<P> However, in January 2012, Heigl stated in an interview that she has asked the producers if she could return to the show to give closure to Izzie's storyline: "I've told them I want to (return)," she said . "I really, really, really want to see where (Izzie) is . I just want to know what happened to her and where she went and what she's doing now . My idea is that she actually like figures it out, and finds some success and does really well in a different hospital . She was always floundering you know, and so she was always one step behind the eight ball and I want to see that girl take some power back ." She later went on to say that she regrets leaving the show, "Oh yeah, sometimes, yeah . You miss it . I miss my friends . It was a great work environment...and it becomes a family . I spent six years together with these people every day...you grow up together, in a way," and again commented on Izzie possibly returning to the show, "I always felt that if they wanted me to come back and sort of wrap up that storyline...I want them to know that I'm down with it if they want me to, but I completely understand if it doesn't necessarily work...They've got a lot of story lines going on there ." But in March 2012, Shonda Rhimes said that there are no plans at the moment for the character to return, "I think it was really nice to hear her appreciating the show . At the same time we are on a track we have been planning . The idea of changing that track is not something we are interested in right now ." Three years later, Rhimes said she has completely moved on from the idea of Izzie coming back, "I'm done with that story . I've turned that idea over in my mind a thousand times and thought about how it would go . And I don't think so ." </P> <P> Heigl believes that the Grey's Anatomy writers incorporate much of the actors' personalities into their roles, and that Izzie is a "super moral" version of herself . Episode "Bring the Pain", which aired as the fifth episode of the second season, was originally intended to be the final episode of the first season . Rhimes explained that Izzie's character in this episode came "full circle" from her role in the pilot: "Izzie, so vulnerable and underestimated when we first meet her, is the girl who removes her heart from her sleeve in "Bring the Pain"." Discussing Izzie's personality in a 2006 Cosmopolitan interview, Heigl assessed that she is "immensely kind" and patient . When Denny died in the season two episode "Losing My Religion", Rhimes discussed the impact it had on Izzie, noting that Izzie is forced to abandon her idealism, which in turn leads to her letting go of medicine . In the aftermath of Denny's death, Heigl came to believe that Izzie was not cut out to be a doctor . Executive producer Betsy Beers explained, however, that Denny's death served to make Izzie more mature, and Heigl affirmed that "At the beginning of the (third) season they were trying to show how lost Izzie was . She lost her optimism . She realizes now that life is difficult, but she still tries very hard to see the best in people ." In order to demonstrate Izzie's dislike of George's love - interest Callie, Rhimes penned a scene which she deemed one of her favorite moments on the show, in which Callie urinates in front of a stunned Izzie and Meredith . Rhimes assessed that: "I love that Mer and Izzie respond with all the trauma of having viewed a car crash (...) the point is Callie pees and Izzie tortures her a tiny bit about the hand washing and that made me overjoyed because that's the kind of thing people do ." </P> <P> Discussing Izzie's relationship with Alex in a 2006 Cosmopolitan interview, Heigl assessed that "Even when Alex was a complete dirtbag to her (Izzie), she forgave him and gave him another chance . And he really screwed her over . (...) To go for a guy like that is to say I want to be damaged ."' Writer Stacy McKee deemed Izzie's moving on from Alex to patient Denny Duquette "karma", as Alex previously treated Izzie badly, yet as he begins to realize his true feelings, he is forced to watch her embark on a romance with "the undeniably handsome - and totally charming" Denny . Series writer Blythe Robe commented on Izzie and Denny: "I love the way Izzie lights up when she's around him . I love their relationship because it's so pure and honest and completely game free ." Writer Elizabeth Klaviter noted at this time the way Izzie "seems to be sacrificing her reputation because of her feelings for Denny ." When Izzie deliberately worsened Denny's condition to move him up the transplant list, series writer Mark Wilding questioned the morality of the actions, asking: "is Izzie bad for doing it? Is she tremendously irresponsible? She cut the LVAD wire for love so does that make her action understandable?" </P> <P> Rhimes discussed costuming choices in the scene which saw the interns gather around Denny's deathbed, explaining: "Meredith and George and Cristina and Callie and Alex are all dressed, not for a prom, but for a funeral . Everyone in dark colors, everyone dressed somberly . As if they were in mourning . Only Izzie is in happy pink . Only Izzie looks like she didn't know this was coming ." Following Denny's death, Heigl approached Rhimes to ask when her character would next have a romantic liaison . Rhimes explained that "Izzie doesn't sleep around". Heigl expressed a desire for Izzie to reunite with Alex, explaining: "I believe on some level, there's a connection between Izzie and Alex . He can do honorable things even though he's cutting and sarcastic . I would like to ultimately see them together, if not this season, then next ." </P>

What episode does izzie get diagnosed with cancer