Spoilers ahead for the most recent episode of Grey's Anatomy. If you haven't seen "Cold As Ice", check out another story!
If there's one show that is known for reducing its audience to tears, it's Grey's Anatomy. While This Is Us has people weeping on NBC, Grey's has been killing off its lead characters for well over a decade. When it was revealed that long running actors Sarah Drew and Jessica Capshaw would be departing the show after Season 14, fans were left to wonder how two of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital's brightest were going to exit. And last night's episode threw the fans for a loop, as April Kepner had yet another dangerous situation in the hospital. Luckily, the show decided not to kill her off.
The decision to keep April alive was definitely the right call by showrunner Krista Vernoff, who took over Grey's Anatomy this season after a few years away from the franchise. The series' penchant for killing its characters off has essentially become a cliche at this point, despite how effective this macguffin has been throughout the years. "Cold As Ice" still utilized the high stakes drama of a near death experience, but ultimately allowed April to survive the ordeal.
"Cold As Ice" was mostly focused on a car accident that April and her ex-fiancee Matthew were in. While Matthew was stabilized quickly, April suffered severe hypothermia after being under freezing water. The episode follows as the surgeons attempt to save her life, grieve, and hope for the future of their friend. It was a long and emotional installment, with the commercial breaks serving as welcomed pauses from all the crying. Sadness is what Grey's does best, and they certainly delivered with April's latest scare.
Of course, the episode got to end on a hopeful note, and April was fine. Jackson essentially fond God in the process, while the fandom got to celebrate their love for the long running character. Kepner has been on the show for a whopping nine seasons, growing from an annoying outsider to a beloved member of the family. We've watched her become an accomplished surgeon, lose a child, have one with Jackson after crude emergency surgery, get married and divorced, and just about everything in between. While it was a touching sendoff, Sarah Drew didn't get enough time to shine before her character ultimately departs Seattle. She was mostly just lying there.
All will be revealed with next week's finale. Alex and Jo's wedding is the setting, and the episode will also have to include both April and Arizona's exit. With April revealed to have fallen back in love with Matthew, smart money says they decide to relocate together. That, or Arizona offers her a job at the new hospital in New York.
Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays on ABC. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Plus our superhero premiere list and Amazon premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single episode.
