The Best Episodes Written By Shonda Rhimes
Every TV Episode Written by Shonda Rhimes Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters
Shonda Rhimes Ratings Summary
The best episode written by Shonda Rhimes is "As We Know It", rated 8.9/10 from 9 user votes. It was "directed by Peter Horton". "As We Know It" aired on 2/12/2006 and is rated 0.0 point(s) higher than their second highest rated, "Sanctuary".
8.9/10 9 votes#1 - As We Know It
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 2/12/2006
Derek is still operating when he finds out about Meredith's current situation. Meredith is freaking out about her situation. Webber and Bailey are dealing with medical health issues. Cristina and Izzie have their own issues to deal with because of Meredith's situation. Addison freaks out when George tries to find a solution to Bailey's impromtu postponement. Overall, Seattle Grace Hospital is still under code black and the situation is getting worse.
Director: Peter Horton
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.9/10 8 votes#2 - Sanctuary
Season 6 Episode 23 - Aired 5/20/2010
Seattle Grace Hospital is hit with a crisis like no other in its' history.
Director: Stephen Cragg
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.7/10 9 votes#3 - Drowning on Dry Land
Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 2/15/2007
Meredith is still underwater, but nobody seems to notice. Her worsening condition makes her rescuing an urgent matter. Derek finds her coat on a man she had helped, and starts looking for her and, much to his shock, the little girl Meredith took care of suggests that she is in the water. Derek saves her, but she is almost dead, due to hypothermia. Izzie has to perform brain surgery on a man stuck between cars, as he begins to experience seizures. She drills holes into his head, perforates his skull and ultimately saves his life before he is rescued and transferred to Seattle Grace Hospital. George lies to the woman whose son he had been looking for, in order to get to surgery, but still doesn't have any luck in locating him. Alex finds no hope in searching for the pregnant Jane Doe's family as she undergoes surgery. The interns find out about Meredith's situation and express their hopelessness. She wakes up in what appears to be limbo and meets her deceased acquaintances.
Director: Rob Corn
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.6/10 10 votes#4 - It's the End of the World
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 2/5/2006
An explosive case arrives at the O.R. that might endanger all the lives of the people working there, which leads Dr. Burke to declare a "Code Black" for the hospital. Bailey worries where her husband is as she is in labor. Also Izzie and Alex may be creating some heat.
Director: Peter Horton
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.4/10 8 votes#5 - Walk on Water
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 2/8/2007
A mass trauma situation, which turns out to be a ferryboat accident, challenges the whole staff of Seattle Grace Hospital. Richard finds difficulty in coping with his separation from his wife and dyes his hair "for the ladies", which becomes an internal joke between Mark, Burke and Derek. Cristina tries to tell Meredith about her upcoming marriage, but doesn't have the strength to. George promises to find a woman's son, who has been separated from her at the accident. The woman refuses to go into surgery until she is assured that her son is alive. Izzie has to take care of a man who got stuck between two cars on the ferry, but nobody helps her due to the large number of injured people. Alex rescues a pregnant woman with severe wounds on her face, and promises to take care of her. Meredith looks after a girl who has been separated from her mother after the accident, but accidentally falls into the water and drowns, with nobody but the little girl as a witness.
Director: Rob Corn
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.3/10 7 votes#6 - What a Difference a Day Makes
Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 5/7/2009
As Meredith, Derek and all of their friends prepare for the big wedding, a group of college students, injured in a car crash as they were heading to their graduation ceremony, is admitted to the ER. Meanwhile, Izzie fears the worst when she begins experiencing familiar symptoms.
Director: Rob Corn
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.2/10 10 votes#7 - Bring the Pain
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/2005
Cristina goes right back to working right after being discharged. Izzie isn't talking to Alex. Derek and Meredith treat a patient. George and Alex get stuck in an elevator.
Director: Mark Tinker
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.2/10 5 votes#8 - Fear (of the Unknown)
Season 10 Episode 24 - Aired 5/15/2014
The doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital bid an emotional farewell to the beloved Cristina Yang. A possible act of terrorism rocks Seattle and causes chaos at the hospital. Meanwhile, Meredith makes a life changing decision and one doctor receives shocking news.
Director: Tony Phelan
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.1/10 10 votes#9 - Thanks for the Memories
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/20/2005
It's Thanksgiving at Seattle Grace Hospital but the holiday's festivites are less than in order. Meredith and Derek try to counsel a family after their relative has had a seriously traumatic accident.
Director: Michael Dinner
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.1/10 8 votes#10 - Flight
Season 8 Episode 24 - Aired 5/17/2012
Faced with a life threatening situation, the doctors must fight to stay alive while trying to save the lives of their peers; Bailey and Ben make a decision regarding their relationship; and Teddy is presented with a tempting offer. Meanwhile, Richard plans a special dinner for the residents.
Director: Rob Corn
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.0/10 10 votes#11 - Losing My Religion
Season 2 Episode 27 - Aired 5/15/2006
This episode is the second part of a two-hour season finale. Richard tries to get information from Addison about a family member's condition. Callie and George have a talk about his feelings. Meredith and Derek have a talk about Doc.
