Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes opened up on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy about the two-part plane-crash story that killed Lexie Grey and Mark Sloan — a storyline she now says felt “like a freaking snuff film” on rewatch. The rare revisit prompted a candid look at how she writes devastating moments and why she stays “keeper of the story.”
What Shonda Rhimes saw on rewatch — and why it shocked her
Rhimes told Cooper, “I haven’t really watched the show.” She recently sampled “select pieces of episodes” and returned to the Season 8 finale and Season 9 premiere that center on the Boise flight and its aftermath. After watching, she said, “I watched that episode, and I was horrified. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is like a freaking snuff film.’”
The episodes — the Season 8 finale “Flight” and the Season 9 opener “Going, Going, Gone” — track the crash of a small plane carrying surgeons to separate conjoined twins in Boise. Among those aboard: Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), and Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). The hospital, then called Seattle Grace Mercy West, was later renamed Grey Sloan to honor Lexie and Mark.
View this post on Instagram
“Keeper of the story” — how Rhimes frames stark decisions
Reflecting on how those hours came together, Rhimes said her job is “to be keeper of the story,” not “keeper of the fans.” She stays inside the narrative while writing, aiming to be “true to the story” even when the consequences are brutal for beloved characters or viewers.
On what makes a “good TV death,” Rhimes offered a simple threshold: “Usually, if they devastate me.” She also described her process: “I act out all of my scripts when I’m writing them… I try to really feel it out.” If she is “moved,” “traumatized,” or “shocked,” then the choice is working for the story.
The characters and episodes at the heart of her comments
- Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) — dies in “Flight,” the Season 8 finale.
- Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) — dies in “Going, Going, Gone,” the Season 9 premiere.
- Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) — also aboard the Boise flight.
- Seattle Grace Mercy West → Grey Sloan — the rename that followed the tragedy.
Why the “snuff film” line matters
Rhimes’ reaction was not about shock value in the writers’ room; it was about encountering the finished product years later. “I can’t believe that actually happened… That was horrifying,” she said upon rewatch. During production, she was “inside the story,” but distance allowed her to see how intense those episodes play for audiences. Her comment underscores how Grey’s Anatomy often pushes into emotionally extreme territory while still staying grounded in character.
Twenty-two seasons in, the story still leads
The conversation arrives as the series moves through Season 22 and as Shondaland marks twenty years of industry-shaping work. Rhimes again emphasized that the story comes first, even if it means breaking hearts. That philosophy explains why the series has delivered some of TV’s most debated exits and why certain choices continue to reverberate across seasons.
Takeaways for fans of Grey’s Anatomy
- Rhimes rarely rewatches, which made her “snuff film” reaction especially striking.
- Her north star remains simple: serve the narrative, even when it hurts.
- The Boise crash arc changed the show’s fabric, memorialized in the Grey Sloan name.
Key quotes
- “I haven’t really watched the show.”
- “I watched that episode, and I was horrified.”
- “Like a freaking snuff film.”
- “[My job is] to be keeper of the story.”
- “Usually, if they devastate me.”
- “I act out all of my scripts when I’m writing them.”
Why it still resonates
The Boise crash arc forced characters to rebuild and, in some cases, begin again. Even Rhimes can be startled by the scale of that devastation when she steps back and watches as a viewer. Her remarks show why Grey’s Anatomy endures: it treats the hospital as a living organism that remembers loss — in names, in relationships, and in the choices that future doctors make.
With a collective experience in film analysis and entertainment journalism, our team, comprised of avid movie buffs, has always been on the frontline of exploring cinematic universes, from the enchanting realms of Disney to the action-packed scenes of the MCU.
Our passion has led us to exclusive interviews with notable figures, early access, and active participation in the industry.
Recognized by the press, we dive deep into various genres, including drama, cartoons, comedy, and foreign films, always eager to bring fresh insights to our readers.
Connect with us or explore our journey to learn more about our adventures in unraveling the magic of the big screen.
