The BEST episodes of Grey's Anatomy season 12

Every episode of Grey's Anatomy season 12, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Grey's Anatomy season 12!

A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors.

Last Updated: 4/22/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Continuing
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Family Affair
star
8.01
2120 votes

#1 - Family Affair

Season 12 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/19/2016

Meredith and Maggie support Amelia on an important day; Jo reveals that she has been keeping secrets from Alex while Arizona and Callie deal with the impact of their custody arrangement. Meanwhile, Ben leaps into action to help a friend.

Directors: Debbie Allen
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Sound of Silence
star
7.77
1866 votes

#2 - The Sound of Silence

Season 12 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/11/2016

Meredith is brutally attacked by a patient, and Penny is the one who discovers her. The doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial rush to stabilize Meredith and remain by her side in the harrowing aftermath.

Writer: Stacy McKee
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mama Tried
star
7.77
2006 votes

#3 - Mama Tried

Season 12 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/5/2016

Callie and Arizona are at odds over Sofia’s future, and Stephanie questions the status of her relationship with Kyle. Meanwhile, Alex and April work on a pregnant teen that is readmitted to Grey Sloan Memorial.

Directors: Kevin McKidd
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
There's a Fine, Fine Line
star
7.76
1874 votes

#4 - There's a Fine, Fine Line

Season 12 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/14/2016

After a missing child forces the hospital into lockdown, Ben decides to operate on a pregnant mother without the proper surgical equipment. Miranda, as Chief, is faced with the repercussions of the event and whether or not Ben's impulsive actions were justified.

Directors: Jeannot Szwarc
Writer: Jen Klein
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
star
7.64
1605 votes

#5 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Season 12 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/2015

In the midst of the sisters’ dinner party, Maggie ditches her cooking duties to rush to the hospital. Meanwhile, April steps in to help cook as an attempt to avoid Jackson, and Arizona nervously waits to find out more about Callie’s new girlfriend.

Directors: Debbie Allen
Writer: Meg Marinis
Watch Now:Apple TV
It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
star
7.64
1940 votes

#6 - It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

Season 12 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/14/2016

Miranda continues to deal with the aftermath of Ben's reckless decision and forms an advisory committee to recommend proper disciplinary action against him. Meanwhile, April and Jackson try to put their differences aside for the sake of their baby, and Arizona makes a decision that could affect her relationship with Callie forever.

Directors: Chris Hayden
Watch Now:Apple TV
At Last
star
7.63
2046 votes

#7 - At Last

Season 12 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/12/2016

Owen and Amelia take their relationship to the next level; Alex gains some clarity on his future with Jo; and Callie and Arizona continue to struggle with the current custody arrangement.

Directors: Rob Corn
Writer: Stacy McKee
Watch Now:Apple TV
I Choose You
star
7.63
1530 votes

#8 - I Choose You

Season 12 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/2015

Maggie reevaluates her life choices after receiving an invitation to her ex-boyfriend’s wedding; Richard questions Bailey’s loyalty, and Jo confides in Stephanie about a secret she’s been keeping from Alex. Meanwhile, Alex struggles with making a difficult decision that will affect the lives of newborn twins.

Directors: Rob Corn
Watch Now:Apple TV
Old-Time Rock-and-Roll
star
7.62
1576 votes

#9 - Old-Time Rock-and-Roll

Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/2015

Owen suggests the interns learn a vital lesson on how to break bad news to patients’ families, and Arizona’s 90-year-old patient reassures her that she’s destined to find love again. Meanwhile, the sisters completely forget about the dinner party they’re hosting for everyone.

Directors: Nicole Rubio
Watch Now:Apple TV
Sledgehammer
star
7.60
1733 votes

#10 - Sledgehammer

Season 12 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/2015

Seattle Grace Hospital springs into action to save the lives of two young girls whose powerful story will force some of the doctors to revisit the effects of bullying on their own pasts. Meanwhile, Meredith must adjust to changes at home with her new roommates while Bailey continues to fight for the Chief of Surgery position and Jackson prepares for April’s return to Seattle.

Directors: Kevin McKidd
Writer: Stacy McKee
Watch Now:Apple TV
Odd Man Out
star
7.60
1734 votes

#11 - Odd Man Out

Season 12 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/17/2016

Richard throws everyone for a loop when he switches the resident and attending pairings, and Arizona takes a huge risk on a woman who is pregnant with quadruplets. Meanwhile, April is faced with a difficult decision.

Directors: Kevin McKidd
Writer: Meg Marinis
Watch Now:Apple TV
Trigger Happy
star
7.57
1945 votes

#12 - Trigger Happy

Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/21/2016

The doctors work frantically to save a young boy who was accidentally shot. Meanwhile, Arizona is upset when Callie tries to make an important decision about Sofia’s future without consulting her

Directors: Zetna Fuentes
Writer: Zoanne Clack
Watch Now:Apple TV
All I Want Is You
star
7.57
1776 votes

#13 - All I Want Is You

Season 12 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/18/2016

As the hospital deals with Meredith's trauma, Callie and Maggie perform a risky, experimental surgery on Alex's 15-year-old patient against his professional opinion. Meanwhile, Owen and Nathan are still at odds with each other, and Maggie and Andrew's relationship continues to develop.

