10 Grey's Anatomy Memes That Perfectly Sum Up The Show (2023)

Though Grey's AnatomySeason 18 just wrapped up — with possible character exits, potential breakups, and risky surgeries — fans are always ready for a rewatch or recap of the impressive show's 400-episode run. And whileGrey'swriters balance drama with medical action, tragedy with hope, and monotony with humor, the internet uses memes to make the best of the show's bizarre or otherwise unpleasant circumstances.

If there's anything to be learned from the "Twisted Sisters" aka Meredith Grey and Christina Yang, it's that there's no better destressor than finding the ironyin the painful and finding comfort in the little things, however morbid.

Grey'sAnatomyIs Perfect For Binging

This meme captures the Grey's fan's ultimate dilemma: do they attend to their real lives or stay up late atGrey Sloane Memorial Hospital? Though this user hits the internet with some daunting figures, it's safe to say that a true Grey's fan likelythinks aboutthe show for a compounded number of hours, depending on their pace of rewatching or where the season is in its live premiere schedule.

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How can housework compare to saving lives, or at least watching fictional geniuses save them? Maybe after enough rewatches, this fan will be acclimated enough to Grey's storylines to clean up with the show on in the background, making sure to tune in for the best bits.

Grey's Is StillIntroducing New LGBTQ+ Characters

This meme tackles the age-old question; do fans watch Grey's Anatomy for the writing, theacting, or just because its doctors arenice to look at? Beyond Carina Deluca and Maya Bishop's relationship — which occurred primarily on the Grey's spin-off, Station 19 — Kai and Amelia's budding relationship offersGrey's Anatomythe LGBTQ+ representationit had been lacking since Callie and Arizona left the show.

More queer storylines on Grey's add to the show's efforts to portray a range of experiences and a diverse range of doctors and patients that look like those in the real world. Of course, startingGrey's at season 18 just to meet Kai Bartley isn't the worst reason to become a fan.

Jo Is The Show's Most Relatable Hot Mess

Jo's storylines may not always be relatable for viewers butthis memeproves that she is the textbook example of the exhaustion many viewers feel. This screenshot from Jo's rough go with bleach represents the long string of messy decisions that tend to characterize Jo's storylines.

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Though she almost stole a baby left at a fire station and changed her surgical specialty after making it to General Attending, Jo typically senses when her judgment or first instincts are failing her. Though she eventually ditches the blonde for a subtler look, Jo is an example of someone who experiments and has been through difficult times in her life, but she always emerges on the other side.

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Addison Montgomery Sums Up Anxious Abandonment Issues

Addison Montgomery is one of the funniestGrey's Anatomycharacters,butanother memeon Instagram perfectly retools her maudlin line for its own purposes. Addisonis talking about a Jane Doe in the season 3 episode "Drowning on Dry Land" whose family hasn't come to claim her.

Of course, this context casts the line in its darker meaning, but it still represents the human experience ofdoubt and loneliness in the face of potential abandonment, even after two minutes, for the especially anxious — and more than incidentally dramatic — friend.

This memecalls on an oldie but goodie fromGrey's Anatomy's early seasons.The show's music contributes to its profound emotional impact, and Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" became a standout fan favorite when it played after Denny Duquette died in season 2 and when Callie Torres got in a car accident in season 7. It also plays in one of the series' saddest moments ever — just after Derek Shepherd's death.

The only song that competes with this hit is "How to Save a Life" by The Fray, which may be equally triggering to fans due to its use in some of the series' most emotionally damaging moments.

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Christina Yang Isn't Around To Clean Up Everyone Else's Mess

This meme feels almost painfully accurate in its visual description of the mayhem that is Grey Sloane Memorial Hospital. The screenshot comes from an episode of the show Communitycalled "Remedial Chaos Theory" that involves a six-sided die and alternate realities.

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Grey's fans may wish they could explore multiple potential storylines where their favorite characters don't die, clinical trials are successful, and Alex Karev didn't abandon Jo. But if this meme holds any truth, hopefully, Christina Yang will come back from Switzerland and make everything better.

