Across 16 seasons to-date, Shonda Rhimes has entertained the masses with what has become television’s longest-running medical drama of all time, Grey’s Anatomy.
In that time, we’ve seen countless couples come and go, some staying together through times both good and bad whilst others split up at some point down the line.
Audiences of course had their varying opinions on all of those relationships, but it was down to the writing team when it came to the future or indeed conclusion of their partnerships.
From a viewer’s perspective however, which of those couples did we, or do we love; and which do we wish never happened?
Worked: Izzie and Denny
Back in some of the show's earliest days, we got to witness the stunning yet tragic love story that took place between Doctor Izzie Stevens and heart patient Denny Duquette Jr., making Season 2 more watchable than ever.
Whilst the majority of us likely knew there would be no happily-ever-after for the pair, we couldn’t help but root for them through some of the toughest times in their lives.
Even the coldest of hearts will have shed a tear when Izzie turned up to Denny’s bedside in a stunning prom dress, only to find he had passed away earlier that very day. It’s a moment that will stick with us forever.
Didn’t work: Jackson and Maggie
When you think about a lack of chemistry between Grey’s Anatomy stars, the two people that instantly spring to mind are likely going to be Jesse Williams and Kelly McCreary, who play Jackson and Maggie respectively. Though those two characters are people we always want to see succeed, their relationship brings precisely nothing to proceedings.
With a lack of drama and excitement, we're not entirely sure why we had to suffer their attempt at being ‘the perfect couple’ for so long. Still, at least they’re now separated and can hopefully continue to shine apart from one another!
Worked: Callie and Arizona
Their relationship may have broken down and ended in misery and a bitter feud, but we will never not feel a little flutter of joy when we rewatch a Callie and Arizona scene. Callie was miserable when married to George and, her fling with Erika left her feeling more alone than ever before so, when she found Arizona, we thought they just had to be end-game!
The Grey’s writers however, had other ideas. The plane crash - which resulted in Arizona losing one of her legs - saw the foundations on which their love was built begin to crumble. From that point on, no matter how hard they tried, there was no saving their partnership.
Didn’t work: Callie and Penny
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we have Callie and Penny. It’s unfair to put all of the blame on the latter character, but Penny was in the show for way too long and is actually partially to blame for not saving Derek’s life, failing to get him the medical care that would have ensured he lived to see another day.
Their relationship was never inspired. What we saw was a spaghetti without the bolognese. A cake without icing. A pancake without toppings. You get the picture. They just didn’t work but, Penny did a good job of turning Callie from fan-favourite, to a despised figure.
Worked: Jackson and April
When April first joined the show, the character was one of the most dull and uninteresting that the series had ever seen. When we saw her relationship with Jackson begin to blossom however, it paved the way for her to showcase that she was indeed a multi-layered individual, rather than just a two-dimensional caricature.
Seeing the two ripped apart in such a heartbreaking manner left everybody at home reaching for the tissues. We all thought there would be a way that they found one another again and rekindled that flame, but it wasn’t to be.
Didn’t work: Alex and Ava
Though the doctor-patient relationship worked wonders for Izzie and Denny, the same can’t be said for Doctor Alex and his patient, Ava. Once again, we have to point at the lack of chemistry shown by actors Justin Chambers and Elizabeth Reaser; though they claimed to love one another they just never showed that same emotion on their faces.
Writers should have instead focused on Ava’s main storyline; that of her identity crisis. It had the opportunity to be one of the most unique and important storylines in medical TV history, but instead fell flat because of an unbelievable romance being shoved down our throats. Perhaps the worst decision in Grey’s time to-date.
Worked: Lexie and Mark
Just thinking about the bond shared between Lexie and Mark brings a tear to the eye. They’re the couple that should never have gotten together, but their love for each other managed to push through any barriers set by other people, or even themselves. When they both passed on following the plane crash, it felt almost poetic.
We’re not sure that Lexie and Mark would have ever settled down or gotten married, but we would have liked to see them given that opportunity! Another partnership snuffed out too soon by the uncaring flick of the writer’s room pen.
Didn’t work: Cristina and Owen
As a character, Cristina deserved so much more than the men in her life. Burke left her standing at the altar, only reappearing so he could whisk her away from Seattle and fill a position at another hospital that he was leaving behind. Still, we liked him more than Owen. What a bore.
As someone who never settles for mediocre, it was very strange to see Cristina going back time and again whenever Owen clicked his fingers. When they called it quits, it should’ve been for good; but they just couldn’t help one last fling before Cristina boarded that plane and left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Worked: Derek and Meredith
You didn’t think we were going to reach the conclusion of this list without including the show’s star couple, did you? From the moment Derek and Meredith met, it was clear that the two of them were made for one another. Both extremely passionate about their work, level-headed but stubborn at times, they balanced each other out perfectly.
The only way Patrick Dempsey was ever going to be able to leave the show was if his character went out in a box, and so that is what happened. We saw Derek pass away, and we screamed at the television and sobbed tears alongside Meredith as it did so. We miss McDreamy so, so much.
Didn’t work: Izzie and George
If Alex and Ava wasn’t the biggest mistake when it comes to relationships, then Izzie and George’s romance is the only one that could have topped them. Ruining their friendship by having the pair sleeping together, writers made the worst choice they could’ve.
Watching them together was like watching an incestuous pair of siblings get their rocks off. Basically, it’s not something anybody wanted. Thankfully, it was short-lived!
Grey’s Anatomy Seasons 1-16 are available now to watch on Star via Disney+. Season 17 is currently airing on Sky Witness and is available to stream on NOW with the Entertainment Pass.
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