Grey's Anatomy

10 Best Episodes of Grey's Anatomy - Season 3

Grey's Anatomy has been a fan favorite since its debut in 2005. The show follows the personal and professional lives of a group of doctors at Seattle’s Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, delivering drama, romance, and heartbreak in equal measure. With 22 seasons under its belt, the show has had its fair share of standout moments and fan-favorite episodes.

To celebrate the show's success, we've compiled a list of the best episodes ranked by viewers. From shocking twists to heartwarming moments, these episodes are sure to leave you on the edge of your seat. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer to the series, these episodes are a must-watch for any Grey's Anatomy enthusiast.

So sit back, grab some popcorn, and get ready to relive some of the most iconic moments from Grey's Anatomy. With its gripping storylines, talented cast, and unforgettable characters, it's no wonder the show has remained a staple of primetime TV for over 15 years.

Written by Sophie and last updated on may 04, 2024.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Grey's Anatomy - S3E5

#15 - Oh, the Guilt (Season 3 - Episode 5)

Derek learns one of Addison's secrets. Bailey talks about motherhood and depression to a mother who is set to have cancer surgery and who seems to not care about any decisions concerning the future. A resident is fiercely questioned about the death of a male patient. An ex-couple meet before lunch and get stuck - Meredith and Addison work on their case. Things get awkward when the ex-couple's daughter, Michelle, arrives at the hospital.

The episode was rated 7.87 from 731 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E8

#14 - Staring at the Sun (Season 3 - Episode 8)

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George's father has a serious heart problem that requires surgery and George chooses Burke to do the procedure. Burke doubts himself because he knows the pressure this kind of surgery will put on him, but Cristina believes the team can handle it. Derek works with Meredith on being a couple again and tries work with Addison on more civil terms. A patient has had mutiple plastic surgeries so that his girlfriend will like him more. A mom wants her daughter's babysitter fired, after she is brought in with multiple injuries, but the girl likes the babysitter more than her mother.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 733 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E10

#13 - Don't Stand So Close to Me (Season 3 - Episode 10)

Recent events strain Burke and Cristina's relationship. Mark and Derek must work together when two close-knit brothers seek medical help. One of Meredith's half sisters is admitted to the hospital.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 703 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E4

#12 - What I Am (Season 3 - Episode 4)

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Shawn Sullivan, a car salesman who just had surgery, wants to get back to his routine so he doesn't lose his renown. Addison works with a pregnant woman named Rebecca who may need a C-section and Addison doubts her medical skills. Rebecca wants to have the baby naturally. Derek and Mark's opinions clash when the try to decide the course of treatment for a burn victim. Izzie gets surprised. Cristina pushes Burke to get better faster.

The episode was rated 7.89 from 766 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E2

#11 - I Am a Tree (Season 3 - Episode 2)

Cristina meets Burke's parents, the interns try to get Izzie's job back, and Addison takes a day off, a surgical patient may be living her last day. Some of the interns want to know why Bailey won't talk to Izzie. Meredith tries to decide between Derek and Finn and comes to a decision somewhat. Webber finds out that Callie has been living in the hospital and he confronts her about it.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 767 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E13

#10 - Great Expectations (Season 3 - Episode 13)

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After the Chief announces his retirement, rumors begin to circulate on his departure and successor. Mark is determined to leave Seattle for good but Meredith accidentally has him stay after letting him know of the open Chief position. Derek is angry at Meredith for causing Mark to stay in Seattle, but soon realizes that she is not the reason he is really angry. The attending physicians at Seattle Grace Hospital fight to get Richard's attention, but he expresses his disappointment. He also displays his lack of support in Bailey's plan to create a free medical clinic, but she ultimately goes through with her plan when Izzie offers to spend her entire 8.7 million dollar inheritance on the project. George, devastated after his father's death, uses sex to overcome his grief, and eventually proposes to Callie. Cristina and Burke still don't speak to each other, but he breaks the agreement when he proposes to her. Richard endeavors to reunite with his wife, Adele, and decides to retire, only to come home and find his wife with another man.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 722 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E1

#9 - Time Has Come Today (Season 3 - Episode 1)

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.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 786 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E11

#8 - Six Days (1) (Season 3 - Episode 11)

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Meredith discovers that Derek has a problem sleeping while her father comes to visit the hospital. George's father is moving from one surgery to another. A patient named Heather checks into the hospital. Heather is 17 and has a nasty attitude that results from her medical condition and all the surgeries it has required her to have. Izzie has an emotional breakdown when she tries to hand over something very important to her. George's family comes to visit to celebrate his father's surgery. Cristina and Burke are playing Uncle.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 718 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E9

#7 - From a Whisper to a Scream (Season 3 - Episode 9)

A traumatic car accident fills the ER. Izzie pushes the boundaries of her probation. Cristina has a crisis of conscience about her deceptive teamwork with Burke.

The episode was rated 7.95 from 744 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E12

#6 - Six Days (2) (Season 3 - Episode 12)

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Cristina and Burke continue to play Uncle until one of them gives in. Derek and Meredith are fighting over the reason for their sleepless nights. Meredith tries to talk to her father about his side of the story. There's tension between Alex and Addison. There is even more tension between Addison and Mark. Addison confides in Callie. Bailey wishes she didn't have to keep a secret from one of the interns. Callie rushes to be with George after she learns that his dad needs an emergency procedure. Izzie may have found 'some good to do' with her inheritance.

