point that told audiences no one in the show was safe anymore. No longer were the deaths confined to just patients or recurring guest stars. Anyone could be visited by the Grim Reaper of Grey's Anatomy, and there was no way of telling who would be next or when. And as devastating as it was, Grey’s Anatomy has always been superb at invoking emotion. Whether it be anger, grief, or sadness. Or, in this case, all three. George will forever be missed by fans, and the characters themselves, and though the show has clearly remained successful, it’s never quite been the same without him. George'sdeath remains a poignant piece of Grey’s Anatomy history, and always will. No matter how devastating it may be.

Grey's Anatomy is available to watch on Netflix in the U.S.

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