'I've rewatched Grey's Anatomy dozens of times and it should have ended at season 14'

Fan-favourite medical drama Grey's Anatomy first graced our screens back in 2005.

The ABC series centres around Dr Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), tracing her journey from a surgical intern to a fully-fledged doctor.

Season one saw Meredith and her fellow interns embarking on the surgical programme, learning to balance the demanding life of hospital work.

Under the guidance of Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr) and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), Meredith, Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Alex Karev (Justin Chambers), George O'Malley (TR Knight), and Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) were quickly immersed in the rigorous world of surgery.

Throughout the seasons, there has been no shortage of drama and death, keeping viewers gripped, reports the Mirror US.

From the heartbreaking plane crash that took the lives of Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) and Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), to the hospital shooting, bomb incident, and the accident that killed off McDreamy, aka Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) - there have been many unforgettable moments.

But it's not just the dramatic storylines and major plot twists that keep us hooked.

It's also the characters who have captured our hearts from the beginning, each bringing something unique to the show.

There was Cristina, whose sarcastic wit and ruthlessness always elicited a laugh, and Callie, who loved so passionately and knew her value.

Alex's transformation from an unlikeable Lothario, aka "evil spawn", to a paediatric surgeon with a heart of gold was one of the many character developments we've seen on Grey's Anatomy.

However, as the longest-running scripted primetime show currently airing on ABC, with its 22nd season set to premiere in October, I can't help but question if it should have continued for this long.

As a TV writer and avid fan of the show, having rewatched it countless times, I can pinpoint exactly when my excitement for its return began to wane.

Over the years, we've grown attached to the lead characters, from the original MAGIC intern group to the MAJAC era, following the introduction of Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) and April Kepner (Sarah Drew) in season six.

So, naturally, I felt a pang of disappointment when a new group of interns were introduced at the start of season 19.

With most of the main cast having departed by this point, these newcomers quickly became the focus of each episode, which didn't sit right with me. We barely know them, so why should we care about their stories straight away?

As a die-hard One Tree Hill fan, I welcomed the addition of Sophia Bush's character, Cass Beckman. However, despite her charm and charisma, it wasn't enough to justify another season for me.

In my opinion, the doors of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital should have closed after season 14.

It's evident that the heart of the show has transformed with the departure of numerous long-standing stars. Thus, it seems like a missed chance not to have concluded with Meredith's triumphant win of the esteemed Harper Avery Award in season 14.

The series also wrapped up with the nuptials of popular duo Alex and Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington), who were tragically separated by the writers when actor Justin Chambers exited the show in season 16.

As an ardent Jolex supporter, I've opted to erase season 16 episode 16 from my memory, preferring instead to reminisce about their blissful wedding day on the ferry boat.

The finale of season 14 also signalled the conclusion of April and Arizona Robbins' (Jessica Capshaw) full-time roles on the programme.

Therefore, it would have been the ideal moment for the show to say goodbye, with April remarrying Jackson instead of Matthew Taylor (Justin Bruening), of course.

Unlike its discontinued spin-off, Station 19, Grey's Anatomy simply has no other direction to take.

So, why not conclude the series on a relatively positive note before all we can recall are its shortcomings rather than its triumphs, of which there were plenty.

Grey's Anatomy is available to stream on Disney Plus