Directors: Kevin Sullivan
Watch Now:Apple TV
My Next Life
star
7.56
1665 votes

#14 - My Next Life

Season 12 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/3/2016

A patient from Meredith's very first surgery as an Intern is readmitted to Grey Sloan Memorial with a new aneurysm, and Amelia takes her case. Meanwhile, Maggie suspects that Richard knows about her relationship with Andrew, and Arizona debates dating again.

Directors: Chandra Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
When It Hurts So Bad
star
7.55
1841 votes

#15 - When It Hurts So Bad

Season 12 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/31/2016

Meredith regrets taking a step forward with Will; Maggie feels disconnected from Andrew; Amelia takes another look at her relationship with Owen; Catherine shakes things up for April and Jackson.

Directors: Eric Laneuville
Writer: Andy Reaser
Watch Now:Apple TV
I Am Not Waiting Anymore
star
7.54
1793 votes

#16 - I Am Not Waiting Anymore

Season 12 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/24/2016

Jackson learns about April’s pregnancy, while Alex and the team of doctors handles an hours-long triple-organ transplant surgery. Meredith considers dating again, and Andrew insists on not receiving special treatment after he and Maggie go public.

Directors: Nicole Rubio
Watch Now:Apple TV
Walking Tall
star
7.51
1608 votes

#17 - Walking Tall

Season 12 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/2015

The pressure is on as a determined Bailey tackles her first day as Chief; meanwhile, April's marriage is in jeopardy and she finds herself unable to address her problems; Meredith struggles to juggle all her responsibilities and Amelia works to define her relationship with Owen.

Directors: Debbie Allen
Writer: Meg Marinis
Watch Now:Apple TV
All Eyez on Me
star
7.50
1669 votes

#18 - All Eyez on Me

Season 12 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/10/2016

Meredith, Bailey, Jackson, Callie and Jo travel to a military hospital to perform an extraordinary and extremely risky surgery on a veteran with an advanced tumor. Meanwhile back at Grey Sloan, Andrew is tired of being Maggie’s worst kept secret; Ben makes an impulsive surgical decision; and a team of cheerleaders wreak havoc in the ER.

Watch Now:Apple TV
I Wear the Face
star
7.50
1826 votes

#19 - I Wear the Face

Season 12 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/7/2016

Meredith goes on an ambulance ride with Owen and Nathan to pick up a heart for a transplant patient. Musician & MS patient Kyle Diaz is admitted to Grey Sloan Memorial with a tremor in his hand, and the residents apply for the Preminger Grant. Meanwhile, Catherine continues to insert herself into Jackson and April's business against Richard's wishes.

Directors: Chandra Wilson
Writer: Karin Gist
Watch Now:Apple TV
You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side
star
7.50
1945 votes

#20 - You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side

Season 12 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/28/2016

Stephanie’s relationship with Kyle becomes complicated. Meanwhile, Meredith encourages Amelia and Owen to take a chance and choose to be a real couple. Arizona and Callie are at odds and put their friends in the middle of an uncomfortable situation.

Directors: Debbie Allen
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Me Nobody Knows
star
7.50
1497 votes

#21 - The Me Nobody Knows

Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/2015

Grey Sloan Memorial not only welcomes a new transfer resident, but also a patient who's the topic of converstation after accidentally sending his sex tape to his entire congregation. Meanwhile, Richard wrestles with how to progress his relationship with Maggie when an old friend visits the hospital, and April brings in a case of a young boy from the Middle-East.

Directors: Jeannot Szwarc
Writer: Karin Gist
Watch Now:Apple TV
Things We Lost in the Fire
star
7.50
1698 votes

#22 - Things We Lost in the Fire

Season 12 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/19/2015

As the rumor mill around the hospital continues to spiral out of control, Grey Sloan Memorial is flooded with injured firefighters from a nearby wildfire. Maggie struggles to keep things with Andrew professional at work; meanwhile, Jo questions Alex’s priorities.

Directors: Rob Corn
Watch Now:Apple TV
Something Against You
star
7.44
1551 votes

#23 - Something Against You

Season 12 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/2015

The team of doctors work on a high stakes case of a long time patient, adding additional pressure to an already tense environment. Meanwhile Bailey wants Ben to kick out their new roommate, and Arizona is eager to get back into the dating world with a new wingman.

Directors: Geary McLeod
Writer: Andy Reaser
Watch Now:Apple TV
Unbreak My Heart
star
7.17
1685 votes

#24 - Unbreak My Heart

Season 12 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/25/2016

The evolution of April and Jackson's relationship is revealed through a series of flashbacks dating back to when they first met. Simultaneously, we follow the years-long progress of one of Jackson's patients.

Directors: Rob Corn
Watch Now:Apple TV