The most memorable (and gut-wrenching) ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ moments from over the years

“Whenever I think of Grey’s, I always think of the scene where Meredith begs Derek to, ‘pick me, choose me, love me’. It’s the moment she truly bares her feelings.  I just think it’s such a raw and emotional moment, putting her full feelings on blast when she didn’t know if they would be reciprocated. Thankfully for us, Derek does reciprocate the love. Eventually.  (That’s a shame for Addison, but that’s another story).”

Angela, Senior Commerical Brand Manager

“Any OG Grey’s fans probably won’t remember the name of this episode, but they’ll definitely remember the ‘pink mist’ scene. The episode may have aired back in 2006 (excuse me, what??), but nearly 20 years later I cannot hear the song ‘breathe(2AM)’ by Anna Nalick without thinking about the heart-stopping scene of Meredith Grey removing a bomb from a patient and handing over to the bomb squad. Then, of course, the subsequent pink mist that appears when the bomb goes off in the hallway. 

“The aftermath of Izzy and Christina and George (RIP) taking care of Meredith, Derek’s panic trying to find Meredith (Richard thinking he’s looking for Addison but no, he’s not ). I’m feeling all of the emotions here and I might even ditch watching Married at First Sight tonight to re-watch this episode.”

Melissa, Head of Digital

“Sandra Oh’s acting in every episode of early Grey’s is unreal but in this episode it is UNMATCHED. The shot of her standing in that wedding dress in their apartment and the delivery of that brutal line: ‘He’s gone. I’m free’. This to me is the epitome of how much of a complex character Cristina was. She had sacrificed so much of herself for Burke, she had been his ‘hand’ when he had the tremor, she had given her eyebrows for this wedding. She was finally free, but also devastated.

“Also, this scene contains one of television’s most beautiful displays of female friendship: Meredith cutting Cristina out of that exquisite wedding dress while Ingrid Michaelson’s ‘Keep Breathing’ plays. This scene doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. ”

Sarah, Shopping Editor

“Mine are all Derek and Meredith-themed! My other favourite scene is where Derek builds a home for Meredith out of candles. Ever since that scene, I have thought of it as peak romance and want it to happen to me, but in this housing crisis in Auckland, I doubt it ever will. This scene for me beautifully highlights his love and commitment to her, and how he wants to build a home and future with her. #peakromance”

Angela, Senior Commercial Brand Manager

“I love the way this entire episode is filmed! In hindsight, we have that foreshadowing with the shooter’s visit to the hospital where his motive was established. The way that the tension builds in this episode is wild. We (the viewers) know the shooter is in the hospital looking for Derek, but Derek is clueless. Throw in Meredith’s pregnancy and the way she and Christina are wandering the eerily empty hospital to find Derek and tell him, while we know the shooter is also roaming the halls. Visually and emotionally, it’s an amazing episode.”

Mae, Digital Content Producer

“There are hundreds (maybe thousands?) of patients throughout the 21 seasons of Grey’s but some of them stick with you. Tom and Bonnie, the passengers impaled on the pole during season two’s train crash are two of those . The friendship forged between these two strangers as they sit there with a giant pole through their insides (like, excuse me?) was so beautiful.

“Notable moments: Bonnie cracking jokes as Derek runs the instrument over her feet and we realise she’s paralysed. The conversation Tom and Bonnie have about believing in heaven leaves me in tears every time, as does the message Bonnie gives to Derek to pass on to her fiance. This scene sticks with me every time I watch it. The actors who played Tom and Bonnie deserve all the awards for making such a big impact from one episode.”

Sarah, Shopping Editor

 “Cue ‘Chasing Cars’ by Snow Patrol. Denny’s death at the end of season two will always call for tears, no matter how many times I watch. The episode starts so hopeful. Prom! At the hospital! All for the Chief’s (also dying) neice. After all the drama with the LVAD wire, we begin to think that maybe there’s a chance for Izzie and Denny to go on an actual date, outside the hospital. Were we ever so innocent? 

“Izzie on the bed, clinging to Denny’s body, with the rest of the interns around her, sharing how if she hadn’t changed her outfit so many times, she would have been with Denny in his final moments, and therefore, he wouldn’t have died alone. We’re only just processing what’s happening as the music heightens, Izzie starts sobbing and the scene fades. The hefty $8 million inheritance helps, though.”

Katie, Senior Digital Content Producer

This is the best but also the worst episode of Grey’s Anatomy. I will accept no further debate on this. Why? Because George was the best character in the entire series.  He had just left Seattle Grace so no one was looking for him. This episode is crazy to watch back knowing the big reveal: the way the doctors were all talking about him while working on the patient, and then when he can finally get them to realise it’s him. The way we as viewers are knocked for six with the big ‘007’ reveal, just like Meredith is. It is absolutely shocking. 

Mae, Digital Content Producer

[Editor’s note: Mae included many heartbreak emojis in this submission that I removed for readability, but know they were there.] 

“Sorry Ange, I know ‘pick me, choose me, love me’, is the more famous speech, but this one just pips it for me.  I loved Lexi and Mark together. In my head, they move away after the plane crash and live as surgeons in New York or something. (Let me be delulu.) 

“The way Chyler Leigh embodies this speech is incredible. The silliness of ‘I love you. Oh, God.. oh, my God, that just came flying out of my face. I love you. I just… I did it again!’ We love our quirky Grey sister! And the the way it comes pouring out, concluding with the incredible delivery of: ‘I can’t sleep. I can’t breathe. I can’t eat. And I love you. I just love you all the time.’ It makes me cry EVERY TIME. It makes me wish my boyfriend would break up with me so I can deliver a dramatic monologue in front of my workplace like this, instead of the usual text reminders to pick up chicken on the way home.”

Sarah, Shopping Editor  

Enjoyed this short trip down memory lane? You can stream all 21 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy on Disney+. Subscribe now with a month-to-month no lock in contract.