Grey’s Anatomy is well recognized for its vast selection of beloved characters, all of whom add a unique touch of flair to this long-running procedural. Not only do these characters help to drum up a ton of dramatic tension, but they help to show the friendships that could only be built in a place like Grey Sloan. So even when everything seems as though it’s falling apart, these doctors still manage to work together.
One of the show’s most memorable characters is Meredith’s half-sister, Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh). Complete with a headstrong attitude and a loving personality, Lexie added a touch of humor and selflessness to this hard-hitting drama. It’s hardly a surprise that even 13 years later, some fans are still mourning her loss.
Lexie Grey Died Under Horrific Circumstances
As the love child of Susan and Thatcher Grey, it comes as no surprise that Lexie Grey is an admirable surgeon. While she may not have the same acclaim or influence as her sister, Lexie still managed to warm fans’ hearts instantly. When she wasn’t saving lives in the OR, she was often trying to hook up with one of her peers, like Alex Karev or Mark Sloan. As such, for many fans, she was the perfect blend of intelligence and sensuality. Yet, like everyone else at Grey Sloan, Lexie had her flaws. Not only did she deal with incredibly high levels of anxiety, but she would use compulsive behaviors like snacking to soothe her mind. In some ways, these trials helped her to become more likable than her half-sister. Though Meredith is undoubtedly the star of the show, she can sometimes appear a tad self-centered and unreasonably moody. In comparison, Lexie seemed like a beaming ray of sunshine.
After countless episodes, fans were forced to say goodbye to Lexie in Season 8, Episode 24, “Flight”. Accompanied by Meredith, Cristina, Derek, Mark, and Arizona, Lexie was set to fly to Boise to help separate a set of conjoined twins. Partway through the flight, the plane crashed, and the doctors were forced to use their basic instincts to keep themselves alive. While the rest of the group was relatively unscathed, Lexie’s body was trapped underneath a piece of the plane. Cristina ran back to the remaining shell of the aircraft and tried to locate some oxygen canisters to help keep her alive, and Mark held Lexie’s hand to give her some emotional support. Unfortunately, Lexie soon succumbed to her injuries.
| Written By | Directed By | Original Release Date | IMDb Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shonda Rhimes | Rob Corn | May 17, 2012 | 8.8/10 |
“Earlier this year, I made the decision that season eight would be my last on Grey’s Anatomy,” Leigh told E! News (via Today) in 2012. “I met with Shonda and we worked together to give Lexie’s story appropriate closure. I am very lucky to have worked with this amazing cast and crew for five seasons. My experience on Grey’s Anatomy is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I want to take this time to say thank you to the fans. Your unconditional love and support have made these last five years very special for me. I look forward to my next chapter and I hope you will continue to follow me on my journey.”
Grey’s Anatomy is sometimes criticized for its outlandish plots, but the plane crash arc is a true fan-favorite. These experienced surgeons were suddenly stripped of their state-of-the-art technology and the comforts of the hospital and were forced to fend for themselves. Lexie’s death is a substantial part of this arc, mostly because it happened so suddenly. Her death wasn’t presented as a cliffhanger moment, but merely a sign of the horrors yet to come. Although some audiences believe that her quick death gave her character a sense of injustice, others believe that her passing was more shocking and poignant because it wasn’t dragged out.
Lexie’s Death Impacted Other Characters Immensely
Though Grey’s Anatomy has a tendency to sweep certain events under the rug in favor of more scandalous storylines, a lot of Lexie’s peers struggled to get over her death. In Season 9, Episode 2, “Remember the Time”, Cristina Yang sits mindlessly in the bath and tells Owen Hunt that she can’t move. She also confesses she can’t stop thinking about how wolves attacked Lexie’s lifeless body. This is undoubtedly a very graphic and visceral scene, but Sandra Oh portrays these emotions exquisitely. Although Yang isn’t crying or screaming hysterically in the wake of Lexie’s death, it’s evident that she’s stuck in the freeze response. This is one of the few examples of when Grey’s Anatomy downplays its character’s reactions to loss to evoke a more somber and touching response from the audience.
