I Was Really Against Jo And Link Getting Together On Grey’s Anatomy, But I’m Ready To Admit I Was Wrong

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Fans of *Grey’s Anatomy* first met Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) in Season 9, and she’s definitely been through a lot when it comes to love. She’s dealt with an abusive marriage to Paul Stadler and the shock of learning from a letter that her ex-husband, Alex Karev, had gotten back together with Izzie Stevens. Thankfully, she’s now happily settled down with her longtime friend, Atticus Lincoln (Link), and it’s great to see her in a stable and supportive relationship – as long as Link survived that final explosion! I’ll admit, though, I didn’t always think Jo and Link were a good match.

With the premiere of *Grey’s Anatomy* Season 22 coming up on October 9, 2025, I’m happy to say I was wrong about wanting Jo and Link (Chris Carmack) to just stay friends. Let’s revisit how their relationship evolved from friendship to romance, why I initially resisted them getting together, and what finally made me change my opinion.

Jo And Link Were Established As Platonic Friends In Season 15

Atticus Lincoln became part of the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital team during the fifteenth season of the ABC medical drama. However, he didn’t meet Jo until the fourth episode, titled “Momma Knows Best,” which you can watch on Hulu or Netflix. Jo and her husband, Alex (Justin Chambers), were just returning from their honeymoon and waiting for an elevator when she unexpectedly heard a familiar voice. She was so surprised she leaped into his arms, screaming with excitement.

Jo and Link became like family after meeting in college and working together at Jimmy’s Crab Shack. They remained close friends through the years.

When Jo discovered she was conceived through rape, she was devastated and stayed in bed for days. Link responded with kindness, bringing her soup, doing her laundry, and simply being there for her. He also supported her when Alex ended their relationship, offering to be with her while she read the breakup letter and then respecting her need for either space or a distraction like going out for drinks.

Jo was there for him through several difficult breakups, even letting him stay with her after Caterina Scorsone, who played Amelia, turned down his proposal. Throughout all of this, there was never any indication of romantic feelings – they were simply friends supporting each other.

It Was Unnecessary For Grey’s Anatomy To Retcon Link’s Crush On Jo

It was frustrating to see the lovely friendship between Jo and Link potentially disrupted on *Grey’s Anatomy*. The show seems determined to avoid genuinely platonic relationships.

Okay, so in Season 18, the episode “Today Was a Fairytale” was a total turning point for Link and Jo. He confessed he had a massive crush on her way back when they both worked at Jimmy’s Crab Shack, and you could *see* her reaction shift. She was definitely thrown at first, but then it was like she was seeing him in a whole new light. It was a little heartbreaking though, because we all know Link is still hung up on Amelia.

If Link had gradually developed feelings for Jo, that would be understandable. However, rewriting their history to imply he always felt that way doesn’t ring true. Chris Carmack’s portrayal of Link and Link’s behavior towards Jo never hinted at those kinds of feelings.

Link’s Confession Kicked Off A Season And A Half Of Bad Communication

It was pretty clear after that Jo and Link were going to become more than friends. They had a brief encounter in Season 18’s “No Time to Die,” shortly after Link was heartbroken over Amelia, and it almost ruined their friendship because they both misinterpreted what it meant for their relationship.

The 18th and 19th seasons really changed JoLink for the worse. They stopped being open and truthful with each other, leading to jealousy, misunderstandings, and an overall uncomfortable dynamic. It felt like they even needed help with simple things, like laundry!

Jo avoided admitting her feelings for Link, so she ended things between them. When he questioned her motives, suspecting she’d only been using him, she confessed she’d fallen in love but feared ruining their friendship if he didn’t reciprocate. She then abruptly left before he could properly respond – and it took a full 23 episodes for him to finally tell her how he felt.

Looking back, I wish we’d just talked things through – it could have saved a lot of heartache over the past year. But at that point, I’d pretty much accepted that our relationship, JoLink, wasn’t going to work. Here’s the story of what happened.

A Season 19 Story Involving Jo’s Daughter Got Me On Board With JoLink

During season nineteen, Jo noticed Luna might have a hearing problem and took her for testing. At the clinic, Jo became increasingly anxious and worried about her daughter, but thankfully, Link showed up! She hadn’t asked him to be there, but he did a great job of calming her down as she feared the worst. It was exactly the supportive dynamic between Jo and Link that fans had been hoping to see!

When Luna’s hearing loss was confirmed, Link attempted to stay optimistic. However, Jo needed time to come to terms with the news as they waited to find out if there was a more significant health problem.

Link didn’t immediately reciprocate her feelings, but it was what he did next that showed me they were meant to be together: he began teaching their son, Scout, sign language!

Jo wasn’t thrilled, but it really showed how much of a family Jo and Link are, no matter what. Link was already making plans for their life together, embracing both Jo and Luna, and prepared to handle any challenges they faced.

Jo did visit after they ruled out serious illnesses like cancer or encephalitis, and the way she rushed to tell Link the good news felt more romantic to me than any movie scene.

Now That I’m On Board, I Really Don’t Want Link To Die

Things haven’t been simple for these two characters since they became a couple, but they have a strong connection. They got married in Season 21 and later discovered they were expecting twin daughters. However, the recent hospital explosion and the belief that Link was inside during it have created complications.

Okay, so Camilla Luddington is hinting at some really tough times coming up, and Chris Carmack is totally enjoying all the fan theories! Before we find out if Jo’s marriage is falling apart and she’s left to raise a ton of kids on her own – though I’m guessing Amelia would help with Scout – I have to admit something. I was SO wrong about Jo and Link as a couple. I used to be super protective of their friendship, but honestly, that’s *exactly* why they work so well together! I totally see it now.

As a longtime viewer, I’m on the edge of my seat wondering if Link made it after that explosion! I’ll be tuning in to find out, and to see what’s next for these characters when the new season kicks off Thursday, October 9th, at 10 p.m. Eastern on ABC. And for those who miss it, good news – it’ll be streaming on Hulu the very next day.

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2025-10-06 19:19