Grey’s Anatomy: 5 Storylines That Felt Too Real — And 5 That Were Totally Unreal

Fans of Grey’s Anatomy invest in the relationships and personal problems that the main characters deal with in each episode, but the series is definitely known for its wild and surprising episodes. While the hospital setting is realistic in some ways, as the doctors do work long hours, care about their patients, and try to innovate, heal, and save, there are some things that seem a little over the top.

From the confusing Jackson/April romance to some of the season finales, there are some parts of Grey’s Anatomy that don’t always add up. While many plotlines make sense, others don’t seem like they could occur IRL.

Most Realistic: Meredith Wants To Hide Her Romance With Derek

Meredith doesn’t know that Derek has a wife when they first start seeing each other in season 1. But that’s not her main problem with their budding relationship.

Meredith wants to hide the fact that they’re together as she doesn’t want the others at the hospital to think anything problematic is going on. Even though they’re both adults and it would probably be fine, it makes sense that Meredith would have those feelings, as she cares about her career and she wants to be respected as a doctor.

Least Realistic: A Patient Has A Bomb In Their Chest

The second season episodes “It’s the End of the World” and “As We Know It” are famous to Grey’s Anatomy fans, as this storyline involves a patient with a bomb in their chest.

Fans enjoyed watching these episodes as they featured Kyle Chandler, the beloved actor known for playing Coach Taylor on Friday Night Lights, a moving show in its own right. But despite how juicy and entertaining this storyline is, it doesn’t feel realistic. Instead, it feels very over-the-top and intense.

Most Realistic: Owen’s PTSD Affects His Relationships

Owen and Cristina have a long-term romance that is pretty heartbreaking to watch. They really love each other but have many obstacles to cross, from Owen’s PTSD to the fact that he wants to start a family and she doesn’t want children.

The fact that the trauma and tragedy that Owen has seen in the past affects his current love life is very realistic. This happens to so many people, and it’s never a short and easy road to recovery. Even if viewers haven’t had this exact same experience, this is something everyone can sympathize with.

Least Realistic: Alex Punches DeLuca

At the end of season 12, Alex punches DeLuca and hurts him very badly, as he thinks that something is going on between DeLuca and Jo.

Alex is more sensitive than fans originally think and so it doesn’t make much sense for him to put his career and life at risk like this. He has grown up a lot and isn’t one to jump to conclusions anymore, so it seems odd that he would get so angry without even knowing the true story. This isn’t a very realistic storyline and even veers into melodrama.

Most Realistic: Jackson And April Grieve Their Baby’s Death

Losing a child is devastating and it can also take its toll on a marriage. It makes a lot of sense that Jackson and April’s relationship would become strained after they lose their baby Samuel, and it’s not something that they can get past and move on from so easily.

While there are many melodramatic moments on Grey’s Anatomy, especially involving the main couples, this is one that paints a logical picture of what could really happen in a situation like this.

Least Realistic: Izzie Thinks She’s Sleeping With Denny’s Ghost

After meeting him because he’s a patient at the hospital, Izzie falls for Denny and then watches him die. She even thinks that she’s becoming intimate with his ghost. This will forever be known as one of the wildest things to happen on Grey’s Anatomy.

While this love story could be viewed as sweeping and epic, this is definitely an unrealistic storyline. It’s hard to picture another character on the show believing this, and while Izzie is grieving and having a difficult time, it’s just not possible for this to really happen.

Most Realistic: Meredith Is Hospitalized With COVID-19

Meredith has a tragic life, no doubt about it, and things get even worse for her in the 17th and current season when she gets COVID-19.

In a recent episode, Meredith’s condition worsens and she is hospitalized. Meredith even thinks that she sees her late husband and love of her life, Derek, and it’s a very emotional bunch of episodes. This is definitely one of the more realistic storylines that Grey’s Anatomy has done, since this is a real battle that many people have faced, and the pandemic has affected everyone around the world in 2020.

Least Realistic: Alex Leaves Jo For Izzie And Their Twins

When Alex says goodbye to Grey’s Anatomy in season 16, he surprises viewers by going to live with Izzie and their twins.

While these two did have a dramatic love story earlier on in the show, it doesn’t make much sense for Alex to leave Jo, whom he supposedly loves and even married, for a woman he let go years earlier. It also seems like if Izzie really was raising Alex’s kids, wouldn’t he have known? Wouldn’t viewers have learned about it sooner? This feels like a strange and unrealistic storyline.

Most Realistic: Izzie And George Realize They’re Better Off As Friends

There are many characters who could have dated and there are also some people who tried but found that it just wouldn’t work out.

Izzie and George are close friends from the start and they try dating, but realize that they’re better off staying friends. This is realistic as many people develop crushes on a good friend, classmate, or co-worker, and then it becomes clear that things become too messy once they attempt a romance.

Least Realistic: Stephanie Gets Caught In A Fire

Before leaving the show, Stephanie has a pretty wild storyline: she gets caught in a fire in the season 13 finale “Ring Of Fire.”

One of the patients, who turns out to be a rapist, has kidnapped Stephanie and a young girl, and she manages to help the girl get away after he lights the stairwell on fire. One of these storylines would have been enough, but the fact that Stephanie is running away from a rapist, saving a kid, and not dying in a fire? This becomes a super unrealistic episode and it’s just too much to take in.