Grey's Anatomy

A Hard Day's Night

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired 3/27/05

Episode Summary

Meet Meredith Grey. Daughter of famous surgeon Ellis Grey and currently recovering from a one-night stand. She shoos away her evening's companion, saying she'll be late for her first day of work. She is a first year intern at Seattle Grace Hospital and is working alongside some colorful characters. Cristina Yang is a highly competitive Stanford graduate who befriends Meredith. George O'Malley is a quirky warm hearted man who learns a lesson or two on his first day. Izzie Stevens is a former model who doesn't get any special treatment on her first day. And Alex Karev is an arrogant jerk who misdiagnoses a patient on his first shift. Overseeing them is Miranda Bailey, (not-so-) affectionately dubbed 'The Nazi'. Meredith also gets a surprise when she realizes that her friend from the night before is a co-worker, and even worse, her boss.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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Ellen Pompeo

Meredith Grey
Sandra Oh

Cristina Yang
Katherine Heigl

Isobel "Izzie" Stevens

Fan Episode Reviews (58)

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First day of work for the interns at Seattle Grace Hospital.

8.5

"Great"

By Valentine_76, Jul 05, 2011 Report Abuse

I didn't like the way the very first episode of the show started out. Personally, I don't believe in premarital sex and I think that it leads to nothing but trouble, which this episode proves. Meredith has had sex with this man whose name she can't remember (Derek) and she's late for work on her first day, which is not good. But it gets worse. Derek, the guy she had sex with, is her boss. Hopefully having sex with the boss won't get her into to much trouble in the future, but we will have to wait and see. I love who they chose to be "The Nazi"; Miranda Bailey starts the day out right for all the interns. Izzy, the model, decided to be a surgeon. I feel sorry for George, because right off the bat they think he's gaymoreless

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The beginning of the Grey's Anatomy era

9.0

"Superb"

By RoadToJoy, Jul 05, 2011 Report Abuse

Now, I myself used to be a great GA fan, but I've sort of lost interest in it during the last few seasons. Despite that, this episode is the beginning of an important period in TV history. The episode provides a good start to a medical/drama series. Meredith Grey, the main character, wakes up from a one night stand. She goes to her first day of work as an intern, meets new friends and realises that her one night stand happens to be her boss.

This show can be cheesy at times, but is also very interesting. I would recommend it.moreless

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Meredith is sleeping with her boss. Interns start working at a hospital under "the nazi the famous Ellis Grey is ill.

10

"Perfect"

By LetsGetCrazy23, Jun 06, 2011 Report Abuse

What a great way to start off a show. McDreamy's naked butt!
who knew that she was sleeping with her boss! If I slept with someone and then later found out that they are my boss, I would be really uncomfortable with them lol. I love all the interns. Izzie and George are hilarious. Cristina and Meredith are oh-so-serious. "The Nazi a.k.a Bailey, is scary! lol. If she was my boss, I would do everything as right as possible! Izzie trying to wake her up was so funny. You could tell she was scared.hah. Burke picking George for the first surgery..umm.. that was unexpected. I would have thought he would pick Meredith or Cristina.moreless

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Move over E.R. From the network that redefined America's housewives, and made castaway television popular again, comes Grey's Anatomy; a medical story that focuses on the moment by moment lives of five new young doctors who were students only yesterday.moreless

10

"Perfect"

By Adelette, Jun 06, 2011 Report Abuse

Now, amidst the pressures of the O.R. and the competitive intensity of surgical interning, they all struggle to walk a balance beam and falling off can mean someone's life.

Welcome to the O.R. of Seattle Grace Hospital, a difficult and demanding teaching hospital, where life for five young surgical interns will never be the same. Ellen Pompeo is Dr. Meredith Grey, a first year intern with a seemingly bright future. But a dark secret keeps her life from being completely full. Izzy Stevens is the beautiful but dirt poor blonde who used her good looks to pay her way through medical school... and is now forced to earn the respect of her smirking colleagues. Cristina Yang is the token Korean, but don't ask her to translate. She grew up in Beverly Hills. Fiercely competitive, her hard exterior denotes a fear of rejection. George O'Malley is the well-meaning but geeky boy next door that everyone loves, but nobody dates. And then there is Alex Karev - an ex-frat boy whose arrogance and ambition disguise a real ability.

