Grey's Anatomy: Every Season Ranked Worst To Best
11. Season 12
As it stands, Meredith Grey may just be the most tragic character on TV. Since the first season of Grey's Anatomy, she's survived a bomb explosion, drowned, lost both parents, seen a dozen of her closest friends die, landed in a coma, and, by season 12, she's also recently been made a widow.
The death of Derek Shepherd weighs heavily this season, and the show's customary depictions of grief are heavier than ever. Meredith throws herself into work, and, in the absence of Cristina, forms a surprising but loving friendship with Karev. Elsewhere, Callie and Arizona have a heartwrenching custody battle over their daughter.
These developments, all mashed together amongst the usual surgical cases and grieving families, make season 12 one of the show's most gruelling. The Callie/Arizona clash in particular is difficult to stomach, though not quite as harrowing as watching Mer brutally attacked by a violent patient, her jaw, leg, and arm broken.
Season 12 won't win any prizes for its joy - it also has Amelia breaking years of sobriety, just for good measure - but wins everything for the power of its stories, and the way it allows its key characters to heal by the final episode.