Once upon a time, Grey's Anatomy was a compelling show about a group of surgeons adapting to the hospital setting and coping with the death of their patients. Seasons passed, and before we knew it it was more a show about doctors mourning the deaths of other doctors, to some of the most bizarre freak accidents in the history of the universe. While others have reminisced about the loss of one-episode patients, or Meredith's dog -- which, admittedly, were quite heart wrenching, they don't compare to the many losses of main or recurring characters. To honor their memory, I offer a definitive ranking of their deaths. Why do you do this to me, Shonda? Why?

7. Ellis Grey,

She might have been the mother of all nightmares 95 percent of the time, but even I will admit her death had me in the tears. She finally gave her daughter the validation and acceptance she needed to keep going, and for that she redeemed herself.

6. Henry Burton.

Before we were introduced to Jake on Scandal, Shondaland favorite Scott Foley played Henry, a terminally ill patient who marries Teddy for insurance purposes. In predictable, yet adorable fashion, they fall in love and enjoy several months of marital bliss. That is, until he suffers complications and dies. The worst part? Teddy didn't get to be with him in his final moments, and wasn't informed of his passing until hours after the fact.

5. Denny Duquette.

Now, we knew that after all the extreme unethical lengths Izzie went to get him that heart transplant, they wouldn't ride off into the sunset without consequences. But that didn't make his death any less horrible. She cut the LVAD wire for him -- couldn't he at least live? I was no fan of his reappearance as a ghost in the later seasons, but I still think of him whenever I hear "Chasing Cars.".

4. George O'Malley.

He would be the first of many character deaths via heavy machinery but we, the audience, didn't know that. In fact, we spent the entire episode thinking he was John Doe, an anonymous hero who threw himself in front of a bus to save a number. To reveal his identity, he has to carve his nickname into Meredith's palm, and from then on the tears kept flowing.

3. Mark Sloan.

There are just no words for this, it was so bittersweet. On the one hand, we wanted him to stick around for the sake of his friends and daughter, but more than that, we wanted him to be reunited with Lexie. But the show was never the same without our beloved McSteamy.

2. Derek Shepherd.

A la Drake Ramoray, our beloved neurosurgeon died of brain injury on last week's episode, and fan reactions nearly broke the internet. This week, we learned that he conceived a child with Meredith the day before he died. Talk about adding insult to injury. I would talk more about how sad and unnecessary his death was, but I'm pretty sure I am still in shock. They already had McSteamy, why'd they have to take McDreamy with him?

1. Lexie Grey.

I know, I know, a lot of you think there is no way her death should outrank Derek, but hear me out. She was thisclose to the life she wanted. After years of drama, she'd finally professed her love for Mark. She was on the path to becoming an amazing surgeon. She and Meredith had finally gotten close. And then she was crushed by a plane, and eaten by animals in the woods. Her last moments were spent with Mark, begging her to live and talking about the family they would never get to start together. He tells her they are meant to be, and she echoes those words before passing away. It was nauseatingly sad, and to be quite honest, I am still bitter three years later.

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go pour myself a drink to numb all the emotions this trip down memory lane has brought up.