Station 19 is one of Grey’s Anatomy most successful spin-offs, often following the same core themes as the original show. Even in development, the showrunners purposefully worked with aspects of Grey’s that resonated most with audiences, including ’emotional storytelling, deep human connection, a high stakes environment and strong and empowered women.’ The show seems to value these things with its female lead, interconnected plots and a plethora of relationships
The longest-running relationship in the show, Miranda Bailey and Ben Warren, come to life with many fan-favorite tropes. As central figures, these characters straddle both shows, as do their storylines, flowing from one show to the next. This means that to resonate fully with these characters, audiences must watch both shows to get the total emotional weight of their arcs, both as individuals and together.
Updated on October 3, 2023 by Katie Doll: Warren and Bailey are practically endgame on Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, and any indication that they would ever break up would be met with criticism by fans. As both shows depict the strength of the long-lasting relationship, Grey’s Anatomy did a far superior job at demonstrating why the two were a match made in heaven. This article has been updated to explain the origins of Bailey and Warren’s relationship on Grey’s Anatomy in comparison to later depictions of their marriage.
Warren and Bailey’s Love Story on Grey’s Anatomy
Long before Station 19 was a multi-seasoned series, Ben Warren was an attending anesthesiologist on Grey’s Anatomy. He moved to Seattle Grace Hospital when it merged with Mercy West and developed a crush on the sarcastic, but tough Bailey after the two were working on an operation together. Bailey initially hesitated to go out with Warren because of her recent divorce, but eventually said yes.
Through their highs and lows on Grey’s Anatomy, Warren and Bailey proved to be one of the more resilient couples. Warren took Bailey’s son in as his own and they created a family she couldn’t have with her ex-husband. Things started to get shaky though when Warren operated on a pregnant lady without consent or proper equipment and he was put on six months probation, but like always, their relationship survived. These moments on Grey’s Anatomy showed a healthy depiction of a relationship, especially compared to other rocky relationships. But when Warren made a career change as a firefighter on Station 19, it was hard for fans to keep up with the ins and outs of their marriage.
Ben Warren and Miranda Bailey’s Adopted Daughter
In keeping with Shondaland tradition, Station 19 is wrought with shocking character deaths. During the show’s fifth season, beloved character Dean Miller dies in a particularly harrowing fire, leaving his daughter, Pru, in the custody of the unsuspecting Bailey-Warrens. In comparison to other crossover storylines, this one has a massive impact on both shows. Miranda underwent an arc following a miscarriage in Season 16 of Grey’s Anatomy, where she tackled the idea of motherhood in her mid-40s. Later that season, she and Ben adopt a homeless teenager, welcoming a new family member. This adoption story is the first to span both shows, although Joey is primarily a Station 19 character. On the other hand, Pru is impactful on both fronts because she is much younger than Joey. Pru’s adoption had a massive impact on both show storylines, bringing up major conflict between recurring guest stars on Station 19 and between Bailey and Warren.
For most of Station 19 Season 5 and Grey’s Anatomy Season 18, Bailey and Warren were part of a custody battle with Pru’s grandparents. This strain on their relationship permeated their arcs in both shows, with Bailey resigning as Chief of Surgery. Miranda became the first character to have a significant role in both halves of the franchise. Although this was a deep and layered storyline, it was diluted in its split and forced audiences to watch both shows to follow the emotions accurately.
Eventually, the custody battle ended in favor of Ben and Miranda, and Pru joined Joey as a permanent Bailey-Warren. With the weight of the custody battle, the stress of being Chief of Surgery and the grief of Dean Miller’s death behind them, there is a vacuum in Ben and Miranda’s storylines. Their arcs for the past few seasons of their shows have been anchored in their personal and professional lives. Yet, Bailey’s arc in Grey’s Anatomy Season 19 seems largely disconnected from her personal life. There is nothing connecting the audience to her story, which now revolves around her running a women’s clinic at the hospital.
Warren and Bailey Feel Anchorless in Newer Seasons
In Grey’s Anatomy Season 19, Episode 9, Bailey and Warren attend a dinner party at Teddy and Owen’s home. In the past, dinner parties on the show have been used to drum up tension and conflict between characters or to reveal secrets. In this instance, there is no conflict between these two parties other than Ben’s anger at the fact that Teddy’s son is biting Pru at daycare. When compared to the different arcs the show puts its characters through, this conflict has almost no stakes. After the dinner, Warren confesses to Miranda that he has been feeling overwhelmed at work and feels he isn’t there enough for Pru. Bailey is taken aback by this since she has been quietly giving up more of her work to be at home. However, the audience doesn’t see most of these sacrifices, so it plays very flat when this seems to cause tension between the two.
Ultimately, the fact that these two characters undergo pretty big arcs in both Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy proves that their overall resonance with an audience is diluted. Their stories feel less impactful than they did when they were both solely on Grey’s Anatomy, their scenes remain some of the least interesting, and this split focus harms both shows. Perhaps Bailey should resign from Grey Sloan once and for all, or Ben should quit his job at the station. Having both characters in one central story rather than crossovers upon crossovers might be what is needed to resuscitate this franchise.
Both Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 are available to stream on Hulu. Grey’s Anatomy can additionally be streamed on Netflix.
