Summary
- Justin Chambers' cryptic Instagram post hints at a possible return to Grey's Anatomy, but his character Alex Karev can only realistically come back if Izzie Stevens also returns.
- Alex Karev's abrupt departure and his reasons for leaving were controversial, as it undid his character development and hurt Jo. Fans believed his exit was rushed and wished he had been killed off instead.
- If Alex were to return alone, it would further damage his character. Returning with Izzie would be momentous and could potentially avoid ruining Alex's character.
Justin Chambers’ cryptic Instagram post referencing Grey’s Anatomy hints at a possible return, however, there’s only one way his character Alex Karev could realistically come back to the show. Alex Karev’s exit in Grey’s Anatomy season 16, episode 16, “Leave a Light On” proved controversial as not only was Alex’s move explained through letters to Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Jo (Camilla Luddington), but also for how it ended up hurting Jo. Indeed, reuniting Alex and Izzie (Katherine Heigl) offscreen made audiences feel his exit was slightly rushed, especially as the last episode Chambers actually appeared on the show was Grey’s Anatomy season 16, episode 8, “My Shot”.
However surprising Alex’s exit was to audiences and Grey’s Anatomy characters alike, his willingness to move across the country to make sure his children grew up with a father at least made Alex’s move meaningful. Still, Grey’s Anatomy fans wishing Alex was killed off rather than exiting as he did revealed how many perceived that the storyline undid Alex’s progress, especially for how he betrayed Jo. Chambers’ Instagram photo of a coffee cup and a sleeve with a picture showing Chandra Wilson, Ellen Pompeo, and James Pickens Jr. captioned “A fresh cup of Greys.” subtly hinted at a possible return, but that could risk ruining Alex Karev more.
Alex Karev Could Only Come Back If Izzie Stevens Did Too
Alex Karev’s abrupt departure from Seattle in Grey’s Anatomy was explained as him doing what was best for his children and realizing he never stopped loving Izzie. So, if Chambers were to return to Grey’s Anatomy as Alex, Izzie would have to come with, as Alex returning alone would go against every justification he gave Jo and Meredith when he left. Heigl’s Grey’s Anatomy difficult exit makes Izzie’s return unlikely. However, recent statements by both Heigl and creator Shonda Rhimes showed some bridge-building between Heigl and Grey’s Anatomy, making Izzie’s return not impossible. If that were the case, Alex and Izzie’s return would be momentous and avoid ruining Alex.
Justin Chambers' Instagram post (above) shows a coffee cup with a Grey's Anatomy sleeve, with the caption 'A fresh cup of Greys'. While it's possible that the post is simply a reference to a sleeve with the show advertised on it, given that he was a character in the show, the immediate assumption is that the 'fresh cup' is a hint at his return, for some fresh storylines.
Alex Karev Coming Back Alone Would Ruin His Character Even More
While Izzie returning to Grey’s Anatomy isn’t as impossible as in the past, Alex Karev making a solo return would be more believable. However, Alex returning to Seattle on his own could risk damaging the character more. Alex’s move to Kansas in Grey’s Anatomy season 16, episode 16, “Leave a Light On” already undid Alex’s progress as a character by having him disappear and then explain his reasons via letter. While Alex’s reasons could be considered somewhat noble, the fact that he didn’t even do Jo the kindness of telling her everything face to face made his actions more hurtful.
With Izzie and Alex Karev’s relationship ending in betrayal already undoing the changes Alex went through to become better than the self-centered bully he was in Grey’s Anatomy season 1, having him return alone would definitely ruin his character. Grey’s Anatomy cannot undo how badly Alex hurt Jo by leaving but having him return without Izzie after the drastic choices he made would make him revert to his early season characterization, considering how awfully he acted towards Jo. If Chambers were to actually return to Grey’s Anatomy, Alex Karev would either have to come back with Izzie or alone as a worse character.