<P> The episode was written by Shonda Rhimes, and directed by Rob Corn . Featured music included The Paper Kites' "Featherstone" and Feist's' Graveyard ". Filming took place in Big Bear Lake, California, a location previously used in the seventh season for Yang and Shepherd's fishing trip . Commenting on the filming conditions, Leigh said: "It would rain and be sunny and hot . I never died before (on camera). That sounds funny saying that . I think everyone has an emotional wellspring and that happened to be a moment where I was sprung . Everybody was very accommodating--the crew, cast . And I opted to stay underneath (the wreckage) for the most part over two days rather than trying to get in and out ." </P> <P> In regard to the episode, Rhimes commented before it originally aired that it was difficult to write, largely because of the death of a main character . She compared it to writing the season six finale, by explaining that the former was "more painful" to write . After the episode aired, Rhimes repeated in a tweet that it was hard for her to write the finale, adding: "I did not enjoy it . It made me sick and it made me sad ." Rhimes also explained the departure of Leigh, whose character died after the plane crash, by saying that the two came to an agreement on the decision to kill Lexie, after extensive discussion . Speaking of Raver's departure whose character left Seattle Grace for MEDCOM, Rhimes elaborated that Raver was offered a contract renewal, but declined . </P> <P> The episode received mixed reviews among television critics, and it outperformed the previous episode in terms of both viewership and ratings . "Flight" was originally broadcast on May 17, 2012 in the United States on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). The episode was watched in the United States by a total of 11.44 million people, a 16.5% (1.62 million) increase from the previous episode "Migration", which garnered 9.82 million viewers . In terms of viewership, "Flight" ranked fourth for the night, behind the season finales of Fox's American Idol, and CBS's Person of Interest and The Mentalist . In terms of Grey's Anatomy's other season finales, the episode was the show's second least - viewed finale, just behind the seventh season's, which garnered 9.89 million viewers . The episode did not rank in the top three for viewership, but its 4.1 / 11 Nielsen rating ranked first in its 9: 00 Eastern time - slot and second for the night, registering the show as Thursday's No. 1 drama, for both the rating and share percentages of the key 18--49 demographic . Its rating lost to American Idol, but beat out CBS's The Big Bang Theory, Person of Interest, and The Mentalist . In addition to its rating being in the top rankings for the night, it was an increase from the previous episode, which netted a 3.5 / 10 rating / share in the 18--49 demographic . The episode also showed an increase in ratings in comparison to the previous year's finale, which attained a 3.6 / 9 rating / share in the 18--49 demographic . </P> <P> Poptimal's Tanya Lane wrote, "Wow...just wow . Grey's Anatomy has once again managed to shock with its season finale ." While she appreciated the "realism and authenticity that Grey's is known for", she found the episode was "almost too much" as it was "extremely gory and difficult to watch, initially because of the grisly wounds" but later because of the "heavy and emotional things that transpired". She thought Pompeo gave one of her best performances when her character learned that her sister was dead . Digital Spy's Ben Lee found Leigh's and Dane's performances "phenomenal" and added that he had probably never seen a better performance from Dane . He described the moment the two actors shared as "truly poignant". To him, Lexie's death felt like a finale, which was thus too early . As for what was happening in Seattle Grace, he thought it was "a bit pointless" and "uninteresting" except Altman's departure, which he deemed "the most significant moment at the hospital". Entertainment Weekly's Tanner Stransky commented of Lexie's death: "It was an intense death . I mean, how awful was it to watch one of Grey's longest - running characters pass away so quickly--and rather unceremoniously? I get that Ms. Rhimes had to do what she had to do--and every show needs to be shaken up once in a while--but I don't love that Lexie was the one to die . Could it have been someone less important somehow? I guess it would have been too obvious to do Kepner . And you probably just don't kill off a hottie like Mark Sloan, right?" Stransky also complained about Robbins' screams at the beginning of the episode, but enjoyed Bailey's story . </P>

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