No matter how you watch it, "Grey's Anatomy" is the uncontested best medical drama on television. I, personally, wait until the newest season is out on Netflix so that I can binge watch on my own time (and all at once, I'll admit).
"Grey's" has remained relevant and on TV for 11 years so far with hopefully more to come. This show has captivated me and so many others for a reason..but what is it? The reality is that it may be a combination of elements that make this show the riveting masterpiece that it is.
So what exactly are the factors that have held our attention on one show for 12 seasons and counting? Here's what I think.
1. The Amazing Cast
They all have their high moments and pitfalls, but that's what makes them such a unique cast. No one is perfect; it's just like real life. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and have to overcome the bad to reach the good. Plus, there are so many characters that every viewer is bound to find something they relate to represented in the cast.
2. The Patients
The patients with seemingly the most unrealistic medical cases hold our attention, even if we don't necessarily believe they could actually happen. But, according to Women's Health Magazine, a lot of the medical cases in "Grey's" are more realistic than we'd think. Take the lady with 70 pound tumor or the guy who accidentally shot himself in the head with a nail gun multiple times but was still alive and making conversation in the trauma room - these cases could really have occurred! Their stories have us glued to the screen as we find even more people to relate to.
3. The Surprising Guest Stars
It seemed like every time I'd watch a new episode, I'd see a different face I recognized. With everyone from Sarah Paulson (who played Ellis Grey in her residency days), to Demi Lovato and Mandy Moore as patients, this show has cast a lot of now-familiar faces.
4. The Life-Altering Twists
Good and bad, "Grey's Anatomy" is known for the surprises, cliff hangers, and two-part, "To Be Continued..." episodes. Personally, I've had to limit myself to only watching the show when the episodes come out on Netflix because I can't stand waiting a week in between to know what happens in these instances. From the unidentifiable John Doe who turned out to be George, to the plane crash that led to the deaths of Lexi and Mark *tears* and Arizona's loss of one leg, some of these twists have made me quite angry with Shonda Rhimes. Fortunately, some of the surprises lead to good, like the latest in season twelve where April's emergency at-home C-section ended in the birth of a healthy baby.
5. Meredith's Lessons
This is the face of someone who knows what she wants and how to get it. She's an attending doctor at one of the best hospitals in the country, she married the love of her life, has three kids and still manages to parent them while being a superstar at work. Her advice means something - and it's actually really valuable. Although it is just a TV show, some of the insight from Meredith's disembodied voice each episode can hold true in real life.
Whatever your favorite storyline is, which character you relate to most, or which patient cases hit the hardest, if you're a viewer of "Grey's Anatomy," you've laughed, cried and rejoiced during the show. If you think about it, that's a big achievement for a show that isn't real-- to bring people together in our emotional highs and lows; to give us something to both escape from the reality of life and validate us with characters we relate to.
Thanks "Grey's," for being the best medical drama on television! Here's to 11 more years.
And in the words of Meredith Grey:
"If there's just one piece of advice I could give you, it's this--when there's something you really want, fight for it, don't give up no matter how hopeless it seems. And when you've lost hope, ask yourself if in ten years from now, you're gonna wish you gave it just one more shot because the best things in life, they don't come free."
