While you watch a TV present as disaster-prone as Gray’s Anatomy is, and while you observe a protagonist as trauma-ridden as Meredith Gray is, you’d higher maintain the tissues shut at hand.
Shonda Rhimes and the ABC hospital drama’s different writers have been pulling at our heartstrings for twenty years now, however generally, they yank these strings arduous sufficient to tear our hearts into shreds as a substitute. Listed here are our choices for the saddest moments from the present’s run to this point.
13. Bailey tells a determined father he has to cease.
In Season 5’s “Candy Give up,” a dad (Elden Henson) is able to journey to Mexico to discover a treatment for his daughter’s case of Tay-Sachs. However Bailey (Chandra Wilson) convinces him to stick with his daughter throughout her remaining moments, and he gives his daughter a white lie earlier than she dies.
12. Ellis belittles Meredith.
Ellis Gray (Kate Burton), the mom of Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) who has Alzheimer’s, turns into lucid in Season 3’s “Wishin’ and Hopin’” and instantly derides her daughter’s happiness. “Think about my disappointment after I get up after 5 years and uncover that you simply’re not more than abnormal,” she seethes.
11. Cristina realizes Burke is gone.
Within the Season 3 finale, Cristina (Sandra Oh) isn’t able to marry Burke (Isaiah Washington), however she’s additionally not prepared for him to flee Seattle, so she reveals up. Nonetheless, after he calls it off, and he or she comes residence to search out his place empty, she realizes she’s free… and begins sobbing and hyperventilating in Meredith’s arms.
10. Meredith tries to sacrifice herself.
Three season finales later, Meredith tries to save lots of Derek by confronting the hospital shooter (Michael O’Neill) searching for revenge on the docs he blames for his spouse’s dying. She tells him killing her would damage all three of these docs. And to Cristina, she says, “Inform Derek that I really like him and that I’m sorry.”
9. Bailey’s mom dies from COVID-19.
In Season 17’s “Combat the Energy,” Elena (Bianca Taylor) dies from COVID-19 as daughter Bailey sits by her bedside and sings to her. Much more heartbreakingly, the episode ends with an onscreen record of tons of of real-life COVID-19 casualties.
8. Adele realizes she has Alzheimer’s.
Passing a trial take a look at isn’t the success that Adele (Loretta Devine) thinks it’s in Season 7’s “This Is How We Do It.” She learns that she has Alzheimer’s however isn’t eligible for the trial. “It’s not truthful. We’re lastly comfortable, you and me … and now?” she tells Richard (James Pickens Jr.) between sobs.
7. Cristina can’t save Teddy’s husband.
Henry (Scott Foley), the primary husband of Teddy (Kim Raver), doesn’t survive his lung surgical procedure, and Cristina is stored at midnight about her affected person’s id till the tip of the operation. Then, in Season 8’s “Instantly,” she has to interrupt the information to Teddy.
6. The injured John Doe reveals he’s George.
The horrifically injured man who jumped in entrance of a bus to save lots of one other pedestrian traces the numbers “0-0-7” on Meredith’s palm within the Season 5 finale. She is aware of the importance — “007” is the unflattering “license to kill” nickname George (T.R. Knight) earned as an intern — however the docs can’t save their colleague.
5. April finds out about her unborn son’s situation.
In Season 11’s “All I May Do Was Cry,” April (Sarah Drew) is devastated to study her unborn son, Samuel, has kind II osteogenesis imperfecta. “My child’s bones are breaking within my stomach?” she says, astounded. “The place he’s alleged to be most secure, however his bones are breaking.”
4. Meredith says goodbye to Derek.
When Derek (Patrick Dempsey) is critically injured in a automotive accident in Season 11’s “ Save a Life,” Mer will get to the hospital, says her goodbyes, and lets the nurse disconnect the respirator, protecting her hand on his chest as he takes his final breath in one of many sequence’ most surprising deaths.
3. Denny dies earlier than the hospital promenade.
The unique gang of interns goes to extraordinary measures to save lots of Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), even chopping his LVAD wire to spice up his transplant possibilities. However he dies anyway within the Season 2 finale, simply moments earlier than Izzie (Katherine Heigl) arrives to choose him up for the hospital promenade.
2. Lexie dies of plane-crash accidents.
Season 8 ends with a aircraft crash within the wilderness, placing most of the docs in peril. Lexie (Chyler Leigh), pinned by wreckage, dies with Mark (Eric Dane) by her facet — however not earlier than he tells her they’re “meant to be.” (Much more tragically, Mark additionally dies after the docs are rescued.)
1. Cristina leaves Meredith.
Of all of the heartbreaks of Gray’s Anatomy, the saddest, in our books, is Cristina’s exit. Sandra Oh’s character is the perfect of the sequence, and that loss nonetheless smarts, however at the least Cristina didn’t go away Gray Sloan earlier than giving twisted sister Meredith yet one more pep speak and yet one more dance-it-out session.
Gray’s Anatomy, Thursdays, 10/9c, ABC