With Justin Chambers quitting 'Grey's Anatomy', here are 5 dialogues by Alex Karev that left fans in tears

Justin Chambers, who played Alex Karev, is quitting the show after 15 years and 16 seasons
Ellen Pompeo and Justin Chambers (IMDB)
Ellen Pompeo and Justin Chambers (IMDB)

Brash and obnoxious, that's the first impression 'Greys Anatomy' fans had of Alex Karev (Justin Chambers).

His patients didn't like him much either, due to his curt and brusque manners. He didn't have too many friends. Who would have thought that this rude character would contribute to becoming part of the emotional core of the show? Over the years, Karev softened and emerged as a reliable, loving and caring friend. His relationships with Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and Jo (Camilla Luddington) changed him for the better and Chambers left no stone unturned in plumbing the emotional depths of his character. In fact, many of his scenes and dialogues made his fans reach for the tissues.

And now, with Chambers quitting the show, we have only memories left of the character. Here are the top five best dialogues from Alex.

'I can't lose you'



 

Alex said these powerful lines to Izzie, when she was going through treatment for her stage four melanoma.

"You died in my arms. You freaking died, and then you left instructions that I wasn't allowed to save your life. You know what I'm scared of? I'm scared of everything, to move, to breathe, to touch you. I can't lose you, I won't survive and that's your fault. You made me love you, you made me let you in." It has been almost a decade since we saw Izzie on the show, and fans still can't forget their romance.

'I tell the truth, It's the one thing I've got going'

Justin Chambers as Alex Karev (IMDB photo)

"Maybe I'm a pig. Maybe I'm an ass. Maybe I'm a vermin like everybody says, but I tell the truth. It's the one thing I got going for me." Honest to a fault, Alex never held back from voicing his opinions, regardless of how brash and hurtful they were. 

'Trauma always leaves a scar'

Justin Chambers (IMDB photo)

"Doesn't matter how tough we are. Trauma always leaves a scar. It follows us home. It changes our lives. Trauma messes everybody up but maybe that’s the point. All the pain and the fear and the crap, maybe going through all that is what keeps us moving forward. It’s what pushes us. Maybe we have to get a little messed up before we can step up."

Considering Alex has faced more than enough trauma in life, this speech holds a phenomenal amount of weight.

'You just don't give up'

(IMDB photo)

Alex and George O' Malley's (TR Knight) relationship was fraught with tension. Yet, that didn't stop Alex from giving a pep talk to George when he was considering quitting his medical career. "You just don't give up. It's lame. You're not a quitter, that's not who you are."

'I always screw myself out of everything good'

There might be a little truth to this. This was Alex in the earlier seasons in his relationship with Izzie and Jo. He had the terrible habit of pushing his ladies away with his hurtful behavior, as he was too afraid to open up.

We're going to miss you Alex.

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