What's Next For Alex Karev?
The new TV Guide feature on Grey's Anatomy - with its dual covers of Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey - lacks much of anything on Dr. Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). He came into his own last year, and fans want to know what's next.
A reader wrote in to TV Guide about this and here is how Matt Roush replied ...
Q: I just read the Grey's Anatomy article in the new issue of TV Guide. I was extremely disappointed that there was no mention of Alex's character. Do you know if there will be any major storyline for the character in Season 5? Alex fans (well, me at least) have been waiting season after season for a major arc for him. He's the only original intern that has not had a major arc focused on him. It's about time, don't you think?
A: All I know is what we printed, and I consulted the editor of the piece, who says nothing about Alex was left on the cutting-room floor. So the answer is: I don't know (and if I was sitting on a Grey's Anatomy spoiler, I probably wouldn't share), but it's hard to imagine him not being involved in at least some of the major storylines, and I'm thinking whatever they have in store for Izzie would probably have some impact on Alex. I agree he's a terrific character, one of my favorites, and I enjoy the way Justin Chambers plays him, but that's possibly because he hasn't been overused. His most prominent storyline was the Jane Doe/Ava/Rebecca relationship, which seems to me a pretty major arc (although one that probably went on too long). The most common gripes I hear about Grey's Anatomy come from fans of any character who isn't Meredith or Derek. Face it. They're the stars, and the others are satellites who shine bright at key points of the season, but they're not the engine and they'll probably never be.
Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Email him here.
More Grey's Anatomy News
New Grey's Anatomy Clip: Crash and Burn
Grey's Anatomy Sneak Preview Clips: MerDer Car Sex!
Grey's Anatomy Photo Preview: "If Only You Were Lonely"
Grey's Anatomy Round Table: "If/Then"
Meredith: She wants everyone around her to be ordinary so she can be extraordinary.
December 6th, 2008 8:09 PM
alex is great u just 2 dum,blined and a jeark and a moran because he is caring and honset and seewt u just don't see it how can u say that he wasn't there for izzi when denny died frist he helped her get the heart for eaven though he heated him for her reamber when mer said"alex do this for izzi" so he did the best he can and then when izzi cut the wier he didn't tell the chif and denny died he was the onley one knew what 2 say 2 her and he carried he not because he wanted 2 show off but because he he cars about her u can see it in his eyes and when izzi just stood out of the hospiel all day he gave her his cout and took her home and if u noticed in season 2 that"jo"the bar tender liked him also in season 3-4 the chif told him that he likes him imean didn't u see how seewt he was with ava"crazy-pragent" she also had a messd up face but alex didn't care about that, reamber in season 2 when izzi told him that if she had 2 cut out her brast he told her that he liked them but he doesn't c
August 29th, 2008 8:41 AM
Good point Grace. Ha ha.
Gizzie is way more interesting than Alex could ever be. Alex is just a bore and the most under-developed character on TV. And I am sorry but he is FUGLY!
August 27th, 2008 9:54 PM
LOL, Alex had an affair with married Ava and he didn't tell anyone or had any problems screwing her very nice husband over.
George didn't lie, he told Callie the truth the moment he knew he was in love with Izzie.
Yes Alex carried Izzie out because it made him look good in front of everyone but he didn't stick around after when Izzie went back home and she was a mess. George was the one who lied down on the floor with her holding her hand, worrying about her, making her call her mom when she needed it, blowing a big date with Callie to hold her hand when Izzie called him because she couldn't take the message alone.
Alex was not there. He was there once, George was there all the time.
When Alex put up those Bethany photos of Izzie, George is the one who stepped up in front of her to protect her. George is the one who noticed she was upset when Hannah came and held her hand while she watched her daughetr and while she had painful surgery. Alex didn't even notice anything was
August 27th, 2008 4:33 PM
Now you can defend Izzie and say that Alex didn't take care of her. But she blew him off to be with Denny. But when Denny died, who carried her out? And Alex is extremely honest, which is why people don't like him. And yes he has confidence issues, but George is worse, and he's a liar! George had an affair with Izzie while he was married! He has more confidence issues than Alex at times. And if you hadn't fast forwarded through the Alex scenes you'd see that there is more than meets the eye.
However, I am against Alex and Izzie as a couple, they worked out in season 2 before Denny, but I think that bridge is burned now. Especially when she blew him off a second time to be with George. Izzie's no good for him either.
August 27th, 2008 10:14 AM
So if someone has a lot of love and hate, it means they are interesting, huh? What was the last thing in the show that got BOTH massive love and hate? Hmm yes it would be the Gizzie love story, so that would mean they were an interesting couple right according to you to get such opposite and strong reactions. Thank you. Us Gizzie fans always said it was better to be massively loved and hated than not cared about at all, but thanks for proving what we were saying.
The only difference is Gizzie interests me a lot, Alex not at all. He could vanish and I wouldn't even notice.
August 27th, 2008 9:57 AM
No I don't think Alex is interesting at all. I think he is a stereotypical caricature and I ff all his scenes and never watch them at all.
Rank: Guest Star
August 27th, 2008 7:55 AM
Well I guess you have to have a heartless, unapologetic doctor and character in the show. It balances the characters out and with Alex comes humanity and material viewers are probably able to relate to.
Secondly, the whole show evolves around "Grey's" so they'd focus more on the interactions with Meredith... (and then there's Derek! YAY!) and although Alex was one of the 5 original interns, he doesn't intertwine as much with the rest, just like how he's emotionally secluded.
I think they need to maintain the diversity of characters, and hopefully Alex will divulge over time (lol therapy!) ... let's just wait for the surprises shonda has in store!
Rank: Extra
August 27th, 2008 1:23 AM
Wow, lots of people who hate Alex and lots of people who like Alex. This must mean Alex is a really interesting character.
You people should not hate him just because of what he did. He's flawed and imperfect. Imagine yourself in his situation, having a bad past really had messed him. I hope we'll know more of Alex in the next season and something good'll happen to him.
I want to say anything more, but I think Cat here said it all :
"Alex is in fact one of the least self-centered people on the show. It appears that he gave up his childhood to take care of his parents, and has taken care of Izzie, just to get his heart trampled on. People don't like him because he's honest and closed off (and can you blame him?). He has his faults and he deals with them the best way he can. Alex is great, because in those few moments when he opens up you can see a great amount of pain bottled up. I truly believe Justin Chambers is hands down the most talented male on the show and the fact th
August 27th, 2008 12:10 AM
I know, my sister was abused by a guy just like Alex. Alex is an abomination and he should die a slow lonely painful death.
August 26th, 2008 12:50 PM
I love Justin but Alex, I couldn't care less about.