Top 10 Grey's Anatomy Love Triangles
#10: Mark Sloan / Lexie Grey / Jackson Avery
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Due to the many problems that arose in the relationship of Mark and Lexie, the latter was attracted into dating the young and baggage-free Jackson. The major issue here came from the fact that Jackson saw Mark as his mentor, making his interest in Lexie clash with his hopes to impress Mark. This love triangle was the result of none of the characters being emotionally in the right place, as Mark lost Lexie to Jackson, only for Lexie to regain her feelings for her ex. Despite his interest in Lexie, Jackson understood he was caught in the middle, with neither Mark or Lexie treating him the way he deserved. Forced to make a choice, he decided to walk away, leaving Lexie to pursue Mark as she secretly had wanted the whole time.
#9: George O'Malley / Callie Torres / Izzie Stevens
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While George dated Callie for a significant period, the two never truly understood each other. After marrying Callie as a way to cope with the grief of losing his father, George’s regret at this decision led him to realize his feelings for best friend, Izzie. The fallout resulted in complete hostility between Izzie and Callie, with the two fighting to win George’s heart. Although one of the most controversial angles on the show, it ultimately shaped each characters’ future. For George, the realization of his feelings for Izzie made him accept he was never in love with Callie, while she went through her own journey of discovering her true sexuality. For Izzie, the eventual failure of her relationship with George was a reminder that she’d been looking for love in all the wrong places.
#8: Mark Sloan / Callie Torres / Arizona Robbins
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Callie and Mark might never have romantically been in love, but their constant flings proved to be a hurdle in her relationships. After things ended with Erica, Callie tried to be faithful to Arizona. However, their regular issues prompted Callie into returning to Mark's arms once again. Tensions were usually high between Arizona and Mark, with Callie finding herself in the middle of this dynamic. Her pregnancy with Mark's child, alongside her marriage to Arizona, guaranteed that this unconventional triangle would last through their lifetime. Arizona served as Callie's true love, but it was Mark who understood her completely. In a way, Mark completed Arizona and Callie's romance, as the couple's worst days followed after his death and they ultimately divorced.
#7: Cristina Yang / Owen Hunt / Teddy Altman
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Owen brought old friend Teddy to the hospital to give his girlfriend Cristina a worthy mentor. However, this plan backfired when Teddy decided to sabotage their relationship due to her own feelings for Owen. Things spiralled out when Cristina willingly traded her romance to be Teddy's protege, causing a rift between Owen and both women. Tensions continued to escalate as each person gave in to their own selfish needs. However, the growing respect between Cristina and Teddy did enable them to overlook their issues. With Teddy eventually recognizing her mistake and stepping aside, Owen and Cristina were able to try to be together once more. While the three weren't at their best as people here, this love triangle helped them learn where their flaws truly lied.
#6: Jackson Avery / April Kepner / Matthew Taylor
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The road to April's marriages to both Matthew and Jackson was paved with heartbreaks. Matthew met her after she and Jackson couldn’t make their relationship work. However, she's unable to move on, even after accepting Matthew's proposal. The conflict for April remained choosing between what seemed right and what felt right. While Matthew remained the perfect guy for April on paper, she decided to go with her heart and eloped with Jackson after accepting his declaration of love. Fate had other plans, as Matthew re-entered her life when she and Jackson fell apart for good. This love triangle confirms the notion that if it's meant to be, it certainly will be. From this perspective, both Jackson and Matthew did win April's love.
#5: Finn Dandridge / Meredith Grey / Derek Shepherd
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Meredith entered a romance with Finn when she decided to distance herself from the drama surrounding Derek and his wife, Addison Montgomery. This veterinarian was a widower hoping to fall in love again, and he became the person to make Meredith feel she deserved to be loved as well. However, Derek's realization of his need to be with Meredith empowered him to leave Addison for good. The resulting triangle allowed Meredith to be in control of her love life, as she revealed her desire to be wooed rather than feel trapped.) Finn and Derek's attempts to win Meredith brought many memorable moments, with their rivalry spilling out of control. In the end, the love triangle was worth it as Meredith finally realized who she truly wanted.
#4: Alex Karev / Izzie Stevens / Denny Duquette, Jr.
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The honeymoon phase of Alex and Izzie's relationship came to an end due to his immaturity and the arrival of Denny Duquette. Where Alex didn't take Izzie's problems seriously, Denny was there to understand just how Izzie felt and an attraction blossomed between them. (Alex's lack of self-confidence led him to be unfaithful, ultimately motivating Izzie to act on her feelings for Denny. He remained a romantic rival to Alex even after death, with Izzie harboring feelings for his hallucination, caused by her cancer. It was by losing Izzie that Alex strived to be better, as he outgrew his mean-spirited nature to win her back. Ultimately, Denny taught Izzie to accept love even at death, while Alex encouraged her to give life a chance.
#3: Ellis Grey / Adele Webber / Richard Webber
In his youth, Richard Webber had a good career and a lovely wife, but he couldn't resist his attraction to the brilliant Ellis Grey. Her infatuation with him caused her to destroy her own marriage, although Richard had second thoughts about leaving Adele. Caught between the fiery but tumultuous Ellis and the sweet but simple Adele, Richard's indecision proved costly for all three characters. Despite remaining with Adele, Richard still partook in an emotional affair later on with the Alzheimer-ridden Ellis. In the end, Richard's regret allowed him to truly appreciate Adele's faithfulness, while becoming a father figure to Ellis's daughter, Meredith, in order to make up for his mistakes. While this triangle caused the greatest number of broken hearts, it is what made the events of the series possible.
#2: Derek Shepherd / Addison Montgomery / Mark Sloan
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There was pretty much no woman Mark Sloan wouldn't go after, with even his best friend's wife being no exception. Addison and Derek's marital troubles were made irretrievably worse after her affair with Mark broke Derek completely. Her inability to fulfill Derek's emotional expectations added fuel to this triangle, while Mark considered Addison to be the woman he could settle down with. This rivalry between the former best friends travelled to Seattle as well, as Mark arrived at the hospital to take Addison back. Her decision to pursue either man proved to be the main cause of this dynamic, as they kept getting caught at the worst possible moments. Still, there probably wasn't as much passion involved in any triangle as there was in this one.
#1: Meredith Grey / Derek Shepherd / Addison Montgomery
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After falling in love with Derek, Meredith believed things were finally right in her life, but this dream was shattered by Addison's arrival. Feeling guilty about how he left things, Derek tried to do right by his estranged wife but found it impossible to let go of his connection with Meredith. While Addison attempted to be her best self in order to get her husband back, the burgeoning feelings between Meredith and Derek were ultimately too strong to contain. Although she lost Derek, Addison did realize his love for Meredith was true and ultimately found her own calling after this heartbreak. Meanwhile, for Meredith, fighting for Derek was the first confirmation that her romance with him was meant to be.
