Grey's Anatomy (season 1)

infobox tvseason
season_name = Grey's Anatomy Season 1


caption = Promotional poster for the first season.
dvd_release_date = February 14, 2006
dvd_format = Widescreen, Boxset
country = USA
network = ABC
first_aired = March 27, 2005
last_aired = May 22, 2005
num_episodes = 9
next_season = 2|__NOTOC__

The following article is about the first season of the American medical drama television series "Grey's Anatomy". It aired starting on March 27, 2005 (U.S.) and concluded on May 22, 2005. The first season was shortened by the network to nine episodes instead of 14. (The original season finale was "Bring the Pain.").

The first season DVD was released in Region 1 on February 14, 2006.

Cast

The characters of the series include a group of surgical interns and the various physicians who serve as mentors to the interns in their professional and personal lives. The show's producers used a "blind-casting" technique, resulting in a racially diverse cast. All roles for "Grey’s Anatomy" are cast without the characters' race being pre-specified, in keeping with creator Shonda Rhimes' vision of diversity. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/arts/television/08foge.html?pagewanted=print 'Grey’s Anatomy' Goes Colorblind] , "The New York Times", May 8, 2005]

*Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey
*Sandra Oh as Christina Yang
*Katherine Heigl as Izzie Stevens
*T. R. Knight as George O'Malley
*Justin Chambers as Alex Karev
*Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey
*James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber
*Isaiah Washington as Preston Burke
*Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd

Plot summary

Meredith Grey, the daughter of the once-renowned surgeon Ellis Grey, becomes an intern at the Seattle Grace Hospital. She meets fellow interns Cristina Yang, Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, and George O'Malley who would be her closest friends during the intern program. Other characters include Dr. Miranda Bailey, nicknamed "Nazi" due to her "tough love" capability; Alex Karev, an intern who is not very popular with the others (especially Izzie); and renowned surgeons Dr. Derek Shepherd and Dr. Preston Burke. The chief of surgery is Richard Webber, who was once more than close friends with Meredith's mother.

The season chronicles the first few months of the internship program and the day-to-day life of a surgical intern. Recurring plots include Meredith's battle to keep her mother's Alzheimer's disease a secret and her relationship with Dr. Shepherd. Others include George's infatuation with Meredith and a power struggle between Dr. Burke and Dr. Shepherd in the hospital. During at the season's end introduces Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd, Derek's estranged wife. Although for other areas where the season was aired, the season end is Meredith waiting (Season 2, Episode 5).

Episodes

=A Hard Day's Night=

* Original U.S. air date: March 27, 2005
* Directed by: Peter Horton
* Written by: Shonda Rhimes
* Guest Stars: Skyler Shaye (Katie Bryce), David Veigh (Tony Savitch), Laura Carson (Gloria Savitch), Randall Arney (Mr. Bryce), Robbie Troy (Mrs. Bryce) And Kate Burton as Ellis Grey
* Title reference: The pilot episode title refers to the 1964 song composed and performed by The Beatles.

ummary

Meredith Grey is a first-year surgical intern at Seattle Grace Hospital. There, she is introduced to what will become her "home away from home" for the next seven years, along with fellow interns Cristina Yang, George O'Malley, Isobel "Izzie" Stevens and Alex Karev. The first three and Meredith are assigned to resident doctor Dr. Miranda Bailey, nicknamed "The Nazi" because of her blunt attitude and strict way of doing things. Two attending doctors, Dr. Derek Shepherd (a handsome, flirtatious man) and Dr. Preston Burke (who is ready to make the interns cry), oversee most of the surgical procedures and have the interns follow in their ways. The chief surgeon is Dr. Richard Webber.

The night before Meredith's first day on the job, she sleeps with Derek (not knowing where he worked) after meeting him in a bar. The next morning, Meredith asks him to leave, only to see him hours later at Seattle Grace. Meredith is uncomfortable about the situation because she does not want personal matters to get in the way of her career.

