Grey’s Anatomy

Summary

One ofGrey ’s Anatomy ’s most pop and beloved characters , Cristina Yang ( Sandra Oh ) departed the series when Sandra Oh leftGrey ’s Anatomy . The primary stage setting of the serial is the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital ( formerly Seattle Grace Hospital ) , though it has branched out and cover stories in other hospital . Grey ’s Anatomywas result for most of its run by Meredith Grey ( Ellen Pompeo ) , who viewers followed from her days as an interne to becoming Head of General Surgery . One of the interne who joined the hospital at the same prison term as Meredith was Cristina Yang ( Sandra Oh ) , who became Meredith ’s just friend .

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Like most of the independent grapheme inGrey ’s Anatomy , Cristina Yang ’s sprightliness was a roller coaster , and her main storyline were those involving Preston Burke ( Isaiah Washington ) and Owen Hunt ( Kevin McKidd ) , both very complicated relationships . Cristina is very focussed and competitive , and even though she ’s a skilled and knowledgeable doctor , she often fight to convey her emotion and find it punishing to sympathize with patient . Cristina and Sandra Oh leftGrey ’s Anatomyin time of year 10 , after Preston Burke ( days after their relationship end abruptly ) offered her his business as the caput of a infirmary in Switzerland . Cristina took the offer , and she moved to Zurich .

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Oh Felt She’d Given The Character Her All

Sandra Oh Chose To Leave The Series

So , when does Christina leaveGrey ’s Anatomy?Sandra Oh ’s going away from the series was announced in 2013 . Oh was one of the cast members who signed a two - twelvemonth business deal in 2012 sealing her return for time of year 10 , but not after it . In an interview withTHRin 2013 , Oh shared that she began mean about leave behind the show when she and her costars signed the said deal and explain she felt , creatively , she was quick to get Cristina go . However , that does n’t mean saying goodbye to the co - stars she ’d had sinceGrey ’s Anatomyseason 1was comfortable . Sandra Oh leftGrey ’s Anatomybut did n’t finger the decision was actual when she told them she was leaving .

Creatively , I really feel like I give it my all , and I feel quick to allow her go … It ’s such an interesting thing to play a character for so long and to in reality get the signified that she wants to be allow go as well . [ Cristina ] want to be rent go , and I am ready to let her go .

fortuitously , Shonda Rhimes was very supportive of her decision , and so Cristina Yang , unlike other characters from time of year 1 , got a proper ending where she did n’t give out . Grey ’s Anatomyisn’t always the good at spell fictitious character off , as the writers ’ go - to solution tends to be to kill them , but Cristina ’s ending was more fitting with her character . Cristina had work firmly all her life , and a bounteous opportunity in one of the good medical research facilities for cardiothoracic surgery in the universe was precisely what she deserve – even if the offer come from Preston Burke .

Split side-by-side image of Cristina Yang in black-and-white and in color on Grey’s Anatomy

Dr. Yang Survived Her Arc So Could Still Appear In The Future

Christina Yang Lives Off-Screen In Grey’s Anatomy

Because Christina Yang was n’t kill off byGrey ’s Anatomylike Patrick Dempsey ’s Derekand so many others , she could technically still return to the show at some point . As one of the few characters to have left the series for some reason other than a tragic last , she ’s in a unique situation to be able-bodied to cameo in the future if Oh is ever usable and willing . Even Dempsey himself , whose character died in season 11 , made a small return in Meredith ’s COVID comatoseness hallucination , which shows thatGrey ’s Anatomystill has some take out when it comes to getting its old casting extremity back for little roles .

With Ellen Pompeo ’s role keep down moving fore , it might seem unlikely that Christina would have a rationality to come back toGrey ’s Anatomy , but it ’s fun to be intimate that such an case is n’t out of the doubt narratively should the show have the opportunity to do a small reunion .

Sandra Oh Had A Huge Career After Grey’s Anatomy

Sandra Oh Has Pursued Film, Television, And Voice Work

Now that the answer to " when does Christina leaveGrey ’s Anatomy ? " can be put to bed , what of Sandra Oh ’s vocation afterGrey ’s Anatomy ? Dr. Christina Yang can truly be seen as Sandra Oh ’s breakout function , as her playacting career exploded after assume on the part . After leavingGrey ’s Anatomyin 2014 , Oh star in the filmTammyas Kathy Bates ' wife before affect onto theRefinery29comedy web seriesShitty Boyfriends . She also went on to star in the 2016 filmCatfightwith Anne Hesche and Alicia Silverstone , then Oh appeared in the anthology seriesAmerican Crimeseason 3 as Abby Tanaka .

In 2018 , Sandra Oh was given the lead role of Eve Polastri in thespy thriller seriesKilling Eve , with the series ending of its own agreement in April 2022 . Sandra Oh has received vital acclaim for her part inKilling Eve , being the first actress of Asian descent to be nominated for an Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award . She pull ahead a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Eve Polastri , becoming the first actress of Asian descent to receive two Golden Globes .

Sandra Oh ’s articulation can also be listen as Castaspella inShe - Ra and the Princess of Power , Virana inRaya and the Last Dragon , and Debbie inInvincible . She also asterisk in the 2023 Hulu original comedyQuiz Ladywith Awkwafina . WhileGrey ’s Anatomymay be where Sandra Oh got her first big break , she ’ll end up being recognized for a batch more .

Meredith talking to Cristina as she leaves in a taxi in Grey’s Anatomy

Could Sandra Oh Return To Grey’s Anatomy?

The Door Is Open For More Christina Yang

Sandra Oh leftGrey ’s Anatomybutsince Christina Yang did n’t go , there is always a hazard that she could returnto the series if she wanted to . It is almost certain the show would welcome her back if she wanted to generate . During the COVID-19 pandemic , several cast phallus returned - even dead characters - thanks to Meredith ’s delusion . There was also the moment when Cristina , the character , charge a letter to Addison and Bailey . This happened in time of year 19 , episode 16 , where Cristina sent supplies for Addison ’s PRT . Could this meanthe income tax return of Sandra Oh ?

This was the first time in geezerhood that anyone even mentioned Cristina since she allow for Switzerland . The last time anyone tell her name was in season 17 when she post Owen a text , asking for update on Meredith ’s condition after she condense COVID-19 . In time of year 16 , she texted Meredith and also sent a letter of support for Grey when she had a medical licensing auditory sense . While Sandra Oh has been exit for 10 years , these moments ensured that fan never forgot Cristina and her time on the show . A stand - in role player also dally Cristina in time of year 11 during Derek ’s funeral .

Now that Meredith Grey has bequeath the show as a full - prison term cast member , there could be a push for more returns from the past . Bringing back Sandra Oh and Cristina could be a huge import forGrey ’s Anatomyfans . Even if it is just a minuscule replication for one or two episode , this could diddle out well for fans . With the late accent on the procreative rights storylines on the show , Cristina is the double-dyed someone to return and help take up that conflict in the infirmary . In time of year 7 , Cristina had an abortion that Owen shamed her for , but she stood up for her right . Even if it is for that tale , or in the future tense as a surprisal , Sandra Oh leftGrey ’s Anatomy , but she could always return .

Meredith and Christina next to each other in Grey’s Anatomy

Cast

Sandra Oh on Grey’s Anatomy.

Headshot Of Ellen Pompeo

Headshot Of Chandra Wilson

Headshot Of James Pickens Jr

Headshot Of Justin Chambers

Grey’s Anatomy