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The Best Episodes of Grey's Anatomy Season 3

Every episode of Grey's Anatomy Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Grey's Anatomy Season 3!

Binge this in 17h 55m•Peaking at 9.0/10

Follows the personal and professional lives of a group of doctors at Seattle's Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 16 - Drowning on Dry Land
    9.0/10(2150 votes)

    S3:E16

    Meredith is still underwater, but nobody seems to notice. Her worsening condition makes her rescuing an urgent matter. Derek finds her coat on a man she had helped, and starts looking for her and, much to his shock, the little girl Meredith took care of suggests that she is in the water. Derek saves her, but she is almost dead, due to hypothermia. Izzie has to perform brain surgery on a man stuck between cars, as he begins to experience seizures. She drills holes into his head, perforates his skull and ultimately saves his life before he is rescued and transferred to Seattle Grace Hospital. George lies to the woman whose son he had been looking for, in order to get to surgery, but still doesn't have any luck in locating him. Alex finds no hope in searching for the pregnant Jane Doe's family as she undergoes surgery. The interns find out about Meredith's situation and express their hopelessness. She wakes up in what appears to be limbo and meets her deceased acquaintances.

    Director:Rob Corn
    Writer:Shonda Rhimes

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  2. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 15 - Walk on Water
    8.8/10(1968 votes)

    S3:E15

    A mass trauma situation, which turns out to be a ferryboat accident, challenges the whole staff of Seattle Grace Hospital. Richard finds difficulty in coping with his separation from his wife and dyes his hair "for the ladies", which becomes an internal joke between Mark, Burke and Derek. Cristina tries to tell Meredith about her upcoming marriage, but doesn't have the strength to. George promises to find a woman's son, who has been separated from her at the accident. The woman refuses to go into surgery until she is assured that her son is alive. Izzie has to take care of a man who got stuck between two cars on the ferry, but nobody helps her due to the large number of injured people. Alex rescues a pregnant woman with severe wounds on her face, and promises to take care of her. Meredith looks after a girl who has been separated from her mother after the accident, but accidentally falls into the water and drowns, with nobody but the little girl as a witness.

    Director:Rob Corn
    Writer:Shonda Rhimes

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  3. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 25 - Didn't We Almost Have It All?
    8.7/10(2089 votes)

    S3:E25

    The mountain climbers lie about the axe in their friend's head, telling Derek that it accidentally got there. During surgery, he and George discover that it was deliberately put there, and one of the climbers admit that he was trying to "put him out of his misery". Adele is saved after Richard finds her lying in the bathroom and is stabilized, but soon suffers a miscarriage. Richard learns Adele was actually pregnant with his son, not someone she had one night stand with. Bailey is disappointed to see that Callie is the new Chief Resident and begins to question her abilities as a surgeon. Richard chooses Derek as Chief of Surgery, but he refuses, telling him that he isn't done doing what he does best. Cristina and Burke's wedding day arrives, but Cristina won't stay out of the hospital. However, Cristina's nervousness results in Burke's realizing that he does not love the real Cristina and leaves her. Meredith and Derek are uncertain about their future and despite Derek admitting that she is the love of his life, they call their relationship over.

    Director:Rob Corn
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 9 - From a Whisper to a Scream
    8.6/10(1861 votes)

    S3:E9

    A traumatic car accident fills the ER. Izzie pushes the boundaries of her probation. Cristina has a crisis of conscience about her deceptive teamwork with Burke.

    Director:Julie Anne Robinson
    Writer:Kip Koenig

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  5. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 12 - Six Days (2)
    8.6/10(1844 votes)

    S3:E12

    Cristina and Burke continue to play Uncle until one of them gives in. Derek and Meredith are fighting over the reason for their sleepless nights. Meredith tries to talk to her father about his side of the story. There's tension between Alex and Addison. There is even more tension between Addison and Mark. Addison confides in Callie. Bailey wishes she didn't have to keep a secret from one of the interns. Callie rushes to be with George after she learns that his dad needs an emergency procedure. Izzie may have found 'some good to do' with her inheritance.

    Director:Greg Yaitanes
    Writer:Krista Vernoff

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  6. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 14 - Wishin' and Hopin'
    8.4/10(1612 votes)

    S3:E14

    The race for the Chief's position is on, and the attending physicians, Derek, Burke, Addison and Mark, compete for Richard's affections by trying to help out everywhere possible. The Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic is open for business, but only one single patient shows up. Izzie is disappointed in what she invested Denny's legacy in, and tries to steal patients from the emergency room. Callie and George get back from Las Vegas, announcing their marriage, much to everyone's disbelief. Izzie is not supportive of their marriage and tries to get George to realize the mistake he has made. Meanwhile, Meredith's Alzheimer's-stricken mother, Ellis Grey, experiences a change in her medical condition by becoming lucid for the day. She is disappointed in the mediocrity her daughter has fallen into and begins to despise Derek, blaming him for what happened to the Meredith that used to be "a force of nature". Ellis has to have heart surgery and, despite her wishes, Meredith schedules her upcoming surgery. Richard talks to Ellis and realizes that she is still in love with him, but loses her memory after their talk ends, before Meredith has the chance to tell her how she really feels.

    Director:Julie Anne Robinson
    Writer:Joan Rater

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  7. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 17 - Some Kind of Miracle
    8.4/10(2103 votes)

    S3:E17

    Everyone is pushing for Meredith to survive, or in this case to be revived. People are still dealing with the fallout from the ferry disaster. A young man named Lucas is having problems with brain-mouth coordination. Someone else dies.

    Director:Adam Arkin
    Writers:Shonda Rhimes, Marti Noxon

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  8. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 1 - Time Has Come Today
    8.3/10(2033 votes)

    S3:E1

    Meredith must make an important choice about which path she wants to follow to determine the future of her love life. While she considers her future she and others have flashbacks of their pasts. Cristina spends time with Burke while he recovers. Webber and Adele have a conversation after he spends the night at the hospital. Everyone attempts to deal with Izzie's choice to quit. George seeks relationship advice from Derek.

    Director:Daniel Minahan
    Writer:Shonda Rhimes

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  9. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 24 - Testing 1-2-3
    8.3/10(1548 votes)

    S3:E24

    The interns finally take their first year medical exams, the biggest test of their careers, and one of them is ill-prepared. Callie grows more suspicious of George and Izzie. The doctors treat a patient named Dale. Three mountain climbers are treated. Cristina works on her vows. Adele wants Addison to keep a secret from Richard.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:Allan Heinberg

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  10. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 4 - What I Am
    8.2/10(1696 votes)

    S3:E4

    Shawn Sullivan, a car salesman who just had surgery, wants to get back to his routine so he doesn't lose his renown. Addison works with a pregnant woman named Rebecca who may need a C-section and Addison doubts her medical skills. Rebecca wants to have the baby naturally. Derek and Mark's opinions clash when the try to decide the course of treatment for a burn victim. Izzie gets surprised. Cristina pushes Burke to get better faster.

    Director:Dan Lerner
    Writer:Allan Heinberg

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  11. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 11 - Six Days (1)
    8.2/10(1759 votes)

    S3:E11

    Meredith discovers that Derek has a problem sleeping while her father comes to visit the hospital. George's father is moving from one surgery to another. A patient named Heather checks into the hospital. Heather is 17 and has a nasty attitude that results from her medical condition and all the surgeries it has required her to have. Izzie has an emotional breakdown when she tries to hand over something very important to her. George's family comes to visit to celebrate his father's surgery. Cristina and Burke are playing Uncle.

    Director:Greg Yaitanes
    Writer:Krista Vernoff

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  12. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 13 - Great Expectations
    8.2/10(1582 votes)

    S3:E13

    After the Chief announces his retirement, rumors begin to circulate on his departure and successor. Mark is determined to leave Seattle for good but Meredith accidentally has him stay after letting him know of the open Chief position. Derek is angry at Meredith for causing Mark to stay in Seattle, but soon realizes that she is not the reason he is really angry. The attending physicians at Seattle Grace Hospital fight to get Richard's attention, but he expresses his disappointment. He also displays his lack of support in Bailey's plan to create a free medical clinic, but she ultimately goes through with her plan when Izzie offers to spend her entire 8.7 million dollar inheritance on the project. George, devastated after his father's death, uses sex to overcome his grief, and eventually proposes to Callie. Cristina and Burke still don't speak to each other, but he breaks the agreement when he proposes to her. Richard endeavors to reunite with his wife, Adele, and decides to retire, only to come home and find his wife with another man.

    Director:Michael Grossman
    Writer:Eric Buchman

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  13. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 2 - I Am a Tree
    8.1/10(1614 votes)

    S3:E2

    Cristina meets Burke's parents, the interns try to get Izzie's job back, and Addison takes a day off, a surgical patient may be living her last day. Some of the interns want to know why Bailey won't talk to Izzie. Meredith tries to decide between Derek and Finn and comes to a decision somewhat. Webber finds out that Callie has been living in the hospital and he confronts her about it.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Krista Vernoff

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  14. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 10 - Don't Stand So Close to Me
    8.1/10(1568 votes)

    S3:E10

    Recent events strain Burke and Cristina's relationship. Mark and Derek must work together when two close-knit brothers seek medical help. One of Meredith's half sisters is admitted to the hospital.

    Director:Seith Mann
    Writer:Carolina Paiz

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  15. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 18 - Scars and Souvenirs
    8.1/10(1677 votes)

    S3:E18

    The race between the attending physicians for the Chief of Surgery position heats up after a new competitor enters the fray. They soon realize that the new surgeon, Colin Marlow, was Cristina's professor in medical school and they used to have a long-term relationship. He begins to lie to Burke in order to protect her secret, but is soon faced with the realization that their relationship is on the rocks. George finds out that Callie's family is rich, but she had previously hidden the fact in order to find out whether George loves her for who she really is. Derek treats his former colleague from New York, and forces her to have surgery for brain cancer in order to save her future, no matter what the post-surgery risks are. Alex continues to work with Jane Doe, whose memory doesn't seem to come back. He moves in with Meredith and they have a dinner with her father and stepmother. She seems to connect with Susan, but her relationship with Thatcher seems to be irreparable. Izzie wakes up, realizing that she has slept with George while they were both drunk.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Debora Cahn

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  16. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 3 - Sometimes a Fantasy
    8.0/10(1630 votes)

    S3:E3

    The staff tries to prevent a patient from getting an elective surgery. Cristina tries to help Preston cope with the after effects of his surgery. A patient bails on their surgery. Someone goes to a bed-and breakfast. Alex deals with a patient who has had a high amount of injuries in the past. A man undergoes surgery. Before the surgery his wife was only somewhat supportive, but the results may be too much for her to handle. Izzie tries to go back to the hospital for the first time since Denny died. One child's constant visits are noted by a nurse. Two foster patients are met with suspicions of child abuse. George and Callie's relationship moves forward.

    Director:Adam Arkin
    Writer:Debora Cahn

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  17. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 5 - Oh, the Guilt
    8.0/10(1536 votes)

    S3:E5

    Derek learns one of Addison's secrets. Bailey talks about motherhood and depression to a mother who is set to have cancer surgery and who seems to not care about any decisions concerning the future. A resident is fiercely questioned about the death of a male patient. An ex-couple meet before lunch and get stuck - Meredith and Addison work on their case. Things get awkward when the ex-couple's daughter, Michelle, arrives at the hospital.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Joan Rater, Allan Heinberg, Zoanne Clack

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  18. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 19 - My Favorite Mistake
    8.0/10(1553 votes)

    S3:E19

    In the aftermath of Izzie's affair with George, he doesn't seem to remember anything. Callie lets him know that they will be having dinner with her father, but George does not make a good impression, being hung over after last night's events. Alex helps Jane Doe choose how her face will look like after Mark Sloan performs reconstructive surgery on her. He also gives her a new perspective on how the world will see her from then on. The hospital board begins interviewing the candidates for the Chief's position, and Colin Marlow intimidates everyone with his ten-year plan. However, after taking advice from Bailey, Mark seems to have convinced the board that he is appropriate for the job, despite continuous efforts from Derek, Burke and Addison, whose careers in the hospital outlast his. Izzie seeks advice from Addison about her affair, telling her sleeping with George felt right, despite him being married.

