Although Grey’s Anatomy has plenty of great moments, some from the earlier seasons are completely underrated. The hit medical drama TV show is full of heartbreak, laughter, and profound friendships that influence multiple influential moments, but some don’t receive the praise they deserve. The most recent installment, Grey’s Anatomy season 20, sees the titular character Meredith Grey in a reduced role, but her earlier stories in the show are still prominent for audiences.

An underrated moment can be funny, emotional, both, or anything in between. These scenes or storylines are generally considered to be hugely impactful, but they aren’t as appreciated as they should be. Although Grey’s Anatomy now has a huge number of episodes under its belt, certain moments from seasons 1 to 5 need highlighting for several reasons.

10

Meredith Carrying A Severed Penis Around

Season 1, Episode 2 – The First Cut Is The Deepest

In Grey’s Anatomy’s second episode, Meredith Grey carries around a cooler with a severed penis inside it. Meredith does this after she starts caring for a rape victim, Allison, and finds the remains of her attacker’s genitals while performing surgery. The penis is collected to be used as evidence in the criminal trial, but Meredith doesn’t expect to spend her day with it on her person. As Meredith is the one to remove it from Allison’s body, she has to hold onto it until it can be placed into police custody.

However, the police take their time in retrieving the evidence. While this is a serious topic, Meredith’s response to having to hold onto the cooler is quite comical. Cristina finds the situation quite humorous, too, and makes a couple of jokes at Meredith’s expense. She ends up having to keep the container overnight, but it’s ultimately worth it for Meredith, as Allison’s assaulter is caught but cannot have it reattached to him. This is a brilliant moment for Meredith, who proves herself to be strong and capable in one of the sweetest but saddest episodes of Grey’s Anatomy season 1.

9

Izzie Saves A Patient’s Life By Massaging His Heart

Season 1, Episode 6 – If Tomorrow Never Comes

In the episode “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” Izzie treats patient Jimmy Harper. The day before she meets him, Jimmy suffers a coronary bypass. Over time, a clot on his chest is found, which becomes increasingly dangerous and puts his life at risk. Despite telling his wife that he’ll be fine, Izzie is shocked when Jimmy suddenly starts to decline, but she forces herself to operate on him at his bedside. When the usual process fails, Izzie has a brilliant moment of quick thinking and puts her hands into Jimmy’s chest, massaging his heart until his pulse comes back.

This is a huge moment of character development for Izzie, who amazingly gets over her nerves, initially worrying that she’s not ready, and saves Jimmy’s life. What makes this moment even better, however, is the later conversation between Alex and Izzie in Grey’s Anatomy. Izzie calls Alex out about not changing his pager battery so she can call for his help. Alex thinks Izzie performs the procedure alone for the glory, so she throws his pager on the floor, stomps on it repeatedly, and calls him a “terrible, hateful man.”

8

“McDreamy, Go Sit By Someone Who Cares”

Season 2, Episode 4 – Deny, Deny, Deny

In the season 2 episode “Deny, Deny, Deny,” Derek ponders over a very tough decision. In one of the episode’s earliest scenes, everyone gathers at Joe’s bar, and Derek starts to ramble to Bailey about his relationship problems. Derek struggles to choose between Addison and Meredith, one of Grey’s Anatomy’s best love triangles, and he tells Bailey that both of them have kissed him in one day. However, in a typical dry moment from Miranda Bailey, the only response she offers Derek is, “McDreamy, go sit by someone who cares.”

This was an outstandingly funny moment from Bailey, who perfectly phrases what everyone is thinking. Although Meredith and Derek’s relationship in Grey’s Anatomy ultimately goes the distance, Derek’s dating life issues are relatively trivial in the grand scheme of things. Bailey always cares about her colleagues and interns, and she and Derek’s friendship blossoms beautifully over time, but she encapsulates how ridiculous he is in this situation. Derek is the only one who can make a decision or provide either woman with an answer, yet he acts as if he has no control, and Bailey’s dry remark perfectly highlights this.

7

Bailey Gives Derek A Moment To Cry In The Elevator

Season 2, Episode 6 – Into You Like A Train

One great scene from Derek and Bailey’s underrated friendship in Grey’s Anatomy happens during the episode “Into You Like a Train.” After one of the most heartbreaking patient deaths in Grey’s Anatomy, Bailey and Derek step into the elevator and experience a moment of silence. The pair greatly need this quiet time following the chaos of trying to save Bonnie, who sustains serious injuries in a train crash. Although Bailey usually has plenty to say, she remains muted. Sensing how distraught Derek is, Bailey quietly brings the elevator to a stop so that he can take a second to breathe.

Derek’s feelings overwhelm him, and he starts to break down. This hugely impactful moment is tense and deeply emotional, especially when Derek grips the rail of the elevator. After a few seconds, Derek wipes his face, Bailey confirms if he’s alright, and the two go about their day. However, this moment is so underrated because it shows just how much Bailey cares. Despite her tough and often sarcastic exterior, Bailey relates to Derek and understands the pain they face as medical professionals in situations like these. Bailey doesn’t need to say anything, but it’s exactly what Derek needs.

6

Christina Wins The Hot Dog Eating Contest

Season 2, Episode 14 – Tell Me Sweet Little Lies

One of the funniest scenes in Grey’s Anatomy season 2 is the hotdog eating contest between Cristina, Alex, and George in the episode “Tell Me Sweet Little Lies.” Alex and Izzie care for a patient who is a competitive eater and tell Cristina about the woman, which gives the three the idea to replicate the contest themselves. As the three sit down for lunch, Meredith and Izzie are too distracted with who is going to adopt their rescue dog to fully appreciate the hilarious event playing out in front of them.

