Grey’s Anatomy: 10 Episodes To Watch If You Miss Meredith & Cristina
Meredith and Cristina’s peculiar friendship shined through Grey’s Anatomy seasons 1 to 10, but some specific episodes are central to understanding it.
Meredith and Cristina’s friendship has been at the center of Grey’s Anatomy in the first ten seasons of the medical drama, but some episodes were more important than others for the progress of their relationship. Going from interns to residents and finally attendings, Grey’s Anatomy seasons 1 to 10 saw them navigating marriages, various cataclysmic events hitting the hospital, and the usual work-related drama that established them as allies before making them friends. Their friendship hit highs and lows through the years, but it also showed how they were always there for each other, no matter their momentary fight or cause for celebration.
Dubbed “the twisted sisters,” Meredith and Cristina proved to be fiercely protective and supportive of each other, even if the way they showed it was sometimes inexplicable for those outside their friendship. Their loyalty to each other was consistently proved in the most extreme situations, even if sometimes their competitiveness and pride separated them for a while, as the two could be stubborn to admit their shortcomings. Their unique friendship that established very early how the two were each other’s “person” made it difficult for others to penetrate their bubble, guaranteeing their relationship to be uncommon and that many would have missed it once Cristina Yang exited Grey’s Anatomy.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 1, Episode 1
It established why Cristina was drawn to Mer & their unusual friendship dynamic
Grey’s Anatomy season 1, episode 1 aptly established the interpersonal dynamics among all interns and introduced Meredith and Derek’s romantic connection, but no relationship was more clearly defined than Meredith and Cristina’s coalition-turned-friendship. Indeed, Cristina was initially drawn to Meredith because she was envious of her being surgery royalty, being Ellis Grey’s daughter, but she quickly recognized Meredith’s potential. Their research for the cause behind Katie Bryce’s seizures perfectly exemplified their peculiar connection, as their back-and-forth exchange examined the possible medical causes and simultaneously discussed Meredith’s love life after she admitted she had hooked up with Derek.
Grey’s Anatomy series premiere also introduced the first conflict between the two, as their successful diagnosis won them one spot in the OR. Despite Meredith repeatedly saying how she wanted to surrender it to Cristina had they won, Derek chose her to be in the OR, and Meredith didn’t cede her spot to Cristina, betraying her word to her. The conflict quickly established how competitive Meredith and Cristina both were, a characteristic most in common between them besides their being dark and twisty when facing life’s challenges, putting them one against the other as Cristina saw Meredith as the favorite because she had slept with an attending.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 1, Episode 5
The episode had their first dance-it-out moment
Grey’s Anatomy season 1, episode 5 engulfed Meredith with multiple worries, about her career because she ripped her glove during surgery, and her mother, because she had to deal with her long-term care and finances. Returning home only to find an unexpected big party was the cherry on top of her day’s obstacles, and she only decided to let it go once she saw Cristina dancing on a table and calling to her. The episode marked the first time Meredith and Cristina danced it out as a way to cope with their problems, and it also highlighted how seeing Cristina helped Meredith accept her problems and shake them out.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 2, Episode 1
Cristina revealed her pregnancy & put Meredith as her emergency contact
Grey’s Anatomy season 2 premiere cemented the bond between Meredith and Cristina with the “You’re my person” line. Cristina never desired to be pregnant and was always a very private person. However, she still shared with Meredith that she was pregnant, even if she didn’t even tell her about her fling with Burke. The episode introduced their moniker for each other because Cristina had to share her emergency contact before her abortion appointment could be confirmed. Choosing Meredith as her emergency contact person was a very practical requirement that forced Cristina to admit her peculiarly strong bond with Meredith to her face, with the nickname becoming emblematic of their relationship.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 3, Episode 17
Cristina overcame her problem with life-or-death situations to be there for Meredith
The aftermath of Meredith’s drowning in Elliot Bay took over Grey’s Anatomy season 3, episode 17, where the doctors tried to save her as she admitted to herself that she stopped fighting against the water for a moment. While the episode proved instrumental for Meredith, as she finally faced she wanted to live, it was also monumental for Cristina. Indeed, Cristina always fled life-or-death situations where she needed to stay at the bedside of someone she cared about who might not have made it after she saw her father dying next to her as they waited for an ambulance.
