Isaiah Washington's onscreen partner Sandra Oh revealed how the tension played out as Washington returned to the set to play a key role in farewelling her character.
"He's a prepared, energised actor and he was ready to play," Oh recently told Entertainment Weekly. "I will say, though, he was nervous."
"It was very energised â€" as it would be with the person you were about to marry...there was a lot of things to play and I hope it translates well."
Creator Shonda Rhimes also spoke of the controversial return, telling fans she understood the anxiety surrounding the decision. "I've had some people say, 'I want them to get back together,' I've had [others] say, 'They can't possibly get back together'"
"I always tell people they need to remember that we're talking about Cristina Yang here. It's not going to be about whatever you expect it to be about."
According Entertainment Weekly there was no hesitation in Rhimes to bring the 50 year old actor back.
"I have to be the keeper of the story and make sure that we're telling the story we need to tell, regardless of whatever outside factors are involved or whatever history is involved and, frankly, Sandra was so lovely and open to it. It has been a really kind of amazing experience."
""I also want to just be clear that Isaiah is a person that we all love and have loved for a very long time...I feel very strongly and fully believe in people's ability to grow and change and learn from their mistakes and when they know better, to do better. If people don't think that, over the course of seven years, it's possible for a human being to change, then there really is no future for the human race at all."
Preview Isaiah Washington's return in "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" below: