Grey's Anatomy airs Maggie Pierce's exit storyline
Grey's Anatomy season 19 spoilers follow.
Grey's Anatomy has aired Dr Maggie Pierce's exit from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
While star Kelly McCreary will return later this season, last night's (April 13) episode in the US was her final episode as a series regular, after she confirmed she had quit the show last month.
The episode saw Maggie delaying her flight to Chicago in order to perform emergency surgery on a patient named Nola, whose gigantic tumour was crushing her heart.
"There's no margin for error. Just you and me," she told her husband and colleague Winston Ndugu before saving Nola's life.
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"I could not have done that surgery without you," Maggie told Winston, with him replying: "You would have figured it out."
"No, I wouldn't have. I wouldn't have figured out a lot of things without you," she said. "You pushed me to be better. You challenge me. You inspire me to never give in on a challenging case."
Despite their marital struggles, this moment saw the couple return home for some quality time. The following morning, Maggie asked if Winston would consider moving to Chicago with her, but he wanted them to remain in Seattle together.
"I know it's been rough and we have both said some things, but there's enough good between us to fight for it," he said. "Stay here with me. Fight for us."
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Maggie declined, pointing out: "Winston, I've been offered the opportunity of a lifetime."
After Winston responded by unfavourably comparing her to her mum Ellis Grey, a hurt Maggie was reassured by Catherine Avery.
"Maggie, you are so much more than Ellis' pure ambition," Catherine said. "You are kindness, caring, honour, fairness, friendship, love. I happen to believe you carry those traits in your genes as well."
Before leaving, Maggie stressed to Winston that she didn't want to repeat the mistakes of both Ellis and Diane Pearce.
"They didn't follow their hearts, they didn't follow their guts, they didn't bet on themselves. They stayed to keep the peace. They stayed to keep other people happy. My heart is in my work, Winston," she said.
"I don't think I'm cold and I don't think you're a coward… I think we did the best we could and that neither of us is to blame. I love you but I have to go."
Maggie's parting shot saw the ghosts of Ellis and Diane proudly watching on as she entered the hospital elevator, ready to begin her next chapter.
Grey's Anatomy season 19 airs on Thursdays on ABC in the US. The show streams on Disney+ in the UK, where new episodes premiere on Wednesdays.
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