Long-time fans of Grey’s Anatomy will agree that the medical drama has pushed away from life-or-death situations and places a greater focus on the relationships between the characters. While the show has produced a number of strong friendships over the years, it still struggles to create long-lasting couples. As such, it seems like if these doctors aren’t performing their latest surgery, they are probably thinking about breaking up with their other half.
However, that doesn’t stop fans from reveling in the drama. Audiences adore it when the show poses an awkward break-up or a ground-breaking cheating scandal. So, even though a lot of Grey’s Anatomy characters experience a lot of relationship problems, it makes for great TV.
Derek and Addison Just Couldn’t Stick Together
Season 3, Episode 2, “I Am a Tree”
Right from the start, Derek and Addison tried hard to repair their marriage. The problem was that neither of them could stop sleeping with other people. As such, fans were desperate to see their relationship end, but they didn’t expect it to end so abruptly or awkwardly.
In “I Am a Tree,” Derek enters Addison’s hotel room and tells her that their marriage is over. However, this shocking moment is interrupted by Mark Sloan walking out of the bathroom in just a towel. Thus, in just a few seconds, this difficult pair was finally free to date other people without dating each other’s hearts.
Cristina’s Suspicions About Owen are Confirmed
Season 8, Episode 17, “One Step Too Far”
After her horrendous relationship with Preston Burke, fans were hoping that Cristina’s relationship with Owen would be smooth sailing. Yet, in Season 8, Hunt starts rubbing shoulders with Nurse Emily, and Yang becomes very cautious of his overly friendly behavior. Although she tries to blame it on her own anxiety, she just can’t shake the image of the pair of them out of her mind.
In “One Step Too Far,” she finally builds up the courage to confront her husband. However, Owen drops a major bombshell when he admits that he has been cheating on his wife, but not with Nurse Emily. This moment sent fans spiraling and made them wonder why Cristina keeps choosing to date such horrible men.
Richard’s Affair Forced a Family to Break Up
Season 11, Episode 4, “Only Mama Knows”
The affair between Richard Webber and Ellis Grey is the foundation of Grey’s Anatomy and showcases how cheating can rip young families apart. In “Only Mama Knows,” Richard decides to call things off with Ellis in an attempt to build a life with his wife, Adele. This left Ellis alone to raise Meredith and her unborn child.
Usually, fans see Richard as a very lovable figure as well as an admirable surgeon. Yet, as soon as audiences discovered that he had cheated on Adele, their opinions swiftly changed. Not only did his actions ruin Ellis’ life, but they also forced Adele to live in fear that he would do the same to her.
A Heartbroken Couple Learn to Put Their Daughter First
Season 12, Episode 24, “Family Affair”
Callie and Arizona are still viewed as Grey’s Anatomy’s most iconic couple. So when fans found out that they were separating, they were obviously crushed. Yet, after countless disputes, particularly surrounding the custody of their daughter Sofia, the show offered fans a surprisingly sweet ending.
In the Season 12 finale, Arizona and Sofia arrive at Callie’s apartment with a pair of plane tickets. Thus, Callie could travel to New York with her little girl, and Arizona would continue to look after her during the school holidays. For a lot of fans, this was a very bittersweet moment because, although the women had resolved their issues, this peace offering signified the complete end of their romantic relationship.
Alex Flees From His Wife Without a Proper Goodbye
Season 16, Episode 16, “Leave a Light On”
Alongside being the worst-rated episode on IMDb, “Leave a Light On” sees Alex Karev leave his wife Jo Wilson via a letter. After spending some time away from Seattle, Karev was forced to admit that he wasn’t visiting his mother, but was, in fact, rekindling his relationship with his ex-partner, Izzie Stevens. Thus, Karev essentially dumped Jo and didn’t even have the guts to say it to her face.
This angered audiences tremendously, mostly because these actions didn’t resemble Karev’s character at all. Although he never really knew when to close his mouth, he was strong enough to break up with a woman face-to-face. However, fans are just glad that Jo was able to put all of this behind her and start afresh with Link.
Derek Lets His Guard Down
Season 11, Episode 17, “With or Without You”
Although a lot of fans would like to think that Derek Shepherd is a glorified Prince Charming, “With or Without You” proves that he’s not as charming as he would lead audiences to believe. While in D.C., Shepherd grows closer and closer to his research fellow Renee Collier. Until one fateful night, when the excitement of a breakthrough got too much and the pair locked lips.
While this is not the first time that Derek has been embroiled in a cheating scandal, fans were shocked by this moment. Throughout the early seasons, Derek’s infatuation with Meredith made audiences believe that his player days were behind him. However, the fact that Derek would even consider breaking up his family for a simple kiss shocked fans to their core.
The Nuances of Sexuality Tear These Lovebirds Apart
Season 5, Episode 6, “Life During Wartime”
While Callie and Erica offered fans a large dose of LGBTQIA+ representation, especially during the early 2000s, there’s no denying that their relationship was teeming with issues. After struggling with her sexuality, Callie admits to cheating on Erica with Mark in “Life During Wartime”. Although this is quite a tender moment, Erica just shrugs and accepts her infidelity.
The reason why this relationship has stuck in fans’ minds for so long is that it’s quite confusing. On the one hand, Erica takes issue with Callie’s bisexuality but seems fine with her sleeping with someone else. To make matters worse, Erica quits her job a few episodes later and is never seen again, leaving this arc pretty ambiguous.
An Awkward Couple Were Too Quick to Forgive
Season 4, Episode 4, “The Heart of the Matter”
A lot of fans may have forgotten that Callie was also married to George O’Malley. However, their marriage didn’t last long after he cheated on his wife with his co-worker, Izzie Stevens. The thing that bothers fans the most about this relationship is that Callie didn’t do enough to stand up for herself.
In “The Heart of the Matter,” all of the doctors assume that Callie and Izzie are going to engage in a physical fight, but in reality, all the former wants to do is talk it out. This seems entirely ridiculous, especially from a hard-headed woman like Callie. Thus, this arc is just filled with useless dialogue and no real action.
Owen Accidentally Receives a Revelation About His Fiancée
Season 16, Episode 21, “Put on a Happy Face”
Owen and Teddy’s relationship has certainly been through the wringer, but arguably, their worst hurdle occurred in “Put on a Happy Face.” Just before the pair were due to marry, Owen received a voicemail from his wife. Unfortunately, it was obviously sent by mistake, and Owen was forced to listen to his wife cheat on him with Tom Koracick.
Aside from being gut-wrenchingly awkward, it’s also remarkably tragic. While Grey’s Anatomy has a tendency to throw in random sex scenes as if they are live grenades, the look on Owen’s face when he discovers Teddy’s secret is very powerful. As such, in a show that loves to turn up the drama, this episode proves that even the most subtle facial expressions still have an impact.
Ellis Grey Was Just as Bad as Her Secret Lover
Season 8, Episode 13, “If/Then”
While a lot of audiences criticize Richard for cheating on Adele, fans must remember that it takes two to tango. Ellis Grey was also unfaithful to her husband, Thatcher, causing him to find a new wife. In “If/Then,” the audience is presented with a ton of alternative storylines, one of which shows Richard and Ellis together.
Fans often raise their eyebrows at this episode because they refuse to believe that the pair would have been happy together. Their affair was shrouded in competition and shame, leading them to fight constantly. As such, it’s clear to say that Ellis Grey made a big mistake by leaving her first husband.
