As it resumes production again, the medical show is also going to incorporate the pandemic. Let’s take a look at what plans they have for season 17.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ focuses on the lives of doctors and surgeons working at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, and stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey. When the pandemic hit the world, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ was one of the first shows to shut production in view of the dangers involved due to the coronavirus. It meant that season 16, which was being filmed at the time, had to be unduly cut short by the last four episodes, resulting in many hanging storylines and unresolved narrative arcs.
Why ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 17 is going to be a record-setter?
Highlights —
- Incorporating the pandemic
- ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is probably going to be the most mask-compliant show
However, the production of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 17 has resumed recently, although the pandemic continues to rage on. Showrunner Krista Vernoff will be incorporating the pandemic into the storyline of season 17. Being a medical show in times of a worldwide medical emergency, ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ will have a lot to talk about and portray on the show. But in one way the show is going to be a record-setter, by being the most mask-compliant!
Incorporating the pandemic
At first, Vernoff did consider ignoring the coronavirus pandemic entirely while conceptualizing the production of a new season. She had a different idea for ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 17 and thought of depicting the doctors in a world without the coronavirus. She said, “I think people have the fatigue of COVID, and I think they turn to our show for relief”.
However, a team of medical professionals that collaborates with the writers of the show convinced Vernoff against it. They told her and the other writers that it would be irresponsible to leave out the pandemic from the storyline. The next season, according to Vernoff, is going to honour “the heroes on the front lines, and provide some escapism and some romance and some laughs”.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is probably going to be the most mask-compliant show
While the story will pick up from the events of season 16, there won’t be as much physical contact as the show is used to depict. There won’t be scenes involving characters kissing or standing too close, and the crew may have to play around with camera angles and the placement of characters to get what they want.
The writers of the show have tried to keep the medical drama as true to life as possible, but in view of the pandemic, this couldn’t have been possible more easily. Since the show is about doctors, there is a lot of mask-wearing happening anyway, which means that the actors will be wearing surgical-grade masks most of the time that they are on the set. In this sense, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is going to be the most mask-compliant shows to resume production in 2020.
The show has taken a cue from real life to fuel its drama. Can the coronavirus pandemic then be an exception?
