ABC’sGrey’s Anatomybeing around for more than two decades can make the task of catching up on everything that happened daunting, but watching these 10 episodes helps gain an understanding of what’s at the heart of Shonda Rhimes’ medical drama. With its story developing over 448 episodes and renewed for a 22nd season,Grey’s Anatomyhad its doctors come and go and face multiple disasters.Grey’s Anatomyseason 21’s endingproved the medical drama has no intention of stopping to put its doctors in unbelievable situations, but some crises were much more crucial toGrey’s Anatomy’s story than others.
With only two original cast members still series regulars and another returning regularly but not anymore part of the main story,Grey’s Anatomyhas changed greatlyin the past 20 years. The twists and turns, along with the drama-filled romances that madeGrey’s Anatomyiconic persisted, albeit inevitably proving more unforgettable in the medical drama’s earlier seasons. With so many changes and so many episodes, it’s easy to lose track of its most important developments, butsome episodes exceptionally embody whatGrey’s Anatomyhas always been aboutand include some of the twists that affectGrey’s Anatomy’s story the most.
10A Hard Day’s Night
Grey’s Anatomy Season 1, Episode 1
Grey’s Anatomy’s first episode is necessary, asit brilliantly sets up the medical drama’s key characters, their dynamics, and introduces the most important relationships that will be the focusfor many seasons. From Webber and Bailey’s iconic speeches to the interns, to the unexpected reveal of Meredith’s mother’s early-onset Alzheimer’s, everything that happens inGrey’s Anatomy’s series premiere matters for the show’s overall story.
“A Hard Day’s Night” kickstarts Meredith and Derek’s romance with their meet-cute and the inescapable problem of Derek being Meredith’s superior.Grey’s Anatomyseason 1, episode 1 also introduces the alliance between Meredith and Cristina that will become the most unique friendship, along with hinting at Meredith and Richard’s complicated relationship.It’s impossible to fully grasp what happens later inGrey’s Anatomywithout its pilot episode.
9Losing My Religion
Grey’s Anatomy Season 2, Episode 27
A few key things happen inGrey’s Anatomyseason 2’s finale, with Richard’s niece’s prom dance at Seattle Grace offering the perfect bittersweet setting. “Losing My Religion” focuses on the investigation over the cutting of Denny’s LVAD wire, but it also has Meredith and Derek going through euthanizing Doc, and the aftermath of Burke’s surgery.
“Losing My Religion” establishes that any character is fair game, and it also delves beautifully into all its protagonists’ character development.
Grey’s Anatomyseason 2, episode 27 is nevertheless synonymous with Denny’s death, with its happening after the successful surgery making everything more heartbreaking. Izzie is left destroyed by Denny’s death, which is also the first major one in the medical drama, making the entire episode necessary to understand Izzie’s storyline the following season, but also Meredith and Derek’s and Cristina and Burke’s. “Losing My Religion” establishes that any character is fair game, and it also delves beautifully into all its protagonists’ character development, making it a key episode to watch.
8Some Kind Of Miracle
Grey’s Anatomy Season 3, Episode 17
Grey’s Anatomyseason 3, episode 17 is the last of the three-episode arc covering the ferryboat incident and Meredith almost drowning. “Some Kind of Miracle” has Meredith finally in the hospital, between life and death as Richard, Burke and Bailey attempt to revive her. It’s the first episode to establishGrey’s Anatomy’s afterlife limbo, which will also return for other characters.
Derek is particularly negatively affected by Meredith’s condition, as he thinks she may have chosen not to fight for her life when in the water, knowing she could swim.
Grey’s Anatomyseason 3, episode 17 is also the episode when Ellis Grey dies, but Meredith is saved and decides she wants to live. All the original interns are affected in different ways by Meredith being between life and death, but Cristina is obviously the one most rattled. “Some Kind of Miracle” is essential for season 3’s later storylines, but also in the conclusion of Ellis and Meredith’s complicated bond.
7Now Or Never
Grey’s Anatomy Season 5, Episode 24
Grey’s Anatomyseason 5’s finale is also among the unmissable ones in the medical drama. Between Seattle Grace coming to terms with George choosing to enlist and their stress not knowing where he is, the doctors are also forced to deal with Izzie’s tumor after her surgery. However, what makes “Now or Never” one of themost shockingGrey’s Anatomyepisodesisthe incredible revelation that O’Malley was actually the John Doe who saved a stranger from an oncoming bus.
Grey’s Anatomyseason 5’s finale raised the stakes, putting two central characters in danger and killing off one of them after his exit was already sorted out.Grey’s Anatomyisn’t the same after George’s death, with“Now or Never” fully establishing that the worst could happen to anyone at Seattle Grace, even to one of its most beloved residents.
