Jo Wilson is a surgical attending at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and she’s been part of Grey’s Anatomy for 8 seasons now. She first started out as an intern along with Stephanie Edwards, Leah Murphy, Shane Ross and Heather Brooks, and is currently the only one out of those interns to still remain on the show.
Over the years, Jo has gone through many trials and tribulations. One of the highlights of her time on the series is her ongoing relationship with original cast member, Alex Karev, a popular couple which the fans affectionately dubbed Jolex. However, her time at Grey Sloan has also been riddled with several heartbreaking moments.
Rejecting Alex’s Marriage Proposal
Every single fan of Grey’s Anatomy knows that Alex and Jo have been put through the wringer in recent years (more of that later). However, back in Seasons 11 and 12, the couple were going strong. Unfortunately, all that changed when Alex asked Jo to marry him.
When he popped the question, Jo’s negative reaction was clear to both Alex and the viewers alike. Unfortunately, this lead to complications in Jolex’s relationship. However, all was not what it seemed and the real reason for Jo rejecting Alex’s proposal was that she was still married to her abusive husband.
Alex Tells Jo She’s Incapable Of Love
It doesn’t seem like it now but Jo and Alex are one of the more popular couples on Grey’s Anatomy right now. That said, of course they argue occasionally, just like in every other romantic relationship. With this particular medical drama, however, most of these fights get pretty nasty and personal very quickly.
In the Season 13 premier, Alex brought Andrew DeLuca to Grey Sloan after administering a savage beating because he thought DeLuca was sleeping with Jo. When Jo tried to explain the situation to her boyfriend, Alex rebuked her and told her that she wasn’t capable of love and blamed her lack of a stable upbringing.
Jo Reveals That She Grew Up Homeless
When Jo first started out on Grey’s Anatomy, it might be fair to say that she wasn’t the most popular of characters, due to her tendency to burst into tears whenever she was confronted with adversary. It took a little while for fans and critics to warm up to her but she overcame the odds to become a popular character.
That all started midway through Season 9, when she opened up to Alex about her living situation before she became a doctor. It was at this moment when we realized that Jo was not a pampered princess but rather a strong and resilient young woman who had overcome incredible obstacles to become a surgeon.
She Ghosted Her High School Boyfriend
Although this entry sounds mean and selfish, this was probably one of the more selfless things Jo has ever done. In Season 14, during a special flashback episode, fans got a peek into Alex, Jo and Maggie Pierce’s past. While Maggie’s flashback was funny, both Jo and Alex’s teenage years were actually quite depressing.
While a young Alex looked after his mother, Jo became attracted to another boy at her school. The two dated for a while and even planned to move in together while Jo finished high school. However, Jo didn’t want to feel like a charity case and wanted Chris to be able to lead his own life so she left before they got too attached.
Helping A Patient With Their Abusive Husband
In Season 13, it was revealed that Jo was still married to her old husband and, what’s more, is that he was abusive towards her, both physically and mentally. To escape, she changed her name and ran away to Seattle. In this season, Jo was struggling to balance her old life with her new one with Alex.
To make matters worse, a mother and son arrive at Grey Sloan for a kidney transplant, with their abusive husband/father following suit. Complications arise and Jo is forced to accept the husband as a donor. Before the surgery, Jo stands up for her patients, warning the man to leave his ex-family alone for good.
Being Hit By Jason Myers
In Season 9, Jo began a relationship with Jason Myers, much to Alex’s displeasure. It appeared to be going fairly well and the two seemed to be happy with each other. However, as the season progressed, Myers began to display a meaner, misogynistic side, especially when confronted by Alex.
Initially, viewers took this as a slightly over the top defense mechanism, as Alex was very clearly into Jo as well. Unfortunately, this was not the case as near the end of the season, Jo and Myers got into a fight and the latter hit Jo in the face. This was heartbreaking as Jo had been through so much and so similar already.
Looking After A Rape Victim
Grey’s Anatomy has never shied away from portraying hard hitting storylines and this was one of its most relevant and emotional to date. A woman came into Grey Sloan with cuts and bruises to her face, prompting concern from Jo. The lady then confessed that she had been raped.
This was a very difficult episode to watch, as not only did it involve a very sensitive issue (which Grey’s Anatomy handled with care and aplomb) but also it was incredibly personal for Jo, who had recently learnt that she was conceived out of rape. It was an extremely dark and emotional episode and showed just how strong Jo truly is.
Encountering Paul Stadler
By the time Season 14 had begun airing, viewers of the medical drama were all too familiar with Jo’s abusive marriage to Dr Paul Stadler. However, most of the main cast of Grey’s Anatomy were still in the dark about Jo’s past. Unfortunately, the lid was blown wide open when Stadler showed up unexpectedly.
It resulted in a phenomenal episode that was both unbelievably tense and terrifyingly upsetting as Jo felt her whole life crumble around her. Stadler was surprisingly charming but that was all part of how he worked. Luckily though, Jo’s friends weren’t fooled and supported her throughout this horrifying ordeal.
Deciding What To Do With Paul
Unbelievably, the second part of this two episode arc was in someways even more tragic than the first. In “Personal Jesus”, Stadler came back to the hospital, except that this time he was a patient, a victim of a hit and run. Initially, Jo, Alex and even Paul’s fiancé were all suspects but they were soon cleared.
Due to unforeseen events, Stadler’s condition deteriorated and it transpired that Jo was legally responsible for deciding whether to switch off his life support. Camilla Luddington portrayed Jo’s vulnerability and shock to perfection and it was decided that Stadler should donate his organs to help more worthy people.
Learning That She Was A Product Of Rape
This harrowing storyline took place in the same episode that Jo helped a lady who had been sexually assaulted, except this plot occurred in flashbacks. After deciding that she was open to the possibility of having children with Alex, Jo decided to track down her birth mother to find out why she was abandoned.
Her birth mom, Vicki, was reluctant to talk to her but eventually conceded. Jo was upset and hurt that she led a happy, normal life, right up until the moment that Vicki revealed that she was raped when she was a student. Nine months later, Jo was born. This revelation was devastating and had long lasting repercussions.
