Adele, Ellis, or Catherine? They are the three most important women in Richard Webber's life in Grey’s Anatomy. Which one did he love the most?
I honestly don’t think you can say someone loved one person more than another. Love is different. There are different things that connect us to a person. However, when it comes to Webber, there is only one love, and that’s not any of the three women!
Webber didn’t love Adele enough not to cheat in Grey’s Anatomy
While we know that Webber ended up loving Adele until her death, it wasn’t enough to prevent him from cheating. Sure, he ended up choosing Adele over Ellis, but Ellis didn’t give him all the information. I do wonder if Ellis had told Webber that she was pregnant with Maggie that Webber may have chosen her over Adele.
In the end, Adele was there with him until the end. She stood by him through the affairs and drinking. Webber did love her, but it’s one of those situations where I don’t think they were right for each other. She definitely loved him more than he loved her, but she was far better than him, even when she had dementia.
Webber didn’t choose to stay with Ellis
Then we come to Ellis Grey. At first, their relationship was likely a bit of fun. There was certainly some love in there, but it wasn’t enough for Webber to choose to leave Adele for her. As I said, if Ellis had told him about her pregnancy, then maybe he would have left. However, when it came down to just Ellis, he picked Adele.
Sometimes, lust and love are mistaken for each other. I think that was the case for Webber for a long time. No, I’m not giving him a pass for having affairs, but I don’t think he knew his own mind, just like so many of us don’t when those lustful feelings come up.
Webber and Catherine fight but make up
Finally, it’s all about Catherine. He definitely loves Catherine, and out of the three women, I do think he loves her the most. The two constantly fight, but they also make up. They can be downright awful to each other, but they end up finding a way back to each other. Ben and Bailey have a similar relationship, although not as toxic!
I don’t like Catherine. I don’t think she’s right for anyone in a marriage, but Webber clearly loves her to stick with her. He is also clearly worried about her with her health failing, but then I do wonder if some of that is residual pain from losing both Ellis and Adele.
There’s only one love for Webber in Grey’s Anatomy
It’s not the women Webber loves the most, though. There is one thing that comes over all three. It’s all about the hospital.
Webber has done everything he can to keep that hospital running. He has put his own money into it to save it, and he’s worked with Catherine to find a way to save it. He has pushed away people because of the hospital. He’s only started to step back as he’s gotten older and realized that maybe it’s time to retire. However, at one point, you would have to pry the chair of Chief of Surgery out of his cold, dead hands.
Grey’s Anatomy airs on Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC. Catch up the following day on Hulu.