Every Grey’s Anatomy Season 1 Character Ranked Worst to Best

Before Grey’s Anatomy became a 22-season rollercoaster of emotions, Season 1 was all about raw potential. Five interns try to survive Seattle Grace and figure out who they are inside and outside the OR. The chaos pulled everyone in.

No one was iconic yet, not Meredith, not Derek, not even Cristina Yang. They were just young doctors learning fast, breaking rules, and fighting to prove they belonged.

That first season built everything the show would become. Some characters had an instant spark, while others needed time to grow. Before the wild storylines and impossible tragedies took over, this was Grey’s Anatomy in its purest form.

So let’s go back to where it all began and rank every Season 1 character from worst to best, based on who showed the most promise before the drama got surgical.

10. Addison Montgomery

Dr. Addison Montgomery, played by Kate Walsh, made one of the most unforgettable entrances in Grey’s Anatomy history, walking into Seattle Grace in the Season 1 finale and instantly detonating the Meredith-and-Derek love story with one line that was bold, icy, and pure TV gold.

Her arrival completely flipped the show’s emotional core, transforming a budding romance into a messy love triangle that no one saw coming. From the start, Addison’s role felt intriguing; some saw her as the villain breaking up the couple they’d been rooting for, while others loved the chaos and the way she brought real-world complexity to the story.

Even with limited screen time, Addison left a mark. She wasn’t just “the other woman,” she was a top-tier neonatal surgeon with confidence, charm, and a presence strong enough to earn her own spin-off later.

9. Izzie Stevens

Katherine Heigl‘s Dr. Izzie Stevens was the intern who immediately stood out at Seattle Grace in Season 1. Coming from a modeling past, she had to prove she wasn’t just a pretty face, and that tension made her instantly interesting.

Moving in with Meredith Grey and bonding with the intern crew, Izzie quickly became part of the chaotic world of young doctors trying to survive long shifts and their own personal drama.

Romantically, Heigl’s Izzie had a rocky start. Her relationship with hockey player Hank fell apart as she tried to balance her career and her heart. Moreover, her on-and-off dynamic with Alex Karev teetered between bickering and undeniable chemistry. Through it all, Izzie showed she wasn’t afraid to care (sometimes too much), and that made her both relatable and unpredictable.

Season 1 was all about setting the stage, and Izzie was already hinting at the kind of doctor she would become, and was never afraid to push boundaries. Even in her first season, she was someone you couldn’t take your eyes off.

8. Alex Karev

Dr. Alex Karev, played by Justin Chambers, stormed into Seattle Grace in Season 1 and immediately made his presence felt. He was cocky, brash, and had zero filter, the kind of intern who could make you roll your eyes one second and laugh the next. Nicknamed “Evil Spawn” by Cristina Yang, Alex came off as the ultimate bad boy of the OR, always ready to challenge authority or throw a sarcastic jab at his peers.

But behind that tough-guy exterior was someone shaped by a rough past: a chaotic family, a mentally ill mother, and a father who wasn’t around in the way he needed. That upbringing explained a lot of his defensiveness and occasional recklessness, giving him a depth that wasn’t immediately obvious.

Season 1 also hinted at the softer side of Alex. His complicated dynamic with Izzie Stevens showed he could be vulnerable and even a little romantic when he wanted to be. He made mistakes and tested the patience of nearly everyone around him, but those rough edges were part of what made him compelling.

From the start, Alex was a character in motion: cocky but capable, abrasive but skilled, and bursting with the kind of potential that would make him unforgettable as the series went on.

7. George O’Malley

George O’Malley was never the cool, confident surgeon, and that’s exactly what made him unforgettable. Played by T.R. Knight, George started Grey’s Anatomy as the intern whom everyone underestimated. He was the nice guy in a sea of overachievers, the one who froze during his first surgery.

But beneath all that awkwardness was a heart that refused to give up. He moved in with Meredith and Izzie and developed a crush on Meredith for way too long. This kind of humiliation, with sincerity, made fans root for him even harder.

What set George apart was how real he felt. While others chased glory, George chased purpose. He wasn’t the best in the OR, but he always showed up for his patients and his friends with empathy and courage. His arc wasn’t about being the best surgeon; it was about finding himself amid chaos.

Over the seasons, we watched him grow from the nervous intern no one took seriously into a quietly heroic doctor who made one of the most selfless sacrifices on TV. George O’Malley didn’t just make fans cry; he reminded us that kindness can be its own kind of strength.

6. Preston Burke

Preston Burke was Seattle Grace’s quietly intense surgical rock in Season 1. He ran the cardiothoracic floor with authority, but he wasn’t loud about it; everything about him felt controlled, calculated, and exact. That precision extended to how he interacted with the interns. He wasn’t here to coddle anyone, but he had a way of pushing people to be better.

The most interesting part of Burke in Season 1 was his dynamic with Cristina Yang. At first, it’s just professional, a brilliant surgeon and a determined intern recognizing each other’s potential. But as the season moves on, there’s a tension there, subtle but electric. They challenge each other, push boundaries, and blur the line between mentorship and something more personal.

Portrayed by Isaiah Washington, he isn’t the kind of character who grabs attention with drama. He sets the tone for the hospital: excellence matters, mistakes have weight, and yet, in the cracks between control and discipline, you see a person who’s more than just a surgeon.

