Lexie Grey


Alexandra Caroline "Lexie" Grey, M.D. is a fictional character from the ABC medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy. The character was created by Shonda Rhimes and is portrayed by Chyler Leigh.
She was first mentioned in Season 2 before being introduced in Season 3 as the half-sister of protagonist Meredith Grey. Leigh was initially contracted for a multi-episode story arc but received star-billing from seasons 4 through 8. She also reprised her role on the spin-off series Private Practice.
Characterized by Rhimes as a "dork" with issues expressing her feelings, Lexie transfers to the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital as a surgical intern following the sudden death of her mother, Susan Grey. She eventually progresses to the position of surgical resident. Her main storylines throughout the series focus on her struggles with the pressures of a highly competitive profession, her initially strained relationship with Meredith, and her on-again, off-again romance with plastic surgery attending Mark Sloan. The couple sustained fatal injuries during an aviation accident in the Season 8 finale, leading to the renaming of Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital to Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital in their memory.
Leigh's performance as Lexie Grey received widespread critical acclaim from critics and fans alike. Her death remains one of the most emotional moments in the series' history.

Storylines

Background

Alexandra Caroline "Lexie" Grey is the daughter of Susan Grey and Thatcher Grey, and the older sister of Molly Grey-Thompson.
Throughout her childhood, Lexie was unaware that she had an older half-sister, Meredith Grey, who was born to Thatcher and his first wife Ellis Grey, a world-renowned surgeon. In contrast to Meredith, Lexie grew up in an idealistic and loving home. Meredith once remarked about Lexie: "She was raised right. With parents and rules and smiley face posters on her wall." One of Lexie's fondest memories is of a surprise party her parents threw for her when she turned 7, which she always remembered as one of her best birthdays. Lexie displayed high intelligence from an early age, having skipped third grade and excelled in her psych clerkship. She was also popular during her high school years, where she was crowned prom queen and named class valedictorian. Despite their differences in upbringing, the Grey sisters ultimately form a strong familial bond after Lexie moves into Meredith's house.
Lexie possesses an eidetic memory, a trait that often proves invaluable and earns her the nickname "Lexipedia". She demonstrates a strong aptitude for both plastics and neurosurgery, and is considered one of the most talented young surgeons of her cohort, often being asked to assist on many high-profile surgeries.

Season 3

Near the end of Meredith's intern year, Thatcher and Molly mention that Lexie is a student at Harvard Medical School. After she graduates, Lexie is accepted by Massachusetts General Hospital to pursue her residency. However, following her mother's sudden death due to complications from the hiccups, Lexie decides to move back to Seattle to care for her grieving father. She takes up a surgical internship at Seattle Grace Hospital, starting one year behind Meredith, who is about to begin her first year of residency.
On the day of her mother's funeral, Lexie waits in the car while Thatcher, accompanied by Molly, tells Meredith that she isn't welcome at the ceremony, causing Lexie to miss the opportunity to meet her older half-sister. Later that night, before her internship at Seattle Grace begins, Lexie meets Derek Shepherd at Joe's Bar, in a scene reminiscent of Derek's initial meeting with Meredith. The two share a flirtatious moment, with Lexie boldly offering to buy Derek a drink, though Derek declines, saying he is there with some friends.
The next day, upon arriving at the hospital's intern locker room, Lexie meets George O'Malley, who is at the end of his first year as an intern. After introducing herself, George immediately realizes that Lexie is Meredith's half-sister.

Season 4

Lexie quickly befriends George and promises not to reveal that he is repeating his internship after failing his intern exam. Lexie's assigned supervising resident is Cristina Yang, Meredith's best friend, who doesn't bother to learn her interns' names and assigns Lexie the nickname "Three". Although Cristina is initially harsh and dismissive, Lexie eventually stands up for herself and earns Cristina's respect. Over time, Cristina even acknowledges Lexie as her best student.
Lexie is eager to build a relationship with Meredith but receives a cold response when she first introduces herself. Despite her efforts to bond, Meredith continuously rebuffs her attempts."Love/Addiction", October 4, 2007. Meanwhile, Lexie begins a casual fling with resident Alex Karev, who later discovers that her father, Thatcher, has descended into alcoholism following his wife's death and frequently lashes out at Lexie. When Meredith lectures her for not looking after Thatcher, Lexie finally stands up for herself and decides to stop pursuing a relationship with Meredith for the time being.
After ending her emotionless relationship with Alex, Lexie forms a connection with patient Nick Hanscom. She is present when his exposed artery ruptures, causing a massive hemorrhage. Although Lexie manages to stop the bleeding, Nick tragically dies later, leaving Lexie distraught. Sensing her grief, Cristina invites Lexie to join her and Meredith for drinking and dancing, which marks the beginning of the thawing of Lexie and Meredith's relationship.
The next morning, Meredith attempts to show kindness by making Lexie breakfast. Despite being allergic to eggs, Lexie politely eats the meal, only to require treatment later at the hospital. Lexie and George later decide to move in together, but they can only afford a run-down apartment. Lexie attempts to brighten the place by stealing decorations and furniture from the hospital.
As Lexie develops romantic feelings for George, she secretly steals his personnel file from Chief Richard Webber's office and learns that George had only failed his intern exam by one point. She encourages him to petition the Chief for a second chance, which the Chief grants. Overjoyed, George plants a casual kiss on Lexie, unaware of her deeper feelings for him.

