Grey's Anatomy: Every Season Ranked Worst To Best
6. Season 11
To date, season 11 remains Grey's Anatomy at its most inventive. It features the usual trials and tribulations - Derek moving to Washington and straining his marriage to Meredith; another of Mer's secret sisters arrives in town - but explores the backstory and trauma of Meredith's life with startling creativity.
Utilising stirring flashbacks to give added insight into Meredith's childhood and her fraught relationship with her late mother, the season is a deeply moving exploration of family, following Meredith as she connects with her sister Maggie, and Webber as he grapples with the news he's Maggie's father.
Amongst this, Derek meets a nasty fate, left braindead in a car accident before dying in hospital. But it's worth noting that, difficult as it is to let McDreamy go, his final episode actually sends him off brilliantly, with a level of tension and emotional weight to make it feel real rather than forced (like, say, what happened with George).
Emotionally resonant, rarely manipulative, and full of unforgettable performances courtesy of Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, and James Pickens Jr, Grey's 11th chapter is the show at its most bold and insightful.