Despite being one of the greatest and longest-running medical shows of all time, Grey’s Anatomy is full of plot holes. For a show that’s all about the details, it tends to mess up characters’ ages and timelines a lot. Many fans find themselves frustrated while trying to piece different information together.
The most jarring plot hole remains Ellis Grey’s story with Richard Webber. It seems that certain details never match with others every time their history together is discussed. From Ellis Grey having a scrub nurse who has worked for her for 18 years to the fact that she only did her residency in Seattle, Grey’s Anatomy has established a lot of “facts” that seem to contradict themselves.
10. Meredith Won a Harper Avery Award
Grey’s Anatomy made a big case when Cristina was denied the Harper Avery Award. The Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital being funded by the Harper Avery foundation directly affected Cristina’s ability to win the award. The event also played a huge role in Cristina leaving the hospital.
However, a few seasons later, Meredith wins a Harper Avery Award, which contradicts the fact that no doctor from Grey Sloan will ever win the award. It’s too big of an inconsistency not to ignore, and the show has offered no explanation for a change in policy. It’s also very unlikely for the policy to be changed, given Catherine Fox wouldn’t risk the foundation’s reputation by making an exception for one hospital.
9. Izzie Left Alex With Massive Medical Bills
Izzie’s hospital stay resulted in a lot of medical bills. Having disappeared, Alex is then responsible for paying the bills, since he’s legally married to Izzie. However, the money problem only exists in one episode. Grey’s Anatomy doesn’t follow up on what Alex does with the bills. It seems that the bills should’ve had a bigger impact on Alex’s character, especially considering he’s not particularly well-off, but the bill is conveniently forgotten.
What’s stranger is that Alex makes no mention of the bills when Izzie comes back later in Grey’s Anatomy. The two fight about everything, except the giant bills that Alex was left to pay. Judging by the lack of information, it’s unlikely that Alex figures out where Izzie lives and sends the invoice to her. Given that their storyline happens before Alex even passes his board, the bills should’ve been a really big deal for him.
8. No One Knows About Ellis Grey’s Whereabouts
Ellis Grey is a reputable surgeon in the medical community. However, Harper Avery somehow still believes that she works at Seattle Grey. Ellis only did her residency with Webber. After that, she moved to Boston. While she did win her first Harper Avery at Seattle Grey, most of her accomplishments happened outside Seattle. It makes no sense for Harper Avery to think that she’s still in Seattle, and it only suggests that the Grey’s Anatomy writers had forgotten about these details of Ellis’s life.
It also makes little sense that Harper Avery has no idea that Ellis has passed. Her death would’ve been major news in the medical community. Her whereabouts is also likely to be of interest to those who knew her. The fact that Richard Webber was under the wrong impression that Ellis Grey was still practicing in the field doesn’t make sense either.
7. Jo Changed Her Name
A name change would affect someone’s medical license and records. As a doctor, Jo Wilson’s acceptance into a medical program would require background checks. Her medical license and records would also be under another name, given that she only changed her name after escaping her abusive husband. Jo wouldn’t be able to have a fresh start simply by changing her name.
However, Jo’s name change seems to have no effect on her professional life at all. Even if she was willing to go through the entire process of updating everything, there would be a record of her previous name. A change of name is usually on the public record, and it wouldn’t have stopped her husband from finding her.
6. Jo Testified For Callie, But Wouldn’t Do it For Alex
It’s strange that Jo testified for Callie’s case when Callie was sued for malpractice. However, she wouldn’t testify in Alex and DeLuca’s case a few seasons later. Jo reasoned that she was afraid that once she did, her abusive husband would be able to find her, which contradicted what she had done for Callie a few seasons earlier.
Jo’s name change and abusive ex have several contradicting details. After Jo filed for divorce, Paul came to Seattle. He did make an attempt to manipulate Jo’s friends, but he then signed the divorce papers without a fight. It also seems that Jo’s escape from Paul was too easy, rushed, and nonsensical.
5. Ellis Grey’s Timeline is Different Every Time
Ellis Grey’s timeline is a huge plot hole in Grey’s Anatomy. It seems that the show changes things every time her history is mentioned. Ellis “only did her residency” in Seattle, but for some reason, she seems to have spent a whole life with Thatcher in Seattle. They have a house and a daughter. Ellis also appears to have a scrub nurse at Seattle Grey who has worked with her for 18 years, when in truth, no one recognizes Ellis when she’s submitted to the hospital.
The fact that Richard doesn’t know about Ellis’ suicide attempt also seems strange. Ellis works at Seattle Grey, which would be the hospital they take her to after Meredith’s call. It’s unlikely that Richard had not heard about the incident. The fact that no one knows about Ellis’ second pregnancy also seems like a huge plot hole.
4. Richard is Derek and Addison’s Mentor
Richard has been in Seattle most of his life. He did his residency in Seattle Grey and slowly worked up the ranks to be the chief of surgery. Derek and Addison, on the other hand, are on the East Coast. The two live in New York. Derek mentioned that he has never been to Seattle before the events in Grey’s Anatomy, which means at some point, Richard had to move to New York to be their mentor.
Things get even more mysterious when it seems that Richard has no idea about Mark, who is Derek’s longest friend. If Richard was really Derek and Addison’s close friend the show made him seem, he likely would’ve known Mark as well. It’s also curious that Adele seems to have a friendly connection with Addison as well.
3. Ages Rarely Make Sense
Bailey stated that she had been married for 10 years. Judging that she’s only a four-year resident, she got married around the time she finished high school. She met Richard during her intern years like everyone else. However, later in the show, it seems that Richard was present during Bailey’s first wedding. Time simply doesn’t match.
Grey’s Anatomy isn’t good with ages and numbers, and it creates numerous plot holes. Bailey’s contradiction is only one example. Another is when Richard showed Leah a photo of her and Ellis Grey at the Harper Avery Award in 1985. However, Ellis left for Boston in 1983. It’s very unlikely that Richard was the one who went with her to the award.
2. Derek’s Accident Is Full of Holes
Derek Shepherd’s death is one of the most poorly-executed events in Grey’s Anatomy. Not only did he die taking a call at a place where there was no cell reception, but for some reason, no one checked his ID and knew that he was the famous Derek Shepherd. Derek is a renowned neurosurgeon. Given that he’s still very close to Seattle, it’s outrageous that no one knew that they were treating him. If they did, they might have rechecked everything, and Derek’s death could’ve been prevented.
The entire episode when Derek dies rests on coincidence. The fact that Derek was taken to a level-three trauma center when he was still close to Grey Sloan makes no sense. Meredith then not notifying Amelia and the rest of Derek’s family also seems a little strange. The show seems to have forgotten that Derek came from a large family.
1. Meredith Wouldn’t Have Survived the Drowning Incident
Time is crucial when it comes to Meredith’s survival in the Season 3 episode, “Drowning on Dry Land.” The first few minutes are the most important. While in the rarest case, a person can still be saved after 56 minutes, in most cases, a few minutes is already the maximum time a person can still be saved. The lack of oxygen would result in brain damage.
Meredith, on the other hand, is in the water for 20 minutes. It’s unlikely that she can still be saved. Even in a rare case, the amount of CPR and other measures that were taken to save her life would’ve resulted in multiple injuries. The fact that Meredith came back to life without any damage is a miracle, but also a huge plot hole for a medical drama.
