Season 8 (Grey's Anatomy)

Season 8 began airing on Thursday, September 22, 2011.

Summary
Meredith, Cristina, Alex, Jackson and April have all reached their 5th year as residents. In a year that can make or break a surgical career, the residents are tasked with their first-ever solo surgeries, no longer under their attendings’ direct supervision in the O.R.

Torn apart by Meredith’s well-intentioned but devastatingly harmful interference in Derek’s Alzheimer’s clinical trial, Meredith and Derek are living apart. Their relationship hangs in the balance, as does the fate of their newly adopted daughter, Zola.

Cristina and Owen’s wedded bliss is in jeopardy when they can’t agree on whether or not to have a baby. When Cristina becomes unexpectedly pregnant and decides to terminate the pregnancy, Owen is against it, leading to the biggest issue in their relationship thus far. Meanwhile Meredith and Cristina, the best of friends, find themselves at the center of each other’s worlds once again, as their marriages are tested.

Leading the 5th year residents is newly-appointed Chief Resident April Kepner. Her position of authority is immediately tested by her skeptical peers. Meanwhile Jackson, who is consistently proving he has the skills to be a very talented surgeon, is extremely happy in a new relationship with Lexie. And doing his best to move forward after his relationship with Lexie has ended is Mark Sloan, who has become a loving parent to daughter Sofia with the now-married Callie and Arizona.

Love abounds in other places in the hospital, as Bailey’s relationship with Nurse Eli continues to grow and Teddy falls deeper in love with her patient, Henry. Richard Webber focuses on caring for his beloved wife, Adele, who has Alzheimer’s disease.

Seattle Grace Hospital is a place where life isn’t lived in the black and white, but in the shades of grey.

Plots

 * The fallout from Meredith's tampering of the Alzheimers trial
 * April Kepner's struggles with being Chief Resident
 * Ben's return to Seattle Grace

Main Cast

 * Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey
 * Sandra Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang
 * Justin Chambers as Dr. Alex Karev
 * Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey
 * James Pickens Jr. as Dr. Richard Webber
 * Sara Ramirez as Dr. Calliope 'Callie' Torres
 * Eric Dane as Dr. Mark Sloan
 * Chyler Leigh as Dr. Alexandra 'Lexie' Grey
 * Kevin McKidd as Dr. Owen Hunt
 * Jessica Capshaw as Dr. Arizona Robbins
 * Kim Raver as Dr. Teddy Altman
 * Sarah Drew as Dr. April Kepner
 * Jesse Williams as Dr. Jackson Avery
 * Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Derek Shepherd

Others

 * Scott Foley as Henry Burton
 * Mitch Pileggi as Larry Jennings
 * Mackenzie Astin as Danny Wilson
 * Amy Price-Francis as Susannah Wilson
 * Janora McDuffie as Social Worker Janet
 * Bruce Beatty as Jerry Hoffman