One of the longest-running shows that has maintained its popularity, “Grey’s Anatomy,” has the perfect group of friends … or does it? A Shonda Rhimes original, the show aired in 2005 and revolves around the life of surgical intern Meredith Grey.
While the show is centered around medicine, specifically surgery, the personal lives of the surgical interns are closely intertwined with their professional lives.
If you are an avid watcher, you know the group name MAJAC, referring to Meredith Grey, Alex Karev, Jackson Avery, April Kepner and Cristina Yang.
If you are not an avid watcher, here is a rundown of each character.
Meredith Grey is the daughter of an award-winning general surgeon, Ellis Grey. She starts off her life at Seattle Grace Hospital in the lingering spirits of her mother’s presence.
She starts off struggling with her past relationship with her mother and personal trauma; however, she evolves into an award-winning general surgeon herself.
She is notable for enduring countless losses, a plane crash and a shooting. Her relationship with attending neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd is a major event in the storyline.
Grey is the emotional pillar of her friend group; she adds strength to the group and holds everyone together.
The first ‘A’ represents Alex Karev. He was first introduced as a problematic side character, and viewers enjoyed his character, which allowed him to secure a permanent spot. His character is arrogant and impulsive, filling his scenes with drama.
While there is some character development throughout the series, the ending he was given dissolved all of the changes he made.
Jackson Avery is seen as a “nepo baby” since his family sponsors the Harper Avery Award. First introduced during the hospital merger, he has also become a pillar in the MAJAC friend group.
He is passionate about helping plastic patients not get surgery, but also in feeling confident in their bodies. His primary relationship with April Kepner has a significant impact on his character development and emotional growth.
April Kepner, a trauma surgeon who is very stern about her emotions and moral values, is also introduced as an intern from the hospital merger. At first, she is distant from the other interns, but after a shooting, she becomes closer to Meredith.
She struggles with her internal conflicts about religion and peer pressure. Her character development shows how she overcomes her struggles and finds hope in new ideas.
Last but not least, we have Christina Yang. She is the most ambitious and focused surgeon in the group. Yang has an underlying trauma about her dad’s heart stopping in her hand.
The trauma motivates her to go above and beyond for her dream to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. She is seen to be with different people throughout the storyline, and she prioritizes her education over romance.
There have been other people who have come and gone in the friend group; this group is seen as superior as the show had peaked during this time.
Compared to the start of the show twenty years ago, the characters have all been brought anew, and the same idea of medical cases and personal lives being intertwined still exists.