time as Levi, Borelli stated he did it so "others don't feel as alone." On a broader spectrum, Borelli credited the longtime medical drama for being on the forefront of telling LGBTQ stories of substance over its run: "Grey’s Anatomy has always been a huge ally in the LGBT community. They have done so much work to push the dial forward for all of us. They have had countless gay characters on the show, which has been amazing as a viewer. Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins’ relationship was so nuanced and so big and so fantastic for the community as a whole, but now that we’re jumping into a different facet, it’s exciting to see, on a personal level, a story that resonates so much with me." After coming out to his colleagues and entering a relationship with orthopedic fellow Nico Kim, Levi grew more confident and optimistic in his abilities to become a surgeon. As depicted in the episode "Help, I'm Alive", Levi drops the Glasses nickname and introduces himself as Dr. Schmitt to the doctors and hospital staff. Borelli weighed in on Levi's transformation by commenting "I think we’ve seen him sort of take one step into his confidence, into his own body, into his own truth." Reception The character of Levi has received positive reviews from critics and fans alike. Jasmine Blu of TV Fanatic commented on his character saying "he's always been one of my favorite of the newbies. He's so endearing and has such a heartfelt story, and I think he touches people a great deal" and also referred to him as a "fan-favorite". Blu also went on to say that Schmitt was "so lovable and relatable because he's just, his awkwardness and all of that, I think it is still very real and relatable." Taylor Henderson of Pride Magazine said Levi has been "openly embraced" by Grey's Anatomy viewers and has "quickly built a fanbase of his own" in response to Levi's monologue in the episode "Blowin' in the Wind", character growth and romance with Nico Kim. Levi's coming out storyline in "Blowin' in the Wind" received praise from critics. Jasmine Blu of TV Fanatic applauded Levi for embracing his sexuality saying he "has come into his own though. Words cannot describe how refreshing it is to see him stand up for himself." Ariana Romero of Refinery29 called Levi's coming out moment "a landmark