    Director:Tamra Davis
    Writer:Chris Van Dusen

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  19. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 20 - Time After Time
    8.0/10(1534 votes)

    S3:E20

    Colin Marlow continues to try to get in the way of Cristina and Burke's relationship. The daughter that Izzie gave up for adoption needs something from her. This episode features a pro chess player, a flirtatious woman, and a mother named Mrs. Malone. Mr. and Mrs. Malone haven't talked to their daugther in a while because of their son-in-law. Someone goes to see a priest.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:Stacy McKee

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  20. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 6 - Let the Angels Commit
    7.9/10(1686 votes)

    S3:E6

    Cristina gets to scrub in on a rare surgery which incites envy. Alex questions his future in plastics. George and Addison work together with Noelle. Noelle is pregnant with twins but one of them is growing slower than the other. Her fiancé has problems of his own. Derek's sister visits. A patient's wife makes things hard on the staff since she has made her husband's health her job. A woman's sexual exploits are questioned.

    Director:Jessica Yu
    Writer:Stacy McKee

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  21. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 7 - Where the Boys Are
    7.9/10(1709 votes)

    S3:E7

    The men of Seattle Grace go on a camping trip together, Addison and Callie must team up to work on a patient, Meredith assists Sloan with a procedure unlike any she has experienced, and, suspicious of her recent actions at the hospital, Bailey confronts Cristina. A 9-year-old is seen by Cristina after he swallowed Monopoly game pieces. A pregnant 25-year-old, is brought in after she slipped in the shower. She doesn't want medicine to take away the pain from her injury so not to put her baby's growth in jeopardy. Doctors take care of Daniel, a man who wants a sexual reassignment surgery and who now goes under the name Donna. Accompanying Daniel is his wife of the past 10 years, who was surprised to see him want that surgery but, after much struggling, decided to stay by his side.

    Director:Daniel Minahan
    Writer:Mark Wilding

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  22. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 8 - Staring at the Sun
    7.9/10(1644 votes)

    S3:E8

    George's father has a serious heart problem that requires surgery and George chooses Burke to do the procedure. Burke doubts himself because he knows the pressure this kind of surgery will put on him, but Cristina believes the team can handle it. Derek works with Meredith on being a couple again and tries work with Addison on more civil terms. A patient has had mutiple plastic surgeries so that his girlfriend will like him more. A mom wants her daughter's babysitter fired, after she is brought in with multiple injuries, but the girl likes the babysitter more than her mother.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Gabrielle Stanton, Harry Werksman

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  23. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 21 - Desire
    7.9/10(1540 votes)

    S3:E21

    The attendings vie to be Chief. Two people who haven't slept together before, will. McSteamy's 60-day vow of chastity has a conclusion. We meet a boss, his assistant, and his wife. We also get to see someone being treated in the clinic. Derek has more questions about his relationship with Meredith. The chairman of the hospital board is admitted as patient. Callie confronts Izzie about her relationship with George.

    Director:Tom Verica
    Writer:Mark Wilding

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  24. Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 22 - The Other Side of This Life
    6.8/10(1829 votes)

    S3:E22

    Meredith works on her relationship with Susan and Thatcher. Cristina has to deal with her mother and Burke's. Alex continues to tend to Jane Doe/Ava. Meredith and Derek's relationship has a problem that needs resolution quick. Addison sees her god-daughter which leads to a job offer outside of Seattle. Derek has to perform surgery. Burke has a reservation about marrying Cristina. Many new people guest star in the course of Addison's road trip to California. Addison considers moving to be closer to her old med school friends until she discovers that drama she wishes to leave behind isn't exclusive to Seattle. Her friends who she thought had it all, are divorced. A pregnant woman must discover who the father of her child is.

    Director:Michael Grossman
    Writer:Shonda Rhimes

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Drowning on Dry Land" is the best rated episode of "Grey's Anatomy" season 3. It scored 9/10 based on 2150 votes. Directed by Rob Corn and written by Shonda Rhimes, it aired on 2/15/2007. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Walk on Water".