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Grey’s Anatomy fans know Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) and Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) were meant to be. But when the devastating plane crash episode claimed the lives of both characters, many viewers mourned the couple’s endgame status. However, the April 1 episode of season 17 seemingly updated fans on Slexie’s relationship. So did Mark and Lexie end up together in Grey’s Anatomy? Here’s what we know.

How Shonda Rhimes views Mark and Lexie’s deaths on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey and Eric Dane as Mark Sloan smiling together in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey and Eric Dane as Mark Sloan in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ | Randy Holmes/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Mark and Lexie died as a result of the plane crash in the Grey’s Anatomy Season 8 finale. Lexie was crushed by a piece of the plane. Then Mark stayed with her as she died. Meanwhile, Mark initially made it out alive. But he succumbed to his injuries later on.

That said, Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes suggested that Mark and Lexie’s deaths meant they got to end up together. According to TVLine, Rhimes wrote in 2012:

[Mark] and Lexie get to be together in a way. Their love remains true. … In my early finale plans, once I knew Chyler was leaving the show, Lexie wasn’t originally even on the plane. She was going to die back at the hospital by doing something as simple as slipping and hitting her head. She would have been dying over at Seattle Grace while other people were dying in the woods. Which wasn’t my favorite plan. She would have died without Mark at her side. Without the chance to say goodbye to him. Without the chance to hear that he loved her. I wanted them together when she left us.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 17 hints Mark and Lexie end up together

While Grey’s Anatomy fans didn’t get to experience Mark and Lexie’s endgame status onscreen, season 17 teased the couple’s relationship. At the start of the season, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) contracted the coronavirus (COVID-19). Then every time she went unconscious, Meredith was transported to a beach. The character also reunited with Mark and Lexie in Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 Episode 10. 

When the episode began, Meredith noticed Mark and Lexie exchanging a few flirty looks. Then she put the pieces together.

“So you two are together?” Meredith asked Mark and Lexie. 

Then Mark replied, “On your beach, it looks like we are.”

How Eric Dane feels about Mark and Lexie’s endgame status on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Why Eric Dane Doesn’t Regret Leaving the Cast and Mark Sloan Behind

While Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 seemingly hinted that Mark and Lexie ended up together, some viewers acknowledged Meredith’s dream beach is likely just her imagination. But even so, Dane suggested that Mark and Lexie’s story continued after their deaths.

“Mark would’ve found Lexie,” Dane told Deadline. “He would’ve found her eventually.”

The actor also shared how he viewed Meredith’s dream beach in Grey’s Anatomy Season 17. Dane said:

I sort of took it as like, not in your imagination but the way you’re seeing it in your subconsciousness, wherever you are right now, whatever state of being you’re existing in, in this coma, fever dream, whatever it is, I guess that’s [Meredith’s] projection of perfection. Mark and Lexie are together forever, and I’m sure Mark and Lexie aren’t too bummed about it either.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 airs Thursday nights on ABC.

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