Reliving Grey's Anatomy's Most Heart-Wrenching and Epic Romances You Can't Forget!

For twenty consecutive seasons, fans of Grey’s Anatomy have been captivated by its intriguingly complex blend of medical storylines and darker themes.

In my professional perspective as a lifestyle expert, let me share an insightful moment from the journey of Shonda Rhimes. When she initially presented her groundbreaking creation, she encountered skepticism from TV executives. As she shared on the October 2022 episode of theSkimm’s 9 to 5ish podcast, it might seem obvious now, but at that time, it was a revolutionary concept. There had never been a lead character who boldly claimed her sexuality on network television before her show.

In essence, they were puzzled by Meredith Grey, portrayed by Ellen Pompeo in her role as a surgical intern, spontaneously getting intimate with Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey. This man would later become her boss, occasional love interest, and ultimately her husband after they had a long-standing will-they-or-won’t-they relationship that culminated in their marriage through a Post-it note ceremony.

Rhimes recollected being summoned to a room filled with elderly gentlemen, where she was informed that the television series faced issues since audiences wouldn’t be interested in a show centered around a woman who slept with a man on her first day at work – and their concerns were genuine.

Incorrect, too, given that viewers have been loyal since the series premiere on March 27, 2005, tuning in to follow Meredith and an expanding team of doctors, nurses, trainees, and other hospital personnel as they each seek their own path.

As an ardent fan, I must confess, the heartrending romances that unfolded across various seasons of ABC series often ended in unspeakable tragedy – from plane crashes and car accidents to wedding-day jiltings and the devastating post-heart transplant stroke that left a Denny Duquette-sized void. Yet, amidst all this sorrow, there have been moments of pure bliss, those rare instances where love conquered all odds and led to a ‘happily ever after’.

For years, Rhimes has pledged to keep us emotionally invested with her work: “I might still be an elderly woman by the time we wrap up this series, as it doesn’t seem to slow down,” she said in 2023 to TopMob News. As the show celebrates its 20th anniversary, it’s a wonderful opportunity to revisit some of its most memorable romantic connections.

So let’s waste time chasing cars around our heads recounting all of our faves.

The tale that sparked everything was the captivating romance between Meredith Grey (played by Ellen Pompeo) and Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). From the debut episode, their love story held us spellbound as we discovered alongside Meredith that her one-night stand was a doctor at Seattle Grace Hospital, where she embarked on her surgical internship. Across 11 seasons, we followed their journey through obstacles such as returning spouses (his), suicide attempts (hers), and numerous life-endangering calamities, ultimately witnessing them tie the knot…unconventionally with a Post-It note. Regrettably, due to Dempsey’s departure from the series, their narrative—though not their love—was tragically cut short when Shonda Rhimes wrote Derek out through a car accident, which proved fatal for his character.

She is the sun, after all.

Ah, Japril – the romance that began amid chaos and ended with sorrow. You might remember when April (Sarah Drew) left her groom at the altar to be with Jackson (Jesse Williams). After eloping and learning their unborn child had a fatal condition, they sadly lost their son Samuel as a stillborn. Their marriage dissolved in season 11, but a chance encounter led to the birth of their daughter Harriet in season 12. By the end of her time on the show in season 14, April was back with her former fiancé Matthew (Justin Bruening), tying the knot with his blessing from Jackson.

In essence, fans of Japril were given a glimmer of possibility when April reappeared on Grey’s Anatomy during season 17, helping to conclude Jackson’s storyline. Notably, after Jackson chose to relocate to Boston to head the foundation in its pursuit of racial justice, a newly solo April opted to migrate to the east coast with their daughter Harriet. This move leaves open the prospect that these two characters might rekindle their relationship in the future.

In the last episode of Season 18, it was officially revealed on Grey’s Anatomy that Japril rekindled their romance when they shared a passionate kiss between the two characters who are doctors.

Indeed, prior to Arizona Robbins joining the scene in season five, Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) had other relationships, but none compared to the profound love story known as Calzona. For the record, George, I don’t apologize for it! The pair got hitched, co-parented Sofia, Callie’s daughter with Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), and faced challenges such as Arizona’s leg amputation and infidelity. However, they ultimately parted ways in season 11 after going through their ups and downs.

