The Impactful Departure of Cristina Yang from Grey's Anatomy

The Journey of Cristina Yang in Grey's Anatomy

One of Grey's Anatomy's most popular and beloved characters, Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) departed the series when Sandra Oh left Grey's Anatomy. The main setting of the series is the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital (formerly Seattle Grace Hospital), though it has branched out and covered stories in other hospitals. Grey's Anatomy was led for most of its run by Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), who viewers followed from her days as an intern to becoming Head of General Surgery. One of the interns who joined the hospital at the same time as Meredith was Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), who became Meredith's best friend.

Sandra Oh on Grey's Anatomy.

Like most of the main characters in Grey's Anatomy, Cristina Yang's life was a roller coaster, and her main storylines were those involving Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) and Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd), both very complicated relationships. Cristina is very focused and competitive, and even though she's a skilled and knowledgeable doctor, she often struggles to convey her emotions and finds it hard to empathize with patients. Cristina and Sandra Oh left Grey's Anatomy in season 10, after Preston Burke (years after their relationship ended abruptly) offered her his job as the head of a hospital in Switzerland. Cristina took the offer, and she moved to Zurich.

Christina Yangmasked and in surgical gear while working in an operating room in Grey's Anatomy

Sandra Oh's departure from the series was announced in 2013. Oh was one of the cast members who signed a two-year deal in 2012 sealing her return for season 10, but not after it. In an interview with THR in 2013, Oh shared that she began thinking about leaving the show when she and her costars signed the aforementioned deal and explained she felt, creatively, she was ready to let Cristina go. However, that doesn't mean saying goodbye to the co-stars she'd had since Grey's Anatomy season 1 was easy. Sandra Oh left Grey's Anatomy but didn't feel the decision was real when she told them she was leaving.

A custom image of Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang in Grey's Anatomy

Cristina Yang's Legacy and Potential Return

Luckily, Shonda Rhimes was very supportive of her decision, and so Cristina Yang, unlike other characters from season 1, got a proper ending where she didn't die. Grey's Anatomy isn't always the best at writing characters 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 worked hard all her life, and a big opportunity in one of the best medical research facilities for cardiothoracic surgery in the world was exactly what she deserved even if the offer came from Preston Burke.

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

Because Christina Yang wasn't killed off by Grey's Anatomy like Patrick Dempsey's Derek and 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 death, she's in a unique position to be able to cameo in the future if Oh is ever available and willing. With Ellen Pompeo's role reduced moving forward, it might seem unlikely that Christina would have a reason to come back to Grey's Anatomy, but it's fun to know that such an event isn't out of the question narratively should the show have the opportunity to do a small reunion.

Meredith and Christina in softball team gear in Grey's Anatomy

Sandra Oh's Career After Grey's Anatomy

Now that the answer to 'when does Christina leave Grey's Anatomy?' can be put to bed, what of Sandra Oh's career after Grey's Anatomy? Dr. Christina Yang can truly be seen as Sandra Oh's breakout role, as her acting career exploded after taking on the part. After leaving Grey's Anatomy in 2014, Oh starred in the film Tammy as Kathy Bates' wife before moving onto the Refinery29 comedy web series Shitty Boyfriends. She also went on to star in the 2016 film Catfight with Anne Hesche and Alicia Silverstone, then Oh appeared in the anthology series American Crime season 3 as Abby Tanaka.

Lexie standing behind Christina while they work in Greys Anatomy

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

Christina Yang looking serious in Grey's Anatomy

Sandra Oh's voice can also be heard as Castaspella in She-Ra and the Princess of Power, Virana in Raya and the Last Dragon, and Debbie in Invincible. She also stars in the 2023 Hulu original comedy Quiz Lady with Awkwafina. While Grey's Anatomy may be where Sandra Oh got her first big break, she'll end up being recognized for a lot more.

Meredith Grey, Christina Yang, George O'Malley and other interns in front of their lockers on Grey's Anatomy