Where's Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl?
What happened to Izzie Stevens and how long can fans stand it?
Oct 30, 2009 Becky Sheetz-Runkle
Grey’s Anatomy viewers have noticed something—or someone—has been missing during the past couple of weeks. No, not Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, though she’s been gone from the Hospital too.
Original cast member, Izzie Stevens, played by Katherine Heigl, has been off screen, and that won’t be changing right away.Michael Ausiello reports in The Ausiello Files that she’ll be gone for a total of five episodes shooting the romantic comedy, Life as We Know It.
Shonda Rhimes Weights In
Shonda Rhimes, Grey's creator is quoted by Auseillo as saying, “Eventually, everybody is going to leave the show.” She added, “Season 6 is about finding the longevity of the show and figuring out if there is a future for this show beyond these characters.”
Fans Mixed Feelings About Heigl
A future for Grey’s Anatomy without one of the most beloved cast members? Viewers will ultimately have the final say. Opinions of Heigl vary, from the-show-can’t-go-on-without-her camp to the folks who are irritated by her public protests of the primetime drama.
Izzie Stevens has been MIA ever since the chief fired her for making a mistake that caused a heartbreaking adverse drug reaction in a kidney patient. This little mistake prolonged the woman’s wait for a good kidney indefinitely. This is no big deal, Stevens told the chief. Heck, this has nothing on a cut LVAD wire from a few seasons back. But things have changed at Seattle Grace, and with the increased scrutiny all personnel face, this mistake was inexcusable.
Did Chief Webber Make the Right Call?
With her firing, Chief Webber’s decision making can be called into question. She’s a recovering cancer patient. The cancer did kill her—literally—before she was resuscitated. Is the Chief of Surgery’s job simply to look at numbers and to make cuts in the heat of the moment? Or should he be looking at the big picture and evaluating the overall contributions and circumstances of each person on staff?
For Stevens, those circumstances include a battle with a very serious, probably terminal, form of cancer and her ongoing treatment and recovery. Aren’t there any other temporary and non-surgical jobs in that whole big hospital for a promising young surgeon? And where was the Chief when the decision was made to let her return to the operating room so shortly after her last major surgery?
After all, she did improvise and conduct life-saving surgery on a patient trapped in wreckage—by drilling holes in his brain! Doesn’t that count for anything?
Stevens’ Firing Points to Irony
It’s ironic that Stevens has been fired. She’s the kindler gentler surgeon. She’s the one who consistently cares for her patients on a human level and gets the most involved. And she’s the one who gets fired when she could have used more compassion. Of course, the kidney patient could use a little compassion now too—and a new kidney.
Where is Dr. Stevens and when will she be back?
|
What do you think about this article?
Comments
More in Film & TV
Latest Articles