Why Casey Parker Left Grey's Anatomy and Why the Character Deserved Better

Summary

  • In
    Anatomy of Grey
    Casey Parker was a valuable asset to Grey Sloan due to her unique skills and refusal to engage in steamy romance.
  • As the first transgender doctor on the show, Parker built strong relationships with her colleagues, providing them with essential representation.
  • Despite being abruptly written off the show due to a car accident, fans appreciate Parker's impact on
    Anatomy of Grey
    diversity.



When it comes to a star-studded cast, Anatomy of Greyy tends to reign supreme. From its nervous, awkward interns to its more accomplished surgeons, these actors seem like they were born to play their respective parts. Yet, the hit medical drama is often criticized for forgetting some of its cast members, meaning many characters are left with unfinished business.

Casey Parker joined the cast in season 14 and also starred in the franchise's short-lived web series Grey's Anatomy: Team B. This intern has been praised for its touching storyline and deeply engaging backstory. But after an injury at the Emerald City Bar, Parker is never seen or mentioned again. So who is Casey Parker and why was her character arc so brief?


Casey Parker was full of new ideas, and that was exactly what Grey Sloan needed.


  • As a child, Parker's favorite television show was M*A*S*H.
  • Before joining the Grey Sloan team, he was an accomplished member of the United States Air Force.
  • Casey Parker actor Alex Blue Davis is also an accomplished musician.

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Much like the hordes of interns who came before him, Casey Parker was eager to show off his skills and was in awe of everything the Grey Sloan team had accomplished. But unlike his colleagues, Parker wasn't necessarily eager to kiss his superiors' asses and didn't get involved in steamy romances or triangles. Despite his uninspired nature, this intern was a breath of fresh air for some fans as it allowed them to focus on his professional strengths rather than his relationships with other doctors. In Season 14, Episode 9, “1-800-799-7233,” Casey uses a variety of critical thinking skills to help the hospital recover from a cyberattack. He suggests using a defibrillator to bypass the circuitry in the blood bank's keyboard. When asked how he acquired such niche information, Parker said he worked in cybersecurity for the U.S. Air Force for many years. But he also said that he was previously punished by the FBI for his illegal work. Still, these skills allow Parker to get Grey Sloan back on its feet, proving to be a useful asset to the rest of the team. So, while the rest of his cohort is stressed about making a good impression, Parker simply uses the resources and connections he already has to save the hospital from another crisis.


In Season 14, Episode 14, “Games People Play,” Parker takes care of a patient named Kimmie, who is currently undergoing large amounts of chemotherapy. Because of this, Kimmie feels constantly nauseous and can’t keep food down. So, she asks Dr. Parker if he approves of her using medical cannabis to help alleviate these side effects. Not only does it work, but Dr. Parker sees it as an effective alternative to more common anti-nausea medications. Although medical cannabis is legal in Seattle, there are still strict rules and regulations regarding how and where citizens can consume the drug. But the fact that Parker is eager for Kimmie to use it suggests that he is well aware of how the drug works and believes it is the next step in medical research. Thus, Parker effectively highlights how he is able to think outside the box and support his patients in a way that has never been seen before on Grey Sloan.


As the first transgender doctor on the show, Parker has built a strong bond with her colleagues

Miranda Bailey smiles and wears a white doctor's coat at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

  • Season 14, Episode 7, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”
  • Season 14, Episode 16, “Caught Somewhere in Time”
  • Season 16, Episode 4, “It's Raining Men”
  • Season 15, Episode 6, “Flowers Grow From My Grave”
  • Season 15, Episode 18, “Add It Up”

After being on the air for nearly 20 years, it's no surprise that Anatomy of Grey is eager to make its cast more diverse and representative of real doctors working in a vibrant area like Seattle. Casey Parker has been a fantastic source of representation for the trans community, not only because he was the first trans actor to join the show, but because he lives so freely. In Season 14, Episode 8, “Out of Nowhere,” Casey explains to Bailey that the reason he got in trouble with the DMV was because they refused to change his gender to Male on his driver’s license, forcing him to take matters into his own hands. During this emotional conversation, Parker describes himself as a “proud trans man,” which Bailey immediately agrees with. While some fans criticized this scene for being too short and not allowing Casey to talk more about his coming out story, others believe it got straight to the point and highlighted Parker’s self-confidence right away. Even though Casey is in a vulnerable position at this point, Bailey doesn’t talk over him or force him to explain his story. She simply offers him a big smile and the pair are in silent agreement. Thus, even without words, the two establish a strong relationship both as colleagues and as friends.


While not much is known about Parker outside of his role as a surgeon, he seems to feel confident enough to share private details with his patients and colleagues. In Season 15, Episode 5, “Everyday Angel,” Casey treats a matchmaker who is determined to help him find his soulmate. To end the conversation, Casey shows the matchmaker a photo of his girlfriend to prove that he is already taken. Admittedly, this is only a small piece of context, and his girlfriend is never mentioned again. However, the fact that Parker feels confident enough to talk about his relationship suggests that he feels right at home in the hospital. While all of his colleagues seem to be dating or involved in a lot of relationship drama, Parker seems to be quite happy with his significant other, which is again a nice thing to see in the always-dramatic world of Anatomy of Grey.


Casey's ending was tragic but ultimately disappointing

Casey works in the operating room with the rest of the team

  • Casey has also appeared in Station 19Season 3, Episode 19, “I Know This Bar.”
  • He was only 27 years old when he was involved in the accident at Joe's bar.
  • During his service in the Air Force, he achieved the rank of lieutenant.

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In Season 16, Episode 9, “Let's All Go to the Bar,” Casey joins his other teammates for a night out at Joe's bar. Everything is going swimmingly until a car crashes into the side of the building and causes Casey to suffer significant head trauma. The staff at both Grey Sloan and Station 19 worked together to get him to the hospital and ensure he received proper care. Due to the extent of his injuries, Parker was quickly taken to intensive care. However, two episodes later, Andrew DeLuca mentions that Dr. Parker had been transferred to a neurorehabilitation facility so he could continue to make progress in his recovery. But that hasn't been mentioned again and fans still don't know what happened to him. Many fans were quite upset about Parker's disappointing departure from the show, as it seemed like the writers had created him to be a main cast member only to have him written off without any explanation. Not much is known about why actor Alex Blue Davis left his role or whether his storyline will ever be completed, which has further angered fans.


It's not the first time Anatomy of Grey abandoned a character midway through their arc. Characters like Dr. Nico Kim and Dr. Erica Hahn left Grey Sloan on a whim and were never mentioned again. However, Casey Parker's unceremonious departure is much sadder, as many viewers don't actually know if he's dead or alive. This is just another example of how Anatomy of Grey is struggling to keep up with its vast roster of characters and likely doesn’t know how to include them in the show’s complex storylines. So, one could argue that there’s no point in including certain characters if fans are still debating their ultimate fates. Additionally, many fans felt it was a bit tacky to kill off the only trans character and then refuse to finish his story, as it felt like he was only being used as a meek symbol of representation and not seen as a valuable surgeon. Regardless of whether or not Dr. Parker survived his injuries, his character was still an integral part of seasons 14 and 15. His coming-out sequence was short and sweet and secured the idea that he will do whatever it takes to live life as his most authentic self. While it’s highly unlikely that Davis will reprise her role as Casey Parker, fans are still having fun reminiscing about the impact she had on the popular medical drama.


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