5. Richard Webber

Richard Webber, played by James Pickens Jr., is the one keeping Seattle Grace from completely spiraling in Season 1. As Chief of Surgery, he’s the guy making the impossible calls, balancing hospital politics, and trying not to let the interns completely crash and burn. He’s tough when he needs to be, but there’s a quiet sense that he actually cares about the people under his wing.

There’s also his past with Ellis Grey, Meredith’s mom, which hangs over him in small ways that make his interactions with Meredith layered. He’s protective without being overbearing, fair but never soft, and somehow manages to keep everything together while chaos swirls around him. With the interns, he’s the voice of reason, the one who sets boundaries, teaches lessons, and lets people stumble so they actually learn.

Webber isn’t flashy, and he doesn’t need to be. He’s the steady hand, the one you notice most when things are about to fall apart. Season 1 shows him doing the invisible heavy lifting that makes the hospital run, the kind of leader who keeps the show grounded even when everyone else is losing it.

4. Derek Shepherd

It’s easy to see why Dr. Derek Shepherd earned the nickname ‘McDreamy’ in Season 1. Patrick Dempsey’s character is calm, confident, and swoon-worthy, but he’s not just eye candy; he’s brilliant in the OR and complicated outside it.

His first encounter with Meredith Grey sets the tone for one of TV’s most iconic slow-burn romances: a chance meeting that leads to a one-night stand, tension, and chemistry that neither of them can ignore. From the start, Derek is layered: charming yet guarded, brilliant yet emotionally complex.

In Season 1, he also functions as a subtle anchor for the interns. Everyone looks up to him, whether it’s for surgical skill, advice, or just sheer presence. But his personal life, especially the complicated history with his wife Addison, adds a human element that contrasts perfectly with his cool, controlled persona.

Derek isn’t just good-looking or insanely skilled; it’s the way he moves through the hospital with just a touch of mystery. Even in Season 1, he’s more than a love interest; he changes the energy in every room he’s in. Fans said goodbye to the character in Season 11 when a fatal accident killed Derek.

3. Miranda Bailey

Dr. Miranda Bailey, played by Chandra Wilson, didn’t just show up at Seattle Grace in Season 1; she owned it. Straightforward, tough, and zero-nonsense, she earned the interns’ instant nickname “The Nazi,” and yeah, that pretty much sums up how intimidating she could be.

But underneath that sharp edge, Bailey is fiercely dedicated to the people she mentors. She pushes the interns hard, sets high standards, and won’t let anyone cut corners, all while making sure they actually learn and grow.

Season 1 makes it clear that Bailey isn’t just tough for the sake of it. She steers through the chaos of the hospital, juggling personalities, politics, and emergencies, but still manages to see each intern as a person, not just a trainee. Her balance of strictness and guidance is what makes her stand out. She expects excellence, but she also understands the messiness of being human.

Chandra Wilson brings so much depth to Bailey, showing strength without making her cold and vulnerability without making her weak. She’s already a stabilizing force in the first season and someone you know you want in your corner when the hospital or life goes sideways.

2. Meredith Grey

Meredith Grey walked into Seattle Grace in Season 1 like someone carrying a lifetime of expectations on her back, and we felt every ounce of it. Played by Ellen Pompeo, she’s a new surgical intern trying to make sense of the hospital chaos.

On top of that, Grey’s juggling a complicated love life while living under the shadow of her mother, Ellis Grey, one of the city’s most renowned surgeons. From her very first moments, Meredith is layered and more than a little uncertain about how to balance her heart with her career.

Season 1 immediately sets up her slow-burning, messy romance with Derek Shepherd, which starts with a chance encounter and a one-night stand. That tension threads through the entire season, blending professional stakes with personal vulnerability. Meanwhile, her friendships with the interns, especially Cristina, and guidance from Dr. Bailey show just how tough, loyal, and adaptable Meredith is.

What makes Meredith stick is that she’s human in all the ways that matter: messy, ambitious, compassionate, and occasionally indecisive. Even in Season 1, you can see she’s someone who will grow and fight through it all and, in the process, quietly anchor the entire show.

1. Cristina Yang

Cristina Yang arrived at Seattle Grace in Season 1 like a storm of ambition, brains, and intensity. Played by Sandra Oh, she’s the “double doctor”, M.D. and Ph.D., with a laser focus on becoming the best surgeon she can be. Her drive is personal too: a childhood car accident that took her father shaped her determination to save lives, and she channels that into every shift, every patient, every challenge.

From day one, Cristina is a force to be reckoned with. She’s competitive, logical, and brutally honest, the kind of intern who will call you out when you’re slacking but also push you to rise to the occasion.

Season 1 also sets up her life outside the OR. She and Meredith become each other’s ‘person,’ going through the drama of the hospital together. Her moments with George O’Malley add another layer, showing that beneath all her focus and drive, she can actually care and connect.

What makes Cristina stick is how unapologetic she is about who she is. She’s ambitious, brilliant, and sometimes intimidating, but she’s also human, capable of connection.

Season 1 of Grey’s Anatomy threw us into Seattle Grace and didn’t let go. The interns, the surgeons, the drama, it all felt real. From the start, this was a hospital full of stories you couldn’t stop watching. Which character from the show is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!