'Grey's Anatomy' Season 16 Episode 14: Will Alex Karev just be a 'text ghost' like Cristina Yang?
'Grey's Anatomy' has a huge task at hand. Saying goodbye to Justin Chamber's beloved character Alex Karev is not easy. And as expected, the showrunners are not doing a good job at it. In this week's episode, Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) face some trouble. Alex is still in Iowa and is not responding to Jo at all.
At the end of the episode, Meredith Grey tries texting him but he isn't answering her either. It is heartbreaking to see that because the fans — who have followed the character for 16 years — know that Alex would never do that. Probably, this is how the showrunners are addressing Alex's exit from the show. Whew, about time. But the big question is: Will his character be dead or will Alex be another "text ghost" like Cristina Yang?
In an interview with Variety, Krista Vernoff clarified their stance and said, "It was very careful threading of a needle, where we are giving a little bit of information and pain to Jo." She further explains, "We’re, episode by episode, illuminating the story of where Alex is. And it takes us quite a few more episodes to get there and to give the audience clarity."
"Jo went through so much pain and so much grief just last season that I wanted to be careful,” Vernoff says. “And so it’s a bit of a mystery [what’s going on with Alex], so that we don’t watch Jo in the same place that we watched her in last season. We did it as carefully as we could. But it takes a while to get there."
Fans are already disheartened. "Can't wait to see how the writers will deal with the exit of this much-loved character. Currently, anything is better than hearing him just being randomly referenced without much explanation," one viewer posted and another wrote, "The way they are writing off Alex Karev has to be the sloppiest thing I have ever seen on #GreysAnatomy. I am so mad."
Moreover, fans are furious with how showrunners are leaning towards a hook-up for Jo and Atticus 'Link' Lincoln (Chris Carmack). That too, if it breaks off one of the most lovable couple — Link and Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone). A viewer posted, "#GreysAnatomy is playing with fire with this Alex Karev thing because there’s just no good way to end his storyline in a satisfying way without the actor involved. And if it leads to Jo & Link hooking up I may finally be done with the show (until Cristina returns.)"
A disappointed fan posted, "Stop making us think Karev left Jo #GreysAnatomy I swear this is why I refuse to watch #GreysAnatomy. We need a proper goodbye for Alex Karev." And another said, "Wtf #GreysAnatomy it’s bad enough to not give us closure with Alex’s departure, and it’s bad enough for him to ignore Jo, but now to ignore Meredith. It is disrespectful to a character like him. #alexkarev would never ignore Meredith!"
"Alex Karev deserves a better send off...if this is it...really was not prepared for a copy-cat Izzy send-off which is what it is looking like but worse because we get no response from him yet... Alex, you must respond 2 Mer pls!!!! #GreysAnatomy," a fan posted.
Another bunch of fans is talking about how Alex deserved better. "@GreysABC I guess the only joy I can have is that they didn’t kill #AlexKarev but He deserved better WE all did 16 years," a viewer wrote while another threw shade at Shonda Rhimes, saying, "@shondarhimes, I hate what you’ve done to my favorite show. You’ve completely lost it and you’re just gonna lose viewers. #GreysAnatomy16."
Alex's exit has fans demanding to stop watching the show. "They let #Alexkarev go and I have no desire to continue watching #GreysAnatomy," one fan posted and another wrote, "I really miss Alex Karev :(( Please bring him back please."
Of course, we are not getting to see Alex again on the show. At least, he should get a good send-off and not just hang in there like a text ghost. Sob sob!