I Ranked All 7 ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Christmas Episodes, From Holiday Classic to Code Blue

I've got two major confessions. Number one: I started watching Grey's Anatomy in 2023, after ABC had already aired a whopping 19 seasons of the show. (Better extremely late than never, right?) And number two: I binged the first three seasons in less than two months. (Thanks in huge part to Dr. McDreamy and his quotable lines.) Now, I'm savoring all the hospital drama as I slowly make my way through the remaining seasons. And while I still have a ways to go before season 20, I can honestly say that I especially enjoy watching Grey’s Anatomy Christmas episodes.

Sure, they still pack their fair share of chaos and drama—like with Bailey's Christmas-themed wedding in season nine's “Run, Baby, Run.” But it's encouraging to see little glimpses of holiday fun—even amidst some heartbreaking scenes. So, whether you're looking for a jolly episode to get you in the spirit or you're feeling nostalgic, I've ranked all seven Grey’s Anatomy Christmas episodes, based on the plot and, of course, the level of holiday cheer.

• Director: Chris Hayden
• Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr.

Given that this episode follows the aftermath of Dr. Shepherd's death, I can understand why the overall tone isn't too cheery. Unlike other episodes, this two-hour special takes place over a year and shows Meredith immediately skipping town as the other doctors try to cope with the loss, so it's worth noting the holidays aren't the main focus. In addition, April heads off to work in a war zone, Bailey and Ben are at odds, and Callie and Arizona are newly single as they celebrate the holidays solo. So...yeah, overall, the tone is a bit more somber than festive.

Fun fact: The title of this episode is a reference to the song "She's Leaving Home" by The Beatles. This also marks the first appearance of Aniela Gumbs as Zola.

• Director: Michael Watkins
• Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Kevin McKidd

There's no shortage of drama and tension in this high-stakes mid-season finale. If you recall, Meredith and Amelia get to work on a milestone surgery, and while en route to deliver an organ for a transplant, Teddy and Owen get into a car accident. Meanwhile, Owen continues to mourn a painful death and poor Levi falls into depression after accidentally killing a patient during surgery. Even with the holidays fast approaching, it's a pretty dark episode, but on a slightly brighter note, it's inspiring to see Owen's heroism on full display.

FYI, the episode's title, "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear," is the name of an 1849 poem and Christmas carol written by Edmund Sears. Frank Sinatra performed the most popular rendition, and other singers include Josh Groban and Sixpence None the Richer.

• Director: Rob Corn
• Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson

Dr. Bailey is a bundle of nerves as she prepares for her holiday wedding—but this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's still some lingering tension and sadness from the devastating plane crash in season eight, and on top of that, Cristina and Owen's marriage seems to be falling apart. Plus, at the hospital, Meredith and McDreamy have a major disagreement about a nerve transplant, Jo gets into some trouble and Bailey's wedding gets derailed by a sudden emergency. Stressful? Absolutely, but there are some heartwarming moments, like when Meredith opens up about her pregnancy.

In this episode, Neve Campbell appears as Dr. Shepherd's sister, Lizzie, marking a Scream 3 mini reunion between the former co-stars.

• Director: Peter Horton
• Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers

I am all for colorful Christmas decorations, so you could imagine my delight when Izzie went all out with the holiday lights and decor in this episode—even despite Meredith's protests. Even so, her colleagues aren't really feeling the holiday spirit, but what unites them all is their consistent determination to help Alex pass his medical board exam. This sweet gesture, coupled with their willingness to prioritize the patients, is a heartwarming display of their selfless nature. And this, if you ask me, ties nicely into the true spirit of Christmas.

This episode title is inspired by Randy Brooks's song of the same name, and Dempsey got to reunite with his Happy Together co-star, Helen Slater.

• Director: Debbie Allen
• Cast:  Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers, Jesse Williams, Chandra Wilson

At this point, the widowed Meredith has made some progress on her healing journey and she's back in the dating ring. And naturally, she gets caught in a love triangle between Link and DeLuca. Bailey also has some marriage troubles and Betty drops some major news, but much of the episode focuses on Meredith's romantic dilemma, so it doesn't feel as dark or heavy as the ones previously listed. I will say, seeing Link decked out in a Santa suit for kids with cancer is a major bonus.

The episode, which is named after The Smiths' 1987 song of the same title, features quite a few memorable quotes from Meredith. My favorite: "Our best bet is to make the most of the time we have. Or make up for lost time. But sometimes, if we're really lucky, time stands still."

• Director: Robert Berlinger
• Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers

The episode features more than one holiday, but you'll be happy to know that Christmas still reigns supreme. It's heartwarming to see most of the hospital staff celebrating the holiday together—there are presents, there's a stunning Christmas tree, there's a fabulous family-style dinner and, as you would expect, a side of intense family drama. Bailey's judgmental father will easily take you back to all the awkward encounters at holiday family reunions, but Arizona and Richard's festive sing-along is sure to get your spirits up.

In this mid-season finale, Danielle Panabaker guest stars as Kelsey, a young girl without a heart who really loves snow. Sure enough, Panabaker also played the infamous Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost on The CW's The Flash.

• Director: Allison Liddi-Brown
• Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Patrick Dempsey, Justin Chambers

I know it's an odd choice for first place, but boy, do I enjoy watching the dynamic between Derek and Cristina here. Despite the overall sad tone, thanks to the recent shooting, I really like how the episode tackles Cristina's struggle with PTSD, and it's quite refreshing to see this duo in a new, peaceful setting. Of course, as the icing on the cake, this episode also gives a little dose of Christmas cheer, with Mark and Lexie rekindling their romance against a Hallmark-style backdrop and Teddy's proposal to Henry.

BTW, eagle-eyed fans may have noticed that Dempsey's character is wearing a Bowdoin Hockey hat on the boat while he fishes with Cristina. Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, Maine, which happens to be Dempsey's home state.