Preston asks George to be the first intern to perform a surgical procedure. He does well, but when a small mistake causes the patient to bleed profusely, George freezes and Preston takes over. In another case, George makes the mistake of promising the wife of a man who is going to have open-heart surgery that he will be okay. However, the condition was worse than what was expected and the man died. Meredith has to deal with a young girl who is having seizures, but the reason is unknown. After Derek asks the interns to research potential explanations, Cristina and Meredith find the answer. As a reward, Derek asks Meredith to stand in and watch the girl's operation. Cristina is furious because she feels that Derek is playing favorites towards Meredith.

After her first day at the hospital, Meredith tells her mother, Dr. Ellis Grey, about what went on. However, Ellis does not understand what Meredith is saying because she has Alzheimer's disease.

Music

* "Portions for Foxes" - Rilo Kiley
* "Super Cool" - Bang Sugar Bang
* "They" - Jem
* "Dance" - O.A.O.T.S.
* "Ready to Rise" - Vaughan Penn
* "Life Is Short" - Butterfly Boucher
* "Into the Fire" - Thirteen Senses

The First Cut Is the Deepest

* Original U.S. air date: April 3, 2005
* Directed by: Peter Horton
* Written by: Shonda Rhimes
* Title reference: The episode's title refers to the song "The First Cut Is the Deepest" by Cat Stevens, which has also been covered by Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow and other musicians.

ummary

In the opening sequence Meredith pins a notice to the board seeking roommates. The text reads "Two nice rooms with shared bath available immediately, close to Seattle Grace. Near coffee shop, public transportation, shopping, and convenient to almost everything. Non-smokers only please, no pets & absolutely no Bush supporters need apply. All Applicants will need to have a credit check completed. First & Last month's rent plus a deposit is required to move in"

"Here's what I know. There are some lines too dangerous to cross. But there are others if you're willing to throw caution to the wind and take a chance, the view from the other side is spectacular."

Meredith doesn't want a relationship with Derek, but in a moment of weakness - when it's just the two of them alone in an elevator - she kisses him. Alex gets switched to Bailey's team of interns, forcing him to work closely with those who hate him most. He and Cristina get assigned the seemingly simple chore of delivering good lab results to patients and their families, but they quickly find themselves bombarded with hugs and tears of joy - two things they simply can't handle. Izzie gets to practice "actual medicine" sewing up minor cuts and injuries. One patient, though, who doesn't speak any English, becomes troubling to Izzie, as the patient desperately tries to tell her something and just won't leave. Bailey assigns George to run the code team, responsible for shocking patients on the brink of death back to life when their vital signs crash. And when not fending off the advances of Derek, Meredith is put in possession of a bit of evidence retrieved from the body of a rape victim - the attacker's penis.

Two interns place their careers into jeopardy when they each do something they know they shouldn't. When Meredith visits the maternity ward, she notices that a newborn is discolored and otherwise looks unhealthy. After looking at the baby's chart, she feels that the baby may have a more serious condition than what the pediatric intern may think. She mentions this to Preston, who eventually performs surgery on the baby. Preston scolds her for stepping outside of her territory. Izzie has to help a Chinese woman who came into the hospital with a few minor cuts. However, the Chinese lady doesn't speak English, so Izzie has a difficult time communicating with her. The lady motions for Izzie to come outside with her, where she meets the child of the lady who has a much more serious condition. Since the child does not have a green card, she is afraid that she will go to jail. Izzie takes some materials from the hospital to the girl and fixes her wounds.

Alex is reassigned to Miranda, who has him shadow Cristina for the shift. Alex and Cristina have to deliver lab results to patients. George is working the code team and most of his patients die, which puts him into a depressed state.

A rape victim is admitted to Seattle Grace and, upon surgery, the doctors discover that she bit off her attacker's penis. Since Meredith identified the penis, she has to watch over it until the police come to take it into evidence. The attacker eventually comes to the hospital, but is detained by the police after he recovers from his surgery.

After talking with Dr. Webber, Preston realizes that both he and Derek were promised the job of chief surgeon upon Dr. Webber's retirement. Dr. Webber says that Preston had the job in the bag, but various things, such as doing only what is asked of him and having a cocky attitude, have changed his mind.

