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Grey’s Anatomy has left millions of viewers delighted, heartbroken and deeply moved over the past 20 years. Following the eventful lives of the staff at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, the TV drama is truly an iconic staple of ABC’s Thursday night lineup, but also the cultural zeitgeist in general.
On March 27, the series — featuring major stars like Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey and Jesse Williams — celebrates the 20th anniversary of the pilot episode airing in 2005.
For those who can’t get enough of the high-stakes surgery scenes or love to get lost in the complex relationships of these beloved doctors, here’s a look back at the most iconic Grey’s Anatomy episodes.
“Who’s Zoomin’ Who?” (Season 1, Episode 9)
Early Grey’s Anatomy fans were immediately hooked on the budding romance between Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) … until his wife showed up. At the end of the episode, Derek’s spouse, Addison Shepherd (Kate Walsh), appears in a fabulous fur coat and delivers a legendary line after she introduces herself to Meredith: “And you must be the woman who’s been screwing my husband?”
“Into You Like a Train” (Season 2, Episode 6)
Who can forget the intense train accident that left passengers Bonnie and Tom (guest stars Monica Keena and Bruce A. Young) impaled on a metal pole? The worst part? Only one could be saved — a classic Shonda Rhimes move. In a dramatic (and emotional!) turn of events, Tom ended up surviving.
“As We Know It” (Season 2, Episode 17)
Over the course of the series, Meredith Grey has been known to put herself in the face of danger — and tragedy. But this will always be her most outrageous move. Meredith, who has her hand on a bomb (inside a patient) can’t move, otherwise the bomb could go off. After she successfully removes the device from the patient, she hands it to the leader of the bomb squad, Dylan (guest star Kyle Chandler). As he walks slowly and carefully out of the OR, the bomb explodes in his hands, killing him and another member of the squad. While this is all happening, Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is giving birth.
“Losing My Religion” (Season 2, Episode 27)
We still don’t understand why Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) had to die. Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) finally found the love of her life in her patient, Denny, only for him to be taken away from her. The scene of Izzie lying in Denny’s hospital bed with him — after he had died — is one of the show’s most haunting images.
“Some Kind of Miracle” (Season 3, Episode 17)
Why, Meredith, why? Why do you do the things you do? During the infamous ferry accident episode, Meredith is inadvertently knocked off the dock by a panicked passenger, but after a short effort, she gives up and allows herself to sink. Eventually, her saving grace Derek pulls a blue Meredith out of the water and tries to revive her. While in the hospital, Meredith takes a visit to the afterlife and sees familiar faces who have died, including her mom, Denny, and her dog, Doc. She eventually has a revelation and fights to live.
“What a Difference a Day Makes” (Season 5, Episode 22)
Not only was this Grey’s 100th episode, but Izzie also found love again! While fighting her cancer battle, Izzie takes in married life with Alex Karev (Justin Chambers).
“Now or Never” (Season 5, Episode 24)
No big deal, this is the one (but not the only) episode where we cry the whole time. George O’Malley (T.R. Knight) dies, but no one realizes it’s him until the very end. After George was hit by a bus trying to save another woman, he is brought to the hospital and is completely unrecognizable. Meredith realizes it’s him after he traces 007 (his nickname) on her hand.
“Sanctuary” (Season 6, Episode 23)
The shooting spree episode is one of those powerful episodes that stays with you the entire series. Gary Clark (guest star Michael O’Neill), a disgruntled man who recently lost his wife at Seattle Grace, goes on a shooting spree at the hospital, killing multiple people and leaving many injured. After shooting Derek in the chest, Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) and others fight to save his life. A pregnant Meredith miscarries while operating on Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd), who was also shot.
“Flight” (Season 8, Episode 24)
How is it that these doctors have the worst bad luck? After surviving a plane crash, the doctors fight to stay alive in the woods. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) endures a life-changing leg injury (that eventually led to amputation) while Meredith’s little sister, Lexie (Chyler Leigh), dies.
“Get Up, Stand Up (Season 10, Episode 12)
April Kepner (Sarah Drew) leaves her fiancé Matthew Taylor (Justin Bruening) at the altar and runs into the arms of Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams), aka the day “Japril” was created.
“Fear (of the Unknown)” (Season 10, Episode 24)
This was the episode that shifted everything! The beloved Cristina Yang leaves Grey Sloan in search of something else. But first she has to “dance it out” with her person, Meredith.
“How to Save a Life” (Season 11, Episode 21)
Why. Did. This. Happen? How could this happen? To be honest, we still haven’t accepted it. After pulling over on the side of the road to help a family who was involved in a car crash, Derek eventually becomes the victim when a semi-truck hits his car. R.I.P. McDreamy.
“Family Affair” (Season 12, Episode 24)
Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) and Owen tie the knot! But not without some drama first. First, Hunt is a no-show. Then, someone forgot the rings. As a pregnant April retrieves the rings at Meredith’s house, she suddenly goes into labor. A scared Ben Warren (Jason George) has to perform an emergency C-section with a kitchen knife, yes, a kitchen knife. But not to worry, mom and baby survived!
“True Colors” (Season 13, Episode 23)
When Stephanie Edwards (Jerrika Hinton) and a young girl named Erin (Darby Camp) are trapped in a hospital room by a dangerous patient (Casey Thomas Brown), Stephanie takes matters into her own hands by setting the man on fire to stop him from escaping — only to create a massive explosion throughout the building.
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” (Season 14, Episode 11)
Dr. Miranda Bailey is a machine and nothing bad will ever happen to her … not. Bailey suffers a heart attack, aka not-so-subtle reminder to slow down.
“We Didn’t Start the Fire” (Season 15, Episode 15)
This is Grey’s 332nd episode, making history as the longest-running medical drama on American television — surpassing ER, the groundbreaking NBC series that premiered in 1994 and signed off after 15 seasons. “ER was one of the shows that made me want to write television,” Grey‘s showrunner Krista Vernoff exclusively told PEOPLE during a set junket in January 2019. “It changed TV and it forged a path for Grey’s Anatomy to come. We walked in ER‘s footsteps and we’re forever grateful. It’s amazing to me that we’re breaking that record. I’m just blown away!”
“All Tomorrow’s Parties” (Season 17, Episode 1)
DEREK SHEPHERD IS BACK! Well, he’s a hallucination, but he’s back! After dying and leaving us heartbroken in season 11, episode 21, McDreamy made a surprise return at the end of the season 17 premiere as part of Meredith’s dream … or should we say McDream?
“Hotter Than Hell” (Season 18, Episode 3)
Addison made a surprising return to Grey Sloan Memorial in a quest to help Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) shape up the newest group of residents. This one is an emotional tearjerker as Meredith and Addison have a heartfelt moment of honesty in an elevator, after which Addison accepts Meredith’s invitation to meet her and Derek’s children. Cue the waterworks.
“When I Get to the Border” (Season 19, Episode 5)
Never a series to shy away from tough topics, this episode follows Addison and Miranda near the Idaho border, where they volunteer at a fertility clinic. When they meet a patient suffering from an ectopic pregnancy, Addison and Miranda cross the state line to try and save the woman’s life — only to deal with a tragic loss as a consequence of the new reproductive care legislation.
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