Even seven years after Lexie’s passing, Thatcher Grey struggled to confront the loss of his daughter. After years of no contact, Richard Webber finally convinces Meredith to visit her critically ill father in Season 15, Episode 11, “The Winner Takes It All”. When Meredith enters her father’s home, she’s surrounded by pictures of him exploring Zimbabwe. Thatcher notes that after Lexie’s death, he felt he had to do something with all of his grief, so he decided to go traveling. A lot of fans think Thatcher was just being his typically selfish self and didn’t want to comfort his family after Lexie’s death, so he decided to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Upon closer inspection, it’s clear Thatcher wasn’t necessarily running away, but perhaps needed a distraction during the throes of his grief.
Lexie’s Return Always Breaks Fans’ Hearts
Grey’s Anatomy is no stranger to dream sequences. These shots usually occur during a time of change or distress and work to welcome a range of beloved characters. For example, Lexie makes a triumphant return in Season 15, Episode 6, “Flowers Grow Out of My Grave”. Here, one of Meredith’s patients is celebrating the Day of the Dead, prompting her to think back to the loved ones she’s lost throughout the years. This is a deeply moving episode and ends with Lexie, George, Doc, Derek, Ellis, and Mark all waiting for her at the exit of the hospital. Although it’s very apparent that these figures are simply spirits or figments of Meredith’s imagination, fans can’t help but tear up at the sight of them. Plus, by introducing these figures once again, it gives off the impression that these characters have simply passed on to another plane of existence and still support Meredith through all of her highs and lows.
Lexie also makes a brief appearance in Season 17, Episode 10, “Breathe”. While Meredith is battling COVID, she seemingly slips in and out of consciousness. In reality, her peers are working to hook her up to a ventilator in an attempt to prolong her life, but in her mind, she’s simply walking on the beach. During this dream, she also reconnects with Lexie and sits with her as they gaze at the waves. It’s fair to say that Grey’s Anatomy didn’t handle its COVID arc very well and a lot of fans felt that the show undermined the power of this virus in order to give Meredith another life-or-death storyline. Yet, the dream sequence in “Breathe” offers a representation of the afterlife and forces audiences to really consider whether the protagonist will overcome this deadly virus. As such, Lexie’s return to Grey’s Anatomy is always laced with a twinge of sadness, but that just makes her character even more compelling.
And to be able to close the chapter for Lexie, and to appear in a way where she’s not eaten by wolves. Kind of bring a little life back to it… It was a special experience to be able to be part of that.
“Well, it was a really interesting experience, just because I did have to film it up here in Canada because you can’t travel back and forth to the States,” Leigh told ET in 2021 while discussing her brief Season 17 return. “So all of my stuff was done on basically green screen. And we’re not sitting on the rocks. I was sitting on an apple box, and I was talking to tennis balls. So in that sense, it was interesting. But understanding there are dynamics between Lexie and Meredith, and then Lexie and Mark. It was really special to be able to be part of it and especially telling such a powerful story. The tribute of this season is really towards first responders and their experience during the whole pandemic, so to be part of that was obviously very special. And to be able to close the chapter for Lexie, and to appear in a way where she’s not eaten by wolves. Kind of bring a little life back to it… It was a special experience to be able to be part of that.”
Unlike other popular dramas, Grey’s Anatomy isn’t afraid to kill off a hoard of popular characters. The show even allowed its protagonist to walk out back in Season 19. It’s fair to say that death is a common trope within the show and these absences no longer phase audiences, especially since the show welcomes a set of new characters almost every season. Still, Lexie Grey’s death struck a chord with audiences. Her passing is one of only a few examples where Grey’s Anatomy really expands a storyline and explores how it impacts every aspect of the character’s lives. Although Lexie will never return for good, fans still hold on to her beautifully tragic death and become excited whenever she makes a brief appearance on screen.
