There are very few television characters who have as much left the show.
Alex overcame many obstacles throughout the medical drama’s 16 seasons. He was sometimes an underrated character, compared to the drama with other characters. However, there were other occasions where he was overrated. He was hard to love. Take a look at times where Alex was overrated and then underrated while he was a pediatric surgeon at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Overrated: Spilling The Beans With The Alzheimer’s Trial
There are many questionable and immoral medical practices performed on Grey’s Anatomy. During the show’s seventh season, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) work together on an Alzheimer’s trial. They complete blind tests to allow some patients to get the real medication, while others would receive a placebo.
At the same time, Dr. Richard Webber’s (James Pickens, Jr.) wife, Adele, was recently diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Meredith is concerned she would receive the placebo, so she tampers with the trial to make sure she gets the real medicine. When Alex finds out about this, he spills the beans, abandoning his loyalty to Meredith.
Underrated: Caring For His Father
Alex didn’t have the best childhood, and he’s hesitant to reveal his past with people. Only his closest friends know his conflicted relationship with his parents. So, it was shocking during the show’s tenth season when his father is a patient at the hospital.
At first, Alex isn’t thrilled about seeing his father. He finally confronts him about all the years Alex put up with his abusive and absent father. Despite this, Alex still decided to care for his father on his deathbed.
Overrated: When He Beat Up Deluca
Alex would do anything for the people he loves. That much is obvious in the season 12 finale “Family Affair.” Alex walks in on his girlfriend, Jo (Camilla Luddington), apparently being assaulted by another resident, Deluca (Giacomo Gianniotti). Deluca was actually trying to help Jo, who was drunk and upset.
Alex jumped to conclusions and violently attacked Deluca—almost beating him to death. Deluca was badly injured, and Alex was treated like the victim. While he thought he was protecting Jo, he misunderstood the situation, and it almost cost someone his life.
Underrated: His Relationship With Rebecca
During the show’s third and fourth seasons, Alex befriends a pregnant Jane Doe patient (Elizabeth Reaser), who they called Ava until they found out her real name—Rebecca Pope. The two form an emotional relationship, and Alex reveals his complicated feelings to her. However, he puts on a brave face and tells her to go back to her husband.
Later, Rebecca slits her wrists and ends up in the hospital. Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) advises that she should receive a psychiatric consultation. Alex refuses, pleading, “I can take care of her!” It’s a heartbreaking moment, and it’s the first time viewers witnessed a positive turn in Alex’s character development.
Overrated: Cheating On Izzie
During the show’s second season, Alex spent weeks pursuing Izzie. When he finally convinced her to date him, their relationship was fun to watch. However, Alex’s confidence took a nose-dive when he struggled to be intimate with Izzie. On top of that stress, he failed his board exams.
Instead of discussing his problems with Izzie, he slept with nurse Olivia (Sarah Utterback), and then he gave her syphilis. Izzie walked in on the two and the trust in their relationship was shattered at the moment.
Underrated: Helping Izzie After Denny’s Death
In the season two finale “Losing My Religion,” Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) dies after having a stroke following a heart transplant. During the show’s second season, he was Izzie’s love interest. She cared for him, but she ultimately decided to cut the LVAD wire before he died.
The scene is one of the most gut-wrenching, heartbreaking moments on Grey’s Anatomy. Izzie is sobbing next to Denny’s body on his hospital bed. Alex, who clearly still had feelings for Izzie, picks up Izzie and tries to calm her down. He comforts her as a friend while she mourns the loss of her lover.
Overrated: Teasing Izzie About Being “Doctor Model”
During the show’s first season, Alex was easily the most unlikable character. He was rude, sexist, and demeaning. In “No Man’s Land,” he finds out Izzie used to model to pay for her medical school loans. He decides to tease her about this by plastering her modeling pictures across the residents’ locker room.
He calls her “Doctor Model,” and he continues to mock her. Luckily, Izzie stands up for herself in one of the best scenes in the entire show. She tells him, “You wanna call me Dr. Model? That’s fine. But just that while you’re still sitting on 200 grand in student loans, I’m out of debt.”
Underrated: His Wedding Vows To Izzie
Despite Alex and Izzie’s complicated relationship, they finally made it to the wedding altar in the season five episode “What a Difference a Day Makes.” Viewers learned about Izzie’s cancer diagnosis, but the couple was still going to get married.
During the ceremony, Alex recites beautiful, heartbreaking vows to Izzie. He says, “Today’s the day my life begins. All my life, I’ve just been me. Just a smart mouth kid. Today, I become a man. Today, I become a husband. Today, I become able to someone other than myself….Today, Izzie Stevens, our life together begins. And I, for one, can’t wait.” Swoon.
Overrated: His Arrogant Behavior
When Alex is first introduced to the show, no one likes him. He’s arrogant and, like he itted, a smart mouth. He belittles other residents, including George O’Malley (T.R. Knight). He has a huge feud with George, and it’s mostly because Alex is jealous of George’s talented skills.
Alex was an overrated character in the show’s earlier seasons. He was the stereotypical arrogant resident who believed he was better than others. But underneath his egotistical behavior, he was insecure. Luckily, he evolved into a fan favorite.
Underrated: Caring For Meredith
Meredith and Alex have a special friendship. He becomes “her person” after Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) left the show. He is her rock, especially after Derek is killed in the season 11 finale. He would do anything for her, proving that they are best friends, no matter what.
In the season 12 episode “The Sound of Silence,” Meredith is brutally attacked by a patient. When she wakes up hours later, she’s confused and emotional about what happened. When he sees her sobbing, Alex climbs into her hospital bed and hugs her. He comforts her, holding back his own tears—knowing he was so close to losing his best friend.
