Why Owen and Teddy Refuse to Split — Even When Everyone Thinks They Should

Owen Hunt and Teddy Altman have only been married for one season of Grey’s Anatomy, but their marriage already looks to be on the brink of collapse. After years of being friends, an unrequited love, and each of them getting married to other people, Owen and Teddy got married at the beginning of season 18, but their marriage has been far from a happy one. The majority of their season 19 scenes have revolved around them fighting, but the likelihood of them actually getting a divorce is unlikely due to Owen’s romantic history and storylines.

After fleeing Seattle in the Grey’s Anatomy season 18 finale, Teddy and Owen returned to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in the season 19 premiere. Between the seasons, Owen and Teddy spent most of their money on a legal team to keep Owen’s medical license, which put an even bigger strain on their relationship. It is clear to them and others that their marriage isn’t working, but divorce is unlikely due to the show’s history. Owen has been divorced twice before, and while Grey’s Anatomy has a penchant for repeating storylines, a third divorce for Owen would be a narrative mess. It would also mean having to introduce new love interests for both Owen and Teddy or have them return to old ones, which is even more unlikely.

Why Owen & Teddy’s Relationship Was Doomed From The Start

The biggest problem with Teddy and Owen’s relationship is that she was always his second choice, while he was the person she wanted most. Both Cristina and then Owen and Amelia’s relationship kept them apart. Owen only seemed to want Teddy when he couldn’t have her, jealous when she was with other men, but seeing other women at the same time. Both of Owen’s previous marriages ended mainly because he wanted children when his wives didn’t, something that Teddy was able to give to him in season 15. In fact, Owen didn’t even confess his love to Teddy until she was giving birth, suggesting he only really loves her because she is the mother of his daughter. This confession caused Teddy to choose Owen and break up with Koracick, something Owen was never able to do for Teddy in the past.

In Grey’s Anatomy season 19, episode 5, Teddy admitted to Link that she and Owen probably would have been better off staying friends. Teddy gave advice to Link on his best friend Jo after he admitted he was still hung up on her. She told Link not to ruin his and Jo’s friendship by getting involved romantically, saying that, because they are married, when Owen ruined his life through his crime, he ruined hers as well. “There’s nothing like ruining each other’s lives to ruin a friendship,” Teddy said. When she and Owen finally had a nice moment towards the end of the episode, he promptly fell asleep, leaving Teddy angry once again. Even though Teddy seems to somewhat regret getting married to Owen, it’s also clear that she loves him too much to ever leave him and just wants him to put as much effort into their relationship as she does.

Why Owen’s Always Been A Bad Husband

Owen is no stranger to marital issues. Before Cristina left Grey’s Anatomy in season 10, they had a tumultuous relationship. Owen knew that Cristina didn’t want children when he married her, but held it against her their entire relationship as if she was punishing him. He always felt he was a victim, automatically making her the villain. The same story would repeat with Amelia when she wasn’t ready to have children. His desperate need to have a child encompassed both Cristina’s career needs and Amelia’s desire to not have another baby after the death of her son. In committing his crime, Owen did not consider the impact it would have on his wife and children and acts as if Teddy is a villain for still being upset with him months later. Throughout his time on Grey’s Anatomy, Owen has proven time and time again how selfish he is, and he will never be able to have a long-lasting, loving relationship unless he changes his ways.