It appeared that one of television’s most heartfelt same-sex love stories might end in sorrow when Ramirez departed the series during season 12, leaving Callie to relocate across the country with her new partner Penny. However, as Capshaw’s character was written off at the end of season 14, viewers caught a glimmer of hope as a now-single Callie prepared to embrace Arizona in New York City. (If only Ramirez had come back for that episode…)

Reminisce about the poignant first doctor-patient bond presented in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, between Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and recurring guest star Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character, Denny Duquette, in season two. The intern found herself smitten by the charming curmudgeon, a feeling shared among viewers alike.

As soon as they got engaged, we had a feeling it wouldn’t work out. And indeed, things didn’t go as planned. His health took a turn for the worse, leading her to make a risky decision by intentionally severing his LVAD wire, hoping to advance him on the donor list. He eventually received a new heart, but tragically suffered a stroke just hours afterwards and passed away in the final episode of the series.

The memory of him continued, as Izzie received an inheritance of $8.7 million from him and subsequently established the Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic, a charity hospital clinic. For us, hearing Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” has never felt quite the same since then, even after all these years have passed.

Meredith’s sister Lexie (Chyler Leigh) and Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), also known as McSteamy, had several other relationships during their time at Seattle Grace Hospital. However, no bond meant more to them than the one they developed in season five, with its ups and downs. This tumultuous relationship kept them both in turmoil until they finally declared their love for each other. Tragically, they perished together in a plane crash at the end of season eight. RIP.

In simpler terms, James Pickens Jr., who plays Chief Webber, and Kate Burton, portraying Ellis Grey, were involved in a passionate relationship even though they were married to other people at the time. This romance caused turmoil in Mer’s household and eventually led to the arrival of an unexpected child, Maggie Pierce, introduced in season 10, played by Kelly McCreary.

The romance was clandestine and destined not to endure, primarily due to Ellis gradually succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease, which led to her demise in the third season. However, its influence permeated almost every aspect of the storyline.

Izzie and Alex consistently managed to support each other during their respective recoveries from heartbreaks inflicted by others. Their deepening relationship had the potential to blossom significantly, but unfortunately, Katherine Heigl chose to depart from the series in season six following the characters’ marriage, echoing yet another tragic “absent lover” narrative akin to Burke’s disappearance (for further discussion on this topic, see below).

Unbeknownst to us, it would later provide Justin Chambers (Alex) a means of departing from the series when Chambers unexpectedly left Grey’s Anatomy in early 2020, causing a stir among fans as they learned that Izzie had been raising Alex’s children on a farm, offering the only plausible explanation for his departure from his wife without portraying him as an entirely despicable character.

In contrast to their second appearance on this list, Cristina’s first entry was marked by greater success. This couple actually managed to walk down the aisle, quite an accomplishment given that during one of those instances, Owen (played by Kevin McKidd), tormented by PTSD-induced nightmares, came close to suffocating her in his sleep.

However, upon discovering she was pregnant and opting for an abortion, he struggled immensely and ultimately their relationship disintegrated. They eventually divorced, leading us to acknowledge that maybe Cristina’s deepest romantic connection would forever be with her profession. Interestingly enough, that’s perfectly fine.

Through her first failed marriage, Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) encountered the charming anesthesiologist Ben Warren (Jason George). Their partnership has faced numerous trials: Ben’s unpredictable career changes, from surgeon to firefighter and back again, as well as Miranda’s heart attack. Despite the stress on their relationship due to Ben’s hazardous profession, portrayed in both Grey’s Anatomy and its spinoff Station 19, it seems that this couple has the resilience to conquer any obstacle together.

Through numerous ups and downs in their relationship, Alex might have finally found his match with feisty colleague Jo (Camilla Luddington). Yet, making it to the altar, a milestone that occurred in the season 14 finale, was no easy feat. They had to tackle her traumatic past marital abuse and his brush with jail for attacking a coworker, even though DeLuca didn’t deserve that beating, despite how things seemed when Alex entered the room.

After they tied the knot and she adopted my hero’s surname, it felt like we had reached the pinnacle of their love story. Regrettably, Chambers’ unexpected departure midway through Season 16 cruelly demonstrated that our assumptions were premature.

In the sixth season, we first encountered Teddy Altman, portrayed by Kim Raver. Her narrative revolved around the enigmatic past she shared with Owen and its potential impact on his bond with Cristina. However, as the seasons progressed, Teddy became embroiled in one of Grey’s Anatomy’s classic doctor-patient dramas when she developed feelings for Henry Burton, a recurring guest character played by Scott Foley. In a sudden turn of events, they hastily got married to utilize her health insurance for his treatment expenses. Over time, their relationship deepened into true love.

