would ever transpire into something that might threaten them. I only saw it as a really pathetic little crush." She briefly has feelings for Alex Karev who almost makes her lose her virginity when he tries to sleep with her in "Something's Gotta Give". Wetpaint commented that Alex made her feel "worthless and unwanted when she was at her most vulnerable." Kepner also briefly dates Dr. Robert Stark, a senior pediatric surgical attending. After her fellow residents make fun of her, she breaks up with him, creating a coldness between them. However, it is Stark who recommends her as chief resident to Dr. Hunt. Drew stated: "She sees a side to Dr. Stark that he doesn't show to anyone else at the hospital, and she finds that part endearing...I think they enjoy the companionship." In the end of season eight, Kepner starts a relationship with her best friend turned lover Jackson Avery (Williams), who she loses her virginity to and that eventually leads her to reflect on her faith and fail her boards. Critics praised the chemistry between April and Jackson. Rhimes commented on the dynamic between the two in season nine and said: "I think it's going to be funny, sexy, and good." Reception Initially, Carina MacKenzie of the Los Angeles Times highly praised the characterization of Kepner. writing: "One of my favorite Mercy Westers is intern April (Sarah Drew). Her saccharine-sweet attitude and wide-eyed insincerity were hilarious, as was her super-mysterious hot pink notebook full of morale-boosting platitudes." However, she criticized the later development of her story, especially her crush on Derek Shepherd calling it "vomit" PopSugar noted similarities between Kepner and Lexie Grey, stating: "Am I the only one who thinks the new doctor is kind of like Lexie 2.0? Their dynamic reminded me of when Lexie first started and tries really hard to make nice with Mere, but gets the cold shoulder in return." Mariella Mosthof from Wetpaint stated: "Despite her obnoxious yet well-meaning tendencies, we briefly flirted with the idea of liking April's character last season, and it looks like there's plenty of opportunity for her to come back and charm us again yet again this time around." Reviewing the first part of the eight season, Courtney Morrison of TV Fanatic wrote: "Although the girl has grown in terms of likeability, her downfalls still outweigh the positives. She doesn't really bring too much to the