30 Grey’s Anatomy episodes sure to make you cry

29. Season 4, Episode 17, “Freedom, Part 2”

Whatever you think of Ava/Rebecca, this is going to pull at the heartstrings of all Alex Karev fans around the world. It was in this episode that he just knew that he could never have a life with Rebecca. This was the moment we knew that Ava/Rebecca wasn’t his chance of happiness and it crushed us.

Before this, Rebecca was known as Ava. The only reason she had that name was because she had no memories of when she was saved by Alex during the ferry boat crash of the third season. Alex quickly grew attached to her and so did she. When Ava did remember who she was, she refused to tell Alex so she could be with him.

Then Ava’s husband turned up and we started to know her as Rebecca. It looked like everything was over until Rebecca returned with news that she was pregnant.

Only, she wasn’t. Izzy realized that it was a hysterical pregnancy and Rebecca completely broke down. In this episode, it was clear that she had bipolar disorder and the news of the hysterical pregnancy sent her over the edge. Alex came home to find her wrists slashed after a breakdown and he had to save her life—and get her checked into the psych ward.

To top this off, this episode isn’t just about Alex. Meredith thinks back to a time her mother slit her wrists. The blood in the house at the very end brings back far too many memories for Meredith and she gets to work cleaning it up.