Derek's Death Remains Traumatic

This meme perfectly encapsulates the first 11 seasons of the show—although the entire series' run may also necessitate tissues and tequila. Derek Shepherd, a series staple, takes center stage in the morbid meme, and for many viewers, just the sight ofthe character may make them tear up.

Of course, Christina Yang saying, "Everyone's dead" is funnier out of context of the season 9 episode "Beautiful Doom," which closely followed the plan crash in season 8. But the meme may have the same effect as Meredith hugging Christina whennothing makes sense and words won't suffice: it acknowledges that even in the face of loss and trauma,Grey'scharacters will make it through.

Meredith Grey Can't Catch A Break

Grey's Anatomywould struggle to continue without Meredith Grey, but staying on the show doesn't lessenMeredith's misfortunes, which includepain, loss, and dead-end storylines. It seems as though every time something is going well for Meredith, the writers realize they need to take it away in order for the stakes to remain high for the show's protagonist.

A prime example is Meredith's relationship with Nick Marsh. The couple appears to be overcoming the obstacles in their path, including distance and meeting the family. However, by the end of the season 18 finale, their relationship is clearlyon the rocks, and fans will have to wait until next season to see if Meredith's happiness will fall apart because ofhospital dramayet again.

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This Meryl Streep-inspired mememay be especially meaningful forGrey'sfans who were attached to the theme song from the early seasons, before it transformedinto the title card and elements of the song only can now be seen at the end of the episode.

Series creator, Shonda Rhimes, may have known exactly which characters would die over the course of the series, so this theme song could feel like Shondaland-style taunting. Of course, this meme is hyperbolic, and noteverybodydies. At least not as of the current season.

Season Finales Are Emotional Roller Coasters

ThisMeredith memecaptures a familiar dread forGrey'sfans, especially if they've realized the pattern of major disasters in Grey's Anatomyseason finales. Season 13 ended in flames, season 9 was aptly titled "The Perfect Storm," season 6's was the episode with the shooter Gary Clark, season 5 was George O'Malley's death, and, arguably the most traumatic of all, season 8's plane crash.

Christina Yang, April Kepner, and Arizona Robbins, all departed in season finales, though they lived to tell the tale. Maybe finale-related dread was conditioned into fans ever since season 1 ended with Derek Shepherd's surprise wife, the inimitable Addison Montgomery, showing up to tell Meredith off for her accidental affair with Derek.

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FAQs

What is the famous line from GREY's anatomy? ›

1. "Knowing is better than wondering. Waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying." -Meredith Grey, Season 1 Episode 6.

What is the most famous episode of GREY's anatomy? ›

“As We Know It” (Season 2, Episode 17)

One of the most beloved episodes of Grey's Anatomy was its post-Super Bowl episode in 2006, in which the surgical team of Seattle Grace learn that there is a homemade bomb lodged inside an injured patient.

What is Derek Shepherd's famous line? ›

It's A Beautiful Day To Save Lives.”

Like any other character on the show, Derek Shepherd had his signature line that he was famous for. He felt good about himself and he found purpose in what he did just by saying “it's a beautiful day to save lives”.

What does Derek say before every surgery? ›

Callie forces him to say something before his first operation. Derek obliges. He says the magic words he has made famous: "It's a beautiful day to save lives." Watch this Grey's Anatomy scene from Season 9, Episode 01: Going, Going, Gone and don't miss all-new episodes of Grey's Anatomy THURSDAYS 8|7c.

What is the scariest episode of GREY's? ›

It's the End of the World
"It's the End of the World"
Grey's Anatomy episode
Episode no.Season 2 Episode 16
Directed byPeter Horton
Written byShonda Rhimes
9 more rows

Which season of GREY's is the best? ›

1. Season 2. Between the train crash, the bomb blast, Denny's LVAD wire, and Burke's potentially career-ending gunshot wound, Season 2 had Grey's Anatomy's best medical crises. And it also had the best cast additions, with Addison, Callie, and Mark joining the cast roster.

