Alex Karev is one of those characters who fans of Grey's Anatomy loved to hate for the first few seasons until they couldn't get enough of him. Karev, played by actor Justin Chambers, grew on fans and became a much-loved part of the ensemble with a tremendous character arc.
However, while Karev was loved by many, there are some who have a few things to say about him that go against popular opinion. From wondering why a terrible character such as him wasn't written out of the show sooner to seeing perfect sense in his hugely polarising exit, Redditors have been vocal about this brute-turned-lovable-goof.
MerLex Shippers
Alex and Izzie were one of the most beloved couples in the series. Their journey was fraught with tension, as Izzie had already been diagnosed with cancer before their wedding. But the writers united the two off-screen when Alex was said to have left Jo for Izzie and her twins. However, there are those that feel that Alex would have been better off ending up with Meredith instead of Izzie Stevens.
This fan has a whole scenario set up for MerLex. Given how they had been each other's rock, they could have some kind of tryst after "a tequila binge in the living room" and then realize that they were meant for each other after all -- or so the Redditor wishes.
Worshipped For Being A Cliché
This astute fan feels that Karev was a cliché in terms of how he transformed. They felt that the reason he found such fandom was also because of the very predictable way his story was written.
Having started out as a jerk, he changed and then was redeemed and went on to be adorable, in time. This made him the epitome of the stereotypical hero with a difficult past who mellowed through his experiences.
Alex Was Better Than Fan-Favorite O'Malley
A thoroughly unpopular opinion that goes against the trend about Karev states that he was a better person than George. The latter is widely considered one of the most beloved characters in the history of the series and the memory of his tragic death still leaves very few eyes dry.
However, this fan states that Alex was in fact a better man than George any day, and this was the Alex from the first few seasons when he was nothing but a colossal jerk to nearly everyone, especially George. While the Karev of these seasons was almost entirely unlikable in general, this fan thinks that he was honest, and never whined or played the victim card, like George did. He didn't mope around and although he shouldn't have cheated on Izzie, he was still more likable than George.
Alex & Jo Beat Alex & Izzie
There has always been a debate around whether Alex Karev made a better couple with Izzie or with Jo, although in the long run, 'Izzex' lovers would totally win. Izzie and Alex were, after all, part of the original interns, and the love for their story draws on the nostalgia from the time when the show was at its peak.
However, there are those who believe that 'Jolex' was actually better than Izzie and Alex. The latter two, this fan points out, were both immature when their love story began and they always ended up hurting each other. As opposed to that, Alex was much more mature when he fell for Jo and their relationship was somehow healthier. While not as unpopular as some of the other entires here, this still goes against the popular current.
A Better Chief Than Bailey
Remember when there was a hilarious twist in the drama and Alex Karev was made Interim Chief of Grey Sloan Memorial? Bailey had just suffered a heart attack; she sought out anybody who would be willing to take on the interim role while she was away, and lo and behold, she ended up giving the job to Karev.
While the fact that Karev, the insensitive young man who was almost unbearable when he started out, could one day be Chief, interim or otherwise, was ironic, to say the least, there are those who feel that Karev was, in fact, a better Chief than Bailey. He didn't look at it as an opportunity to wield power, neither did he micro-manage like Bailey. If anything, he did a better job of delegating work and eventually started handling things pretty well.
Deeply Overrated
Alex is a character with a complicated past who, gradually, fans grew to love, and who eventually became crucial to Meredith's life, being her only true friend and even her "person" after Cristina left.
But this fan rants about how Alex's so-called development into a cute guy who saved kids exonerated him from a lot of terrible behavior he had demonstrated earlier. They felt that his violent streak, including his assault of DeLuca, and his treatment of Izzie at a time when she most needed his support should not be forgotten, making Alex a highly overrated character with few redeeming qualities.
Karev's Violent Streak Should Have Been Managed
Since the very beginning, Karev was shown to be the guy who would provoke violent tendencies in others. His temper was somewhat explained away by his backstory wherein he had a broken home, an abusive and then absent father, and had to take care of his sick mother and young siblings from very early on.
However, a few fans feel as if his violent streak should have been better managed, and should not have been allowed to go as far as it did. For instance, Karev beat DeLuca to a pulp in season 13, and this, the fan feels, deserved punishment and he should not have been let off, scot-free.
Alex Was The Best Intern
A hugely unpopular opinion about Karev suggests that Alex was the best of the original interns in the early seasons. Since the first emotion that Karev evoked during these seasons was annoyance, this opinion does appear very curious.
The Redditor goes on to explain that the other interns all had their share of disaster. From Cristina having the worst bedside manner imaginable and Izzie getting emotionally involved with her patients to Meredith spending much of her time swooning over McDreamy and George never really showing a lot of promise in the OR, it was Karev who was, surprisingly, tolerably good, in all respects.
Karev Should Have Been Written Off
In direct contrast to the previous opinion, this particular one focuses on how terrible the character really is, to the extent that he should have been written off. Karev, who was, introduced as a foil of sorts to the gentle George O'Malley, was insolent and cocky and provoked almost everyone he spoke to. However, his character went through an evolutionary arc that is popularly held to be the best on the show.
Yet this fan is not ready to forgive him for going out of his way to be mean to people like George, at the beginning. The character, the fans feels, didn't really change all that much -- his temper was still pretty much the same -- and the fan wonders why Karev wasn't written off much earlier.
Alex's Departure Was Perfect
Possibly the most unpopular opinion regarding Karev involves this fan's belief that Alex's departure was, in fact, perfect. As fans remember only too well, Justin Chambers abruptly left the show in season 16 in what is widely considered one of the worst character exits of all time.
However, while many felt at the time that the exit took the character back a few seasons, this Redditor has a fresh perspective and says that Alex was bound to leave once he found out that he had kids. His entire life had been built around his difficult childhood which also contributed to his career as a peds surgeon. Ultimately, there was no way he was going to abandon his own twins. According to this fan, he didn't leave abruptly to be with Izzie, or because he didn't love Jo, because he did. Rather, he left for his children, and that was perfect.