Grey’s Anatomy: 10 Characters Fans Hated But Eventually Fell In Love With
When these characters entered Grey Sloan, they didn’t give the best first impression. However, it didn’t take long before they changed fans minds
In the 19 seasons since Grey’s Anatomy has been on the air, a lot of things have happened. There have been bomb threats, dangerous storms, a plane crash, a hospital shooting, and a hospital explosion. There have also been some tumultuous romances as well as some family drama between the surgeons. However, one of the main reasons why fans have stuck with the show for so long was because of the dynamic and complex characters.
Naturally, a show that has run as long as this one has had characters that started off not being viewers’ favorites. However, that doesn’t mean they didn’t prove their worth later on. Their development may have started off slow but it was a pleasure to watch them grow into the person they were today.
Alex Karev
This character was probably the first that fans got to dislike at first glance. At the beginning of season 1, Alex would come off with a certain arrogance and rudeness with his peers that would not bind well with a “nice guy” image. But over time, viewers changed their opinion about Alex when they started learning about his backstory and vulnerabilities.
Not only that, Dr. Karev was consistently one of the most skilled doctors when operating and it charmed fans when he started developing a profound skill for pediatric surgery.
April Kepner
While many claim that April was one of the most annoying and idiotic characters of the show, others love the fact that she was one of those who had the biggest character development. At first, she came across as very intense and overeager, which made her an instant target for her colleagues. However, throughout time, April became more relatable and likable.
The viewers watched as she became a confident and more assertive woman, standing up for her beliefs and refusing to bow to the pressure of her peers. While April faced some tragic and heartbreaking moments, fans admired her fortitude and courage. By the time she left, fans were glad she got her happy ending.
Mark Sloan
One of the show’s biggest heartthrobs, Mark Sloan started off his journey on the show being known as a “womanizer” and a man full of himself. His biggest “plus” was his close friendship with Derek Shepherd but even this was filled with many ups and downs. From best friends to enemies, then best friends again, this duo lived it all. Dr. Sloan was an irresistibly good looking surgeon who was hated by fans until the playboy-turned-gentlemen romantic man started a serious relationship with the biggest love of his life: Lexie Grey.
Gradually, fans got to know Mark more intimately, seeing him become not only a stable partner but also as a father. To date, he might have been the Grey’s Anatomy character that evolved the most. In the end, there’s no denying that his growth and sweet charm made fans fell in love with him right until his tragic death.
Lexie Grey
Speaking of Mark Sloan, one cannot mention him without mentioning Lexie Grey. Throughout their time on the show, the on-again, the off-again couple made people cry, believe in real love, then broke everyone’s hearts. In the aftermath, their doomed relationship left a hole in fans’ hearts after their devastating deaths.
But Lexie Grey was not particularly liked by fans in the beginning. People expected her to “steal” Meredith’s life, but she surprised the audience by maturing a lot over time.
A very empathetic and caring doctor, Dr. Grey was remembered as a sweet medical professional and a thriving woman. Fans loved it when she stood up for herself when her peers, patients – and especially Mark – would cross her boundaries. Ultimately, fans ended up falling in love with her.
Charles Percy
Can anyone ever remember how he really acted with people when the last image fans have of Charles Percy is his horrifying murder and heartbreaking love confession about Reed? While this scene is definitely moving and caught viewers’ hearts, let’s not forget what this character did.
Dr. Percy didn’t have the most likable personality and, in the beginning, he came across as a very selfish guy. Nonetheless, similarly to Alex Karev, he did become nicer to his colleagues. Fans couldn’t resist falling a little bit for him every time he would interact with Reed because he would act like a big dorky person with such a sweet crush.
Nicole Herman
Played by the very talented actress Geena Davis for the most part, fans remember Nicole’s character for her iconic bond with Arizona and her inoperable tumor. Some even consider this one of the best story arcs in the series. While viewers agree that she was a smart, snarky lady and someone who developed an incredible mentor/protegee relationship with Arizona, Nicole was not loved from the first day.
Originally, Dr. Herman’s s attitude towards Arizona was kind of hideous and very sharp. So, naturally, fans weren’t all that excited with this new addition to Grey’s Anatomy. Thankfully, that all changed over time as her bond with both Arizona and Amelia grew stronger.
Cristina Yang
Meredith’s best friend for life, Cristina Yang was by far the most hard-working, diligent, and committed professional the show has ever seen. So much so that some people loved her from the very beginning and others took a few seasons to warm up to her. The truth is, Dr. Yang was brilliant but a little too obsessed with proving her worth.
These traits often made her look unempathetic or very insensitive towards others on her team as she overlooked their feelings. Most viewers didn’t really dig her vibe. However, as Dr. Yang started to let herself be more vulnerable in her personal relationships and became more relatable, fans gave her their approval. She also had a pretty hardcore, independent personality and that was inevitably an attractive factor for most viewers.
Jackson Avery
His background story with the character, April Kepner, has definitely been the central storyline of this medical drama, so far. All in all, Jackson’s character may not ever truly work well alone. When Jackson Avery came to the show, he gave a bad first impression. But his pretension soon gave way to one of the best character arcs.
The good looking, well-intended man has matured enough to be now considered the “eye candy” of the show. Even though he made some questionable dating choices that outraged so many people, in the end, fans can’t help but have strong positive feelings for Dr. Avery.
Maggie Pierce
There’s no doubt that Maggie Pierce is one of the smartest and most sensitive characters on the show. As Meredith Grey’s long-estranged half-sister, she is much more than a brilliant surgeon. Her character’s most recent development during season 17 has proved her endurance against all medical and personal challenges she has been faced with. The result of that could only be to gain more supporters than ever.
However, overall fans took a lot of time to start to love Maggie because initially, she came in to drop the dramatic “sister bomb” and also seemed to be too neurotic and stressed.
Addison Montgomery
Dr. Montgomery was a pragmatic, fierce, and classy woman who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. While viewers saw her marriage to Dr. Shepherd falling apart due to both her own affair and Derek’s relationship with Meredith, most people took the lead protagonist’s side. After all, who didn’t want to see McDreamy and Mer’s relationship thrive? Addison was an obvious obstacle and her sarcastic, mean attitude often came off as cold and inappropriate on this matter. She could be a little harsh with her colleagues too.
But the reality was, Addison was just in denial over her failing marriage. Once she accepted her divorce, the viewers saw her become a bigger and better person. She allowed everyone to see why Derek and Mark fell for her in the first place with her kind and compassionate behavior. Grey’s fans never had a bad word to say about her once she left.