Few new characters in Grey’s Anatomy are as iconic as the medical drama’s original ones, but Grey’s Anatomy season 21 seemingly confirmed one as Cristina Yang’s replacement more than a decade after Sandra Oh’s exit. Although Meredith Grey lending her name to the medical drama establishes her as its indisputable protagonist, Grey’s Anatomy wouldn’t have been the same without Cristina.

Cristina’s measured no-nonsense approach counteracted Meredith’s drama, and her devotion to her career was an unflinching guiding light for Grey’s Anatomy ’s first 10 years on air. Grey’s Anatomy even attempted to recreate Cristina and Meredith’s friendship with moderate yet not long-lasting success, but it took some time for it to introduce a character whose dedication and peculiar qualitie

See Full Page