Season 2 (Grey's Anatomy)



Nielsen Ranking (2005-06 U.S. TV season; based on average total viewers per episode): #5 (19.9 million viewers)

The second season began airing September 25, 2005, and ended on May 14 and May 15, 2006 with a three-hour finale spanning both nights. The first season originally contained 14 episodes, representing ABC's original midseason order for the show. However, it was decided to end the season early because ABC executives wished for the show's first season to end with ABC's Desperate Housewives (which had the timeslot before Grey's Anatomy'' for the first two seasons). Rather than condensing or throwing out plotlines, Grey's Anatomy producers chose to end the season with the ninth episode and save the following episodes for the second season. Episodes 10-14 were then held and broadcast as the first five episodes of Season 2. ABC ordered 22 episodes in addition to the five being carried over, bringing the total number of episodes for the second season to 27. The count apparently does not include the recap specials "Straight From The Heart" and "Under Pressure"; however, a 27th original episode was eventually added to the season. "Bring the Pain," which aired as the series' 14th episode, has been cited in series creator Shonda Rhimes' blog as having been originally intended as the first season finale. On some of the weeks airing after its highly-watched February 5, 2006 post-Super Bowl episode, the program attracted more viewers than its lead-in, Desperate Housewives.

Storyline
The second season focuses on Meredith and Dr. Derek Shepherd's relationship, which came to an abrupt halt when it was revealed that Dr. Shepherd is married to the surgeon Addison Montgomery-Shepherd. Izzie Stevens and Alex Karev embark on a relationship of their own (although this is cut short when Izzie falls for heart patient Denny Duquette), as do Christina Yang and Dr. Preston Burke. Dr. Miranda Bailey becomes pregnant and more about Meredith's family is revealed.

Episodes

 * Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
 * Enough is Enough
 * Deny, Deny, Deny
 * Bring the Pain
 * Into You Like a Train
 * Something to Talk About
 * Let It Be
 * Thanks for the Memories
 * Much too Much
 * Owner of a Lonely Heart
 * Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
 * Begin the Begin
 * Tell Me Sweet Little Lies
 * Break on Through
 * It's the End of the World
 * As We Know It
 * Yesterday
 * What Have I Done to Deserve This?
 * Band-Aid Covers the Bullet Hole
 * Superstition
 * The Name of the Game
 * Blues for Sister Someone
 * Damage Case
 * 17 Seconds
 * Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response
 * Losing My Religion