Music

* "You Wouldn't Like Me" - Tegan and Sara
* "Sister Kate" - The Ditty Bops
* "Live and Learn" - The Cardigans
* "Wait" - Get Set Go
* "Somewhere Only We Know" - Keane

Winning a Battle, Losing the War

* Original U.S. air date: April 10, 2005
* Directed by: Tony Goldwyn
* Written by: Shonda Rhimes
* Guest Stars: Callum Blue (Viper), Keith David (Lloyd Mackie)
* Title reference: The episode's title refers to a song by Kings of Convenience.

ummary

When the annual bicycle messenger race called the dead baby race takes place in Seattle, the hospital emergency room fills with an assortment of injuries, causing the interns to compete for the most severe cases. Most notably a patient called Viper who kisses Meredith and a man who needs to be declared brain-dead which Izzie struggles with while Cristina sees the opportunity for a harvest surgery. The man ultimately dies and Cristina tries to explain to Izzie that every organ they take out of this man who lost his life could mean saving the life of someone else. Meanwhile, Derek and Burke compete for the chief of surgery position and while Derek continues to pursue Meredith romantically, she asks him if it's just the thrill of the chase. Also a male patient who is a good friend of Dr. Webber's flirts with George which leaves him unsettled, especially when he complains to the other interns who were all convinced that he was gay as well. George also admits for the first time that he likes Meredith.

Music

* "There's a Girl" - The Ditty Bops
* "I Won't Be Left" - Tegan and Sara
* "Wishful Thinking" - The Ditty Bops
* "You Are My Joy" - Reindeer Section
* "Fools Like Me" - Lisa Loeb

No Man's Land

* Original U.S. air date: April 17, 2005
* Directed by: Adam Davidson
* Written by: James D. Parriott
* Guest Stars: Anna Maria Horsford (Liz Fallon), F.J. Rio (Jorge Cruz), Valerie Cruz (Zona Cruz), Taylor Nichols (Rick Humphrey), And Kate Burton as Ellis Grey.
* Title reference: The episode's title refers to a song by Souls of Mischief, Billy Joel, and Sufjan Stevens.

ummary

Cristina's encounter with a former nurse, now a patient at Seattle Grace at the hospital she had worked at for 20 years, changes her forever; Derek and Meredith treat a construction worker who has miraculously survived an injury of shooting 7 nails into his head with his own nail gun but is now faced with tough decisions about his future; and a patient recognizes Izzie from a lingerie ad for Bethany Whisper (a Victoria's Secret-like company), and doesn't want to be treated by her anymore. Alex also sees the ad, and plays a practical joke on Izzie. When she finds out, she gets furious at Alex.

Music

* "Could Be Anything" - The Eames Era
* "Let Myself Fall" - Rosie Thomas
* "Break Your Heart" - Get Set Go
* "Truth" - Vaughan Penn
* "Sunday" - Sia Furler (Cristina performing CPR on patient)
* "Where Does the Good Go" - Tegan and Sara

hake Your Groove Thing

* Original U.S. air date: April 24, 2005
* Directed by: John David Coles
* Written by: Ann Hamilton
* Guest Stars: Brent Sexton (Jerry Frost), Jonathon Scarfe (Hank), Kathryn Joosten (Mrs. Drake), Barry Shabaka Henley (Mr. Patterson), And Kate Burton as Ellis Grey.
* Title reference: The episode's title refers to a song by Peaches and Herb.

ummary

An exhausted Meredith thinks she may have made a mistake during surgery, which could jeopardize her career. A patient Mrs. Drake has a towel found in her chest from a previous surgery. Meanwhile Izzie's plan to throw a party for her boyfriend goes completely awry, and Alex deals with a patient who is addicted to painkillers. During the party Meredith, George and Cristina get drunk, Derek finds Meredith dancing alone outside her house with a bottle of tequila and they have sex in his car, Dr. Bailey sees them in the car together- Cristina and Burke also have sex in an on-call room at the end of this episode.

