Grey’s Anatomy boasts of being one of the longest-running medical dramas in history. It has also scooped up a plethora of prestigious awards during its time, solidifying its place on primetime TV. Even in the streaming era, it still reigns supreme. Thus, it’s fair to say that very few shows can match up to the grandiose success of Grey’s Anatomy.
However, it would be unrealistic to think that new fans could watch the entire show in just a few days. While that may have been possible in the age of DVD box sets, there’s just far too much content for viewers to consume these days. Thus, it’s vital that fans watch a handful of essential episodes so that they can have a complete idea of how the show operates.
10. Back to Where It All Began
Season 1, Episode 1, “A Hard Day’s Night”
When indulging in any new show, it’s paramount that fans start at the beginning. “A Hard Day’s Night” does a fantastic job of setting up Meredith’s character, showcasing that even as a budding intern, she still has boy troubles and family issues. Plus, this episode also introduces audiences to the rest of the interns, painting Grey’s Anatomy as a fully-fledged drama rather than a two-dimensional soap opera.
This episode is also packed full of shocking revelations. Not only does Meredith discover that her one-night stand was actually her boss, but she quickly realizes that her first day at Seattle Grace will be a lot more challenging than she first thought. While the 2000s decor may be a tad off-putting to some viewers, this episode lays the foundation for what makes this drama so addictive.
9. The Interns Lose One of Their Own
Season 5, Episode 24, “Now or Never”
Death is obviously a very common theme throughout Grey’s Anatomy, but the loss in “Now or Never” is completely unforgettable. When a completely disfigured John Doe patient arrives at Seattle Grace, the interns work tirelessly to identify him. Yet, when the man writes an unusual symbol on Meredith’s hand, she quickly realizes that it’s her friend and co-worker, George O’Malley.
Throughout the past 21 seasons, a lot of characters have come and gone, but O’Malley’s death was so impactful. His passing showcased the fragility of human life in such a powerful way that even long-time fans will agree that it’s one of the most important storylines in the show. Thus, this is just one of many heartbreaking scenes that the show has to offer.
8. A Disgruntled Visitor Brings Seattle Grace to Its Knees
Season 6, Episode 23, “Sanctuary”
Like any other metropolitan hospital, a plethora of patients stroll through the doors of Seattle Grace every day. Gary Clark suffered immense heartbreak when his wife was taken off life support, and he even went as far as to sue Derek Shepherd and the hospital. But, in “Sanctuary”, Clark takes his vengeance against Derek one step further and walks into the OR with a loaded gun.
A lot of dramas tackle gun violence, but Grey’s Anatomy uses a spectacularly slow pace to really drive the tension home. Not only does Clark go on a tragic killing spree before entering the hospital, but he puts a ton of people’s lives in danger. Thus, even with one man and one gun, Grey’s Anatomy managed to make one of the most nail-biting episodes in history.
7. Meredith’s Future Hangs in the Balance
Season 16, Episode 8, “My Shot”
After committing insurance fraud, Meredith awaits to be seen by the board for her trial. She’s surrounded by her friends and co-workers, but without the board’s approval, she could lose her medical license. As such, “My Shot” works to showcase Meredith’s legacy but doesn’t hesitate to highlight her faults.
It may seem strange to new fans that by Season 16, Meredith is completing community service and faces time in prison. However, this arc just shows how far Grey’s Anatomy took Meredith’s character. She managed to climb up the ranks of the hospital, but she struggles to show the same strength when faced with the law.
6. Meredith Enjoys a Fantasy World Away From COVID
Season 17, Episode 13, “Good as Hell”
Admittedly, Grey’s Anatomy didn’t handle the COVID-19 pandemic as well as fans were expecting. It skipped over large periods of time so that the characters could get back to normal while the fans were forced to sit through an uncertain reality. However, the show should be praised for how it used this time to develop its characters even more.
