This article discusses topics about gun violence.

Grey's Anatomy is often categorized as one of the best medical dramas in TV history, mainly due to its three-dimensional characters and heart-wrenching storylines. The show has also welcomed a plethora of famous faces, including Sandra Oh, Patrick Dempsey, and Sarah Paulson, all of which add to the allure of this impactful show. Grey's has also managed to commission a number of successful spin-offs, such as Private Practice, Station 19, and Grey's Anatomy: B-Team, which strive to expand this gripping universe.

Now in its 20th season, many fans believe that the show was at its peak during the earlier seasons, more specifically, Season 2. This season saw the interns grow from strength to strength, helping to truly define and shape the MAGIC era. Plus, many fans state that nostalgia plays a big part in Grey's Anatomy's success and the earlier seasons help to transport them back to a much more memorable time in the franchise's lore.

Episode Title

Viewership

"Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"

18.98 million

"Enough is Enough"

17.57 million

"Make Me Lose Control"

18.12 million

"Deny, Deny, Deny"

18.28 million

"Bring the Pain"

18 million

"Into You Like a Train"

16.67 million

"Something to Talk About"

18.13 million

"Let It Be"

19.74 million

"Thanks for the Memories"

20.33 million

"Much too Much"

19.59 million

"Owner of a Lonely Heart"

20.59 million

"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"

15.70 million

"Begin the Begin"

18.97 million

"Tell Me Sweet Little Lies"

21.04 million

"Break on Through"

18.44 million

"It's the End of the World"

37.88 million

"As We Know It"

25.42 million

"Yesterday"

24.36 million

"What Have I Done to Deserve This?"

24.76 million

"Band-Aid Covers the Bullet Hole"

22.51 million

"Superstition"

21.13 million

"The Name of the Game"

22.35 million

"Blues for Sister Someone"

20.76 million

"Damage Case"

21.99 million

"17 Seconds"

22.60 million

"Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response"

22.50 million

"Losing My Religion"

22.50 million

Though Grey's Anatomy can easily brag about its ratings year-on-year, there's no denying that Season 2 was one of its most successful in terms of viewership. The season managed to accumulate an average of 21.07 million views, ensuring that the show could easily compete against its contemporaries such as Desperate Housewives and Boston Legal.

Not to mention, Season 2 saw a dramatic improvement in its storylines, especially when it came to the relationships between the characters. Whether it's Cristina and Meredith arguing over McDreamy or Mark and Addison's rocky relationship, these instances had viewers hooked from the very beginning. This success also allowed the cast and crew to win a number of prestigious awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Drama Series in 2006. As such, throughout Season 2, Grey's Anatomy managed to secure its position as a prime-time medical drama.

Grey's Anatomy is a deeply female show, placing strong women at the forefront of everything it does. Though modern fans may not see this as a large achievement, at the time that Season 2 was airing, the show was competing against the hit medical drama E.R. This show placed George Clooney in the spotlight and didn't offer his female counterparts the chance to lead the way. Therefore, it's evident that Shonda Rhimes was keen to take a risk, which ultimately paid off. Season 2 introduced us to a number of female leaders, including Cristina Yang, Izzie Stevens, and Addison Montgomery, all of whom were able to showcase their professional and personal prowess.

For example, in Season 2, Episode 3, "Deny, Deny, Deny," Cristina Yang is struggling to remain on bed rest since she is such a dedicated and driven worker. Yet, we also see a more vulnerable side of her, especially when she finally breaks down about her recent emergency abortion. This highlights the duality of female leaders, showcasing how characters like Cristina can tackle immense challenges but can also struggle with deeply human experiences such as grief and shock. These contradictions help fans view her as a much more complex character and empathize with her on a more nuanced level.

Another prime example of female strength is in Season 2, Episode 6, "Into You Like a Train". Despite feeling nervous about the future of her relationship with Derek, Meredith quickly puts these anxieties aside to help the victims of a horrific train crash. Meredith's actions symbolize her career-driven mindset and indicate that no matter how much she loves Derek, she will always put her job first. Thus, she comes across as a motivated and passionate woman, something that was not commonly seen on-screen during the mid-2000s. It also elucidates that although Seattle Grace is teeming with gossip, clumsy friendships, and sleazy sexual escapades, the staff truly care about their patients. Plus, Meredith's later rejection also exemplifies that women are sometimes forced to develop a secure work-life balance, even when it feels like their world is caving in.

Year

Award Title

Winner

2006

Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Grey's Anatomy

2007

Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Drama Series

Katherine Heigl

2010

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Miniseries, Movie Or A Special

Grey's Anatomy

2010

Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)

Grey's Anatomy

2011

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

Loretta Devine

Admittedly, Grey's Anatomy has been criticized in recent years for its convoluted storylines that are based more on hysteria, rather than actual medical cases. But in Grey's Anatomy Season 2, the writers managed to show off their medical knowledge in a range of hyper-realistic and emotive episodes. Throughout Season 2, Episode 16, "It's The End of The World," viewers are exposed to the harsh nature of gun violence, and these themes are only exacerbated when the team must remove the bullet before it explodes. Tensions are high during this episode, but it still manages to hit close to home because gun violence is a recurrent issue throughout the U.S., and cases like this occur in hospitals on a regular basis. Plus, this episode shows Miranda Bailey going into labor, tugging on the viewers' heartstrings once again as they witness a fan-favorite character welcome new life into the world.

Grey's Anatomy's use of extensive medical knowledge helps the show stand head and shoulders above the rest. This is mainly because the show does not have to rely on silly plot developments and can use practical solutions to solve real-life problems. For example, in Season 2, Episode 11, "Owner of a Lonely Heart," George uses leeches to restore the blood flow in a patient with a slow capillary flow. This may sound like an obscure method of treatment, but leeches have immense medical benefits, so seeing this in the hospital indicates just how intuitive the interns can be. In addition, the fact that the interns have somewhat easy access to these creatures highlights just how advanced Seattle Grace is and how it managed to be a thought leader in its respective field. As a result, these intricate examples show that Season 2 places a greater focus on realism, ensuring that it can reap the benefits of increased dramatic tension.

Top 5 Grey's Anatomy Episodes of All Time:

With a staggering 20 seasons under its belt and heaps of memorable moments, it's clear that fans will hold Grey's Anatomy in their hearts forever. Though the show has seen a slight dip in ratings over the course of time, it's now available on a collection of popular streaming sites, so avid viewers can tune in whenever they please.

Even when key characters such as Alex Karev and Stephanie Edwards decide to call it quits, the show manages to bring in a collection of new staff without having to erase previous cast members entirely. There have always been rumors regarding when the show will end, but until that time comes, it's safe to say that Grey's Anatomy will continue to revel in great levels of success.

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Grey's Anatomy Still Hasn't Topped One of Its Earliest Seasons - CBR