Grey’s Anatomy has given us some of the most unforgettable couples in television history. From passionate romances to complicated relationships, the show has explored it all. However, not all relationships were meant to last, and some couples simply didn’t have what it takes to make it through the storm.
In fact, some of these couples were downright toxic, frustrating, or even cringe-worthy. Whether it was due to betrayal, lack of communication, or just plain bad timing, these pairings left fans shaking their heads. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the 10 worst couples in Grey’s Anatomy history—ranked from bad to downright disastrous.
10. Jackson Avery and April Kepner
While Jackson and April were a fan-favorite couple at one point, their relationship was riddled with ups and downs. From the very beginning, their connection was filled with constant emotional turmoil. Jackson’s complex family dynamics and April’s religious devotion clashed in ways that made it hard to root for them.
Despite their eventual marriage, the couple’s inability to communicate openly led to a lot of heartache. They were often on different pages, whether it was about having children or their future together. Their relationship didn’t feel like it was built on mutual understanding and love, but rather a string of unfortunate events that kept pulling them back together.
Why They Made the List: Too many misunderstandings and emotional baggage made Jackson and April’s relationship one of the more frustrating ones on the show.
9. George O’Malley and Izzie Stevens
George and Izzie had one of the most turbulent relationships in Grey’s Anatomy, and not in a good way. They started as friends, then went through a short and awkward romantic phase. Their relationship went off the rails when Izzie had an affair with George, despite his marriage to Callie Torres.
Their drama peaked when Izzie’s life fell apart after being diagnosed with cancer, but their issues didn’t magically disappear. The pair’s relationship lacked depth, and their emotional dependency on each other was ultimately unhealthy.
Why They Made the List: The whole “Izzie and George” affair scandal left fans with more confusion than affection for this couple.
8. Meredith Grey and Nathan Riggs
Meredith Grey is undoubtedly one of the most iconic characters in Grey’s Anatomy. However, her relationship with Nathan Riggs didn’t quite hit the mark. Nathan was introduced as a potential love interest after Meredith’s long and complicated history with Derek Shepherd. But, unfortunately, their chemistry was almost nonexistent, and the relationship felt forced and out of place.
Though Nathan was charming and a successful doctor, he was still very much in love with his ex, Megan Hunt, which made his romantic involvement with Meredith feel even more complicated.
Why They Made the List: The relationship didn’t have the emotional depth that Meredith’s previous relationships had, and it was overshadowed by the lingering feelings Nathan had for someone else.
7. Alex Karev and Jo Wilson (In the Beginning)
Alex and Jo’s relationship started out with a lot of baggage. Jo came into the relationship hiding her dark past and keeping secrets, while Alex was dealing with his own emotional scars from his upbringing. Although they eventually had moments of genuine affection, their early years together were marred by secrets, miscommunication, and a lot of drama.
The relationship didn’t really gain any solid ground until much later, after Alex’s personal growth and Jo’s ability to trust him more fully. Before that, they felt more like two broken people trying to fix each other rather than a couple who had found true love.
Why They Made the List: The earlier seasons of Alex and Jo’s relationship were plagued with emotional instability, leaving fans unsure about their future.
6. Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins
Callie and Arizona had a love story that seemed so perfect at first, but ultimately, their relationship was filled with lies, betrayal, and growing apart. After Arizona’s plane crash and the emotional toll it took on both of them, their marriage unraveled. Arizona’s infidelity and Callie’s inability to forgive her created irreparable cracks in their relationship.
Their struggles with forgiveness and communication made their relationship feel more toxic than loving, and eventually, they went their separate ways. Both characters deserved better than the emotional rollercoaster they endured together.
Why They Made the List: Their inability to recover from key events, such as Arizona’s affair, made their relationship one of the most painful to watch.
5. Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey
Mark and Lexie were cute for a while, but their relationship ended up being a tragedy. Mark had a long history of commitment issues, and Lexie, though deeply in love with him, didn’t have the emotional maturity to navigate their complicated dynamic. Mark constantly waffled between his feelings for Lexie and his unresolved past with Callie.
