A Time for Gratitude and Grey’s Anatomy
Thanksgiving is a cherished holiday, a time when families gather to share a bountiful feast and express gratitude for their blessings. With dishes like turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce, this Christian-rooted tradition dates back to 1623 when Governor William Bradford declared a day of thanksgiving for the Pilgrims and their families. Fans of Grey’s Anatomy can also enjoy a few episodes that pay homage to this special day. Here are the top five Grey’s Anatomy Thanksgiving episodes that serve up a hearty helping of drama.
1. Thanks for the Memories (Season 2, Episode 9)
In this heartwarming episode, Izzie is determined to create the perfect Thanksgiving dinner, even though she’s clueless about how to pull it off. Thankfully, Burke swoops in to save the day and lend a helping hand. Meanwhile, Meredith, Alex, and Cristina choose to hide at work rather than assist Izzie, while George forgoes the dinner altogether to partake in his family’s O’Malley tradition of turkey hunting.
2. Somebody I Used to Know (Season 10, Episode 10)
Meredith graciously invites Emma to the dream house to prepare Thanksgiving dinner after overhearing her and Owen struggling with their holiday plans. Meredith offers her home as a venue, stating that she needs to feed her family as well. She even extends an invitation to Richard, who only accepts after learning that Meredith won’t be the one cooking. Other doctors invited to the gathering include Callie, Jo, Alex, and Cristina. However, tensions run high as Cristina and Meredith are at odds, and Jo declines the invitation.
3. Holidaze (Season 6, Episode 10)
This episode skips the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, as most of the doctors are preoccupied with a heart transplant for a patient named Kelsey. Cristina explains the miraculous machine that will pump blood into Kelsey’s body, while her boyfriend Mike, who has only been on four dates with her, is understandably distraught. The couple was supposed to visit Mike’s family for Thanksgiving, but with no other family of her own, Mike chooses to stay by Kelsey’s side. Meanwhile, Bailey calls her family to inform them that she and Tucker will spend the holidays together, conveniently omitting their impending divorce.
4. She’s Leaving Home (Season 11, Episode 22)
This tear-jerking episode features Meredith revealing Derek’s death to her fellow doctors. As she grapples with her loss, she experiences flashbacks of holidays spent with Derek, including Halloween, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Christmas Eve. During Thanksgiving, Alex brings home burgers, knowing that Jo won’t cook the turkey until Black Friday sales are over. When he tries to contact Meredith, she answers tersely, assuring him that she and the kids are fine and demanding that he stop calling.
5. I Was Made for Lovin’ You (Season 9, Episode 7)
This episode, devoid of the typical Thanksgiving dinner, is packed with drama. It marks Arizona’s first day back at work, while Miranda appears on the verge of a breakdown due to her upcoming Christmas wedding. She even asks her fiancé to cancel the event and return the deposit, unable to comprehend why he’s making such a fuss about their nuptials. As these episodes demonstrate, Grey’s Anatomy has a knack for infusing the Thanksgiving holiday with its signature blend of drama, emotion, and heart.