Who is the best character in GREY's anatomy? ›

Grey's Anatomy: The Best Characters, Ranked
  1. 1 Meredith Grey. ABC. It's difficult to imagine Meredith Grey not being at the top of this list.
  2. 2 Richard Webber. Shondaland. ...
  3. 3 Miranda Bailey. Shondaland. ...
  4. 4 Cristina Yang. ABC. ...
  5. 5 Amelia Shepherd. Shondaland. ...
  6. 6 Teddy Altman. Shondaland. ...
  7. 7 Jo Wilson. ABC. ...
  8. 8 Derek Shepard. Shondaland. ...
Feb 11, 2023

What's the longest episode in GREY's anatomy? ›

Slow Night, So Long.

Is Grey's Anatomy losing viewers? ›

Grey's Anatomy's viewership has been declining for over a decade.

What age is Meredith GREY? ›

The story begins when heroine Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) enters the first year of her residency program, so, she should be about 26 at that point and about 42 now, 16 seasons later, right?

Who is girly in GREY's anatomy? ›

Aina Dumlao (born October 12, 1988) is a Filipino-American actress best known for her roles as Andie Lee in MacGyver (2016), Natalie in Ballers (2018), Gerlie Bernardo in Grey's Anatomy (2021), and Evie Dela Rosa in the limited series The Unusual Suspects (2021).

Who is the longest running character on GREY's anatomy? ›

Meredith Grey: 407 episodes (seasons 1-19)

Of course, the woman who started it all, the titular Grey of "Grey's Anatomy."

Who dies in season 18 of GREY's anatomy? ›

With enough blood only for one of them, Simon made the call himself, choosing to die but save his wife. Simon got to hold his newborn son for a few seconds before he took his last breath in one of the most emotional scenes of the finale.

What is Meredith GREY's catchphrase? ›

So, do it. Decide. Is this the life you want to live?

What did Derek's voicemail say? ›

I know I just left and I'm not even at the airport yet, but I just wanted to say I love you. I love our family. And we're gonna keep doing this. I'll see you when I get home.

What was Meredith's nickname for Derek? ›

As soon as Cristina finds out that her friend Meredith is seeing Derek, she nicknames him McDreamy.

What was Derek Shepherd's last words? ›

Derek Shepherd – Grey's Anatomy. Last Words: “Hey, it's me. I'm on the ferry.

What did Derek inject Meredith with in the elevator? ›

Meredith says their baby better be worth it and Derek injects her with fertility drugs. He leaves the lift, as Alex and Lucy get in.

Who gives Derek a nerve? ›

Back in Episode 902, Callie operated on Derek's hand, grafting a piece of his anterior interosseous nerve to his median nerve, with the goal of restoring function and sensation to his hand.

Who was toxic on GREY's anatomy? ›

While reflecting on his past roles, Isaiah Washington called out his experience on the allegedly “toxic” Grey's Anatomy set as an example of mistreatment. “Every single day I was a problem that was being reminded, 'You're No.

Is Cristina better than Meredith? ›

Meredith is best at general, and Christina is better at hearts/lungs. But, overall Christina is probably better because she seems more focused on just her work than Meredith is.

What is the longest season in GREY's anatomy? ›

In its 15th season, Grey's Anatomy ranked as ABC's highest-rated drama. As of February 28, 2019, it was the longest-running American primetime medical drama series. The show now has a second spin-off series named Station 19, in addition to Private Practice.
...
Grey's Anatomy
Running time43–53 minutes
26 more rows

When should I stop watching GREY's anatomy? ›

If you need to stop at some point I'd say after season 13. The vibe of the show starts to change dramatically due to many main character's exits. Now (season 17) there are too many crossover episodes with Station 19, and the entirety of the cast is different, making Grey's seem like an entirely different show.