Season 5

Lexie continues to harbor romantic feelings for an oblivious George, reflecting a dynamic similar to George's previous infatuation with an oblivious Meredith. She prioritizes helping George study over taking part in a rare surgery offered to her by plastics attending Mark Sloan, but feels betrayed when George fails to request that she be assigned as one of his interns after he passes his exam. Realizing George doesn't reciprocate her feelings, Lexie decides to move on, and their friendship gradually fades.
Soon after, Lexie discovers that some of her fellow interns have been secretly practicing medical procedures on each other. To prove herself "hardcore," she participates in these unauthorized operations. When Sadie Harris suggests that Lexie remove her appendix, Lexie agrees but quickly realizes she's out of her depth and must seek help from Meredith and Cristina to save Sadie's life. This incident results in the interns involved being placed on probation. Exhausted and distraught, Lexie is invited by Derek to move into the attic at his and Meredith's house.
Lexie begins a flirtation with Mark and is impressed by his surgical skills. One night, she goes to his hotel room, boldly undresses, and asks him to "teach" her, marking the start of their romantic relationship. Due to the large age gap and the fact that Lexie is Meredith's younger sister, they initially keep their relationship a secret, earning Lexie the nickname "Little Grey".
When Carolyn, Derek's mother visits, Mark is anxious that she will disapprove of his relationship with Lexie. However, Carolyn gives her approval, telling Mark that Lexie is exactly the kind of youthful person he should be with. In a humorous moment, Lexie accidentally causes Mark to suffer a penile fracture during a makeout session in an on-call room. She seeks the help of Callie Torres and Owen Hunt to treat him, and Sadie takes the blame to spare Lexie further embarrassment.
Lexie later wins an intern competition organized by Izzie Stevens and is congratulated by Mark. Wanting to be open about their relationship, Lexie convinces Mark to confess to Derek, but his timing is poor—Derek, devastated by the loss of a patient, ends up in a fistfight with Mark. The conflict causes Lexie to stress-eat, but the men eventually reconcile.
When Lexie is chosen by Mark to assist with a rare facial transplant surgery, her peers mock her, suggesting she's only involved due to their relationship. In defiance, Lexie kisses Mark in front of the other interns, proclaiming, "They think that we're ugly, but I know that we're beautiful, and we can adapt to a hostile environment."
Lexie is honored when Meredith asks her to be a bridesmaid at her wedding to Derek, though the ceremony is ultimately given to Alex and a cancer-stricken Izzie, which Lexie attends with Mark. When Lexie asks Mark to meet her now-sober father, Thatcher, Mark is initially hesitant, fearing rejection. However, realizing he wants a future with Lexie, he agrees to meet her father.
Shortly after, Mark invites Lexie to move into a house he purchased, but Lexie declines, feeling that their relationship is progressing too quickly.

Season 6

Lexie feels immense guilt following George's death, having distanced herself from their friendship after he failed to reciprocate her romantic feelings. She is consoled by Mark and, after becoming a surgical resident, agrees to move into his new apartment with him. The residents face growing stress in the wake of Chief Webber's announcement that Seattle Grace will undergo an administrative merger with Mercy West Hospital, resulting in potential layoffs. Mark encourages Lexie to relax and perform her best, assuring her that she deserves her job. Although Lexie secures her position, many of her friends are cut from the program. To lighten the mood, Owen invites Lexie, Mark, Derek, Meredith, and Cristina for a game of baseball.
Later, Lexie's father, Thatcher, is admitted to the hospital with liver failure due to his past alcoholism. When Lexie learns she cannot be a liver donor, Meredith steps in to save Thatcher, sparing Lexie the grief of losing her father. Following the merger, Lexie clashes with Mercy West resident April Kepner, who attempts to undermine her. Lexie retaliates by stealing April's notebook and publicly humiliating her, but later apologizes. When a patient dies due to medical negligence, Webber starts witch hunt to trace back the culprit and identify the cause of death. Lexie is among those questioned, but it is ultimately revealed that April made the error.
Derek enlists Lexie for an unauthorized "rogue surgery" on hospital technician, Isaac's "inoperable" tumor, with Lexie serving as his caregiver during the procedure. Mark supports Lexie, and she resorts to using a diaper to remain in the operating room for the duration of the surgery. Near the end of the year, Lexie and Mark's relationship is tested when Sloan Riley, Mark's estranged pregnant daughter, shows up. Mark allows Sloan and her baby to move in, which leads Lexie to break off their relationship, feeling unready to be a grandmother.
A heartbroken and intoxicated Lexie has a one-night stand with Alex, but feels guilty and confesses to Mark, who is furious despite admitting to a similar encounter with Addison Montgomery. Lexie suppresses her feelings for Mark and begins a casual relationship with Alex, flaunting it to make Mark jealous. However, she later breaks down in front of Meredith when Alex mentions that Mark is dating Teddy Altman. After Sloan gives her baby up for adoption and leaves Seattle, Mark confesses his love for Lexie, though Lexie hesitantly tells him that Alex is now her boyfriend. Mark replies, "I know. I'm just saying you could have a husband."
Lexie participates in a surgery on Alison Clark and informs her husband Gary that the procedure was successful, only for Alison to suffer a stroke and fall into a coma. Lexie, following Alison's DNR order, is forced to turn off the life support, leaving Gary devastated. Unable to sue the hospital, Gary returns with a gun, seeking revenge on Derek, Webber, and Lexie. Mark shields Lexie during the shooting as they attempt to save Alex, who is critically wounded. In her search for medical supplies, Lexie comes face-to-face with Gary Clark, but she manages to escape when a SWAT team member wounds him. Lexie and Mark successfully save Alex's life, during which Lexie realizes that Alex is still in love with his ex-wife, Izzie, as he calls for her while on the verge of death. Gary Clark ultimately commits suicide after killing 11 people, wounding 7 more, and causing Meredith to suffer a miscarriage.