Characters in movies and TV shows usually have phrases and words that become their catchphrases, and in Grey’s Anatomy, Meredith says “seriously” way too often – and there’s a reason why she and many others say that world all the time. Grey’s Anatomy has become one of the most popular and successful medical dramas, making its debut on ABC in 2005, and while its quality has decreased over the years, it continues to be quite popular with over 15 seasons and no signs of stopping soon.
Grey’s Anatomy follows the basic premise of medical dramas, following the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they struggle to balance their professional and personal lives, which often overlap and create a lot of drama inside and outside the hospital. Grey’s Anatomy is led by Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), who started as an intern (alongside many other fan-favorite characters) at Seattle Grace Hospital and is now Director of the Residency Program. Through the years, Grey’s Anatomy has given the audience some truly memorable moments and phrases, but there’s one word in particular that Meredith uses a bit too often and has caught the attention of viewers.
Meredith has the catchphrase “seriously” and has used it quite often throughout Grey’s Anatomy, though other characters have also used it, mostly during intense conversations just to add a bit more emphasis and emotion. “Seriously” has become a catchphrase in Grey’s Anatomy and it wasn’t a coincidence, as it was added on purpose by Shonda Rhimes. During a Q&A session with ABC years ago, Rhimes was asked why the characters say “seriously” so often, and she explained it was all thanks to then-writer Krista Vernoff, who said it multiple times in the writers’ room.
Rhimes explained that the “‘seriously’ bug” spread quickly and it’s an “awesome word” because, if said correctly, it “can convey sarcasm, dismay, disbelief, a sense of moral and ethical superiority and gentle chastising punishment all at once”. Of course, “seriously” is not the only catchphrase and memorable line that the characters in Grey’s Anatomy have delivered, as there’s also the famous “you’re my person” (first said by Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang to Meredith) and Derek Shepherd’s “it’s a beautiful day to save lives”, which have an actual and deeper meaning within the series than the always versatile “seriously”.
Krista Vernoff went on to become a very important member of the production crew of Grey’s Anatomy, as in 2007 she became showrunner and head writer of the series, left in 2011, returned for season 14 a couple of years later, and become the showrunner of the spinoff series Station 19 beginning with season 3. Vernoff left her mark in Grey’s Anatomy beyond her role as showrunner, as “seriously” continues to be one of the most used words in the series for multiple situations and isn’t exclusive to Meredith Grey.
