I Rewatched Grey’s Anatomy, And Derek Shepherd Is Anything But McDreamy – But He And Meredith Deserved Each Other

Derek Shepherd is almost as synonymous with Grey’s Anatomy as Meredith Grey herself, but I’ve been looking into the show again, and I’m starting to think that the “McDreamy” nickname may be a bit of an overstatement. In the hallowed halls of Grey’s Anatomy characters, Derek Shepherd and Meredith Grey stand above. Sure, there’s the Cristina Yang-Gang, the Izzie Stevens-Heads, and even some Addison Montgomery-Acolytes; but at the end of the day, when you think Grey’s Anatomy, you think Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), followed by Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey).

Despite the title of the series, Derek Shepherd is almost as critical a character as Grey, and that’s both thanks to his characterization and Dempsey’s winning performance. I got turned on to Grey’s Anatomy well after the show began airing, so the “McDreamy” nickname was a part of my pop culture diet long before I even knew who the dude was. Then, when I finally caught up with the show, I totally got it. McDreamy does a lot of McDreamy stuff after all. However, since rewatching the series, I’ve noticed Shepherd might not be so dreamy after all.

McDreamy Cheats On His Wife Addison Shepherd And Lies To Meredith Grey

Meredith Is Also An Intern While Shepherd Is The Head Of Neurosurgery

When McDreamy first arrives on the scene in Grey’s Anatomy, he seems like the perfect man. Intelligent, kind, and handsome, he’s a dream physician, hence the moniker. He has a fantastic bedside manner and comes to Seattle from New York with a reputation for taking on cases that other doctors consider lost causes. Patients and nurses love him, while residents and interns are equal parts intimidated and in awe of his skill, professionalism, and standards that are often very hard to match.

If you required urgent care, Dr. Shepherd would be the guy you want holding your chart. However, there have been a not-significant number of times on Grey’s Anatomy when McDreamy was anything but dreamy. It all starts in season 1. When Shepherd comes to Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital, he’s allegedly a single man. Naturally, many of his female coworkers are smitten, and McDreamy seems like he’s available and interested. Enter Meredith Grey, and the two have immediate chemistry, which results in a one-night stand.

Here’s the problem, lovers of Doctor Love. It turns out Dr. McDreamy over here already has another woman. He’s married to her, in fact. In the season 1 finale of Grey’s Anatomy, Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) arrives in Seattle from New York City, finally shedding some light on Dr. Shepherd’s mysterious past. He’s been married this whole time and, therefore, has been lying to Meredith throughout the season as their romance has burned brighter. He’s made her an accessory to infidelity. Not exactly a dream guy move.

Let’s also not forget, that Meredith was an intern at the time, and as the Head of Neurosurgery, there is a big imbalance of power in their relationship. The discomfort they have when others begin to suspect their feelings shows that Shepherd was well aware of how inappropriate his actions were. Looking back on his episodes now, particularly knowing he was essentially cheating on his wife in the early parts of the show, is now a little frustrating, to say the least. I expected better from a guy named McDreamy.

Meredith Grey Was Not A Wholly Sympathetic Character In Early Seasons

Grey and Shepherd Deserved Each Other

At the same time, Meredith Grey wasn’t some easily manipulated young intern. She was partially responsible for pursuing the relationship with her superior, and though she didn’t know he was an employee at the hospital when they hooked up, she still eventually wound up with him, despite her misgivings. McDreamy may have been charming, but he’s not the type of guy to punish Meredith if she refused his advances. She could have very well declined his offer to begin a relationship.

Meredith, like McDreamy, wasn’t the perfect person either, particularly in those early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy​​​​​​. Meredith is guarded with her emotions, and it can be frustrating to see her unable or unwilling to be vulnerable, especially when it’s most warranted. While Meredith has never cheated on anyone in Grey’s Anatomy, she’s made plenty of poor romantic choices, including in season 2, episode 19, “What Have I Done To Deserve This”, when it’s revealed she’s slept with George O’Malley (T.R. Knight), to both of their regrets.

At the start of Grey’s Anatomy​​​​​​, both Meredith and Shepherd are beginning new stages of their lives, and they’re both getting their sea legs. Neither one is sure of what their next steps will be, and Meredith Grey is still far from the Meredith Grey we would come to know and love in later seasons of the series. At the same time, Derek Shepherd is no McDreamy. In that, they’re kind of perfect for each other, aren’t they?

The Characterization Of Derek Shepherd And Meredith Grey Was Nothing New For The 2000s

Plenty Of TV Characters Are More Than A One-Word Definition

To be sure, none of this makes Derek Shepherd a bad character. He’s just not exactly McDreamy 100% of the time. He’s still one of the best TV doctors ever, and his complicated relationships in the show, particularly with Meredith Grey, were nothing out of the ordinary for the 2000s. There was a lot of time to fill back in the days before streaming and binge-watching. Networks needed to fill up timeslots for weeks at a time, and writers had to pen the storylines to fit. If a McDreamy has to act like a jerk sometimes to do so, so be it.

Honestly, it would be a pretty boring relationship between Meredith and McDreamy if he was the perfect man, and she was the perfect woman. Some chinks in their armor are a good thing. If you look at any character from that era of television, you’re going to find examples of them acting the opposite of how pop culture has categorized them.

Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) in Friends is an airhead actor, but if you go back and watch some episodes, he’s clearly sharper than people give him credit for. Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is a dangerous and powerful mob boss. Go back and watch to see how many poor decisions he makes. Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) is the consummate high school football coach, but for every inspiring speech he delivers, he sticks his foot in his mouth, assuming things about others before he gets to know them.

Good TV characters are not relegated to the one-line descriptions that appear at the top of their Wikipedia pages. They are nuanced and complex and gray (Grey). McDreamy may not always be the doctor of your dreams, but that’s what’s made him and Meredith Grey, such indelible characters, and made their relationship feel real on Grey’s Anatomy. They have opposing human emotions and problems that make neither of them easy to define with one nickname.