The episode was rated 7.97 from 740 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E14

#5 - Wishin' and Hopin' (Season 3 - Episode 14)

The race for the Chief's position is on, and the attending physicians, Derek, Burke, Addison and Mark, compete for Richard's affections by trying to help out everywhere possible. The Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic is open for business, but only one single patient shows up. Izzie is disappointed in what she invested Denny's legacy in, and tries to steal patients from the emergency room. Callie and George get back from Las Vegas, announcing their marriage, much to everyone's disbelief. Izzie is not supportive of their marriage and tries to get George to realize the mistake he has made. Meanwhile, Meredith's Alzheimer's-stricken mother, Ellis Grey, experiences a change in her medical condition by becoming lucid for the day. She is disappointed in the mediocrity her daughter has fallen into and begins to despise Derek, blaming him for what happened to the Meredith that used to be "a force of nature". Ellis has to have heart surgery and, despite her wishes, Meredith schedules her upcoming surgery. Richard talks to Ellis and realizes that she is still in love with him, but loses her memory after their talk ends, before Meredith has the chance to tell her how she really feels.

The episode was rated 8.03 from 700 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E15

#4 - Walk on Water (Season 3 - Episode 15)

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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.

The episode was rated 8.11 from 755 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E17

#3 - Some Kind of Miracle (Season 3 - Episode 17)

In the Grey's Anatomy episode "Some Kind of Miracle," the pressure is on for Meredith's survival. After the aftermath of the ferry disaster, the characters are still grappling with the consequences. One particular patient, Lucas, struggles with brain-mouth coordination, adding another layer of complexity. Amidst all this, there's a heartbreaking death that shakes the hospital to its core.

Fans of the show were captivated by the presence of Meredith's ghost, which added a unique twist to the storyline. However, some viewers expressed sympathy for Callie, who seemed to be mistreated throughout the episode. On the other hand, there were mixed reactions to the dream sequences and emotional outbursts, with some feeling that they detracted from the overall quality of the episode.

Despite differing opinions, many were taken by surprise when Meredith's mom passed away earlier than expected, finding it somewhat underwhelming. However, the episode managed to redeem itself with the intense scene between Denny and Izzie at the end, leaving fans eager for more. And who could forget the entertaining arguments between the bomb guy and Denny? It's moments like these that keep viewers hooked on Grey's Anatomy.

The episode was rated 8.11 from 748 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E25

#2 - Didn't We Almost Have It All? (Season 3 - Episode 25)

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In this intense episode of Grey's Anatomy, titled "Didn't We Almost Have It All?", the tension reaches its peak as secrets are revealed and relationships are tested. Derek and George uncover a shocking truth during surgery, discovering that a horrifying axe lodged in their patient's head was intentionally placed there. The climbers responsible confess, admitting their attempt to end their friend's suffering. The drama continues as Adele, Richard's wife, is saved after a terrifying incident in the bathroom but tragically suffers a miscarriage. The revelation that the baby was Richard's leads to even more heartache.

Meanwhile, Bailey is disappointed to discover that Callie has been named the new Chief Resident, causing her to question Callie's surgical skills. Richard, faced with a difficult decision, chooses Derek as the Chief of Surgery. However, Derek surprises everyone by declining the position, insisting he wants to focus on what he does best. As if that isn't enough, it's the day of Cristina and Burke's wedding, but Cristina's dedication to her work threatens to derail the ceremony. Ultimately, Burke realizes he doesn't truly love Cristina and leaves her at the altar.

Amidst all this chaos, Meredith and Derek find themselves at a crossroads in their relationship. Despite Derek confessing his love for her, they make the heartbreaking decision to end things. Will they find their way back to each other or is this truly the end? Stay tuned to Grey's Anatomy to find out what happens next in this rollercoaster of emotions.

[Disclaimer: The comments provided by users do not represent the views of the media or the writer.]

The episode was rated 8.17 from 727 votes.

Grey's Anatomy - S3E16

#1 - Drowning on Dry Land (Season 3 - Episode 16)

In the Grey's Anatomy episode, "Drowning on Dry Land," Meredith finds herself in a dangerous situation. Despite being underwater, nobody seems to notice her worsening condition. As Derek frantically searches for her, a shocking discovery leads him to believe that she may be in the water. With time running out, Derek must save Meredith before it's too late. The suspense builds as Meredith's fate hangs in the balance.

Meanwhile, Izzie is faced with a challenging case. She must perform brain surgery on a man trapped between cars, who is experiencing seizures. With quick thinking and determination, Izzie drills holes into his head, ultimately saving his life. Her heroic actions showcase her skills and dedication as a doctor.

As the episode unfolds, George finds himself in a difficult situation. To secure a surgery, he resorts to lying to a woman whose son he had been searching for. Despite his efforts, George still struggles to locate the missing child. The emotional toll of this situation weighs heavy on him.

Amidst the chaos, Alex tries to find hope for a pregnant patient, Jane Doe, as she undergoes surgery. However, his search for her family proves to be fruitless. The interns, learning about Meredith's predicament, feel a sense of hopelessness. The episode takes a poignant turn as Meredith wakes up in what appears to be limbo and encounters her deceased acquaintances.

"Drowning on Dry Land" is a gripping episode of Grey's Anatomy that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. From Meredith's perilous situation to Izzie's heroic actions and the emotional struggles of the other characters, this episode delivers both suspense and heartfelt moments. The spiritualist ending adds an intriguing twist, leaving audiences eager for more.

The episode was rated 8.27 from 769 votes.

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