6Sanctuary & Death And All His Friends
Grey’s Anatomy Season 6, Episodes 23 & 24
The two-part finale ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 6 is among the deadliest, starting out with the unexpected killing of Reed, only to continue adding to the episode’s victims’ ranks as Gary Clarke meets doctors unwilling to help him exact his revenge.Grey’s Anatomypeaked with “Sanctuary” and “Death and All His Friends,”thanks to its threats to key characters like Derek, Owen and Alex, while also putting Cristina and Meredith in impossible situations.
All episodes ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 21 will be available to stream on Netflix from 3am ET on Saturday, July 15, 2025.
How the disaster could have easily taken any ofGrey’s Anatomy’s protagonists’ lives makes this crisis one of the medical drama’s most effective. Its prompting character development, changing the lives of so many, and generally being so impactful thatGrey’s Anatomyseason 6’s finale’s storylines influence so much of season 7 make it impossible to miss it.
5Flight
Grey’s Anatomy Season 8, Episode 24
Similar to season 6’s finale, the final episode ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 8 should also not be skipped.The episode leaves who will become the Seattle Grace Five in terrible circumstances, forgotten by the world in the midst of a crashing site, fending for themselves and the bodies of their friends.
Leaves the crash site physically unscathed except for bruises
Derek
Suffers a severe injury to the hand that makes it impossible for him to operate for a while
Dies pinned down by parts of the plane
Dies from the injuries upon their return to Seattle
Arizona
Loses a leg as a result of her fracture and the time spent waiting at the crash site
“Flight” emotionally rips Lexie from Meredith, and all-in-all establishes storylines that will be important years from that moment inGrey’s Anatomy. Lexie’s death, Arizona and Derek’s severe wounds can be difficult to watch, but they makeGrey’s Anatomyseason 8’s finale its most traumatic episodeto date.
4Get Up, Stand Up
Grey’s Anatomy Season 10, Episode 12
Unexpected among so many season premieres and finales,Grey’s Anatomyseason 10, episode 12 is unmissable because it entails Japril finally becoming an item after Jackson effectively crashes April’s wedding and April leaves Matthew at the altar. The episode also sets up the reason for Meredith and Derek’s major fights throughout season 11, and it concludes Meredith and Cristina’s fights at last, with the two friends facing their choice of different life paths that won’t stop them from making time for one another.
“Get Up, Stand Up” is simultaneously a nod to Sloan through Jackson finally telling April about his feelings and a turning point for Meredith and Derek’s changing relationship.Grey’s Anatomyseason 10, episode 12 cannot be missed both for its high level of drama and because it sets up Cristina’s difficult but necessary goodbyes and the most important change for MerDer.
3How To Save A Life
Grey’s Anatomy Season 11, Episode 21
The last episode where Patrick Dempsey appears as a series regular,Grey’s Anatomyseason 11, episode 21 is heartbreaking and the perfect hero send-off for Derek. Knowing MerDer’s importance to the story and aboutDempsey’s exit fromGrey’s Anatomymakes it easy to imagine Derek will have to die to preserve one of the tenets of the medical drama.
[Derek’s] realization of how the local hospital was botching his case after arriving at their ER is heartbreaking, along with Meredith’s goodbyes to him.
Derek saving everyone before succumbing to his injuries makes his last day alive a worthy ending to his story. Still, his realization of how the local hospital was botching his case after arriving at their ER is heartbreaking, along with Meredith’s goodbyes to him. “How to Save a Life” needs to be watched as it’s influential for Derek, always central toGrey’s Anatomy, but also for all the key characters in the medical drama.
21-800-799-7233
Grey’s Anatomy Season 14, Episode 9
Jo Wilson’s abuser appearing at Grey Sloan Memorial makesGrey’s Anatomyseason 14, episode 9 one of the most pivotal in the medical drama’s latest seasons. The focus on the important theme makes the episode unmissable because it shows how Paul manipulated everything Jo ever said.
Grey’s Anatomyis available to stream in its entirety on Hulu.
Simultaneously, the episode is also a watershed because it can free Jo from her past at last.Grey’s Anatomyseason 14, episode 9 is enormously important for Jo, Meredith and Alex, and its tackling domestic violence so tactfully makes it a must-see, a reminder ofGrey’s Anatomy’s typical focus on sensitive themes.
1My Shot
Grey’s Anatomy Season 16, Episode 8
Grey’s Anatomyseason 16, episode 8 sees Meredith fight for her medical license after she committed insurance fraud operating on a child whose difficult journey convinced Meredith to make a stand by treating her.The episode acts as a trip down memory lane of everything good Meredith did as a doctor, as well as all the multiple times she broke rules, whether to help friends or because she believed they were wrong.
“My Shot” delivers an emotional recap of Meredith’s most important cases and moments in life, including Derek’s death, with one of the doctors on the panel being the one whose actions killed Derek. Meredith saving him despite their history proves everything there is to know about her, withGrey’s Anatomyseason 16, episode 8 beautifully paying tribute to Meredith and her progress in the best way.
