Owen Hunt and Cristina Yang have been a staple couple of “Grey’s Anatomy” since the fifth season, but they’ve had one of the most tumultuous relationships to date. That’s saying a lot, especially considering the other couples have had to deal with cancer, a near-death drowning experience and unexpected children popping up ... twice.
But now, it seems that the damage is irreparable between the two surgeons. After the explosive ending of the Jan. 19 episode, “Hope for the Hopeless," viewers learned that Owen still hasn’t forgiven Cristina for getting an abortion – despite the fact that he supportively held her hand through the experience.
If the previews for tonight’s episode are any indication, then Owen and Christina haven’t forgiven each other since the big blowup. The trauma surgeon appears to have completely given up on his wife, preferring utterances in short, jilted sentences to communicate his dismay. They’re forced to interact only when a car comes hurtling toward them – a wreck that is an all-too-obvious metaphor for their relationship. But subtlety was never “Grey’s” strong suit.
Fans will get more resolution to the couple’s woes on the Feb. 16 episode. Actress Sandra Oh, who plays the hard-headed Yang, told TV Guide that Owen and Christina will spend some much needed time on the therapist’s couch going through couple’s counseling. "Every marriage has to go to a brink," she said. "Both of them are deeply hurt for their various reasons."
While the Owen-Cristina combo is a fan favorite, the relationship seemed like it was doomed by setbacks from the beginning. First, Owen had post-war PTSD, then Cristina suffered from post-shooter PTSD. In between all the madness, they decided to get married after an awkward, impulsive proposal that leaves Cristina saying a relieved “thank you” instead of a blissful “yes.”
Cristina being forced to operate on her Teddy's husband, Henry, without knowing who her patient was seemed harsh – and unrealistic and unethical. But that’s not as bad as Owen making her keep the secret of Henry's death from Teddy for hours while the two women operated together. Still, Henry’s demise would have just been a normal bump in the road for any other “Grey’s Anatomy” couple, but the trauma between Cristina and Owen was already so severe they seem unlikely to repair the problem.
Seeing that the original residents are all up for contract renewals this year, the Cristina–Owen meltdown might make for a prime opportunity to say goodbye to Yang in case Oh decides to leave “Grey’s”. But it’s not the characters we want to say goodbye to: It’s the couple that needs to go their separate ways. It’s time for Cristina and Owen to find a new person to share that on-call room with.
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