Throughout its 19 seasons, there have been many different relationships and hookups on Grey’s Anatomy, but one relationship that was planned for season 16 never made it to the screen. The relationships, both romantic and otherwise, are part of what has allowed Grey’s Anatomy last through the many years it's been on the air. However, there are some characters that have exhibited romantic potential but never became canon as a couple. In the case of two Grey’s Anatomy characters, that potential was supposed to be acted upon before circumstances led to the relationship never taking off, and another taking its place.
From Meredith and Derek to Jackson and April to Callie and Arizona to Izzie and Alex, and so many more, Grey’s Anatomy has created many iconic couples, regardless of whether they reach “endgame” status or not. Many characters go through what seems to be a revolving door of relationships as characters are killed off and leave, marriages end in divorce, and new characters come along. This makes it rare to find a stable relationship on the show, but the relationship drama is also part of what has kept viewers coming back to Grey’s Anatomy for 19 seasons.
Amelia & Carina Were Supposed To Get Together In Season 16
In a fan Q&A session, Stefania Spampinato revealed that her character Carina DeLuca was supposed to be romantically paired with Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) in season 16, but the plan was never translated to the final product on screen. Instead, the season 16 premiere featured a shocking revelation, delivered by Carina herself, that Amelia was pregnant. It started out as a comedic scene in which Amelia admits she “kinda had a crush” on Carina and awkwardly asks her if she would be interested in a “ménage à trois” with her and Link. However, the reveal of her pregnancy quickly changed the mood of the scene.
The Grey’s Anatomy season 15 finale had established real potential for Amelia and Carina, as Amelia told Teddy that she “falls in love easily and quickly” and that when she walked in on Owen and Carina shortly after their breakup, she was “more jealous of him because [she] had a little crush on her.” This turned comedic when Teddy realized that Owen had slept with the woman about to deliver their baby. Still, it established that not only had Amelia had a crush on Carina, but she was still thinking about her in the context of, once again, moving on from Owen.
Amelia’s pregnancy was not something the writers had initially planned, but rather became part of Amelia’s storyline when Scorsone became pregnant during Grey’s Anatomy’s season 16 production. This wasn’t the first time her pregnancy was written into the Grey’s universe, as both Scorsone and Amelia were pregnant during Private Practice season 5. Her second pregnancy was not written into Grey’s Anatomy season 13, though Amelia’s character had just married Owen, and it was too soon after she’d lost her son.
How Amelia & Carina Never Getting Together Changed Carina’s Character
Unlike Amelia, who had been a long-established character through both her time on Private Practice and Grey’s Anatomy, by the time season 16 aired, Carina was still a recurring character. Carina appeared in almost every episode in season 14, but was much less regular in season 15, with her character’s visit back to Italy causing a 10-episode absence followed shortly by another 6-episode absence before the finale when she delivered Teddy’s baby. Her more consistent appearances in season 14 also coincided with her relationship with Arizona, suggesting that Carina needed a partner to have a stable run on the show, which would have made Amelia the perfect solution.
Carina only appeared in six of 21 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy season 16. Instead of spending her time at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, she recurred in almost every episode of Station 19 season 3, due to her burgeoning relationship with then-firefighter captain Maya Bishop (Danielle Savre). The relationship became was well-received, and the pairing had undeniable chemistry from the start. This meant it wasn’t exactly a surprise when Spampinato was named as a series regular for Station 19 season 4, but it meant–for the most part–that she had to leave Grey’s Anatomy.
As an OB/GYN, she wasn’t a surgeon like most of the other doctors in the series, which left little for her to do medically after her research studies ended in season 14. She has mostly been seen delivering the babies of other doctors on the show, such as Teddy and Amelia, and occasionally mentoring Jo in her OB/GYN residency. This only worsened when Carina became a doctor on a firefighter show, and while they have found creative ways to show her working, such as through the station’s clinic, it forces her character to exist on Station 19 as an extension of Maya’s.
By nature, Carina’s character has always been somewhat of an extension of others. First, she was Arizona’s girlfriend and Andrew’s sister, but Andrew’s death in Grey’s Anatomy season 17 meant that her main connection is through her romantic relationship with Maya. Carina is often missing in key scenes or episodes on Grey’s Anatomy in which it would make sense for Carina to be present because of Spampinato’s commitments to Station 19. Due to this, viewers have long requested on social media for Carina to receive more storylines about her career, or for her to develop more Grey's Anatomy friendships outside of Maya.
Why It’s A Good Thing Amelia & Carina Never Got Together
Ultimately, Carina and Amelia's paths never crossing romantically was good for their characters and the larger scheme of both Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19. Amelia falls in and out of love quickly, and her relationship with Link didn’t even last, so it wasn’t guaranteed that hers and Carina’s would have. Carina’s relationship with Maya allowed for Spampinato to be bumped up to the series regular position, and while most of her storylines revolve around Maya, it gave her more screentime and development.
Amelia’s attraction to Carina never went anywhere but did allow for her character to reveal her attraction to people other than men. Amelia is also currently happy in her relationship with Kai, which has led to the representation of non-binary characters and the relationships they can and do have. On top of this, Maya and Carina are also the first same-sex couple to get married in the Grey’s universe since Arizona and Callie in season 8. Carina crossing over into Station 19 has also facilitated an even greater connection between it and Grey’s Anatomy, which seems to be continuing based on the Station 19 teaser for the winter return.
Grey's Anatomy season 19 returns February 23rd on ABC