grey anatomy season sixth season american television medical drama grey anatomy commenced airing abc united_states september concluded season produced association showrunner actors reprised roles surgical residents respectively released contract middle season appear knight released contract conclusion season main cast members returned previous recurring star promoted series regular given star billing commencement season season follows story surgical residents competent experience difficulties competitive careers chosen set surgical wing fictional located seattle washington major storyline season characters adapting change beloved worker stevens departed following breakdown marriage died season premiere following dragged bus new surgeon given employment hospital storylines include shepherd promoted chief surgery merging neighboring introducing new doctors physicians lives placed danger deceased patient husband shooting hospital seeking revenge wife death series ended sixth season million viewers ranking terms ratings lowest series ranked season received mixed critical feedback season premiere finale given heavier critical acclaim contrast middle season acclaimed terms awards nominations season warrant nomination despite negative aspects ratings awards season managed receive spot list released season dvd box set available regions cast sixth season thirteen roles receiving star billing returning previous season previously recurring guest capacity regulars portray fictional new rivalries romantic relationships begin develop hospital merger surgical resident protagonist series portrayed fellow residents portrayed respectively attending general surgeon portrayed main storylines season focus divorce development new romantic relationships chief surgery general surgeon portrayed returns alcoholism sober years acted bisexual surgeon played plastic surgeon continued portrayal trauma surgeon acted chief meredith half sister second year surgical resident portrayed having previously appeared multi episode arc guest star capacity fifth season began receiving star billing season premiere episode role attending surgeon love interest ninth episode season marked introduction new chief surgery portrayed mysterious romantic past develops season main stories starting nineteenth episode season began receiving star billing sixth season introduces new recurring characters start develop progressive expansive storylines season mercy west surgical residents portrayed respectively portrayed love interest season main story arcs numerous episodic characters guest appearances betty series regular returned series special guest star portraying surgeon production season produced distributed inc executive producers creator regular directors conclusion season released contract following disagreement asked flashback appearance season knight declined appearances season sporadic seeing stevens depart return twice scheduled appear final episodes season requested released contract months early final appearance january explained wanted spend time family think respectful grey anatomy viewers return depart season hour opener showed doctors loss deceased friend special writer commented heartbreaking fell love george like season ninth episode season new history saw arrival ended forming love triangle hunt yang commented iraq owen cardiac surgeon good interesting stuff owen episode writer offered insight arrival manner complications owen immediately suspicious owen friends time iraq confesses owen apparently mutual history walks away left haunted confession forced examine history feelings like better naked saw departure stevens following breakdown marriage series writer commented getting clean scan gives alex freedom leave left sick good guy saying alex consciously thought leave sick like going better comes deserves good guy deserves loving showed good good little gift tells bitter angry writing season finale caused struggle elaborated reception grey anatomy sixth season opened million viewers nielsen rating share demographic rating decrease season opener managed rank time slot entire night terms ratings viewership served season viewed episode sympathy parents season viewed episode point series garnering million viewers season finale garnered million viewers received rating ranking time slot entire night terms ratings viewership finale success night decrease season finale served season second viewed episode overall season ranked year average million viewers decrease previous season ranking season received mixed reviews television critics speaking premiere buddytv noted special dark season adding talk george mom proved heart breaking scenes episode heartbreaking contrast blend critical premiere writing don think based episode grey headed new direction think writers making effort bring series greatness earlier seasons said anatomy comes usual drama sex love medical mysteries thrown mix things moving looking think enjoy season premiere fine performance season praised calling immensely sympathy parents viewed episode fanatic called episode touching praising chambers performance fanatic reaction season fairly mixed saying grey anatomy facing identity crisis viewing peace chance said popular lacking past magic trying decide saw hours ago week saw doctors style chaos different doctors giving different accounts case night saw equally unusual praised performance saying single case took entire hour instead doctors version events focus largely best character eye candy got substance night episode proved series best time season finale death friends highly praised gave episode stars expressed best episode series adding writing acting absolutely stellar lead emmy nominations despite killing remained distinctly grey characters truly memorable developments heartbreaking don know begin seriously season finale left laying awake afterward thinking feeling haven grey years rarely achieved program buddytv noted finale best episode adding best hours television year certainly best grey anatomy saying lot written past years big traumatic event like grey anatomy shooter gave license heightened drama major characters shot hours emotional paced tears finale entertainment_weekly wrote rate began grey damn good season acclaimed series terms awards nominations despite nominated received creative arts emmy awards outstanding prosthetic makeup series miniseries movie special single camera series suicide season received nomination outstanding drama series wilson awarded image award outstanding directing dramatic series directing peace chance season ranked list episodes number series column refers episode number overall series number season column refers episode number particular season viewers millions refers number americans millions watched episodes live sixth season episodes altogether minutes length ratings live ratings dvd release
Grey's Anatomy (season 6)