Grey’s Anatomy stands as a testament to the power of an old-fashioned, long-running network series

The A.V. Club

While the current TV trend emphasizes shorter seasons and quality over quantity, Grey's is that rare throwback to past TV series that were able to run for years while maintaining interest among fans. As Caroline Siede explains, "long-running show like Grey’s Anatomy measures its successes and failures in eras, not episodes or even seasons. And while Grey’s Anatomy has had some real low points over the years (yes, this is a medical series where someone had sex with a ghost that turned out to be a manifestation of her brain tumor), it’s had plenty of peaks to counter those valleys. The show’s most recent creative renaissance came thanks to its biggest ever creative shakeup—the decision to kill off Patrick Dempsey’s Dr. Derek 'McDreamy' Shepherd in the 11th season episode 'How To Save A Life.' In examining what Meredith’s life looks like in a post-Derek world, Grey’s Anatomy got a creative kick start (not to mention a ratings boost). And since then it’s been refreshingly willing to mine its own past for emotional resonance, most successfully in seasons 12 and 14."