Jackson and April were amazing additions to the original set of interns after fans got to see what kind and considerate people they were. Jackson’s great persona has continued through the seasons, with the plastic surgeon making waves in the medical community and his career. But in what other ways has he improved?
Flirting His Way Into Surgery
Avery used his incredible looks and charm to flirt his way into surgery because he thought that was the only way he’d be able to get into the OR. Teddy Altman was taken aback initially but she called out what he was doing.
She set him right, telling him that he was more than just a pretty face and only if he started taking himself seriously will the others do the same as well. It was a good lesson for Jackson who did take her advice seriously.
Supporting Cristina
The awe and legacy of Cristina Yang sometimes make fans forget that Jackson was in the OR when Yang was operating on Derek Shepherd. He had taken such a big risk in deciding to stay back in the OR and even made the incredible move of switching of Shepherd’s monitors to give the impression that he had died.
His presence of mind and ability to be steady enabled Cristina to save Derek’s life. And this ability of Jackson to put others ahead of himself during such difficult times shows the strength of his character.
Sloan’s Protégé
Sloan and Jackson were an incredible team. Sloan got Jackson into Plastics and Jackson never looked back. Their mentor-mentee relationship bloomed into an incredibly cute bromance and Jackson learned so much under Mark.
Avery was willing to put aside his personal differences to continue to learn under Mark and the dedication he showed towards his profession is admirable.
Being April’s Friend
Jackson and April worked very well together as friends. They were supportive of each other, and respected each others’ viewpoints, no matter how different their opinions on the subject were. Jackson didn’t make fun of April and April took Jackson seriously when most of the others didn’t.
Even after their turbulent relationship ended and April was having a crisis of faith, Jackson stood by her side and tried to help her in ways that were possible for him. He never judged her or questioned her parental judgment even at that point, making clear the bond between them.
Ready To Commit To April
When April had a pregnancy scare, Jackson was more than happy and ready to get married. He was so willing and ready to be committed to her.
He truly was heartbroken when April found out that she actually wasn’t pregnant and that they needn’t be engaged anymore. Even when April wasn’t sure, Jackson was. He wanted to settle down and be a family and raise kids with her.
Being A Good Father
No matter the personal crises that he has, he has always been steadfast and dependable for his daughter Harriet. He so badly wanted to be a part of her life and immersed himself into parenthood.
He is capable enough to even dole out advice regarding kids to others in the hospital including DeLuca, showing how much he has grown up.
Wanting To Find Purpose In Life
After everything he had been through, and especially after April’s death scare, Jackson was seriously reconsidering his beliefs and his faith. He used to never be religious or have faith in anything above science.
But after April’s recovery, he started to question everything and decided to explore the world a little more. He wanted meaning and a bigger purpose in life, and it was admirable that he set out to seek it.
Supporting His Mother In Everything
As one would expect, Catherine Avery is quite the overbearing mother but Jackson loves and respects her so much. He holds her in the highest esteem and it was one of the most sweetest and inspiring gestures he made when he decided to change the name of the Avery foundation to the Catherine Fox foundation. They are adorably sweet together in all of their interactions.
Viewing Richard Like A Father Figure
Avery treated and dealt with Richard with incredible respect. He grew up with only a mother and warmed very quickly to Richard when he started dating his mother.
He supported Richard and even took his side in arguments with his mother. Jackson’s ability to form relationships and keep them strong is aspirational and shows maturity in his dealings.
Dealing With Jo
After Alex’s departure from the show, Jo was struggling quite a bit emotionally. She approached Jackson as a friend to help her cope with her situation. Jackson was kind and nice to the heartbroken and crying Jo, lending her a comforting shoulder.
He told her that he was there for as a friend, but not anything else, clarifying beforehand that he wasn’t looking for a relationship. Jackson’s self-awareness and ability to recognize the fact that he had to learn to be alone for a while was well reflected here showing the grown and mature person he had become.
