'Grey's Anatomy' viewers are devastated after saying goodbye to fan favorite for a second time
On Grey's Anatomy Thursday night, Meredith Grey reunited with her late husband Derek Shepherd, portrayed by Patrick Dempsey, during one of her dream sequences on a beach, where she has been since falling into a coma due to her long battle with COVID-19.
Meredith had woken up from her COVID-induced coma in a previous episode, but on Thursday, her team discovered a blood clot in her liver, which prevented her from staying awake longer than two minutes.
While some viewers were freaking out that Meredith might not ever come back, they were also thrilled to see Meredith and Derek, aka MerDer, back together again.
Derek died in a car accident during Season 11, and on Thursday night's episode, Meredith asked Derek, "Were you in pain?" Derek heartbreakingly responded, "You know, the worst part was knowing they were getting it wrong. I didn't want to leave you."
"Dying is exhausting. You know that point as a surgeon, you've done everything for your patient. I could try and will them to fight, will them to live, but I never understood the level of exhaustion. There comes a point where the desire to rest overrides the desire to live. You got that," Derek told Meredith. "You gave me permission to go. You told me it was OK. You got me. You gave me everything I needed until my last breath."
Meredith told Derek that she too was tired. However, Derek told her, "People love you, Meredith. People need you. Your body's tired. But your soul, your soul won't even let me near you. You're still fighting." Then Grey's Anatomy gave fans, and Meredith and Derek's eldest daughter, Zola, what they always wanted — a wedding.
I’m not crying, you are! #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/n2AXfhRfLn
— meredith (@ellenmenopie) April 23, 2021
The beach gave me everything I could have ever wanted #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/pdwMJsSdGi
— Claire??| Greys spoilers (@Jadesmorley) April 23, 2021
This season has had a lot of surprises but seeing Meredith in a wedding dress might just top them all. #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/68oc8YcLGv
— Peyton Marof (@peytonmarof) April 23, 2021
MEREDITH GREY AND DEREK SHEPHERD MARRIED, THIS IS TWEET. #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/zvkylpHIVW
— duda (@greyfurious) April 23, 2021
"You hate weddings," Derek told Meredith, who agreed. "I hate weddings. But I would give this to her if I could. What do you want me to promise," asked Meredith. "To torture yourself less," replied Derek. While the beach wedding was everything Grey's fans dreamed of, ultimately, Meredith told Derek that she wasn't ready to leave their children, signifying that she would once again say goodbye to the love of her life.
And even though Meredith waking up was exactly what fans had asked for, they were also devastated over the fact that they had to lose Derek all over again.
they really are making us say goodbye to derek shepherd on april 22, 2021 for the second time when they very well know that we had to say goodbye to him the first time on april 23, 2015 #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/NGOgCfmI4X
— ? (@livextweets) April 23, 2021
NOT DEREK WALKING AWAY DOWN THE BEACH BYE DEREK #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/hxtaGMS1uv
— Whitney (@wmbookworm96) April 23, 2021
I LITERALLY CANT SEE ANYTIHING CAUSE MY EYES ARE FILLED WITH TEARS #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/lrhCwmToDd
— laura (@ana_borti0n) April 23, 2021
this hurts so much#GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/D2YibmwY4i
— MERDER BREAKDOWN RN. BYE (@merxmontgomery) April 23, 2021
Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.
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