The announcement that Jessica Capshaw’s Dr. Arizona Robbins is returning to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Grey’s Anatomy season 20 is great news for devoted viewers. One of the first openly queer characters on Shonda Rhimes’ long-running medical drama, Arizona is tied to TV history at large — not just the very storied past of Grey’s Anatomy. That said, the pediatric surgeon’s guest appearance storyline can’t avoid addressing a major lingering question when it comes to Arizona’s love life. Put bluntly, viewers deserve to know what’s unfolded between Arizona and Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) during their time away.
While Dr. Arizona Robbins’ return is certainly exciting in its own right, there’s no denying the larger narrative hook. Love their relationship or hate it, Callie and Arizona’s romance came to define several seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, and remains the most formative LGBTQ+ romance on the show. Even though Ramirez isn’t slated to return, Grey’s Anatomy season 20 can’t skirt around the “Calzona” elephant in the room. Despite their often on-the-rocks dynamic, Callie and Arizona’s relationship could have either blossomed or flatlined in the intervening years, especially since their departures left many doors open.
Callie & Arizona Weren’t Together When They Left Grey’s Anatomy
At first, viewers weren’t sure why Sara Ramirez’s Callie left after Grey’s Anatomy season 12, but the actor has since clarified that they felt the need to step away. After a decade on the show, Ramirez approached Rhimes, who’d already been planning a new story for Callie’s season 13 arc. Luckily, even though Ramirez’s departure wasn’t planned, Callie’s season-twelve story ends with the orthopedic surgeon moving to New York City with her new partner, Dr. Penny Blake (Samantha Sloyan) — the surgeon who was overseeing Derek Shepard’s (Patrick Dempsey) case when he died.
Instead of talking with Arizona about the move to New York first, Callie decides she’s entitled to taking their daughter, Sofia, across the country, which prompts a custody battle. After several cruel courtroom instances, the former couple have a severe falling out. Although Arizona wins the custody battle, she generously proposes a shared-custody plan. At the end of season 14, Arizona leaves Grey’s Anatomy, deciding to move to New York so that Sofia is closer to both of her parents. It’s implied that Callie and Arizona reconcile, though the show never addresses the romantic nature of their relationship.
Plenty of Grey’s Anatomy characters have both left and returned. With Dr. Arizona Robbins joining the exclusive club of Grey’s characters who’ve departed the show but somehow evaded death, viewers are wondering how the show will address Callie’s off-screen story. No matter Callie and Arizona’s relationship status, the two share custody of Sofia, making their narratives inextricably linked. Even though a nod to Callie might be on viewers’ Grey’s Anatomy season 20 wishlists, the show should avoid overt fan service. Callie and Penny break up, but that doesn’t mean Grey’s should have Callie and Arizona get back together.
When it comes to portraying more well-rounded LGBTQ+ characters on television, Grey’s Anatomy was something of a leader in the mid- to late-2000s. Arizona, for example, is introduced as an out lesbian character who’s completely comfortable with her identity. Callie, meanwhile, has one of TV’s most well-remembered coming out stories when she accepts her own bisexuality. While Callie and Arizona’s relationship timeline offers plenty of highs, there’s no denying the pair’s toxicity. The plane crash aftermath might seal their breakup, but the two were never a healthy match. In short, they’re better off as amicable co-parents.
Natalie Morales’ New Pediatric Surgeon Could Be A Perfect Love Interest For Arizona
The ending of Grey’s Anatomy season 19 created several cliffhangers, but it also made room for new threads to begin the show’s twentieth outing. Instead of drudging up Callie and Arizona’s romantic relationship, Grey’s Anatomy has the opportunity to reveal their friendship as co-parents. Callie and Arizona hardly see eye-to-eye about big life decisions, goals or preferences. The two constantly postpone hard conversations or life plans because they’re not on solid footing as a couple. From agonizing couples’ therapy sessions to rash home-buying, they’re always looking for a Band-Aid fix or a fresh start.
Not only can Arizona’s return fix two larger Grey’s Anatomy problems, but it can also help the series give Dr. Robbins the promise of a bright romantic future. Along with the announcement that Jessica Capshaw would return for a guest star role in season 20, the Grey’s Anatomy team revealed that Natalie Morales (Dead to Me) would join the cast as a no-nonsense pediatric surgeon. Known for playing queer characters, Morales’ doctor’s matter-of-fact personality perfectly balances the more bubbly Arizona. Plus, with both characters being world-class pediatric surgeons, the enemies-to-lovers romance writes itself.
