Grey’s Anatomy has brought television two of the most iconic characters in hospital drama TV: McDreamy and McSteamy, or rather Derek Shepherd and Mark Sloan. Just like night and day, these two are the complete opposites of each other while also being best friends at the same time. What’s not to love?
With these two comes a series-long debate of which one is the better guy. Derek is dreamy and devoted whereas Mark is steamy and confident. Between the two, it was hard to pick which one Meredith should have gotten with, and it’s even hard now to decide which guy people would bring home to Mom for Thanksgiving. So which one is the best, Derek Shepherd or Mark Sloan?
Mark: He Doesn't Take Himself Seriously
The beauty of Mark wasn’t because of his good looks or his tall stature, but also because he was just so carefree. Mark was the comic relief of the show before any of the interns came along, and he did it so well. From hilariously flirting with Meredith to taking jabs at the other residents, Mark was the life of the show when a gunman roamed the hospital or explosions happened outside.
Derek: He’s Optimistic
“It’s a beautiful day to save lives.”
With almost every episode, this quote reminded audiences that Derek was an overall great and optimistic character. His passion for what he does was told through his optimism, whether it be through that quote or the tenacity he had during his surgeries to make sure his patients stayed alive through the night. Derek believed in love, second chances, and defied the odds.
Mark: He Didn’t Self-Sabotage
Mark was many things - sometimes a bad best friend, a player, an arrogant surgeon, but he never self-sabotaged as horribly as Derek. While Derek was going through the failure of his clinical trial, he not only punched Mark to oblivion in the middle of the hospital for everyone to see, but he also pushed Meredith away and almost ended their relationship.
Between Mark and Derek, Mark always was the one that kept it together when life was falling down around him. Mark always knew what and who he was while Derek struggled to keep it together at times. This alone solidifies himself as one of the best.
Derek: He’s Talented
Just like Meredith, Derek Shepherd is a brilliant surgeon and this was shown many times throughout the show. He got worms out of Addison’s brother’s brain, he developed his own clinical trial, he saved a rhythmic gymnast’s life, and the list only goes on. There’s no denying that Derek was one of the most talented surgeons at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Mark: He Was Honest About His Feelings
One of the greatest things about Mark is his ability to be vulnerable and open about his feelings. From Callie to Lexie to Jackson, he always was open about how he felt about them. His everlasting friendship with Callie, his deep love for Lexie, and his doting mentorship to Jackson is one of the reasons he was so lovable and Mark never shied away from these feelings.
Derek: He Was A Good Husband And Father
Just like with surgery, Derek was great at being a husband and father. He doted on Meredith like no other, and when Zola came around, he was more than ready to take on the heroic role of being a father. He was attentive to both his wife and his kids up until his dying day, and for that, he remains a top candidate for being the best.
Mark: He Was Committed
The second Sloan and her unborn baby came into his life, he was instantly on board with becoming a father, and that’s exactly who Mark Sloan is: unashamedly committed.
When it came to Lexie, she was the run skirting around his commitment, not him. Even with Sloan and her baby, she got scared of starting this family whereas Mark was wholly invested the second she arrived on his doorstep. This kind of commitment is rare and why everyone loves him so much.
Derek: He Was Realistic
As romantic as Derek was, he was also super realistic! He was the rock, the solid foundation that not only Meredith could trust, but also Richard Weber, Mark Sloan, and even Preston Burke could rely on. Derek was always there to rationalize situations and dissect issues whether it be surgeries or whatever drama was happening in Meredith’s life. It even brought and helped him to become Chief of Surgery for a time!
Mark: He’s Vulnerable
Just like he was honest about his feelings, Mark’s greatest strength was that he was vulnerable. He never shied away from his feelings, never felt the need to refrain from professing what he felt. This is why he made such a great father to baby Sofia and an even greater boyfriend to Lexie.
Derek: He Was A Family Man
With four sisters, nine nieces, and six nephews, it’s hard not to imagine Derek as a family man. He trained for it his entire life! Being from a big loving family helped him prepare for his own fatherhood experience and it is what led him to be such an amazing father for the time he had before his untimely death.