Director: Mark Tinker
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.0/10 8 votes#12 - Time Has Come Today
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/2006
Meredith must make an important choice about which path she wants to follow to determine the future of her love life. While she considers her future she and others have flashbacks of their pasts. Cristina spends time with Burke while he recovers. Webber and Adele have a conversation after he spends the night at the hospital. Everyone attempts to deal with Izzie's choice to quit. George seeks relationship advice from Derek.
Director: Daniel Minahan
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.0/10 6 votes#13 - Freedom (2)
Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 5/22/2008
A couple undergoes surgery. Derek and Meredith's clinical trial gets a second shot from a new patient. Izzie helps Alex. McSteamy hooks up with someone.
Director: Rob Corn
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.0/10 9 votes#14 - Death and All His Friends
Season 6 Episode 24 - Aired 5/20/2010
Cristina and Meredith's surgical skills are put to the ultimate test.
Director: Rob Corn
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.0/10 8 votes#15 - Only Mama Knows
Season 11 Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/2014
Secrets from Ellis Grey’s past come to light when Meredith watches old videos and reads through her mother’s journals. Meanwhile, Maggie rocks the hospital with an unexpected announcement; Alex gets new responsibilities and Callie focuses her attention on the Veterans’ project.
Director: Nicole Rubio
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.0/10 3 votes#16 - It's Handled
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 10/3/2013
With Olivia's name out there as the President's mistress, both the White House and Pope & Associates face their biggest scandal to date, and a surprise allegiance is formed in order to get things handled. Meanwhile, Olivia's father, Rowan, will stop at nothing to carry out his orders and no one, including Olivia, can stand in his way.
Director: N/A
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.0/10 1 votes#17 - Survival of the Fittest
Season 6 Episode 1 - Aired 1/26/2017
The election results for the presidential race between Mellie Grant and Francisco Vargas are announced, and the shocking results lead to an explosive outcome.
Director: Tom Verica
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
8.0/10 99 votes#18 - Queen to Be
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 5/4/2023
Betrothed against her will to King George, young Charlotte arrives in London on her wedding day and faces scrutiny from the monarch's cunning mother.
Director: Tom Verica
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
7.9/10 9 votes#19 - Some Kind of Miracle
Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 2/22/2007
Everyone is pushing for Meredith to survive, or in this case to be revived. People are still dealing with the fallout from the ferry disaster. A young man named Lucas is having problems with brain-mouth coordination. Someone else dies.
Director: Adam Arkin
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
7.8/10 8 votes#20 - The Name of the Game
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 4/2/2006
Meredith and Izzie take up knitting. Derek operates on Andrew, a spelling bee champ with a serious head injury. Bailey gets in on Andrew's surgery because she's worried that her coworkers won't recognize her Nazi-status now that she's a mother. Addison's patient has an unborn baby with medical issues. After Alex fails to bite his tongue when a terminal patient routinely lies to her daughter about her health he gets a lesson in bedside manners from Burke. George also begins to overstay his welcome at Burke's apartment after Callie visits him. Meredith has more confusing and uncomfortable encounters with members of her family. One of the female doctors meets a veterinarian named Finn. Izzie flirts with Denny and they play more naughty-Scrabble. Meredith, Derek, and Addison sarcastically take another small stab at their friendships.
Director: Seith Mann
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
7.8/10 9 votes#21 - Crash Into Me (1)
Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 11/22/2007
An ambulance crash endangers the lives of the paramedics involved, as Meredith and the Chief work on-site to save them, Bailey treats a patient who refuses her help, and Ava returns for Alex and meets his other girlfriend in the process.
Director: Michael Grossman
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
7.8/10 9 votes#22 - I Must Have Lost It on the Wind
Season 11 Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2014
With Cristina gone, a new doctor, Maggie Pierce, making the rounds and Derek wanting to move to Washington DC, Meredith struggles to regain a sense of normalcy both at home and in the hospital. Meanwhile, Callie and Arizona come to a decision about surrogacy, Amelia overhears a big secret, Bailey realizes she will have to fight Alex for Cristina’s board seat and a freak accident causes two teenagers to be caught in a very compromising position.
Director: Kevin McKidd
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
7.7/10 10 votes#23 - Crash Into Me (2)
Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/2007
Meredith works furiously to save a paramedic trapped in an ambulance; Lexie holds the life of a patient in her hands; Derek must rely on a nurse to save a patient; Bailey struggles to balance her personal life with her work.
Director: Jessica Yu
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
7.7/10 6 votes#24 - Dream a Little Dream of Me (2)
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 9/25/2008
Alex is offended when Izzie talks about how great a man Alex is to Meredith. Derek is stabbed with the scalpel in the palm of his hand by Rose, while the Chief is stunned over Mercy West's increase in the number of patients, a deadly ice storm ravages Seattle.
Director: Rob Corn
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
7.6/10 8 votes#25 - Blues for Sister Someone
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 4/30/2006
Addison's patient is a Catholic mother of seven. Addison gets in trouble after learning that the patient's husband won't use contraceptives. Derek treats a divorce attorney who asks if Derek is in need of her services. While Izzie and George are talking about their personal lives they "overhear" part of Derek's conversation with the divorce attorney who calls herself one of Seattle's best. Alex gets in trouble with Addison yet again for not being able to keep his mouth shut when other people think he should. A legendary jazz musician refuses to see medical reason. The musician is Burke's musical hero. Finn makes Meredith breakfast.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Shonda Rhimes