An Odd Farewell

"It's a beautiful day to save lives." — Derek Shepherd, "Grey's Anatomy"

Last night "Grey's Anatomy" bid farewell to a beloved core character, Derek Shepherd. It was a big move, and it's led to some mixed emotions. But what struck me was that it felt like a strange choice, executed in an odd way that belies the rudderlessness of the season and, perhaps, a sign it's time to seek an exit strategy.

The season has felt jumbled. A few big story lines — April and Jackson's baby and Dr. Herman's brain tumor — populated the first part of the season, but have since been wrapped up. Since then, the season has felt disconnected. No where has that been more clear than in the storyline for Derek and Meredith, the central couple in the show.

Their relationship seemed to fracture in the first half of the season, culminating with Derek leaving for Washington, D.C. Then he was MIA for several episodes, only to return when Meredith suspected he was having an affair. He wasn't, and they seemed happy — for one episode. Then he disappeared again, and Meredith couldn't find him.

Last night, we learned why. (SPOILER ALERT) He came across a car accident, helped some people who were injured, saved them, then got hit by a car. And in an ironic twist, he ended up at a hospital where the people were poorly trained, leading to his death…

I expected it to be a powerful and emotional episode. At points, that was true, but this lacked the gravity I expected. And that's probably because Patrick Dempsey, who plays Derek, was the only series regular in 75 percent of the episode. His character — so crucial to what drew people to the show in the first place — didn't get a fond farewell. He didn't get to say goodbye. He died in a cliche way, and then had a few scenes where Meredith cried over his brain-dead body. All I could think was, is this really it? Is this how it ends?

"Grey's Anatomy" is no longer the power-house it once was. But that's OK. The show's in its 11th season, and it's expected that it will slow down. It's still got decent ratings and seems a lock to return next season. But if this is the kind of storytelling they're left with, how long can/should this show continue?

A similar fate befell "ER," perhaps the gold standard in hospital dramas. After a number of years on the air, the cracks began to show. "ER" ran 15 seasons, and it righted the ship in the final season to deliver a satisfying end, but in the seasons prior, as most of the original cast was gone or stuck in a rut, the show flagged noticeably.

"Grey's Anatomy" is rounding toward home on its 11th season. It's been on the air for a decade. If it's down to killing core characters just to get some narrative momentum, it's time to look for an exit strategy.

The death of Derek Shepherd is a big deal, and it was an emotional episode. But it should have been so much better.