This article discusses mortality, gun violence, PTSD, assault, and death.
Grey’s Anatomyhas aired hundreds of episodes, but compelling storylines, impeccable acting, and shocking twists sometimes create lasting legacies. DespiteGrey’s Anatomykilling off main charactersas its signature move, the ABC hit remains an iconic household name. In fact, over twenty years after its premiere,Grey’s Anatomyis still widely regarded as one of thebest medical dramasof all time.
While there arecommon tropes inGrey’s Anatomythat may make episodes feel formulaic at times, the procedural has taken many risks throughout the years— to varying degrees of success. From the messy love plots to the complicated medical procedures,Grey’s Anatomyhas always known how to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Yet, someGrey’s Anatomyepisodes are simply cut above the rest.
10"Bring the Pain"
Season 2, Episode 5
Back when there was an intimate main cast— with only Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), George O’Malley (T.R. Knight), and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) as Seattle Grace’s interns— drama stemmed from interpersonal relationships. Meredith’s tryst with Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) was particularly eventful. Their forbidden romance seemed to hit a stalemate following the return of Derek’s wife, Addison (Kate Walsh).
“Bring the Pain” included arguably the most memorable moment fromDerek and Meredith’s relationship inGrey’s Anatomy. Infamously,Meredith confronts Derek, begging him to“pick, choose, [and] love”her. Other major character developments occurred simultaneously, like George redeeming himself in an emergency elevator surgery and Alex fumbling his date with Izzie. Yet, the scene where Meredith uncharacteristically pours her heart out (and is later rejected) is unforgettable.
9"Into You Like a Train"
Season 2, Episode 6
There are manytragic patient deaths inGrey’s Anatomy, but Bonnie (Monica Keena) and Tom (Bruce A. Young) were one of the earliest. While Meredith is waiting for Derek, a train accident hits, drawing in the intrepid interns. Cristina hunts for a foot, Izzie helps deliver a baby, and Meredith is stuck with Derek on an iconic case:Bonnie and Tom were both impaled on the same pole.
The entire episode boils down to one harrowing moment, when the doctors have to decide which of the two civilians to save. Though Bonnie was much younger and had bright plans for the future, it’s Tom who makes it out alive. Meredith breaking down and trying, in vain, to save Bonnie anyway is one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the series (a testament to medicine’s harsh reality).
8“As We Know It"
Season 2, Episode 17
Some of the best storylines inGrey’s Anatomyhappened over multiple episodes, including whena man was wheeled into Seattle Grace with a bomb in his body. Christina Ricci notably guest stars as Hannah, the paramedic who, in a moment of desperation, took her hand out of the patient and left Meredith to take her spot. “As We Know It” explores the tense aftermath of the traumatic event.
The episode perfectly represents how, even early on,Grey’s Anatomycould make the viewers invested in a character.
Meredith grabbing the bomb remains one of the mostnerve-racking scenes inGrey’s Anatomy. The episode perfectly represents how, even early on,Grey’s Anatomycould make the viewers invested in a character. The never-ending intensity of a ticking clock culminates in the death of Dylan (Kyle Chandler), the bomb squad member who barely gets the explosive out of Meredith’s hands before it blows up and takes his life.
7"Losing My Religion"
Season 2, Episode 27
Out ofevery death inGrey’s Anatomyseason 2, one stands out as the most tragic: Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Denny was introduced early on and slowly fell in love with Izzie, leading the intern to cut his LVAD wire to bump him up the transplant list. Just as it seemed as though he and Izzie would live happily ever after,Denny dies of a sudden stroke.
Denny’s death would have been devastating alone, but the circumstances surrounding it made it much worse. Izzie was running late for the hospital’s prom, leaving Denny to die alone after he had proposed to her. The image ofIzzie curled up against Denny’s corpse was a striking snapshot of griefand a scene whose infamous reputation lives far beyond the confines ofGrey’s Anatomy.
6"Drowning on Dry Land"
Season 3, Episode 16
With so much loss surrounding her constantly, it wasn’t surprising whenMeredith had a near-death experience inGrey’s Anatomyseason 3. When the team responded to a ferry accident,Meredith was knocked into the water by a flailing patient. Unfortunately, nobody noticed her absence due to the chaos.
