The world of Grey’s Anatomy has always been more about love, friendships than helping patients. Although the primary goal of every Grey’s Anatomy character has always been to excel as a surgeon or maybe win a Harper Avery award for once, the real magic is definitely in the bonds. The famed medical drama has seen many characters come and go, but its friendships truly made the show memorable.
The viewers have been treated to all kinds of friendships, from the more obvious ones to pairings that no one saw coming. The beauty of Grey’s Anatomy friendships lies in its characters being fully dedicated to the bond. They go to extreme lengths to prove they are the kind of friends one can rely on, even with their lives.
10 – Callie & Addison Became Soul Sisters
Addison Montgomery became the female iteration of what Mark Sloan was to Callie. Even though they did not meet in the ideal circumstances, the two quickly bonded over their mutual love for twisted humor. The two women did not need to have a sisterly bond where they could hug everything out. Like Cristina and Meredith, they only needed the reassurance of having someone when they wanted good advice or a reality check.
Callie and Addison made low-maintenance female friendships in the show stand out and proved that some connections don’t need to be too pronounced. Addison helped Callie in some very tight spots, including helping her realize her sexuality while Callie held Addison when the latter’s brother was hospitalized.
9 – Richard & Alex Were More Than Professional Pals
- Richard Webber has always looked out for Alex Karev as one of his own.
When the going gets tough, it’s the friends that offer support that make all the difference. Richard Webber was one of those kind of people to Alex Karev even though he had talent but lacked the narrative and direction to put him where he should have been.
Richard taught him the skills needed to survive in the surgical world and mostly acted like the father figure Alex lacked in his life. The two shared a relationship that wasn’t forced and felt like something they needed. Richard Webber was one of the few people that Alex wrote letters to and bid a proper goodbye, proving how important he was to him.
8 – Jackson & Mark Were the “Plastic Posse”
- Mark Sloan took Jackson under his wing and became his mentor and friend.
Although, at first, their relationship seemed more like that of a mentor and a student, it later blossomed into a deep friendship. Mark was the kind of support to Jackson that every intern or resident deserves. Mark was both a teacher and a friend to Jackson who knew when to be hard on him and when to appreciate him. Mark not only helped Jackson find his passion but also stood up for him against his mother for choosing plastics.
Their relationship sometimes is a bit of a father-son or brotherly connection, but in truth, they were the kind of support that helps one grow and nurture. Mark truly wanted nothing more than to see his star pupil excel, and he did. Jackson was particularly sad when Mark died, as he not only lost a great teacher but his greatest supporter as well.
7 – Callie and Mark Shared an Unconditional Friendship
- Mark and Callie transformed their relationship from casual hanging to a meaningful friendship.
The ortho and the plastics attending may have hooked up a few times, but there was never anything romantic between them. When Callie realized she was bisexual and wanted to be in a relationship with a woman, Mark supported her wholeheartedly, and their casual relationship turned into a deep bond of friendship. The duo never held their physical relationship against each other, even when Callie got pregnant with Sophia.
Mark was incredibly supportive and caring toward Callie’s decisions and held her through thick and thin. It was extremely heartbreaking for Callie not to have Mark there to see Sophia grow up after she lost him in the plane crash. They were in each other’s comfort zone and had zero expectations from each other to meet certain “standards,” which made their friendship completely unconditional.
6 – Arizona & Alex Was a Life-Changing Friendship
- Arizona mentored and gave Alex the direction he needed to be a good doctor and a mature person.
She honed his skills and matured him into the person he needed to be if he wanted to make something of himself as a successful doctor. Alex wasn’t a big fan of Arizona’s happy-go-lucky attitude at first, but he understood her mission to save the tiny humans, and he just let her into his orbit. Arizona Robbins brought out the best in him and was the force behind turning him into a good surgeon.
5 – Owen & April Were an Inspiring Bunch
- April and Owen shared a beautiful bond that extended beyond mentorship.
Owen Hunt had this uncanny talent of seeing the good in others and always giving them second chances. He saw a lot of potential in April, even when she was kicked out of the program and failed her boards. He brought her back and transformed her into a great trauma surgeon who wasn’t afraid to be ambitious. Hunt had a lot to do with April’s personality shift and always felt that he had to look out for her.
Hunt wanted to bring out the best in his surgeons and train them to think outside the box. Fortunately, he did exactly that with Kepner, and along the way, she became his rock. From going to her farm to bring her back to asking her to be his best man at the wedding, Owen and April enjoyed the kind of friendship that everyone deserves to have.
4 – Richard & Bailey Were Each Other’s Rocks
- Richard and Miranda shared a unique father-daughter-like bond.
It’s safe to say that Richard Webber was every Grey’s Anatomy character’s father figure to those who had none in their lives. He was this silent mentor and like a “shepherd” who went about the hospital helping misguided sheep find their true calling. Miranda Bailey was exceptional, but she was also judged for her looks and gender when she was an intern. It was Richard who encouraged her to be who she was and continue to strive for the top position.
The most beautiful thing about their relationship was that they never pampered each other unnecessarily. They told each other the harsh truths that, otherwise, no one would have been able to say to their faces. There was a certain father-daughter element to their relationship that made the audience wish that the duo would always be there till the end.
3 – Maggie & Amelia Were Like Sisters
- Although they weren’t related, Maggie and Amelia became sisters through love and care.
Amelia and Maggie came together because of their mutual relationship with Meredith Grey, and despite the latter being sisters by blood, Amelia and Maggie developed a stronger bond. Both Maggie and Amelia had their differences, but their love for Meredith brought them closer, and they developed one of the best friendships on the show. The two women not only performed their roles of being sisters and aunts to perfection but also found a person to rely on in their times of need.
Amelia and Maggie confided in each other about their worries, shared happy moments, and stuck to each other through tragedy. They elevated the status of female friendships on Grey’s Anatomy and somehow became the new Cristina and Meredith that fans have come to admire.
2 – Meredith & Alex Became Each Other’s Most Reliable Person
- Meredith and Alex understood each other the best and supported one another till the last moment.
1 – Meredith & Cristina Are the Epitome of Healthy Female Friendships
- Meredith and Cristina had the best chemistry in Grey’s Anatomy.
Cristina and Meredith’s friendship inspired the show’s most popular analogy and concept: being someone’s person. Cristina and Meredith were each other’s “person” from the get-go. They had the most inspiring and healthiest female friendships on the show. The duo shared the same ambition of being the best, but most of all, they understood each other without asking too much from one another. The only time they did enter into a complete deadlock was when Cristina thought that Meredith had “let up” and that her goal was now divided between her and her children.
However, one of the best things about their friendship was how low-maintenance and fulfilling it was simultaneously. Meredith and Cristina never needed each other to be physically present at all times. They’ve always needed one person who would point out the obvious and isn’t afraid to tell the truth. Seeing them part was one of the saddest moments in Grey’s Anatomy.