Patrick Dempsey returns to television as Dr. Derek Shepherd, an established and gifted surgeon whose flirtation with Meredith can lead to nowhere that's good. His talent and dedication is undeniable, but the look of raw sexuality in his eyes leaves Meredith flustered and worried: and in a world where a minute of distraction can mean the end of a life, she must make sure to keep her distance.

The pilot episode centers around the five interns first 48 hour shift. With seemingly no preparation they are thown into the water, and the sink or swim vibe sucks in the audience like quicksand. The interns are tested, humiliated, frightened, shocked, and ultimately inspired. And the question it leaves us all asking... why would anyone ever do this?

"Because," answers one doctor, "I couldn't imagine doing anything else."

It's that one line that will keep us coming back for more each week. Watching these young people struggling to achieve their dreams and untangle their love lives, all the while dealing with the harsh reality of life in the O.R. is a tried and true formula for cinematic success. With sharp dialogue, believable characters, and inspirational story lines, series creator Shonda Rhimes has hit pay dirt. With E.R. nearing the end of its life, and George Clooney long gone from t.v., the weekly water cooler talk has all but flat-lined. It's a sure bet that Grey's Anatomy will revive it.moreless

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From the very beginning, you just knew it was going to be a huge landmark in contemporary television.

10

"Perfect"

By ecgirl08, Jun 05, 2011 Report Abuse

If you know anybody who is an avid "Grey's Anatomy" fan, most of them will tell you that all it takes is one episode, and you're completely hooked. Having never seen it before, but hearing absolute raves about its addictive quality, I finally decided to rent Seasons 1-3 about a month ago, just to see what all the hype was about (plus, I am amenable to watching anything that has Patrick Dempsey in it).

As it turns out, they were right; all you need to do is watch one episode, and you're reeled in forever. As another reviewer has said, this is one of the finest and most satisfying pilot episodes you can possibly ask for. The characters are real, their individual issues are relatable, and the writing is so amazing, you know that it must take absolute geniuses to come up with deep, rich material like this every week. I don't know how they do it, but the situations in each episode are so gripping, you'll want to make sure you have access to the next episode, and the one after that, once you get started with it. Once you start watching one, you won't be able to stop, and if you don't believe me, pop in an episode and try to stop after just one :) Odds are you won't be able to do it!

This pilot basically begins the story of five naive surgical interns at Seattle Grace Hospital, eager to save the world and be the best they can be. There's sweet and timid George, with parents who tell everyone they meet that their son is a surgeon; beautiful blonde-haired Izzie, a former trailer park resident who made it through med school by modeling; ultra-determined Cristina, who is competitive and ready to be the best; and arrogant jerk Alex, who would have plenty of potential in his favor if he would just get his attitude in check. Then, of course, there's Meredith Grey, the show's namesake, the one intern who has perhaps the biggest advantage because her mother is a renowned surgeon (with a dark secret that Meredith is not ready to reveal just yet).

We've also got the current residents and surgeons on staff, including Miranda "Nazi" Bailey (one of the most dynamic, well-rounded, and likable TV characters I've seen in a long time), lady's man Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd, and Chief of Surgery Richard Weber, among others. Each character has issues and connections to one another that envelope you into the episodes, but the diverse patients who come in and out of the hospital are equally interesting to watch. Again, it's that writing that makes you wonder how any human being is able to pull it off.