While Meredith is on a ventilator, she drifts in and out of consciousness. During her dream state, she reunites with a plethora of fan-favorite characters like Lexie Grey and Derek Shepherd. So, while the entire arc is a little lackluster, “Good as Hell” offers audiences a delightful dose of nostalgia during a difficult time.
5. Meredith’s Morbid Premonitions Come True
Season 2, Episode 16, “It’s the End of the World”
When “It’s the End of the World” opens with Meredith saying that she thinks she’s going to die today, a lot of fans thought it was just a hyperbolic line created by an inexperienced writer. However, when the team is confronted with a bomb buried inside a body cavity, Meredith’s dark thoughts seem to be true. While this is just one of many Grey’s Anatomy disasters, the whole cast works like a well-oiled machine to help to make this episode a hit.
Alongside all of this, Miranda is giving birth while her husband fights for his life in a car accident. Audiences may think that these storylines are just too much, but in reality, the writers did a fantastic job of layering tension. “It’s the End of the World” is a masterclass in dramatic storytelling and audiences have no idea how this plot is going to end, making it a thrill from start to finish.
4. A Key Couple Suffers a Surprise Split
Season 3, Episode 25, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All?”
Even those who have never seen the show will know that things get a bit racy every once in a while. Many of the characters are involved in relationships with each other, which, as fans can expect, often end in disaster. Yet, when Cristina and Preston were expected to get married, audiences assumed that nothing could go wrong.
Not only does Burke storm out of the altar just as Cristina is about to walk down the aisle, but his excuse for doing so is very confusing. This may not be the most devastating break-up in the show’s history, mostly because they were quite a poor match in the first place. However, many avid fans consider this episode to be the first big split, changing the course of the show’s lore forever.
3. A Charming Surgeon Offers a Unique Proposal
Season 5, Episode 19, “Elevator Love Letter”
Because Grey’s Anatomy is such a fast-paced drama, it usually skips over the soppy love stories and just gives fans the thrills that they are looking for. But, every so often, the show will turn up the romance, providing fans with unique relationships that they haven’t seen anywhere else. In “Elevator Love Letter”, Derek lines the walls with an abundance of CT scans, showing the trajectory of his and Meredith’s bond through his career milestones.
Yes, it’s entirely unrealistic, but it marks a very important point in the protagonists’ relationship. Meredith and Derek may not have the ideal love life, but they resemble everything that the show stands for, which is progress. So, even in the midst of life-saving surgery, these characters still find unconventional ways to show their devotion to each other.
2. The Surgeons Are Forced to Learn a Whole New Set of Survival Skills
Season 8, Episode 24, “Flight”
While on their way to a hospital in Boise, six doctors from Seattle Grace were involved in a horrendous plane crash. So, with no one around to help them, the group is forced to throw away everything they learned in medical school and discover what they can do to stay around. “Flight” is such an interesting episode because it places the audience right in the middle of the action. It doesn’t prepare viewers for what’s about to come but instead forces them to figure things out for themselves.
The doctors are entirely outside of their comfort zones and their respective actors do a fantastic job of showing this. Even in the midst of a major crisis, Cristina Yang is still able to crack a joke, which offers a much-needed boost of comic relief. What makes this episode so dramatic is that their peers at the hospital are blissfully unaware of their situation, leaving them in a very vulnerable position.
1. A Tragic Loss Changes Everything
Season 11, Episode 21, “How to Save a Life”
Without giving too much away to new fans, “How to Save a Life” marks the death and departure of Derek Shepherd. While his passing is very tragic in itself, the way his legacy continues to manifest throughout the later seasons of the show is quite impressive. At times, Grey’s Anatomy has an annoying habit of getting rid of characters just as things start to heat up. Yet, the show has managed to keep Dr. Shepherd’s character alive for many years.
This episode explores grief in a truly eye-opening way. Although these doctors encounter death on a daily basis, they don’t hesitate to show how losing a colleague and a friend impacts their professional lives. So, although Derek’s death is difficult to watch, it marks a key turning point in the show’s overall tone.
