MerDer is one of the favorites when it comes to Grey’s Anatomy couples
While there have certainly been some messy couples on Grey’s Anatomy, there have also been some great ones. Whether you’re a MerDer fan, or a Slexie one, this is for you. It’s time to look back at the best couples on the series.
This doesn’t mean the couples all lasted. While they were the best, some of them ended for the right reasons as the individuals had to grow. Others brought some realistic challenges to relationships, but that didn’t stop us from rooting for them to get back together.
It’s time to dive into the seven best couples on the series.
Grey’s Anatomy all started with MerDer
The series opened with Meredith and Derek meeting in a bar. It turned out that Derek was the new attending at the hospital Meredith was about to be an intern at. That certainly led to some complications for their relationship.
If only those were the only complications. Then it came to Addison coming back into the picture. I hated the way Addison came in and made it known she was Derek’s wife without even considering he had a right to walk away from her after he caught her having the affair. However, it created drama.
It took a while for MerDer to eventually get back together. Once they did, things were great. Well, until they weren’t. We always rooted for them to get their happily ever after. Now if only it was for someone doing burr holes.
Richard and Adele show us what love is
Richard and Adele didn’t have the best of relationships. Richard had an affair with Ellis Grey, and it was clear that Adele knew all about it. He did choose his wife when it came down to it, though, and she stood by him through everything.
Then it came time for Richard to stand by Adele. She suffered from dementia, a devastating disease. We got to see it not just from Adele’s view but from Richard as he tried to figure out how to care for her. He had to figure out what to do as he lost the woman he knew and loved.
In the end, Richard was there as Adele died. I don’t think he’ll ever forget her, even as he found love again. They showed that it is possible to move forward after affairs and struggles in a marriage, but both have to be willing to try hard.
MORE: 20 most hated Grey's Anatomy characters ever
Grey’s Anatomy brought us Jolex for a while
There is some truth in what they say about opposites attracting. However, it turned out that Jo and Alex weren’t all that different. They both grew up with hard lives and with people constantly underestimating them. And they were willing to work hard to be better doctors and people.
While their relationship was destroyed thanks to some bad writing, up to that point, Jolex showed us what love is all about. We got to see the two of them figure out their problems as secrets came out, and they were there for each other through the highs and the lows.
I do wish the writing was better for Jolex in the end. There is no way the Alex we came to know would have done what he did. I choose to forget that and pretend something has happened to Alex to enjoy what was Jolex.
Japril brings us hope for second chances
I don’t like the way that Japril got together officially, but I’ll overlook that for the sake of this post. After all, it turned out that April and Jackson were just perfect for each other in the end. Oh, and no, I’m not talking about them hooking up at the time of the boards. I’m talking about April leaving Matthew at the altar for Jackson.
The two didn’t work out at first. They had their differences, and they struggled to deal with the loss of their son. Out of all the losses, the loss of a child is always going to be the hardest. That’s especially the case when it is linked to medical issues that there is no cure for and nobody to really blame. They needed each other but they couldn’t really be there for each other or allow each other in, especially April.
However, Japril show us that second chances are possible. We got to see that they were back together and they brought in a healthy baby into the world. They were able to co-parent well when they were apart, and then they found their way back to each other once more. With communication and support, it turns out that a lot in love is possible.
Calzona had a great start on the series
Up until the plane crash, Calzona was one of the best couples on the entire series. They showed us how to support each other. They gave us a chance to see what real love is all about. Arizona was there for Callie when it all came to a head with her family. She didn’t judge Callie’s parents or get angry; she shared her thoughts and her love for Callie.
Callie also showed us what sacrifice is when it comes to the “for better or for worse” and “in sickness and in health” part of marriage vows. She could have easily left Arizona to figure out life with just one leg. As Arizona became a shell of herself, Callie could have easily walked away. She was raising their daughter and dealing with the loss of Sloan. Not having Arizona by her side to help her through that was difficult, but she knew that Arizona needed her more.
Sadly, it all came crashing down at this point. We got to see what life can throw and how not all couples make it through. However, their love never really stopped, and we know the two of them have likely made things work as Arizona headed out to New York to join Callie.
Ben and Bailey bring us love and hope
There are a lot of relationships on Grey’s Anatomy that end due to differences or arguments. Ben and Bailey have certainly had their fair share of them. In fact, they did originally break up for a while because Ben had a change of career and moved away. Then he moved back, and we got to see them have another go at love.
Over the course of the time they’ve been together, they’ve dealt with more career changes—Ben just can’t decide what he wants to be when he grows up!—and health problems and scares. We’ve watched them deal with pregnancy loss, social difficulties, and custody battles. They have been able to stand by each other.
In fact, Ben and Bailey have shown us that love doesn’t stop because there’s an argument. However, love is a choice. They show us that communication is necessary, along with forgiveness and a willingness to compromise.
Honorable mentions
I do want to say that there are a couple of honorable mentions for this post:
Meredith and Nathan: They had a lot of potential.
Meredith and Hayes: I would have loved to see more of them as they had such similar experiences in life.
Cristina and Burke: They had some of the best moments as a couple on screen but the way he left her at the altar was poor form. He was a better communicator than that.
Jo and Jackson: Technically, they weren’t a couple. I just loved how their friendship blossomed and what they ended up becoming.
Teddy and Henry: They started off under questionable circumstances, but they were there for each other and it turned into a marriage of love.
Grey’s Anatomy gave us heat with Slexie
Out of all the couples on the series, Slexie is my favorite. These two had so much chemistry, but they also had a lot of love at the bottom of it all. They tried to be apart when they knew that they weren’t right for each other, but in the end, they decided they should figure it all out.
The two of them showed some maturity when it came to their relationships. Lexie didn’t want to be a step-grandmother to a child almost her own age. She wasn’t ready to be a stepmother when Sloan found out Callie was pregnant with his child. Lexie ended up walking away, and Sloan understood that. While he tried to get her back, he didn’t push her boundaries too much.
In the end though, it was about Slexie. Their hearts belonged to each other. In a way, I’m glad the two died due to the plane crash. It meant the show didn’t have a chance to ruin them.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 premieres on Thursday, March 14 at 9/8c on ABC.