While Justin Chambers had his final appearance on Grey’s Anatomy as Alex Karev in November, fans finally learned his fate in Thursday night’s shocking episode.
The new episode, entitled Leave the Light On, revealing that Karev will not be returning to Seattle.
Chambers did not appear in the episode, but he made a voice cameo to wrap up his character, in quite the surprising fashion, revealing he re-connected with his ex-wife Izzie, played by Katherine Heigl.
Final episode: While Justin Chambers had his final appearance on Grey’s Anatomy as Alex Karev in November, fans finally learned his fate in Thursday night’s shocking episode
Alex and Izzie: Chambers did not appear in the episode, but he made a voice cameo to wrap up his character, in quite the surprising fashion, revealing he re-connected with his ex-wife Izzie, played by Katherine Heigl
Chambers made the surprising reveal he was leaving the show in January, after starring on the show for all 16 seasons, so he could work on his mental health.
His character Alex Karev was last seen in the November 14 episode My Shot, where it was revealed he was returning home to Iowa to take care of his mother, leaving his wife Jo (Camilla Luddington) behind.
While Karev didn’t return to Seattle, he did send letters to his wife Jo, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Richard (James Pickens Jr.) and Miranda (Chandra Wilson), which Chambers voices.
Surprise: Chambers made the surprising reveal he was leaving the show in January, after starring on the show for all 16 seasons, so he could work on his mental health
He reveals he didn’t want to call Meredith since she might convince him to return, adding, ‘the one perfect thing isn’t in Seattle, not anymore.’
Karev then dropped the bombshell that took fans by surprise – ‘I swear it’s not about work or you or Jo. It’s about me. I left and I’m with Izzie.’
Alex and Izzie were married before Izzie left Seattle in Season 6, but Alex reveals that when he was calling all of Meredith’s former co-workers for her trial, he reached out to Izzie.
Back together: Karev then dropped the bombshell that took fans by surprise – ‘I swear it’s not about work or you or Jo. It’s about me. I left and I’m with Izzie’
When Izzie had cancer, she asked Alex to give her his sperm so they could freeze her embryos to have children one day, which she ended up using and had twins – Eli and Alex.
The twins are five years old and Izzie lives on a farm in Kansas, now with Alex as well as the kids, as she works as an surgical oncologist.
Alex explains that he’s still in love with Jo, adding, ‘if it was just about two women I love, I’d choose my wife.’
Embyros: When Izzie had cancer, she asked Alex to give her his sperm so they could freeze her embryos to have children one day, which she ended up using and had twins – Eli and Alex
In his letter to Jo, he explains, ‘When I told you I loved you I meant it, but Izzie has our kids, Jo.’
In his letter to Meredith, he calls her, ‘my best friend,’ adding, ‘I will miss the hell out of you, but I’m finally exactly where I should be. I never had that before.’
He tells Jo that he has already signed the divorce papers and he is leaving her everything, including his shares in the Seattle Grace hospital.
Best friend: In his letter to Meredith, he calls her, ‘my best friend,’ adding, ‘I will miss the hell out of you, but I’m finally exactly where I should be. I never had that before’
Grey’s Anatomy showrunner also tweeted out a statement about saying goodbye to Alex Karev, which she began was, ‘nearly impossible’ to do.
‘We have loved writing Alex. And we have loved watching Justin Chambers’ nuanced portrayal of him. For 16 seasons, 16 years, we have grown up alongside Alex Karev,’ she said.
‘We have been frustrated by his limitations and we have been inspired by his growth and we have come to love him deeply and to think of him as one of our very best friends,’ she added.
‘We will miss him terribly. And we will always be grateful for his impact, on our show, on our hearts, on our fans, on the world,’ Vernoff concluded.
Statement: Grey’s Anatomy showrunner also tweeted out a statement about saying goodbye to Alex Karev, which she began was, ‘nearly impossible’ to do