Over the past years, Grey’s Anatomy‘s showrunner Shonda Rhimes has dropped more than a few hints about Alex Karev’s potential love interests.
Fans were told that Alex, played by Justin Chambers, was bound to come across a new partner after his relationship with Izzie ended abruptly due to Katherine Heigl’s exit from the hit ABC series.
For ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 12, Rhimes is now assuring fans that Alex’s new love interest will be heavily explored, particularly his relationship with Jo, played by Camilla Lunddington.
With their connection being set aside for the past years, the Alex-Jo bond was not necessarily deemed a top priority as compared to that of Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw), as well as Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Amelia (Katerina Scorsone).
Nonetheless, with the upcoming season ready to begin, Rhimes shared that fans will finally get a closer look at Alex and Jo’s relationship.
Last year, viewers saw Jo give Alex an apartment in order for them to begin a new journey together. As such, Rhimes prefers to dig deeper into such experience in season 12.
“We had a lot of stories we wanted to tell with them last season, and I promised the fans, ‘We’re going to tell all these Alex and Jo stories,’” the executive producer said. “And then we had to take a left turn because Patrick [Dempsey] was leaving. And now we want to tell a lot of those stories — except in a lighter way. So there’s a real focus on them this season.”
In an interview with TVLine, Rhimes stressed that viewers have not been given the chance to know Alex and Jo together and as individuals.
“I feel like we didn’t get to know Jo the way we should. And Alex is sort of a grown man now; it’s time to watch that happen,” the showrunner added.
In a previous interview with TVLine, Luddington opened up about her character, saying that she was concerned about their future because they have been in high spirits for so long.
“I’m nervous for Season 12. Jo and Alex had three seasons of being pretty good, which is unusual on ‘Grey’s,’” the actress said. “I just don’t trust things are going to continue to go well. Because it’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’”
Meanwhile, for other characters of the show, 'Grey's Anatomy' season 12 will show Meredith continuing to pick up the pieces as she deals with her husband’s death.
Rhimes also spoke of how April (Sarah Drew) and Jackson's (Jesse Williams) marriage will end up.
In ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 11, Jackson challenged April to not re-enlist in the service. However, the showrunner revealed that in season 12, April did sign up, which could eventually bring on certain consequences on her relationship with her partner.
Fans can also look forward to Callie and Arizona’s own storylines as Rhimes shared that the two will be moving on and could finally have company in new romantic interests.
"Definitely some new romances for them this season, and some pretty exciting ones, too, which I think are going to be kind of interesting," Rhimes said
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 12 is set to premiere on Thursday, Sept. 24.
