Grey’s Anatomy: 10 Ways Cristina Yang Became Better And Better

Cristina Yang is one of the most popular characters in the Grey’s Anatomy universe. While retaining her sharp, edgy, competitive spirit, over the course of 10 seasons, Cristina became much more understanding, sensitive, and compassionate.

In her own way, she started to realize how important it was to show care and concern to someone else. Yang may have been known for her edgy and snarky sensibility. However, the experiences she took from various friendships and romances saw Cristina grow into a calmer, composed, and empathetic character. She may have been one of the least likable at first, but it didn’t take long for her to change the fans’ opinions.

10 Cut-Throat Competition 

Cristina Yang was probably the most competitive intern ever introduced on Grey’s Anatomy. She even challenged her superiors and bullied them into teaching her. Surgery was her priority, especially in the earlier seasons.

However, she slowly realized the value of friendship, teamwork, and love – easing into it as well. While Cristina Yang wouldn’t be Cristina Yang without her competitive spirit, she eventually grew out of that being the central facet of her personality.

9 Being Meredith’s Person

Meredith completely relied and depended on Cristina Yang as her person, and vice versa as well. The fact that Cristina was able to involve herself in someone else’s life to that extent, and be engaged in that manner, showed how selfless she could actually be. Their friendship dynamic showed another side to Cristina’s personality and showed how she actually needed her friends.

8 Taking Care Of Izzie 

It was Cristina who completely oversaw Izzie’s treatment. She took care of Izzie in a manner that seemed very unlike Yang. But the genuine concern she had, and the amount of effort she took to ensure Izzie’s wellbeing once again showed how much investment Cristina had in her friend’s life, and how dependable she could be.

7 Performing Surgery On Derek

Only someone as brave, courageous, and talented as Cristina Yang could have pulled off that surgery. When Derek Shepherd was shot in the hospital, Cristina saved his life when she herself was at gunpoint.

RELATED: Grey’s Anatomy: 10 Of Cristina Yang’s Scariest Surgeries

The fact that she was able to pull off such surgery in such a high-pressured situation proved the mettle of her character. She was brilliant, and resilient, and did something that most others wouldn’t have been able to do.

6 Being Vulnerable 

After very difficult situations, Cristina was quite vulnerable in front of certain people. She broke down in front of Burke after she had an ectopic pregnancy. And in the aftermath of the mass shooting incident and the plane crash, Cristina took a while to recuperate and be herself again.

Contrary to the popular belief, Cristina wasn’t stone-cold or “robotic.” These incidents showed everyone how humane she was and who she trusted most with her well-being.

5 Telling The Chief About Burke 

Cristina was only an intern when the incident with Burke happened wherein she helped him cover up the fact that he was having tremors. It would have cost him his surgical career and she was only trying to help.

However, things soon spiraled out of control when Burke attempted to do more riskier surgeries and insisted he didn’t need her assistance. Cristina began to realize how they were putting their patients’ lives at risk and finally told Chief Webber about what was going on. It showed the maturity Cristina had and her courage in reporting her boyfriend as well as senior.

4 Committing To Owen

Cristina and Owen had quite a tumultuous relationship but they were one of the most beloved couples on the show. Cristina was incredibly attached to Owen and loved him deeply. And she loved him enough to know that she had to leave him because he wanted different things from life and shouldn’t settle for her.

They parted on extremely good terms, and the fact that they were able to do so showed how capable Cristina was of being in a mature relationship.

3 Foremost Cardio Resident 

There was no one like Cristina Yang in the hospital. She scared several attendings away because she demanded the best from them. She wanted to learn and was willing to do anything to be the best. And she did become the best Cardio resident in the hospital, taking on cases that normally an attending would take the lead on.

She also led the search to find the next cardio Head of department when she was just a fellow. The fact that the Chiefs and other surgeons entrusted her to fulfill these duties proved how much they trusted her – something that didn’t come easy in her first years, initially.

2 Tough Love

Cristina Yang was able to get everyone back to their senses when they needed it. She used tough love to make her point, and it worked. From George to Meredith, everyone got yelled at by Cristina and they were better for it.

Yang’s ability to pinpoint the problem and say it as it was was incredibly helpful in certain situations. She wasn’t cruel or mean, but said the things that needed to be said. And she always apologized if she thought she had gone overboard. Again, she would never have done this in the first few seasons so it did show how much she had grown.

1 Taking Over Burke’s Institute 

It was the next logical step in Cristina’s career trajectory that she was handed the reins to such a prestigious institute. She had outgrown Seattle and the hospital, and she was good enough to lead a research institution.

She was always eager and responsible, but she was now ready for this immense responsibility and commitment. She had truly grown into a responsible leader and someone to look up to.

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