Grey's Anatomy is currently in its 19th season, which is hard to believe. The show has once again reinvented itself with new interns and the return of Addison. However, one of the season's biggest storylines revolves around Ellen Pompeo's departure as a series regular. She had previously announced that she would only appear in eight episodes this season, and the most recent episode, "Thunderstruck," was the sixth of those eight.

At the beginning of the season, Meredith's focus was on being the chief of surgery and restarting the intern program.

But recently, the story shifted to her daughter Zola, who was experiencing panic attacks and anxiety at school. Meredith discovered that Zola is highly intelligent and suited for an advanced school program. During a trip to Boston, Zola fell in love with a STEM school, which led Meredith to consider moving.

Jackson, who now runs the Catherine Fox Foundation in Boston, offered Meredith resources to research a cure for Alzheimer's. This added to the reasons why Meredith might leave Seattle. The fall finale saw Meredith email her resignation letter to everyone at Grey Sloan as she prepares to say goodbye.

Of course, chaos ensued, as is common on Grey's Anatomy. The episode ended with a thunderstorm hitting Seattle and lightning striking Meredith's childhood home, setting it on fire. The only item that survived was Meredith and Derek's Post-it wedding note.

This episode sets up Ellen's final episodes for the season, and the show will return on February 23, 2023, with an episode centered on Meredith's farewell. The upcoming episode is titled "I'll Follow the Sun," which is likely a reference to a speech from Cristina to Meredith.

It's hard to imagine Grey's Anatomy without Meredith, but I'm curious to see what this new era has in store.

So, what are your thoughts on Meredith's departure and season 19 so far? Let us know in the comments!