Grey’s Anatomy: Our Parting Words For Dr. Arizona Robbins
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According to the latest GLAAD report, LGBTQ characters only make up 6.4% of regular characters on broadcast television in 2017. That’s not much, but it was still better than previous years. So despite the fact that queer characters are thriving on shows like Jane The Virgin and Supergirl, we’ve still got a long way to go. These numbers are just one reason why Jessica Capshaw’s brilliant and refreshing character, Arizona Robbins on Shonda Rhimes’ rating juggernaut Grey’s Anatomy was a member of that sadly, very exclusive club. When news broke earlier this week that Capshaw, along with Sarah Drew, would be leaving the series it felt necessary to reiterate why Dr. Arizona Robbins has always been such an important character.
We first met Arizona in “Wish You Were Here,” as she wheeled into the frame on a set of Heelys with the words “cartoon monkey” ironed onto her doctor’s coat and dared us not to fall in love with her. During her tenure at the hospital, Arizona has not only performed groundbreaking and history defining surgeries, but she’s also taken other doctors under her wing and mentored them, helping them see and believe in their full potential. Arizona has survived a plane crash and had her leg amputated. When she married Callie (Sara Ramirez) we got to see two sides of the story for LGBTQ+ communities on the show. While Arizona’s family was wholly supportive, Callie’s family was not so much. Arizona stepped in to show that you make your own family with people who love and support you, the way she did with Callie.

Dr. Robbins isn’t just extraordinary because of her sexuality, she is extraordinary because her sexuality never defined her. She provided aid for sick children in Africa, she’s a mother, a mentor, a friend, and most of all, a complex woman that suffered an extreme trauma and came out a fighter. Her presence on a major network series isn’t just important, it’s necessary and vital to the television landscape. Unlike many of the characters that we see in the LGBTQ+ community in film and television, Arizona has never been a character who struggled with her sexuality. She was out and proud from the moment we met her and her sense of self never wavered.
Jessica Capshaw brings so many unique and enriching traits to Dr. Robbins. I truly, truly believe that no one can portray this iconic character other than her. She makes Arizona the three-dimensional wonder that she is. Capshaw has made us feel for Dr. Robbins during the difficult moments, but also never allowed us to pity her because she constantly shows us just how strong Arizona is. We all know by now that Arizona could pretty much survive anything.
A few years ago on April Fool’s Day, my two best friends decided it’d be funny to tell me that Jessica Capshaw was leaving Grey’s Anatomy. I called them sobbing and they revealed it was “just a joke,” one they had played because they “knew I’d freak out over it.” This time, when they broke the real news of her departure to me I was a bit less emotional. I was able to think about everything she’s been through at the hospital and how I’m better for having been able to watch her indispensable character for all of these years. While I’m going to miss Arizona immensely, I’m grateful for all that she stood for and all that she’s done on the series. We’re all better people having been able to witness her light.
Are you a fan of Dr. Robbins? What are your thoughts on her leaving the show? Let us know in the comments!
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and CTV.
I’m still shocked by this as Arizona is one of the most interesting characters still on the series for now, my favorite will always be Cristina Yang; besides Jo and the intern who hacked Bailey’s PC (and I don’t even know his name) I don’t really care about the interns to watch – Deluca is sweet but he’s got Lexie syndrome where he’s more a sibling and love interest than anything. Alex barely gets anything to do, I don’t enjoy Maggie/Jackson because I just buy them long term and I wanted more for Maggie than to be Lexie 2.0, I’d rather see her doing medical things. Meredith’s research plot is interesting but Meredith herself kind of feels like she’s burned through all her outside hospital plots by this point so she’s just there.
Bailey gets smacked down a lot it feels in the name of letting Richard say how great he was as a teacher/boss even though he wasn’t perfect and the Minnick plot pointed that out incredibly well! I still like Bailey, she’s one of the reasons I might continue pass this season if I decide to, but like Alex she’s in the background too much. While I’m not a fan of April’s current drinking plot I do like she’s there to challenge others and I worry that will stop when she leaves. Amelia is the only one who intrigues me in and out of the hospital because her research plot is good and she’s unapologetic about her actions out of the hospital so I’d keep up with her but as for the rest when Arizona is gone I don’t know if I’ll care enough to keep up with the show each week like I did before.
I loved Arizona was unapologetic in a lot of her stuff as well and she had some really enjoyable plots so I’m definitely going to miss her. They sadly haven’t done much with her recently but I hope they do her exit well and let her leave with Catrina to go help women around the country have better birth care and so she can be happy romantically.
Yes, I’m a fan of Dr. Robbins. I never felt that she was a doctor who would let ego get in the way of the best thing for the patient. I was an even bigger fan of Calzona. I am confused why the author says queer characters are thriving on Supergirl as there is only one acknowledged (by the show) queer character and she has been sort of sidelined since her broken engagement. Thankfully, Alex Danvers wears a tactical (presumed bulletproof) vest every time she goes in the field because she is a character with enormous potential. Hey, maybe Dr. Robbins could move to National City and date Alex.
Hi! While I agree with you on the Dr.Robbins character read, I’m going to have to disagree on the Alex Danvers bit. From what I can understand you seem to equate thriving with being in a relationship? Alex Danvers broke her engagement because her and Maggie had differences in if they want kids or not, mainly Alex wants kids and Maggie doesn’t. It’s good that they broke up before they got married because that’s what happens in real life. She hasn’t been sidelined in any real way? She’s thriving in the sense that she has a family and friend group that supports her, she has a good job and she’s happy with who she is and where she is at the moment