If you're like me and are considering giving the show a try after hearing all the great things about it, it doesn't get any better than this pilot episode, where all the characters are introduced for the very first time. From the very beginning, you just look at it and know it's going to be great--the kind of show you want to tune in for week after week. Right now, the series just wrapped up a rough fourth season and is prepping for a fifth, and it seems to be going downhill quickly, but with the talent of the writers, I think they have the potential to get it back to where it was in Seasons 1 and 2. This is, after all, one of those shows that has every bit of potential to have a decade's worth of seasons. Note that I said "potential." Some things with the plots and the characters may need to change, but I think they can pull it off. At this point, at the beginning of the series, the heart of it all is the interns, who are just starting out and have to go through all the pain, the guts, and the humiliation before they can prove that they have what it takes. Of course, they will become friends, but there is also a huge amount of competition among them, and once they all get to know each other on a more personal level, it just gets that much messier--and more compelling to watch it unfold. The storylines get increasingly complicated, and mark my words, you'll be shocked and furious at some of the decisions they make with the individual plots, but you keep wanting to come back for more, and that's the magic of it. This is where you get to see where it all began, and you can practically smell a contemporary classic in the making!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Goof:During the scene where O'Malley is performing surgery, Karevappears inmedium shots at the door of the gallery, but when a wide shot of the gallery is shown, Karev is not standing at the door.
  Edit
- Taking the first letter of each of the original interns' first name, the word magic can be spelt. Edit
- Goof: When Meredith first sees Derek for the first time in the hospital, while she is speaking to Bailey, you can see the legs of the cameraman in the glass next to the door. Edit
Notes
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- International Show Titles: Czech Republic: Chirurgové (Surgeons) Slovakia: Klinika Grace (Clinic Grace) Edit
- The show's theme song is Cosy In The Rocket. It was written by Carim Clasmann and Galia Durant and performed by Psapp. Edit
- Sandra Oh was initially looking to audition for the part of Bailey. Also, on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Isaiah Washington said that he had auditioned to play the role of Dr. Shepherd. Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- Meredith: I wish I wanted to be a chef. Or a ski instructor. Or a kindergarten teacher. George: You know, I would've been a really good postal worker. I'm dependable. (Meredith chuckles) You know, my parents tell everyone they meet that their son's a surgeon. As if it's a big accomplishment. Superhero or something... If they could see me now. Meredith: When I told my mother I wanted to go to medical school, she tried to talk me out of it. Said I didn't have what it takes to be a surgeon. That I'd never make it. So, the way I see it, superhero sounds pretty damn good. George: We're gonna survive this, right? (Meredith just smiles) Edit
- (About Katie Bryce's surgery) Meredith: I'll tell him I changed my mind... Cristina (interrupts): You know don't give... don't do me any favors. It's fine. Meredith: Cristina. Cristina (coldly): You know what you did a cut throat thing. Deal with it. Don't come to me for absolution. You wanna be a shark, be a shark. Meredith: I'm not. I'm... Cristina (interrupts): Oh yes you are. Only it makes you feel bad in all your warm gooey places. (she's getting angry) You know screw you. I don't get picked for surgeries because I slept with my boss and (Meredith looks shocked) I didn't get into med school because I have a famous mother! You know some of us have to earn what we get. (Meredith walks away, upset) Edit
- Meredith: What are you doing? Cristina: I'm suturing a banana with the vain hope that it wakes up my brain. (George laughs) What are you smiling at 007? (George stops laughing almost immediatly) I'm sorry, I get mean when I'm tired. Edit
Allusions
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- Meredith: If I hadn't taken the Hippocratic Oath, I would Kevorkian her with my bare hands. The Hippocratic Oath is a oath that serves as a set of guidelines for physicians and is something they usually say or vow when they receive their license to practice medicine. It is usually summarized with the word "do no harm" but those words were not in the original version. Dr. Jack Kevorkian was the most famous advocate in the United States for physician-assisted suicide. He served eight years in prison in Michigan for helping more than 100 people to commit suicide. He was charged with several counts of second-degree murder. His conviction lead to the legalization of assisted suicide in Oregon. In Oregon, it is named the Death with Dignity Act. Jack Kevorkian died in 2011, four years after being paroled from prison. Edit
- Izzie: What does '007 mean? Meredith: Licensed to kill. These are references to the series of books and movies about a fictional spy named James Bond. His agent number was '007 (pronounced "double-oh-seven") and he was a covert spy with the catchphase "Licensed to Kill" since he had been by his government. Edit
- The Show Title: Grey's Anatomy Gray's Anatomy is a famous anatomy textbook published over a century ago. People still use it today. The show's title is a play on the book. Yahoo! has it for free online. Edit