Meredith and Derek’s relationship through Season 1 is simple, charming perfection. The way he looks at her, affectionately and awestruck, earns him the McDreamy mantle he soon takes on.ĪBC Season 1, Episode 9: “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?” However, this episode also introduced fans - and more importantly, Derek - to Meredith’s first surgical eye. That tension began to fester when Derek chose Meredith for the Katie Bryce surgery, which led to problems with Cristina. Instead, it started playfully, and watching him flirt with Meredith after they realized they work at the same hospital is a necessary trip down memory lane.Įventually, as their relationship became more serious, Meredith and Derek would often butt heads when their work and personal lives intersected. Early on, Derek was cocky and sure of himself, but not in the “you ruined my trial” or “you’re holding me back in my career” attitude he takes on as the show progresses. Of course, back then, she was “just a girl in a bar,” and it wasn’t until the next morning at Meredith’s house that they even exchanged names.

Meredith and Derek’s long-running romance began in Grey’s Anatomy’s first episode. Season 1, Episode 1: “A Hard Day’s Night” As ABC teases what her fate will be, here are the essential Meredith and Derek episodes to watch. After their emotional reunion on the beach in Season 17, MerDer is on viewers’ minds more than ever. Over the course of their relationship, Meredith and Derek have been through so much that it’s sometimes easy to forget the pivotal moments that defined their time together on Grey’s - from when they didn’t even know each other’s names to the cycle of fights and resolutions that set a precedent for their sometimes-rocky romance. Spoilers ahead for Grey’s Anatomy Season 17.

Caught in PRISM's Web by Derek A. Leist