Grey's Anatomy showrunner Meg Marinis has opened up about the 'painful' conversations that led to a rare happy ending for longtime characters Dr. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) and Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd). After nearly two decades on ABC's long-running medical drama, the on-and-off couple bid an emotional farewell to Seattle Grace Hospital in Thursday's season 22 finale. Unlike many characters whose time on the show ends tragically, Teddy and Owen are spared and move to Paris with their two children.
A Beautiful Ending
'I feel like we gave them a beautiful ending,' Marinis told The Hollywood Reporter, adding that the 'very difficult and painful conversations' about writing off Teddy and Owen began shortly after the New Year. The writers toyed with numerous storyline endings, including an 'iconic Grey's Anatomy death' for Owen, but ultimately decided against a definitive sendoff. 'I cannot kill Owen Hunt,' she admitted. 'I can't. I love that character too much and I want to see him again.'
Open-Ended Exit
Teddy and Owen's exits were intentionally left open-ended with the hope that both could return in the distant future. 'I would love to have them come back and visit. Absolutely,' Marinis continued. 'Obviously, it depends on schedules and timing and what's right for the moment.' She acknowledged that having them back too soon would not make their 'beautiful exit as sweeping.' 'But I said it to them, and I've said it to everybody — we always bring our family back,' she shared.
Character Histories
McKidd, 52, first joined Grey's Anatomy in 2008 for season five as a former U.S. Army trauma surgeon struggling with PTSD. He quickly became involved with fan-favorite Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), and the two tied the knot in the season seven premiere. They eventually divorced in season nine after conflicting views about having children. Throughout his time on the show, Owen became widely disliked by fans due to his toxic behavior in relationships.
Meanwhile, Raver, 57, was introduced as a recurring character in season six as a rival romantic interest for Owen before later becoming Cristina's cardiothoracic surgeon mentor. She briefly left the show after season eight and returned as a recurring guest star in season 14. The following season, she was upgraded to a series regular.
Departure Announcements
Teddy and Owen's departures were announced in March, with many fans especially celebrating Owen's exit. 'Grey's Anatomy has been a huge chapter of my life, creatively and personally, and I'm deeply grateful for everything the show has given me over the years,' McKidd said in a statement. 'Playing Dr. Owen Hunt and directing on the show have both shaped me enormously, and I've had the privilege of working with an extraordinary group of people throughout that time. I'm particularly thankful to Shonda Rhimes for creating Owen, and for the encouragement she gave me as I stepped into directing.'
Raver shared a separate statement, saying: 'Playing Dr. Teddy Altman will always hold a dear and special place in my heart. Sixteen years ago, I had the incredible privilege of stepping into this role thanks to the vision of Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. Since that day, it has been a true gift to bring the iconic words of Shonda and our brilliant team of writers to life.'