Despite not being able to deal with the emotions of seeing Meredith half dead in the ER as Bailey and Webber tried to resuscitate her, Cristina still stood there, hands at Meredith’s ankles as one last round of ACLS drugs was administered, eventually bringing Meredith back to life. This was a milestone for Cristina, as her bond with Meredith meant so much to her that she sat with her feelings and stood by Meredith’s side, even if all she wanted to do was to avoid the problem, which she tried to do by going to the dollar store and buying a bit of everything she didn’t need.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 3, Episode 25
Meredith helps Cristina through being left at the altar & feeling free because of it
Grey’s Anatomy season 3’s episodes leading up to the finale were focused on Burke and Cristina’s wedding and Cristina’s concessions so that things could be done in the Burke family tradition. Grey’s Anatomy season 3 finale started with Cristina suffering through Burke’s mother making her wear a too-tight choker and waxing her eyebrows and ended with Burke leaving her at the altar after realizing he had forced the wedding on her. Meredith’s unwavering support through it all showed how much she understood Cristina, especially as she was processing the breakup, but also her relief at not having to go through the wedding, which she never wanted and only now realized.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 6, Episode 24
Cristina operates on Derek & Meredith on Owen at the hospital shooting
Concluding the hospital shooting storyline at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital Grey’s Anatomy season 6 finale showed one of the most difficult, greatest things Meredith and Cristina did for each other. The absence of attendings on the floor where Cristina and Meredith found Derek meant Cristina and Jackson had to operate on him. However, when Gary Clark found them and threatened to kill them, Owen got shot, prompting Meredith to return the favor to Cristina and dress his wound. Meredith and Cristina saved the lives of their respective love interests, despite the dangers involved due to the shooting and the risk of having their loved ones die on their tables.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 8, Episode 24
They help each other “keep it together” through the plane crash
The plane crash in the Grey’s Anatomy season 8 finale also showcased Meredith and Cristina’s beautiful friendship. Not only did they help each other live through the unbearable stress of the situation, but they also worked together to help the others survive, performing surgery in the woods and sharing the few scraps they had. Cristina got Meredith to Lexie just before she died, and they leaned on each other physically and emotionally to survive till the rescuers got to them, proving their friendship to be one of the strongest even in situations of unfathomable hardship.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 10, Episode 12
Meredith & Cristina make up after their long fight over their career paths
Grey’s Anatomy season 10 was Sandra Oh’s last as Cristina Yang and Meredith and Cristina spent a great deal of it fighting before they got back to their generally supportive selves in season 10, episode 12. Grey’s Anatomy season 10, episode 12 marked their reconciliation, but only after Cristina accused Meredith of being the surgeon they laughed at and Meredith accused Cristina of having become the heartless surgery god they worshipped as interns. Their competitiveness was always extreme, but their unkind words against each other at least made them talk again. The episode was crucial in letting Meredith and Cristina accept their different paths and the validity of them both.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 10, Episode 20
Meredith surprises Cristina with Owen in Boston knowing she wouldn’t want to be alone
Grey’s Anatomy season 10, episode 20 saw Meredith and Cristina mostly apart and busy with their patients, but Meredith nevertheless managed to find time for Cristina as she waited to know if she had been that year’s Harper Avery Award winner. Grey’s Anatomy season 10, episode 20 proved yet again how Meredith knew Cristina better than Cristina knew herself, as she repeated throughout the episode how she was happy to go to the ceremony alone. However, when she got there, Cristina realized she wanted Meredith and Owen’s support. Had Meredith not thought ahead and surprised her with Owen in Boston, Cristina would have had to lose the Harper Avery alone.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 10, Episode 24
They have their last dance-it-out before Cristina leaves for Zurich
Cristina’s final day in Grey’s Anatomy season 10, episode 24 was marked by a big incident in Seattle, and many significant goodbyes. However, none was more important than Meredith and Cristina’s goodbye. Meredith spending the best part of the episode trying to get Cristina in a cab to the airport hinted at their goodbye happening outside the hospital. Instead, the Grey’s Anatomy season 10 finale managed to give Meredith and Cristina the best possible goodbye, by having them dance it out one last time before Cristina reminded Meredith to put herself first by saying that Derek “is very dreamy, but he is not the sun. You are.”