Grey’s Anatomy star Jake Borelli has reacted to Levi Schmitt’s season 21 sendoff, explaining what aspects of his character’s life tied into his final episodes. Levi was first introduced in season 14 of the medical drama, slowly working his way up the ranks from a surgical intern to becoming Chief Resident by season 19. In Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 7, Levi departed from Grey Sloan Memorial to pursue a new research position in Texas, accompanied by his boyfriend, James (Michael Thomas Grant).
Speaking with Deadline, Borelli reacted to Levi’s final episode in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, explaining the importance of how his relationship with James played a major role in his exit. Reflecting on his time in the series, the actor recalled how former showrunner Krista Vernoff pushed for his LGBTQ+ storyline, something the star liked was part of his final episode. He also found it “really poetic” for him to have both the job he wanted and the person he loves by his side as he goes off to pursue his dreams. Check out what Borelli had to say below:
It was certainly important for me to see his growth wrapped up in his queerness, because I know when back in Season 15, when Krista Vernoff was the showrunner and she pitched me this idea of Levi coming out, her idea from the beginning had always been, his coming out will be the catalyst for him stepping into his own and stepping into himself.
So throughout my part on the series, we really tried to track his growth and his confidence stemming from him finally stepping into his true self. And as he’s wrapping up his time for now at Grey Sloan, I really wanted that also to be wrapped up in his queerness. We finally see him in a relationship where their communication is good, where they truly do want to be with each other, even though they’re facing obstacles in terms of job and in terms of religion and in lots of different ways. So I think it’s perfectly paired to have him going after his dream career job while also going after his dream guy, I think it is really poetic, especially from where we started with Krista.
What Jake Borelli’s Statement Says About Levi’s Grey’s Anatomy Exit
He Managed To Get Everything He Ever Wanted
Within the cast of Grey’s Anatomy, Levi has always been a dedicated doctor, always doing everything he can to save patients while working his way up through promotions at the hospital. This includes one of his earliest contributions, donating his blood so Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) could perform an emergency splenectomy. He’s also the first gay man to become a series regular, with his bravery in coming out an important storyline that later develops into his relationship with James. These complexities make him a memorable part of the show’s medical family.
Borelli’s statement highlights the importance of Levi’s story ending the way it did, with him not only in a relationship with the perfect guy, but also with his career path looking up thanks to his new position in Texas. Although this means he’ll be absent from Grey’s Anatomy season 22, his storyline ends in a similar way to how Vernoff began it. This highlights the importance of his story’s LGBTQ+ elements, alongside every development that happened in his life throughout the show.
Our Take On Levi’s Exit In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21
The Show Gives Him Its Best Possible Sendoff
Levi ended up getting one of the more docile final fates in Grey’s Anatomy, having avoided death and now going off with his boyfriend to Texas in what amounts to a perfect ending for the doctor. While it would be interesting to get updates on his storyline in the future, for now, he’ll be happily heading south, using his extensive medical knowledge to open new doors in his career. With James by his side, he’ll also have plenty of support as he keeps climbing the ladder in his field.