Though their relationship was full of sweet moments, it was overshadowed by Mark’s inability to truly commit and Lexie’s broken heart when Mark chose to reconcile with Callie.
Why They Made the List: Their relationship was full of unresolved issues and left fans heartbroken when it came to an end in the worst possible way.
4. Meredith Grey and Finn Dandridge
Meredith’s relationship with Finn, the veterinarian, was brief and largely forgettable. While Finn was a kind and caring person, their romance was overshadowed by Meredith’s deep connection to Derek Shepherd. Finn never stood a chance, and viewers quickly realized that Meredith’s heart was still with Derek.
Their relationship felt more like a distraction for Meredith than a genuine romance, and the whole situation was ultimately unfair to Finn.
Why They Made the List: Finn was a great guy, but he was never going to be able to compete with Derek, making this relationship one of the most forgettable in Grey’s Anatomy history.
3. Richard Webber and Ellis Grey
Richard and Ellis Grey’s relationship was a complicated mess from the beginning. Ellis was already a powerful and ambitious surgeon, and Richard’s affection for her grew into an obsessive love that drove him to make questionable decisions. Their affair and the way it was handled in the workplace caused immense emotional damage to both their careers and personal lives.
Despite their intense attraction, the affair led to professional and personal consequences that couldn’t be undone. Their connection was toxic, especially as Ellis’s health deteriorated and Richard struggled with guilt.
Why They Made the List: The affair caused lasting damage, and their relationship was far more destructive than romantic.
2. Owen Hunt and Cristina Yang
Owen and Cristina’s relationship was full of passion but ultimately doomed from the start. Both were extremely independent and driven, but their personal desires and career ambitions constantly clashed. Owen wanted a family, while Cristina was adamantly against it. Their relationship was built on physical attraction and a shared commitment to work, but their differing views on family led to a lot of emotional conflict.
While their love story was intense, it ultimately lacked the compatibility needed for long-term happiness.
Why They Made the List: The fact that they couldn’t reconcile their very different life goals made this relationship one of the most frustrating for fans.
1. Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd (Season 11)
Meredith and Derek’s relationship was the epitome of a once-perfect love story gone wrong. After years of ups and downs, they finally got married and had children. However, their relationship hit a major obstacle in Season 11 when Derek chose to take a high-profile job offer in Washington D.C., putting distance between him and Meredith both physically and emotionally.
Derek’s untimely death was the final blow to their relationship, leaving fans heartbroken. Though they had a beautiful connection, the tragic end to their relationship left it ranked as the worst in Grey’s Anatomy.
Why They Made the List: Their heartbreak was too much for fans to bear, and the love story ended in such a painful way that it overshadows all the good times.
Conclusion
From the passionate yet problematic pairings to the toxic relationships that we simply couldn’t get behind, Grey’s Anatomy has delivered some couples that left us questioning how they ever lasted as long as they did. These relationships were fraught with issues—whether it was poor communication, infidelity, or just a lack of compatibility. While some of these couples had moments of sweetness, their flaws ultimately made them some of the worst couples in Grey’s Anatomy history.
FAQs
1. Why did Meredith and Derek’s relationship end up on the list?
While Meredith and Derek had an incredible love story, their relationship faced too many hardships, particularly Derek’s decision to leave for Washington, D.C., and his untimely death.
2. What made Owen and Cristina’s relationship difficult?
Their differing desires—Cristina’s refusal to have children and Owen’s longing for a family—created an emotional divide that ultimately ended their relationship.
3. Why are Izzie and George on this list?
Their relationship was built on betrayal, as George cheated on Callie with Izzie, creating a messy situation that overshadowed any potential for happiness.
4. Why didn’t Mark and Lexie last?
While they had a strong emotional connection, Mark’s indecisiveness and unresolved feelings for Callie made their relationship impossible to maintain.
5. Is there any hope for these couples to get back together?
For most of these couples, it’s safe to say their stories have ended. However, with Grey’s Anatomy, you never really know—anything is possible!
