Grey's Anatomy: Every Season Ranked Worst To Best

20. Season 17

Going into the 2020 TV season, Grey's Anatomy was facing a mountain because of the COVID pandemic, which hindered season 17's production at every turn. But Grey's, never one to shy from a challenge or a real-world cataclysm, took the global tragedy and decided to use it, telling a vital story about the heroics of frontline workers.

And to that end, the much-maligned season actually does quite well, especially when it settles on the real, such as ventilator shortages and the difficulties of performing life-saving surgeries when the simple act of getting close to another human being could bring disaster. 

Following Meredith as she falls into a coma also has its virtues, with cameos from deceased fan favourites George, Mark, Lexie and Derek offering some affecting closure. Unfortunately, Mer being lost in a beached purgatory quickly runs out of steam, and for all its tragedy much of the season ends up feeling repetitive and emotionally dulled. 

All of this is compounded by some questionable twists, from the death of DeLuca to the departure of Jackson, two characters whose stories should have ended with much more care, and a jumbled narrative that can't quite settle on all it wants to say.