Music

* "Wake Up" - The Ditty Bops
* "Tiger, My Friend" - Psapp
* "Evil" - Interpol
* "Edge of the Ocean" - Ivy
* "Money Girl" - Dee
* "Sparkle Me" - Buffseeds

If Tomorrow Never Comes

* Original U.S. air date: May 1, 2005
* Directed by: Scott Brazil
* Written by: Krista Vernoff
* Guest Stars: Alex Alexander (Annie Connors), Bruce Weitz (Mr. Levangie)
* Title reference: The episode's title refers to a song by Garth Brooks.

ummary

Alex gains the trust of Annie, a nervous patient with an extraordinarily large tumor, only to humiliate himself in front of her later. Meanwhile Derek chooses Meredith to assist with an elderly Parkinson's patient who may need surgery -- but Bailey disapproves of their relationship and is determined to make Meredith suffer. Tensions escalate between Burke and Shepherd.

Music

* "Save Me" - Jem
* "Chapter" - Psapp
* "Walk or Ride" - The Ditty Bops
* "Never Leave Your Heart Alone" - Butterfly Boucher

The Self-Destruct Button

* Original U.S. air date: May 8, 2005
* Directed by: Darnell Martin
* Written by: Kip Koenig
* Title reference: This episode title refers to a song by Dana Monteith

ummary

Derek and Meredith try (unsuccessfully) to be discreet as they spend the night together at Meredith's house, but their haggard appearance speaks volumes to everyone - including Bailey, who warns Meredith to end the relationship. Meanwhile George suspects an anesthesiologist of drinking on the job but is reluctant to speak up about it, Alex treats a former schoolmate who finds honor in self-mutilation, Izzie has to deal with a patient who won't let his girlfriend go, literally, and Cristina seems to be battling a case of the flu which reveals its true nature with a couple of positive pregnancy tests.

Music

* "Wish I" - Jem
* "Downtown" - Tegan and Sara
* "Suitcase" - Joe Purdy
* "Hummingbird" - Wilco

ave Me

* Original U.S. air date: May 15, 2005
* Directed by: Sara Pia Anderson
* Written by: Mimi Schmir
* Guest Stars: Kevin Rahm (Mr. Duff), Sarah Hagan (Devo Friedman), Joan McMurtrey (Zoey Glass)
* Title reference: The episode's title refers to a song by Remy Zero. Alternately, the title is also that of songs by Queen (Save Me), Aimee Mann, Jem, Unwritten Law, Embrace, Dave Matthews, K. D. Lang, Shinedown,The Tea Party, Marc Broussard, and Fleetwood Mac.

ummary

Meredith grows increasingly dissatisfied with the unknown details of Derek's life. Meanwhile, Alex treats Devo, a patient (of Jewish descent) whose religious beliefs jeopardize her chances for recovery; Izzie contemplates reconnecting with her estranged mother; Zoey, a pregnant woman in her 40s who's been diagnosed with cancer, disagrees with Cristina's medical advice; and the interns are mystified by Cable, a patient who's being treated for seizures and who thinks he's psychic.

Music

* "Fix You Up" - Tegan and Sara
* "No Illusions" - 78 Saab
* "I Love the Rain the Most" - Joe Purdy
* "Rapture" - Laura Veirs
* "Feels Like" - Masha Qrella
* "David" - Nellie McKay

Who's Zoomin' Who?

* Original U.S. air date: May 22, 2005
* Directed by: Wendey Stanzler
* Written by: Harry Werksman and Gabrielle Stanton
* Guest Stars: Kate Walsh (Addison Montgomery-Shepherd); Wayne Wilderson (Bill Adams)
* Title reference: The episode's title refers to a song by Aretha Franklin.

ummary

An outbreak of a sexually transmitted disease affects several members of the hospital staff, prompting Chief Webber to call a meeting. Meanwhile, the chief reluctantly confides to Derek about his own medical concerns; Izzie and Cristina are worried by a patient's wife and daughter who are at odds over his care; Burke treats Bill, a college buddy whose medical diagnosis raises some questions regarding his wife's actions; and, just as Meredith and Derek grow more intimate, a bombshell is dropped towards the end of the episode which reveals that Addison Shepherd has come back to meet her husband, Derek.

Music

* "Big as the Sky" - A.M. Sixty
* "End of the World Party" - Medeski, Martin & Wood
* "The Dog Song" - Nellie McKay
* "Naked as We Came" - Iron & Wine
* "Whatever Gets You Through Today" - The Radio