“Drowning on Dry Land” was, for the most part, a standardGrey’s Anatomyepisode. Izzie performs a risky surgical procedure in the field, Alex helps people identify their loved ones, and Cristina’s relationship with Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) takes a sudden turn. Yet,throughout the normality, Meredith’s disappearance looms overheaduntil Derek appears, carrying an icy Meredith out of the water. Though inevitable, the suspense remained palpable.
5"Elevator Love Letter"
Season 5, Episode 19
The most popular episodes ofGrey’s Anatomytend to focus on one character or storyline, but “Elevator Love Letter” perfectly intertwined practically every main plot. Izzie’s cancer was the main event, with Derek’s responsibility as her surgeon and Alex’s dilemma as her boyfriend driving their subplots, respectively. Additionally,Owen Hunt’s (Kevin McKidd) PTSD jeopardizes his relationship after he inadvertently strangles Cristina in a daze.
With every character facing their own unique conflicts,“Elevator Love Letter” was a rare occurrence ofGrey’s Anatomyusing its ensemble’s full potential. Meredith and Derek getting engaged as Cristina breaks up with Owen offered a compelling dichotomy, while Izzie’s surgery was a nuanced issue. The episode ends on a peaceful note and sows the seeds of future turmoil.
4"Now or Never"
Season 5, Episode 24
Grey’s Anatomyseason 5 wasn’t the first time a main cast member had left, but it still sent shockwaves throughout the hospital. Everyone was on the precipice of a major change, whether it was Alex waiting for Izzie to recover from her surgery or Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) reconsidering her fellowship. The episode’s main focus, however, is a John Doe who was hit by a bus after saving a stranger.
In one ofGrey’s Anatomy’s biggest twists,John Doe is revealed to be George, who eventually succumbs to his injuries.George’s death inGrey’s Anatomywas the first time a main character was killed, and it set the tone for the series. While heartbreaking, the execution of the storyline was powerful and instilled widespread fear, as it was suddenly clear nobody was safe from death.
3"Sanctuary"
Season 6, Episode 23
Aside from being one of themost shocking episodes ofGrey’s Anatomy, “Sanctuary” set up what remains the most intense two-part emergency in the entire series. A grieving widower named Gary Clark (Michael O’Neill), seeking vengeance for his wife’s death, brought a gun into the hospital and opened fire on anyone he deemed necessary. Clark put everyone in peril, shooting multiple main characters with no remorse.
With the threat revealed so early on, it’s exceedingly impressive howGrey’s Anatomymanaged to keep the suspense exponentially building.
Everything about “Sanctuary” is viscerally unsettling. The ease with which Clark snuck a weapon into the hospital echoes the prevalent fear of gun violence in the United States. The way Clark seems to truly believe he’s seeking justice by killing every surgeon he sees is equally horrifying. With the threat revealed so early on, it’s exceedingly impressive howGrey’s Anatomymanaged to keep the suspense exponentially building.
2“Death and All His Friends”
Season 6, Episode 24
Gary Clark’s rampage continues into “Death and All His Friends,” upping the ante asthe active shooter nearly kills Derek, Owen, and Alex in one fell swoop. Meredith tries to make herself a martyr by goading Clark into shooting her, but Cristina narrowly saves her life by revealing Meredith’s pregnancy. The doctors manage to trick Clark (and Meredith) into thinking Derek died, but his surgery is successful.
There’s a reason “Death and All His Friends” has been thehighest-rated episode ofGrey’s Anatomyfor years. It felt more akin to a thriller than a medical drama, and the emotional whiplash at every corner made it an especially painful watch. The shooting arc wasn’t without casualties, but most of the main characters made it out, traumatized but alive. Somehow, it only becomes more terrifying upon rewatch.
1“The Sound of Silence”
Season 12, Episode 9
Among the plentiful near-death experiences and life-changing traumas she’s experienced over the years, one ofMeredith’s best storylines inGrey’s Anatomycame in season 12. After a patient brutally attacks her, Meredith’s colleagues stay by her side as she slowly recovers. The episode doesn’t shy away from the spine-chilling effects of her attack, ranging from her heightened defense to her impaired hearing.
The episode is full of harsh truths and small comforts, like Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) applying makeup to cover Meredith’s bruises and Richard Webber (James Pickens, Jr.) singing “My Girl” as he takes her outside. The story is told through bits and pieces, never taking its eyes off of Meredith as she regains her voice. There are many episodes ofGrey’s Anatomythat are interesting, but very few effectively use storytelling so well.
