‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 12 spoilers: Shonda Rhimes talks ‘lighter’ tone, Meredith’s story

There’s no question that “Grey’s Anatomy” is a show that has defined many generations, and also has one of the most passionate followings of any series out there. With that said, we also feel like there is a sentiment out there that this show has lost something without Derek. The other actors are all still present and the writing is strong, but so many assumed that the story was going to end with Meredith and Derek together and happy … and now his death has changed everything.

Shonda Rhimes was present at the TCA Summer Press Tour on Tuesday in order to try to defend some of her decisions and talk the show’s future; given that Patrick Dempsey had to be written out the show some way, she felt that it was better to have this tragic end to the story than one that would change how we thought about Derek (such as him abandoning his family). Per Deadline, she set up the future for Ellen Pompeo’s character with a series of questions:

“There’s a much lighter tone this year…Meredith is single and she’s living this life that she never thought she would be living again. She’s living in a house with her sisters and she’s surrounded by single women who are dating and having a whole life and she’s not interested in that. Is there a second life here or are the best years of your life behind you?…It’s a weird rebirth of all the characters but really for Meredith.”

The show did not suffer any ratings hit without Dempsey throughout the spring, but we didn’t think it would given that so much of the audience was invested. However, will they all come around again in the fall to dive into another huge chunk of episodes? That’s the real question.

It was reported earlier that season 12 is not necessarily the last one for “Grey’s Anatomy.” Want to know more? Then be sure to head over to the link here! Also, sign up here to get a dose of some other TV news on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)