Anyone who has watched Grey’s Anatomy knows it’s a drama. One of the most popular medical dramas of all time, the show has nerve-wracking, intense scenes involving emergencies and even deaths. No one is entirely safe on the show, and the doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital must work hard to save lives.
But despite all the drama and tragedy, occasionally, there are tender, sentimental scenes in the show. The doctors have events that occur in their personal lives, and these are some of the best moments in the show. The characters are just like everyone else. They’re real people and they have heartwarming scenes, including these 10, that no one can forget.
When Alex Cares For Meredith
There are many memorable friendships in Grey’s Anatomy, including the bond between Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) and Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo). After Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) moved away, Alex stepped up to become Meredith’s “person.” He was her rock and her support system, no matter what.
In the season 12 episode “The Sound of Silence,” Meredith is unexpectedly attacked by a patient. Alex doesn’t give up, reminding everyone at the hospital that they are her family. She needs them. When Meredith wakes up, she’s confused and starts sobbing. Alex climbs into her hospital bed and comforts her, even crying after realizing just how close he was to losing his best friend.
Any Time Meredith & Cristina Dance
Cristina will always be Meredith’s “person,” even though she now lives in Switzerland. Some of the best moments on the show are between the two friends. They can talk to each other about anything, and they know how to cheer each other up after a stressful day.
This includes dancing. Anytime Meredith and Cristina “danced it out,” it was a symbol of their friendship. They dance through all of their dilemmas together.
When Cristina Tells Meredith She’s “The Sun”
It was heartbreaking to watch Cristina move away at the end of the show’s tenth season. It was the end of the onscreen interaction between Cristina and Meredith. Before leaving, Cristina offers some valuable, inspirational advice about Meredith’s marriage to her husband, Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey).
Cristina says, “Don’t let what he wants eclipse what you need. He’s very dreamy, but he is not the sun — you are.” It's true that Meredith shouldn’t sacrifice her dreams for Derek. She’s a star and can make her own decisions about her career. Cristina believes in Meredith, and no one could fight back the happy, sentimental tears while watching this scene.
When Bailey Becomes Chief Of Surgery
It is a monumental moment when a doctor is named Chief of Surgery. This person has a high rank in the hospital and works with the board of directors to make important decisions regarding the entire hospital. Richard Webber (James Pickens, Jr.) is a long-running chief, but he steps down (for good) at the start of the show’s twelfth season. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is appointed as the new chief, and she’s the perfect person for the position.
When fans first met Bailey in the show’s first season, she’s strict with the new interns. Over the years, however, she has become a fan-favorite character. She’s a voice of reason at the hospital, and she’s a leader. When Richard tells her she’s the new chief (and the first female Chief of Surgery at the hospital), he hands over his stethoscope and tells her that she is a leader. And she rightfully earned this new title.
When Alex Comforts Izzie
During the show’s second season, Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) has romantic feelings for one of the hospital’s patients, Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). She cared for him and fans wanted him to survive. However, after suffering a stroke following a heart transplant, Izzie tearfully makes the decision to cut his LVAD wire and he died shortly after.
The heartbreaking scene is difficult to watch, but it’s also heartwarming to witness Alex, who clearly had feelings for Izzie, pick her up and comfort her while she was sobbing. He takes care of her as a friend, ignoring his own feelings to support Izzie.
When Meredith Wins The Harper Avery Award
On the show, the Harper Avery Award (later renamed the Catherine Fox Award) is one of the most prestigious awards a surgeon can receive. Meredith’s mother, Ellis Grey (Kate Burton), was a two-time recipient. Could Meredith prove to be just as brilliant as her mother?
In the season 14 episode “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story,” Meredith is a nominee for the Harper Avery Award. However, in typical Meredith Grey fashion, she skips the ceremony to perform an emergency operation, proving her dedication to her profession. Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) accepts the award on her behalf, and he delivers a moving, heartwarming speech about how Meredith takes great pains to save lives.
When Meredith Makes A Candle House For Derek
In the season four finale “Freedom,” Meredith and Derek achieve success with their Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial. Their relationship had many ups and downs during the research, so it’s heartwarming when Meredith surprises Derek with a recreation of the floor plan of their dream house, made with candles on the plot of land Derek previously purchased for their future.
It’s one of the most romantic gestures on the show and it was a promise about their future. While Meredith admits it’s corny, it’s also a reason for them to be together. She tells him, “Because I believe that we can be extraordinary together rather than ordinary apart.” Who could argue with that?
When Derek Proposes To Meredith
In the season five episode “Elevator Love Letter,” Derek proposes in the most perfect way for two doctors: with science. Meredith and Derek are an intelligent power couple and they equally love their professions.
Derek finally proposes in the hospital’s elevator, decorating the elevator walls with X-rays from various medical cases that he professes helped him realize Meredith is “the one” for him. He fell in love with her while working on these cases, and now they were a part of his proposal. He tells her, “You’ve survived worse, and you know we’ll survive, too.”
When Meredith And Derek Adopt Zola
In the season seven episode “White Wedding,” Meredith and Derek meet Zola, a six-month-old baby from Malawi, who was brought to Seattle for a life-saving operation. The couple is immediately attached to her and they want to adopt her. They even go to the courthouse to quickly legalize their marriage.
The adoption process is long and challenging for the couple. Their marriage nearly suffers because of it, but everything is worthwhile in the season eight episode, “Suddenly.” The social worker arrives at Meredith and Derek’s house to confirm that they now have full custody. Zola is their daughter, and the parents are so happy to finally have Zola home with them.
When Meredith Gives Up Her Wedding For Alex And Izzie
In the season five episode, “What a Difference a Day Makes,” Meredith and Derek are supposed to get married. However, Izzie’s cancer diagnosis has progressed and is more severe than they thought. Meredith realizes that Alex and Izzie might not have much time to get married, so she gives them her wedding. Instead, Meredith and Derek later recite their pretend vows to each other on Post-It Notes. They promise to love and honor each other. It’s their ideal “wedding” — just the two of them.
Alex and Izzie’s wedding is perfect. It’s a magical garden scene and they pledge their love to each other in moving speeches. Before the ceremony, Izzie shares a heartfelt moment with Meredith. She fights back tears as she shows her appreciation, knowing that Meredith gave up her wedding for Izzie. It’s the most generous, selfless gift.