The Grey's Anatomy Death That Still Haunts Us (And Makes a Rewatch Fairly Hard)

Grey's Anatomy has had its fair share of emotional goodbyes over the years, but for many fans, none were as difficult as Derek's departure in season 11. Derek, played by actor Patrick Dempsey, had been a main character since the very first episode, and his relationship with Meredith Grey was a central part of the show.

However, Derek's time on the show came to an abrupt end when he was killed off in a tragic accident caused by the negligence of another doctor. The news of Derek's death sent shockwaves through the Grey's Anatomy fan community, with many struggling to come to terms with the loss of such a beloved character.

Despite the emotional impact of Derek's goodbye, not all fans were equally affected by his departure.

Some are still, years later, devastated by the loss of Derek, with one fan saying, "I actually cried for this one. I have watched Grey's over 6 times from beginning to end (of whatever season they're on) because it's my comfort show. I have only watched Derek's death ONCE. I am literally on the episode right now and cannot finish it."

However, others were less affected by Derek's death and got over it pretty quickly, saying that for Derek to just die like that because of a doctor's negligence felt too much like lazy writing.

One fan even went as far as to say, "I was more upset when Lexie died. Derek's death just didn't hit me as hard."

Regardless of their feelings about Derek's departure, it's clear that the goodbye was a difficult and emotional moment for many Grey's Anatomy fans. With such a long-running show, it's only natural that characters will come and go, but Derek's goodbye will surely go down as one of the most memorable in the show's history, still haunting fans and make rewatch just that little bit more heartbreaking.