Who is the least liked character on Greys? ›

Even after Izzie's tumor was diagnosed he still popped up.
  • Ava. The whole Ava/Alex romance was a relationship the fans detested. ...
  • Eliza Minnick. Eliza Minnick was one of the most hated doctors to ever walk the halls of Grey Sloan. ...
  • Dr. Alana Cahill. ...
  • Nancy Shepherd. ...
  • Lucy Fields. ...
  • Reed Adamson. ...
  • Penelope Blake. ...
  • Gary Clark.
Nov 18, 2019

Who is the smartest person on GREY's anatomy? ›

1. Meredith Grey. Meredith Grey is the most intelligent character on the show, despite her lack of judgment when her heart gets in the way. When she was a resident she was set on neurosurgery, and then later changed to general surgery which are hard fields to enter.

Who is the smartest Greys anatomy character? ›

Smarter: Lexie Grey

Aside from being a precocious child who skipped a grade, Lexie Grey often lived in the shadow of her big half-sister, Meredith. In reality, Lexie was one of the smartest residents Seattle Grace had ever seen.

What is the shortest episode of GREY's anatomy? ›

Now or Never

What is the 100th episode of GREY's? ›

"What a Difference a Day Makes" is the twenty-second episode of the fifth season of the American television medical drama, Grey's Anatomy and the show's 100th episode overall.

How much money does Ellen Pompeo make per episode? ›

As we mentioned above, her role as Meredith Grey has really skyrocketed her career. In fact, the role has made Pompeo one of the highest-paid actresses on the planet—she earns $20 million per year from the show. That's an impressive $550,000 per-episode salary.

When did GREY's Anatomy stop being good? ›

After season 9 it started getting bad as mark and lexie were dead, and it got worse after season 11, when Cristina left(in season 10) and Derek died in season 11. After that characters keep leaving or dying.

Did Ellen Pompeo left GREY's? ›

The Feb. 23 episode of Grey's Anatomy marked Ellen Pompeo's last as a series regular — though she's still going to record voiceovers for the show and could very well pop up again in the future.

Will Greys anatomy ever stop? ›

The series creator tells PEOPLE the ending has changed so much since her initial plan, that there's no longer a set ending to the series. Though years ago Rhimes, 52, admitted she'd planned the show's end in advance, the 19-season series has no end in sight — and therefore, no planned conclusion.

Does Meredith have Alzheimer's? ›

Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. It's the disease that led to the demise of Ellis Grey (Kate Burton), Meredith's mother, in season 3, and Meredith tested positive for several genetic markers for Alzheimer's in season 9.

What was Mark and Lexie's age gap? ›

Mark Sloan was born in 1968 and Lexie Grey in 1984, so there was an age difference of 16 years between them. The age gap between them was very present in Mark's mind at the beginning, as he saw “Little Grey” as a “forbidden fruit” because she was Meredith's sister, Derek's sister-in-law, and a “fetus”.

How old was Izzie in season 1? ›

Summary. Izzie is introduced as a 25-year-old former model in the first episode of Grey's Anatomy, meeting fellow surgical interns Meredith, Cristina, Alex, and George. She and George move in with Meredith and become best friends.

Who is the Nonbinary actor in GREY's anatomy? ›

Fightmaster booked the role of neuroscientist Kai Bartley on “Grey's Anatomy,” they immediately understood the weight of responsibility that comes with portraying the ABC medical drama's first nonbinary character in 18 seasons.

Is Maggie Meredith's half sister? ›

It is revealed in the season ten finale, Maggie's biological parents are Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) and Ellis Grey (Kate Burton), making her Meredith's half-sister. McCreary was upgraded to a series regular in the eleventh episode of the eleventh season. M.D.

Who had a crush on Meredith Grey? ›

Taryn, played by Jaicy Elliot, has also had a crush on Meredith Grey since her arrival, and that crush is no longer a secret.

Who has left GREY's Anatomy so far? ›

View All
  • 1 of 19 Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh)
  • 2 of 19 Dr. Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington)
  • 3 of 19 Dr. Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl)
  • 4 of 19 Dr. George O'Malley (T.R. Knight)
  • 5 of 19 Dr. Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith)
  • 6 of 19 Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh)
  • 7 of 19 Dr. Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh)
  • 8 of 19 Dr.
Feb 24, 2023

Who is the youngest person on GREY's anatomy? ›

Katherine Heigl was born on Nov. 24, 1978. The Emmy-winning Izzie Stevens actress and Firefly Lane star will turn 45 years old in 2023. She was the youngest member of the original Grey's Anatomy cast, beginning the series at 27 years old.

