‘Just Say The Damn Words’: Sandra Oh Recalls Causing ‘Grief’ For Shonda Rhimes And The Writers On Grey’s Anatomy

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Fans have longed for Sandra Oh’s return to Grey’s Anatomy, following Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey’s emotional farewell dance in Season 10, hoping to see the reunion of the twisted sisters. However, as the series prepares to embark on its 22nd season this fall (on the 2025 TV schedule), Sandra Oh’s comeback has not materialized yet. The actress has referred to her time with the show as “traumatic,” and she has acknowledged causing some distress to those around her.

On June 15, Sandra Oh delivered a commencement speech at Dartmouth College, emphasizing that life can offer an exceptional learning opportunity when one embraces discomfort – a lesson she learned from her time on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, which she described as both rewarding and challenging during the past ten years of her career. (According to EW)

I set high standards for myself and the scriptwriters, often pushing for what I felt was right for Cristina’s character when something in the script didn’t sit well with me. This persistence played a role in creating an iconic character, but my insistence on dialogue fitting just right and my belief that I knew best for her sometimes caused strife among the writers and myself as well.

Sandra Oh and Ellen Pompeo were original cast members on “Grey’s Anatomy” when it started in 2005. Sometimes actors don’t get to decide their characters’ storylines, which was something Pompeo was grappling with during Season 21 as she expressed strong disapproval of one of Meredith’s choices. If this is still the case today, it might be that back in 2005, Oh wasn’t sure how to let the writers have the creative freedom they required.

She mentioned that there existed a person specifically tasked with handling Sandra, whom they referred to as a “Sandra liaison.” This apparently triggered a rather heated conversation between Sandra and Shonda Rhimes, as Oh went on to explain.

On one occasion, the scriptwriters and I found ourselves at a standstill regarding a certain issue in our work, and I was compelled to discuss it with the higher-up. Shonda, a moment I’ll always remember, she told me, “Sandra, we’ve been in this situation before. You need to trust me. If you just utter those words, something will materialize.” A sentiment that has remained etched in my memory ever since. I listened to her.

It appears that Shonda Rhimes, a graduate of Dartmouth, is said to have suggested Sandra Oh as the speaker for the commencement ceremony. One can only speculate that Rhimes endorsed this choice.

Despite the difficult learning process, it seems that the ‘Quiz Lady’ star has managed to gain important insights from her ordeal on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. Unfortunately, she has had health problems due to the stress, but these experiences have undoubtedly been invaluable. Now, our hope is to see her return to Grey Sloan Memorial once more.

As we eagerly anticipate the arrival of Season 22 this autumn, you have the chance to reminisce about the enchanting days of Meredith, Alex, George, Izzie, and Cristina, or revisit any cherished periods of Grey’s Anatomy by streaming all 21 seasons through a Netflix or Hulu membership.

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2025-06-17 21:37