In the eighth season, sadly, his heart condition led to his passing during surgery. This left Teddy grief-stricken and jobless since Owen had let her go, understanding that she wouldn’t make such a change on her own.

In my role as a lifestyle guide, I find myself reflecting on the story of Richard, a loving husband to wife Adele (Lorette Devine), who was battling Alzheimer’s. Amidst this challenging time, he found himself facing unwanted advances from Jackson’s influential mother, Catherine Avery (Debbie Allen). Despite the temptation, Richard chose to uphold his values and commitment, turning down her advances, as he didn’t want to betray his marriage vows twice.

Initially, Adele resisted Catherine due to her illness during season nine, but their relationship blossomed from season 11 to 16. However, it’s Grey’s Anatomy, so after a series of conflicts stemming from Catherine’s power struggles following Meredith’s insurance scandal in season 15, they parted ways. But time heals, even in the world of Grey’s; they reconciled, albeit after some turbulence, including a near-fatal incident involving Richard.

Was the romance between Owen and Amelia, Derek’s recovering addict sister (played by Caterina Scorsone), a grand saga? Indeed, but primarily because it was filled with numerous dramatic hurdles and scarcely any moments of joy. They often disagreed on child-rearing issues, which was a point of contention for Owen since his days with Cristina. They faced her relapses and her brain tumor. They were married and divorced.

After raising a foster kid and his troubled teen mom, I welcomed back Teddy – who was pregnant with Owen’s child. We’ve tried to move on, but it’s been a struggle for both of us while Owen and Teddy give their relationship another shot. Meanwhile, Amelia has embarked on a new journey with handsome doctor Link (Chris Carmack), building her own family.

Could it be that Dr. Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) will become Meredith’s significant other in the future? The signs are pointing in that direction. Initially impressing in season 14, the transplant surgeon reappeared in season 18, forming a partnership with Meredith in Minnesota. However, their connection appeared to be casual at first, but it appears this relationship has intensified significantly.

Ever since I learned that my beloved idol was moving to Boston with her children, I couldn’t help but follow suit, hoping to be part of their new journey. And now, we share a beautiful home together – a dream come true! Here’s wishing and praying that she continues to choose me, cherish me, love me as only she can.

We were truly hoping for this couple to work out. Amelia, who’s had a rocky love life on Grey’s Anatomy (a nod to her divorce from Owen and her rejection of Link’s proposal), seemed to have found a rare gem in Dr. Kai Bartley (E.R. Fightmaster). The duo seems to have a deep bond, particularly in their shared passion for neuroscience. Kai isn’t shy about correcting Amelia when she attempts to undermine herself, and it appears that Amelia has a habit of doing just that.

Ultimately, Kai’s choice not to have kids and their long-distance situation resulted in them parting ways, as Kai accepted a job in London.

In the third season, Alex Karev experienced his first heartrending love affair following a ferry accident that brought in a pregnant woman with amnesia named Jane Doe, played by recurring guest star Elizabeth Reaser. As their bond deepened, Alex assisted her in creating a new identity, choosing the name Ava. However, once her memory resurfaced after she had given birth, she confessed her real identity as Rebecca Pope and revealed that she had left an abusive marriage.

In the fourth season, I found myself back in the life of Alex once more, sharing a significant revelation – I was pregnant. However, as it turned out, this pregnancy was merely a figment of my imagination, a symptom of my complex personality disorder. The harsh reality of this discovery led me to contemplate suicide. Recognizing that I required more support than he could offer, Alex made the heart-wrenching decision to admit me into psychiatric care and bid our relationship goodbye, if only temporarily.

In her second appearance on this list, Cristina Yang is particularly recognized for the dramatic conclusion of her storyline. Her relationship with Preston Burke (played by Isaiah Washington) was quite unlike MerDer’s in that Burke often displayed unkind behavior. The way he permitted Cristina to secretly perform surgeries for him after he was shot, which was highly unethical, left viewers shocked. And to top it off, he became angry at her for confessing? Really? That didn’t make sense.

After abandoning her at the altar and vanishing from her life completely, it seems he made a wise decision given his dismissal due to questionable conduct toward his fellow cast member T.R. Knight. Farewell and good riddance. When he resurfaced in season 10 with an offer of his Swiss hospital (aimed at assisting Cristina’s departure), this small gesture was the absolute minimum he could manage, hinting at our less than favorable feelings towards Burke.

2025-03-27 21:48

Reliving Grey’s Anatomy’s Most Heart-Wrenching and Epic Romances You Can’t Forget!

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