Viewers always love a good conflict, and this is doubly interesting where relationships are concerned. Grey’s Anatomy has been masterful for having many couples who have a habit of challenging one another due to one problem or another, and there have been some that are the pick of the bunch.
Almost every main character from Meredith, Derek, Callie, Cristina, and more, have had issues with their romantic interests - ranging from factors like former lovers returning, commitment issues, and certain tragedies. With the series entering its eighteenth season, it’s worth checking out which couples in the history of Grey-Sloan Memorial have managed to capture the fanbase’s attention with their see-saw dynamic.
Mark & Lexie
Although they’re considered soulmates, Mark and Lexie had a lot of hurdles in their relationship that were ultimately only solved due to their deaths. The pair’s issues stemmed from Mark’s long-lost daughter butting heads with Lexie, along with both dating the wrong people when they were in love with each other.
Yet, there was something appealing about the bubbly personality of Lexie deeply impacting the immature but well-meaning Mark. It was always felt as if they would find a way to be together despite stumbling their way toward it. In the end, it was only in death did they finally reunite.
Derek & Meredith
His status as a fan favorite means there is very few unpopular opinions about Derek in Grey’s Anatomy, although he did display some bad sides in his tumultuous relationship with Meredith. Their problems arose through issues like Derek still being married to Addison, Meredith’s commitment issues, and their disagreements over whose career was more important.
All things considered, it was still the main pairing of the show, with the couple lasting a whole decade. Their reconciliations were highly sought by the fanbase, as one of the appealing factors about the couple was watching them overcome conflict.
Cristina & Burke
This relationship was all about one-upping each other, in many ways. After all, Cristina claimed she wanted to become what Burke was, meaning she was attracted to the idea of him as a successful surgeon. Of course, both of their egos got in the way of that, making for a complex love story.
The conflict in this pairing was their inability to fully leave their comfortable headspace, such as Cristina being unsure of the wedding or her compromising her beliefs, which she valued most. Then again, it was this very quality that allowed this relationship to stretch out for so long, as it defined both of their characterizations.
Jackson & April
These two could have been the happiest couple on the show due to their cheerful personalities, but Jackson and April’s indecisiveness always became a barrier. They delayed getting together for years purely due to being unsure how the other felt, while they couldn’t be happy apart either, and April's marriage with Matthew ended because of the ghost of her love for Jackson.
Fittingly, though, their last moment on-screen saw them move away together, as Jackson and April always found a way back together. The stormy nature of their relationship also carried a rainbow of hope at the end of it, with either character always making a grand declaration of love and support to start things up again.
Alex & Jo
The breakup of their marriage was one of Grey’s Anatomy’s predictable plot twists, mainly due to Alex and Jo having done it quite a lot before. They were always affected by outside factors like the matter of Jo’s past identity and Alex’s lingering feelings for Izzie.
Fans were still soured when Alex left Jo for Izzie, as his relationship with Jo seemed to only be further strengthened after the end of each problem. The two had issues with commitment in such a way that it was as if they were meant to be together to figure this aspect out.
Owen & Cristina
Owen was the perfect contrast to Burke, in that he was sensitive, unambitious, and out loud about his love for Cristina. However, their romance still had its problems as her ambition was too great for him to accept and they ended up on two different life paths.
This clash between mentalities and their natural chemistry entertained fans for more than half a decade, with their story playing out in twists and turns. Cristina and Owen’s relationship may have been doomed from the start, but the drama involved was certainly spicy enough to keep viewers engaged.
Mark & Addison
Without a doubt, this has to be the steamiest couple in the series, with their intimate moments defining their relationship. Of course, with so much heat between them, there had to be a lot of emotional stumbles as Mark and Addison just couldn’t get on the same page.
They were mostly attracted to one another when either was unavailable, having hooked up when she was married to Derek and when he was on a break with Lexie. Fans still loved the banter between them and even though they weren’t endgame, it wasn't a total loss since their chemistry was still felt whenever they interacted.
Richard & Ellis
Richard and Ellis’ emotionally devastating affair was a storyline that has had a deep effect on the characters and the show. They were the kind of couple who were drawn to each other numerous times because it was forbidden, which meant they only carried on with it further.
Viewers were aware that they were wrong to hurt their spouses and essentially Meredith’s childhood, but there aren’t many couples who have this level of passion. It was equally interesting to see if Richard would continue his emotional affair with Ellis later in life, which showed that fans could experience the same pull the characters felt toward one another.
Alex & Izzie
The dynamic of Alex and Izzie was so great that they had multiple iconic couple scenes in Grey’s Anatomy. Her wish to be whisked off her feet and his reluctance to be so mushy and romantic ended up making them an oddly matched pair. The two went the extra mile to support the other during some tough times, such as Denny's death or Izzie's illness.
There were just as many heartbreaks, with Izzie divorcing him without prior notice and Alex cheating on her. However, it was watching the many grand declarations of love they did for one another that made this pair so entertaining, even if it came at the expense of such dramatic breakups.
Callie & Arizona
These two had perhaps the worst reasons to break up in Grey’s Anatomy, having ended their relationship multiple times. Whether it was Arizona’s cheating, Callie rediscovering herself during their separation, or having a fight at an airport, fans could count on this couple to find a way to fight.
On the other hand, there were also so many good times that Arizona and Callie came across as best friends who were married. They managed to be great parents to Sofia, have a humorous friendship with Mark, and reconciled once again at the end. This pair defined the aspect of having ups and downs in a relationship but still loving one another, and their breakups and reconciliations are both worthy of several highlight reels.