'Grey's Anatomy': Shonda Rhimes puts Callie-Arizona odds at 50/50

It may be the year of Meredith, but she isnt the only Grey Sloan doc with a tough season ahead of them on Greys Anatomy.

For several seasons now, Callie and Arizonas relationship has been on a rough roller coasterand were not just talking about the latters infidelity. The couple separated in season 7 when Arizona left for Africa, during which time Callie got knocked up by Sloan. Then, of course, there was Callies car accident, and Arizona losing her leg as a result of the plane crash, culminating in the formerly bubbly peds doc cheating on her wife. They did eventually get back together, move into a new home and decide to have a child via surrogacy, but those are just another series of Band-Aids that the duo have been placing on their damaged relationship. Can they really survive? Or will this new journey finally be the breaking point?

Ill be honest with you and say that there is literally a 50/50 chance that theyll be together or apart, and I have not figured it out yet, executive producer Shonda Rhimes tells EW. That is the other big storyline of the season for us. We really spent a lot of time in the writers room mapping it out and talking about it. There are two parallel relationships: Meredith and Dereks relationship and Callie and Arizonas relationship. Merediths journey and Callies journey are two big journeys that we really want to look at this season as were telling these stories. (For what its worth, Rhimes is confident that Meredith and Dereks storyline wont end in divorce.)

Though many fans may jump to the heartbreaking conclusion that Callie and Arizona are on their way to divorce, Rhimes stresses that she wants to explore all aspects of a more mature relationship. Arizona has, up until she cheated, steadfastly been this very good man in the storm. Has being a good man in the storm meant that she had jumped into something that she wasnt ready for? And has Callies desire to not be alone meant that shes stuck in something that she maybe shouldnt have stuck to? Isnt that just what a marriage is? You just stick whether you want to or not.

Are there mutual losses theyve both suffered? Rhimes continues. And are the tragedies that theyve both lived through, is that just reason enough anyway? Is it enough? I dont know. It wasnt enough for Owen and Cristina. Maybe its enough for them, maybe its not. Were interested in exploring that. Weve really mapped out what we think is going to be a really nice journey for them.

Bottom line, Rhimes says, I really want to see Arizona beaming again and I really want to see Callie happy again. Heres hoping they can find that place together.

Greys Anatomy returns Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Read this article:
'Grey's Anatomy': Shonda Rhimes puts Callie-Arizona odds at 50/50