Grey’s Anatomy has been on the screens of millions for almost 20 years as the longest-running medical drama. As we gear up for the season 21 premiere, here’s a list of 20 iconic episodes from the previous seasons.
*Prior to reading this article I would like to offer both a trigger warning as the show does discuss sensitive topics and spoiler warning*
“A Hard Day’s Night” (Season 1, Episode 1)
Like many shows, a pilot is a great way to tell if a series will be successful. In March of 2005, we were introduced to the world of Meridith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, and her fellow interns at Seattle Grace Hospital, now known as Grey Sloan Memorial, as they embarked on their journey to become surgical residents. The premiere of the pilot garnered an American audience of 16.25 million viewers, and it was then the public knew this would be a hit.
“Who’s Zoomin Who?” (Season 1, Episode 9)
Unlike the rest of the show, season one only had nine episodes. However, that did not make the finale any less iconic, as viewers were introduced to Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh). Up until this moment Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), or McDreamy as the interns called him, had audiences swooning, but when Addison walked in and introduced herself to Meridith as Derek’s wife, the world turned upside down.
“As We Know It” (Season 2, Episode 17)
One of the first truly shocking medical moments was when a patient came into the ER with an active bomb in his chest, issuing a code black throughout the hospital. In the previous episode a young, new paramedic had her hand stopping the bleeding, but this episode starts with Meridith having replaced the paramedic’s hand with her own, and is now in the ER as they find out how to extract the bomb without killing everyone in the ER. It also featured actor Kyle Chandler known for his role in the USA drama Friday Night Lights.
“Losing My Religion” (Season 2, Episode 27)
One of the saddest parts of any show is a character death, but what’s a medical drama without some casualties. However one of the most heartbreaking tragedies was the death of Denny Duquette, a patient that Dr. Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) fell in love with played by Jeffery Dean Morgan. It also featured an iconic music moment as Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” as Izzie laid next to Denny.
“Elevator Love Letter”(Season 5, Episode 19)
While the episode itself has many things going on, as different characters struggle with their own issues, one of the most heartwarming moments is Derek’s proposal to Meredith. The two’s relationship is one of the defining characteristics of the show, and for many viewers this was the moment that they had been waiting for.
“Now or Never” (Season 5, Episode 24)
The first of the main five interns makes their departure as George O’Malley (T. R. Knight) becomes the first main character to die at Grey Sloan. What makes this episode so iconic, is that the viewers and the doctors do not know the John Doe brought in is George until he finds a way to give Meredith a signal to let her know it’s him.
“Sanctuary” (Season 6, Episode 23)
This episode and the episode that follows, “Death and All His Friends”, follow an active shooter in the hospital. The shooter, Gary Clark ( Michael O’Neill) is out for revenge as his wife died in the hospital earlier in the season. One of the big casualties is Derek, who had made the decision to take Mr. Clark’s wife off of life support and was also acting chief of the hospital.
“Song Beneath the Song” (Season 7, Episode 18)
It’s no secret that if you work at Grey Sloan Memorial you are bound to face a personal casualty, but as Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) fights for her life after a car accident the entire episode turns into a musical. One of the iconic numbers performed is a cover of The Fray’s “How to Save a Life”, a song that is featured prominently throughout the show.
“Flight” (Season 8, Episode 24)
Out of all the medical disasters, the plane crash has had the most impact on fans. Many beloved characters were victims and casualties include iconic Grey’s couple Lexi Grey (Chyler Leigh), Meredith’s younger half sister, and Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), Derek’s childhood best friend.
“Get Up, Stand Up” (Season 10, Episode 12)
Weddings are always an affair to remember in Grey’s Anatomy, and many of them are not successful. As April Kepner (Sarah Drew) plans to walk down the aisle to her gorgeous EMT fiance, the wedding is upended by Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) declaring his feelings for her. The two run off together leaving both of their partners at the wedding.
“Fear (of the Unknown)” (Season 10, Episode 24)
Death is not the only way out of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Many of the doctors have left to pursue other paths, but one of the most heartbreaking goodbyes was Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Meredith’s best friend, confidant, and fan favorite character.
“How to Save a Life” (Season 11, Episode 21)
After spending most of his life saving other people, Derek Shepherd becomes a victim himself. After stopping to help a family that’s the victim of a car accident, Derek Shepherd gets into a car accident and becomes another casualty of the Grey Sloan curse.
“The Sound of Silence” (Season 12, Episode 9)
In an episode directed by actor Denzel Washington, we follow Meredith’s journey after she was brutally attacked by a patient, and the doctors, who are her friends, family, and colleagues, rally around her in support. The episode was watched by 8.2 million upon its original broadcast, and received universal acclaim.
“Judgement Day” (Season 14, Episode 20)
Despite all of the hardships in Grey’s Anatomy, the show is not devoid of humor. In this episode, Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) unknowingly gives out cookies that contain a special ingredient. The doctors each react differently, and it brings some lighthearted humor to an incredibly dense show.
“Silent All These Years” (Season 15, Episode 19)
This is one of the most powerful episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, as it centers around a woman who has come to the hospital and shows evidence of sexual assault. The episode features an iconic scene where all the women of the hospital gather against the walls to support her as she heads to the OR.
“My Shot” (Season 16, Episode 8)
Meredith Grey is on trial. Her career was put on the line after committing insurance fraud to save a patient. To make matters worse, the man deciding her fate is the same man who failed to save her husband.
“Leave the Light On” (Season 16, Episode 16)
This episode marks the last of Meredith’s fellow interns’ departure, though they’re not interns anymore. The episode is narrated by Justin Chambers through the letter his character Alex Karev sends as his final goodbye.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” (Season 17, Episode 4)
Meredith Grey battles Covid-19 in a coma. While the world is continuing to move around her Meredith finds herself on an island surrounded by many familiar faces including Derek, George, and the return of her little sister Lexi Grey.
“I’ll Follow the Sun” (Season 19, Episode 7)
Meredith Grey does the unthinkable. She announces a departure from Grey Sloan Memorial with plans to move her family to Boston. Grey Sloan had been with her since the beginning, and while Ellen Pompeo has not completely left the show, this is Meredith Grey’s goodbye to a place she used to call home.
“Burn It Down” (Season 20, Episode 10)
Doctors going rogue is not uncommon in Grey’s Anatomy, and neither is doctors rallying around each other. As Catherine Fox (Debby Allen) determines the fate of one of the new interns Lucas Adams (Niko Treho), the rest of the interns and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) threaten to walk if she cuts him from the program leaving a suspenseful ending of the season finale.
Make sure to watch the season 21 premiere of Grey’s Anatomy Thursday September 25th at 10 pm ET on ABC or the next day on Hulu and Disney+!