Cristina, Alex, and George all shovel hotdogs down their throats as quickly as possible, which is a brilliantly funny moment to witness. Cristina, however, outdoes the two men spectacularly. The most comical thing she does during the contest is pour water over one of the hotdogs to make it slide down faster, which proves Cristina doesn’t care about what she looks like and doesn’t hesitate to show off her competitive side. When she wins, Cristina can’t help but boast and laugh at Alex and George’s defeat, all with half a hotdog still filling her cheeks.

5

George Becomes Bailey’s Birthing Partner

Season 2, Episode 17 – As We Know It

In the season 2 episode “As We Know It,” Bailey gives birth. This is an incredibly tough day for Grey’s Anatomy’s true main character, Miranda Bailey. In the previous episode, she discovers mid-way through her delivery that Tucker had been in an accident. When Bailey refuses to push, which endangers her baby’s life, George steps in. George bravely stands up to Bailey and voices his disappointment in her stubbornness, especially as she knows the damage she’s causing. As George lists the various ways that Bailey is strong and an inspiration to him, she gives in and lets him support her.

Bailey’s birth scenes, while emotional, are incredibly wholesome. George’s presence as baby Wiliam arrives is a huge support for Bailey, who forgets exactly who she is for a moment because she’s concerned about Tucker. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending as Tucker survives and gets to meet his son, who is given the middle name of George. This moment proves that George O’Malley is by far the most compassionate of Grey’s Anatomy’s first set of interns because he steps in and fights Bailey at her lowest point despite her strict demeanor.

4

Everyone Taking Turns Comforting Izzie On The Floor

Season 3, Episode 1 – Time Has Come Today

In the season 3 premiere, “Time Has Come Today,” Izzie mourns the death of Denny. The tragic death of the Grey’s Anatomy main character is a deeply traumatic moment for Izzie, who falls in love with Denny while caring for him. Although there isn’t a lot of hope for Denny, Izzie still hopes that he’ll survive, which makes his demise that much harder for her.

This moment exhibits just how much Izzie means to everyone in Grey’s Anatomy. Meredith, Cristina, and George all spend time on the floor with Izzy as she grieves. George is unable to find the right words, and Cristina primarily talks about Shiva, but Meredith’s conversation with Izzie is the most profound. The two talk about love and how Izzie feels like she’s moving in slow motion, but ultimately, she wants things to go back to normal. Although this is a heartbreaking moment, it highlights the strong bond Izzie has with everyone.

3

Izzie Deposits Denny’s Check

Season 3, Episode 11 – Six Days, Part 1

In the aftermath of Denny’s death, Izzie struggles with the astonishing $8.7 million inheritance that is left to her and initially refuses to cash the check. In “Six Days, Part 1,” everyone nervously encourages Izzie to go to the bank, especially George. Izzie initially believes George is actually anxious about his father’s surgery, but in reality, it’s her walking around with millions of dollars hanging in limbo. In one of the show’s most profound and heartwrenching scenes, Izzie eventually decides to cash in her check but breaks down to the bank clerk.

A devastated Izzie tells the employee that she’s inherited nearly 9 million dollars, and tears spill down her face as she hands it over. While this is a truly emotional moment in Grey’s Anatomy, there is a small amount of humor when the clerk notices the check covered in food, asking if she is making a cruel joke. Sadly, Izzie agrees that it is, not that the man understands why or the gravity of her situation. However, this scene is the beginning of Izzie moving on from one of her toughest experiences.

2

Bailey Reunites With Her High School Crush

Season 4, Episode 8 – Forever Young

Some of Miranda Bailey’s very best character development in Grey’s Anatomy is during the season 4 episode “Forever Young.” While attending to patients after a horrific high school bus crash, Bailey’s old friend Marcus King arrives. Bailey learns that Marcus is a teacher now, and she starts to think back to her crush on him in high school. It’s established that as teenagers, Marcus takes advantage of Bailey and has her do his homework. Bailey’s weaknesses take over, unfortunately, and she slips into old habits.

By the end of the episode, Bailey realizes just how much she’s changed. It occurs to her that Marcus is manipulating her in the same way by getting her to fill out his medical paperwork and that flirting with him has distracted her from doing her job. Bailey’s beautiful speech to Derek about how she notices “girls like her” is stellar, especially as she acknowledges her biggest achievements in life, like becoming Chief Resident. Bailey is so much more than her past, and thankfully, she doesn’t let herself forget that.

1

George Reassures A Young Boy About Getting An IV

Season 5, Episode 4 – Brave New World

In the season 5 episode “Brave New World,” George once again proves just how good he is with children. He meets a young boy named Duncan who needs surgery, but when Meredith tries to insert an IV, the kid worries that it’ll hurt. In an attempt to reassure Ducan’s racing mind, George has Meredith give him the IV instead and explains every step along the way, which convinces the child. This is a very sweet and wholesome moment for George, who has several moments of self-doubt throughout the show, because it reminds him where his skills lie.

Even though George faces a lot of harsh realities in Grey’s Anatomy, especially about the gritty side of health care, he makes a difference. Duncan is greatly concerned about surgery, but this small action from George makes things better for him, at least for a while. It’s a shame that he loses his life not long after this episode, but this moment brilliantly encapsulates the compassionate, sweet-natured side of George’s character and is a perfect memory for Meredith to remember of him.