In a simultaneously unexpected and long-awaited turn of events, Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 18 finally put an end to a relationship that struggled for the best part of the medical drama’s last seasons. Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s ending channeled such a theme through multiple storylines, especially with the season finale major disaster being expected from the episode’s promo to involve at least Amelia and Simone, only for it to happen in an entirely different time, with other characters suddenly in danger. The dissolution of the relationship also wasn’t a bolt out of the blue, but something unlikely kickstarted it.
The main surgeries of Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 18 involved two cases whose patients were fully known to Grey Sloan Memorial’s doctors, as Dylan and Nora had both stayed in the hospital for a relatively long time. The surgeries were extremely dangerous, with the former not recommended, while the latter was a creative Hail Mary out of Winston and Teddy’s minds. Both cases surprisingly turned out okay, with Nora’s having lasting effects given what it led Teddy and Winston to achieve, through their plan and execution, and the unexpected insight into Teddy’s personal life, prompting Teddy to leave Owen.
Teddy Finally Leaves Owen After Their Multiple Problems In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21
Saving Nora Showed Teddy To Look For Unlikely But Better Alternatives
Teddy and Owen’s breakup seemed inevitable throughout Grey’s Anatomy season 21, as their marriage brought them mostly pain and work that neither of them seemed willing to do. Teddy’s instant connection with and appreciation from Cass Beckman emphasized even more how strenuous trying to keep her and Owen’s relationship afloat was, to the point that it gave Teddy the idea to try opening her and Owen’s marriage. This only forced Teddy to see that it wasn’t what she really wanted, pushing her in front of the inescapable realization that her and Owen’s marriage might have been impossible to fix.
Owen had already lamented a disconnection between him and Teddy in Grey’s Anatomy season 20, claiming that all they talked about was work and childcare duties, but their problems were never fully explored at the time.
If seeing how at ease Owen was in Nora’s vicinity hurt Teddy, what confirmed that it was time not to choose Owen anymore, instead putting herself first, was saving Nora. Teddy wanted to save Nora, but she didn’t know how to do so. The idea Teddy had at Link and Jo’s wedding in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 17 was bold, innovative and a massive risk, but it offered Nora hope. Making it herself a reality gave Teddy hope, too, showing her that an alternative that would have been unthinkable before was possible, leading Teddy to finally put herself first.
Teddy Choosing Herself Proves She’s Not Under Owen’s Spell Anymore
For So Long, Teddy Chose Owen Time & Time Again Without Him Doing The Same
Kim Raver as Teddy Altman and Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 18Image via ABC
Owen’s reaction to Teddy’s questions about his feelings for Nora played a part in Teddy’s decision. While Teddy clearly asked whether he had feelings for Nora, Owen continued not to answer, even proposing to cut Nora from his life to prove he was committed to their family and how he chose Teddy, without any mention of his feelings. His refusal to answer showed Teddy how Owen was willing to deny his feelings to get what he wanted – to keep his and Teddy’s family together – but he wasn’t as receptive to what Teddy wanted, which was, as she repeated, an answer.
This unfortunately followed a pattern established since Grey’s Anatomy first introduced Teddy. Owen always put himself first: he first brought Teddy to Seattle to gain points with Cristina, who was looking for a mentor. Owen did this despite Teddy’s evident unrequited feelings for him. When Teddy married Henry, Owen nitpicked her decision, despite having no right to do so. Owen repeatedly opened up to a potential relationship with Teddy when he was having problems with his other romantic partners, even kissing Teddy while still married to Amelia because she didn’t spend enough time with his family after Megan was found.
Saving Nora finally let Teddy see how, by choosing Owen, she neglected herself and what she wanted.
Allison Hunt was conceived when Owen flew to Germany after Amelia told him to go to Teddy if that was what he wanted while fighting. Even the path to Owen and Teddy getting married was filled with Owen’s repeated choices of others over Teddy, unless Teddy was finally happy, as she seemed with Koracick. In spite of their history, Teddy always chose Owen, and even let him paint her as the villain to all their colleagues after she cheated on him with Koracick. Saving Nora finally let Teddy see how, by choosing Owen, she neglected herself and what she wanted.
Teddy and Owen’s relationship problems in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, which finally led Teddy to leave Owen, make their storylines more interesting. After all of their Grey’s Anatomy seasons 19, 20 and 21 storylines only focused on their family and their marriage problems, having Teddy and Owen apart can bring novelty to their stories. This can also make their storylines part of Grey Sloan Memorial more generally instead of having their every plot be linked to Owen and Teddy’s bond.
Owen and Teddy’s breakup in Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s finale doesn’t necessarily mean they will stay apart forever. Teddy choosing to put herself first removes her from under Owen’s spell, but it doesn’t make their feelings for one another disappear. If Owen and Teddy wanted to get back together in the future, they could do so as equals, without their problematic Grey’s Anatomy history influencing their new relationship.
