What would Dr. Cristina Yang Watch?
When she's not saving lives, that is...
Hello, fellow film & TV watchers — I hope you’re feeling good!
Today I’m sharing a new series on watch this: feel that, “What would _____ watch?”
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the fictional characters from my favourite films and TV shows. Although I won’t claim to know everything about all of them, I’ve often wondered what some of them might watch, eat, drink, etc. if they were real. Perhaps you’ve wondered the same, or maybe you’re just happy to receive more film and TV recommendations in your inbox. Either way, I’m going to have fun with this new series, and I hope you will, too!
If you’re on Instagram, give me a follow @watchthisfeelthat - I’ll be polling my followers there each time I’m getting ready to write a post for this series, so you can help choose which characters are chosen! If you don’t have Instagram, feel free to send me a message to tell me who you’d like to see featured in this series.
Yesterday I posted the first poll - and it was a landslide victory for Dr. Cristina Yang of Grey’s Anatomy!
Even if you’ve never seen Grey’s (no judgment if you haven’t - I’ll admit I only caught up on this medical TV saga during the pandemic) — I hope you’ll find something you’re interested in watching from the films and TV series I think Dr. Cristina Yang might enjoy.
Who is Dr. Cristina Yang?
Played expertly by the very talented (and Canadian) Sandra Oh for 10 seasons of Shonda Rhimes’ intensely popular romantic medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, the character of Dr. Cristina Yang is, in one word: a badass.
When she’s not ambitiously climbing the career ladder to pursue her medical dreams (spoiler alert: she reaches her goal and becomes a top cardiologist and the head of a hospital in Switzerland), she’s dancing it out with her ride-or-die best friend Dr. Meredith Grey, who she calls “my person”.
Dr. Yang loves a good snack with her ever-flowing fountain of coffee, isn’t afraid to speak her mind, and is unapologetically herself — for better or for worse — as she works hard to achieve her dreams. No stranger to drama, deep feelings, spicy romances, and traumatic experiences, Dr. Yang is strong and she bounces back again and again with her trademark resilience. Tough on the outside, she has a generous, loving heart inside, and she balances her direct bedside manner and at times cutthroat ways with benevolent actions to support her friends and colleagues, even after she leaves Seattle.
When she’s missing her ride-or-die best friend, Meredith Grey:
THELMA AND LOUISE
Dr. Grey and Dr. Yang. A classic TV ride-or-die friendship that is central to Grey’s Anatomy. Not since Thelma and Louise did two badass women have each others’ backs so much. Watch this film if you’re in the mood for a story with deep emotions, loyal friendship, and risky adventure.
When she needs to kick ass:
KILLING EVE
There’s no doubt in my mind that she would be watching and loving Killing Eve, and not just because one of the stars of the show is her doppelgänger (also played by Sandra Oh, if that didn’t register yet)! I’ll admit I haven’t seen this series, but from what I’ve heard, it’s an action-packed dark comedy that is funny, smart, and thrilling — and stars two kickass women! Excuse me as I add this to my watchlist.
When she’s leaning into her fierce female independence:
PAST LIVES
Even Dr. Yang had a hard time choosing between love and career. As ambitious as she was, she allowed herself to be vulnerable in romantic relationships, falling in love twice with alpha male colleagues who matched her intelligence and strength.
I think she’d love Past Lives because behind her tough exterior, she feels things deeply, and she might identify with Nora from Past Lives. Although Dr. Yang wasn’t born in Korea like the character of Nora was, she is Korean-American and she also navigates life’s decisions with a strong feminist point of view.
Check out my review of Past Lives:
When she needs to dance it out:
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Any Grey’s Anatomy fan knows what the phrase “dance it out” means to Cristina and Meredith. Do you know who else processes big feelings through dance? Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) in Silver Linings Playbook.
She would love the banter, connection, and — of course — the dancing between Pat and Tiffany. On a deeper level, she would have empathy for the main characters in this film, as although what she experienced is not the same as what Pat and Tiffany live with, she had her own struggles with mental illness in the show.
When she’s hungry:
TOP CHEF
A big fan of a portable snack that she can munch while she’s working — Dr. Yang doesn’t have time to cook, but she loves food, and she would probably love to watch other people compete in a culinary showdown.
Top Chef would be the perfect show for her to watch to celebrate her love of food and satisfy her competitive spirit! I think her favourite Chefs would be Carla Hall and Stephanie Izard.
Happy watching, everyone! Follow my Instagram stories for the next poll, or send me a message with the characters you’d like to see me feature next!
Heather
📷 All images from IMDB.
She would love Top Chef and would want to be a contestant! Competitive spirits alike
The movies you chose for fictional Cristina Yang were great fits for her character! I can only speak for two of the movies Thelma& Louise and Silver Linings Playbook but she would be drawn to those characters easily. What a fun idea to suggest movies that others might choose! Even fictional others!