Who is the first main character to leave GREY's anatomy? ›

Knight (Dr. George O'Malley) Knight was the first major cast departure for Grey's, leaving in tragic yet heroic fashion at the end of season five.

Who is leaving GREY's Anatomy season 19? ›

After nearly two decades and more than 400 episodes of leading the ABC medical drama, star Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey said goodbye to Grey Sloan Memorial for her family's move to Boston in the season 19 winter premiere, “I'll Follow the Sun.”

Is Grey's coming back for season 19? ›

The nineteenth season of the American medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy was announced on January 10, 2022, by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). It premiered on October 6, 2022, for the 2022–23 broadcast television season.

Who is in season 19 of GREY's anatomy? ›

The main cast is also adding five new series regulars in the form of Alexis Floyd as Dr Simon Griffin, Niko Terho as Dr Lucas Adams, Midori Francis as Dr Mika Yasuda, Adelaide Kane as Dr Jules Millin, and Harry Shum Jr. as Dr Daniel "Blue" Kwan.

What is the first line in GREY's anatomy? ›

ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" premiered in 2005, and many major characters have since left the show. Cristina and Alex say their first lines during the season-one debut, "A Hard Day's Night."

Did you say it GREY's Anatomy quote? ›

Meredith Grey : Did you say it? I love you. I don't ever wanna live without you. You changed my life.

What is Meredith's illness? ›

Meanwhile, Meredith asks Dr. Bailey to perform gene mapping on her to finally know whether she has Alzheimer's genes like her mother. She tests positive for more than one of the genetic markers for the disease.

What was Derek's last words to Meredith? ›

Derek Shepherd – Grey's Anatomy. Last Words: “Hey, it's me. I'm on the ferry.

What was Meredith's illness? ›

It's the disease that led to the demise of Ellis Grey (Kate Burton), Meredith's mother, in season 3, and Meredith tested positive for several genetic markers for Alzheimer's in season 9. Alzheimer's disease first found its way to Grey's Anatomy in the pilot.

What was the last thing Cristina said to Meredith? ›

As for Meredith, it turns out that Cristina's parting words — “He's very dreamy, but he is not the sun — you are,” she says — helps Meredith stand up to Derek and fight to stay in Seattle.

Is Cristina dyslexic? ›

Cristina Yang in Grey's Anatomy

Cristina Yang (played by Sandra Oh) was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 6. That's decades before she lands at Seattle Grace Hospital. Four seasons into the show, viewers learn that Cristina got straight A's all through medical school.

What race is Cristina Yang? ›

An atheistic competitive intern of Korean-American ancestry, she first desired to become a doctor after a childhood car accident which killed her biological father. Yang also had dyslexia, and was raised in Beverly Hills, California by her mother and supportive Jewish stepfather.

What were the last words of GREY's anatomy? ›

Lexie Grey – Grey's Anatomy

Last Words: “Meant to be.” How She Died: The plane Lexie had been on had crashed in the middle of the woods. Lexie was trapped under part of the plane, and died from her injuries.

What did Alex's letter say to Meredith? ›

Meredith reads her letter first, which features Alex thanking her for always sticking by him — there were flashbacks to some important Meredith/Alex moments and I was weeping. Part of Alex's letter said, "What I do know is I owe you the truth, and I don't know how else to tell you.

What did Cristina Yang say to Meredith before she left? ›

Before leaving, Cristina told Mer not to let Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) overshadow Meredith's own needs in her career. "You are a gifted surgeon with an extraordinary mind," Cristina said, "Don't let what he wants eclipse what you need. He's very dreamy, but he is not the sun. You are."

What did Ellis Grey say to Meredith? ›

"You are anything but ordinary, Meredith."

While Meredith's life hangs in the balance after drowning in Season 3, she sees her mother. Ellis tells Meredith she's anything but ordinary and that she needs to run back. We then see Derek and Cristina work to save Meredith's life.

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