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24 Episodes 2008 - 2009
In the fifth season of this medical drama, military surgeon Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) joins the staff of Seattle Grace. His initial cold demeanor irks some fellow doctors, but he grows close with Cristina (Sandra Oh), who helps him with his PTSD. However, Cristina gets jealous of another new staff member: Sadie Harris (Melissa George), who was best friends with Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) back in college. Meredith asks Derek (Patrick Dempsey) to move in with her this season, and her half sister Lexie (Chyler Leigh) becomes romantically involved with Derek's pal Mark (Eric Dane). Meanwhile, Izzie (Katherine Heigl) begins seeing visions of her dead fiancé, and she eventually discovers that she has a brain tumor.
Episode 1
Thu, Sep 25, 2008 60 mins
Part 1 of 2. In the fifth-season opener, Meredith and Derek discover the morning-after side of their renewed relationship; a military doctor (Kevin McKidd) who arrives at the hospital with a trauma patient catches Cristina's eye; and the chief learns that Seattle Grace's national rankings have slipped. Sarabeth: Bernadette Peters. Betty: Mariette Hartley. Anna: Kathy Baker.
Episode 2
Thu, Sep 25, 2008 60 mins
In the conclusion of the fifth-season opener, Meredith and Derek discover the morning-after side of their renewed relationship. Meanwhile, a military doctor (Kevin McKidd) who arrives at the hospital with a trauma patient catches Cristina's eye; and the chief learns that Seattle Grace's national rankings have slipped. Sarabeth: Bernadette Peters. Betty: Mariette Hartley. Anna: Kathy Baker.
Episode 3
Thu, Oct 9, 2008 60 mins
The chief attempts to implement new teaching policies, and George tries to retake his residency exam as flooding from a plumbing leak causes major problems at Seattle Grace. Meanwhile, Derek wants Meredith's roommates to move out of her house, to their surprise. Barry: Daniel J. Travanti.
Episode 4
Thu, Oct 16, 2008 60 mins
Meredith gets upset when Derek finds her mother's diary; Callie worries about her first "official" date with Erica; and Cristina discovers a part of the hospital that neither she nor her fellow residents had seen before.
Episode 5
Thu, Oct 23, 2008 60 mins
Bailey heads up a "domino procedure," in which each surgery hinges on the one preceding it. Meanwhile, Derek gets sole credit for the brain-tumor study he did with Meredith; Lexie tries to get George to notice her romantically; and Sloan counsels a desperate Callie in the ways of love.
Episode 6
Thu, Oct 30, 2008 60 mins
The chief gives Bailey new power and responsibility. He also gives her a very difficult surgical assignment: remove a girl's inoperable tumor. Meanwhile, new trauma chief Owen (Kevin McKidd) challenges the attendings' methods and the residents' skills.
Episode 7
Thu, Nov 6, 2008 60 mins
The Chief tells the residents that one of them will get a solo surgery, and a competitive frenzy ensues; Derek asks Bailey for advice when he feels that Cristina is coming between him and Meredith; Erica discovers a shocking connection between one of her residents and a longtime patient.
Episode 8
Thu, Nov 13, 2008 60 mins
Meredith's old friend Sadie (Melissa George) becomes an intern at Seattle Grace, but Meredith's other friends aren't exactly welcoming; new surgeon Virginia Dixon (Mary McDonnell) brings rules and order to the OR; and Lexie leads the interns in secretive, unorthodox surgical-training sessions.
Episode 9
Thu, Nov 20, 2008 60 mins
A routine surgery goes horribly awry for Lexie and Sadie, so Meredith, Cristina and Bailey rush to assist them. Meanwhile, Owen and Derek treat a man who was injured while sleepwalking, and Mark comforts the man's daughter.
Episode 10
Thu, Dec 4, 2008 60 mins
Cristina is awarded the first solo surgery among the residents, but she has to relinquish it and choose her replacement; Mark performs a cutting-edge procedure to restore a patient's speech, impressing Lexie in the process; and Callie can't figure out if Sadie (Melissa George) is flirting with her or just being friendly.
Episode 11
Thu, Jan 8, 2009 61 mins
While Bailey teams with new pediatric surgeon Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw ) to save a young patient near and dear to her heart, the arrival of a death-row inmate at the hospital angers Derek and further erodes Meredith and Cristina's friendship. Meanwhile, Callie and Sloan join forces to fight their respective attractions to Sadie and Lexie; and Izzie tells Alex that she has been seeing Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). William: Eric Stoltz. Melinda: Samantha Mathis.
Episode 12
Thu, Jan 15, 2009 60 mins
Derek's mother, Carolyn (Tyne Daly), meets Meredith for the first time during a surprise visit to Seattle, and Mark tries to conceal his relationship with Lexie. Meanwhile, death-row inmate William (Eric Stoltz) wants to donate his organs to Bailey and Arizona's patient; and Owen and Cristina attempt to go on a first date. Arizona: Jessica Capshaw. Denny: Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Melinda: Samantha Mathis.
Episode 13
Thu, Jan 22, 2009 60 mins
As her young patient's condition worsens, Bailey seeks desperately for an organ donor. One possibility: death-row inmate William (Eric Stoltz). Meanwhile, an injury leaves Mark in a compromising position in the OR, and Cristina tries to avoid Owen, and she looks foolish doing so. Arizona: Jessica Capshaw. Melinda: Samantha Mathis. Denny: Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Episode 14
Thu, Feb 5, 2009 60 mins
Engagement ring in hand, Derek searches for the right way to propose to Meredith. Meanwhile, Lexie demands that Mark go public with their relationship; and Bailey considers a new direction for her medical career, encouraged by Dr. Dixon (Mary McDonnell) as well as her work on recent cases.
Episode 15
Thu, Feb 12, 2009 60 mins
In a "Private Practice" crossover episode, Addison, Naomi and Sam rush Addison's ailing brother, Archer (Grant Show), to Seattle Grace in an effort to save his life. Meanwhile, Owen runs into a significant someone from his past; and Izzie employs her fellow doctors in a medical game designed to help teach the interns.
Episode 16
Thu, Feb 19, 2009 60 mins
Derek's confidence is shaken when he and Addison (Kate Walsh) disagree on treatment for a pregnant woman who's dying; Cristina questions the abilities of a renowned surgeon (Faye Dunaway) after she botches a standard procedure; and Bailey, who has decided to pursue a fellowship in pediatrics, is appalled by the chief's less-than-stellar recommendation letter.
Episode 17
Thu, Mar 12, 2009 60 mins
Derek decides to quit after learning of a high mortality rate among his patients; Bailey and the chief continue to spar over her pediatrics fellowship until Adele (Loretta Devine) steps in; Izzie's interns find something disturbing about a Patient X.
Episode 18
Thu, Mar 19, 2009 62 mins
While Mark attempts a face-transplant surgery, Meredith tries to get Derek to return to work after his fellow surgeons fail in their attempts. Meanwhile, Cristina finally gets a solo surgery, but she's more focused on the needs of her friends; and Izzie tries her best to keep her condition a secret.
Episode 19
Thu, Mar 26, 2009 60 mins
While Derek prepares to perform his first surgery since his breakdown, Izzie must undergo one. Meanwhile, Owen has another PTSD episode, which injures Cristina, traumatizes both of them and throws their relationship into question. Dr. Swender: Kimberly Elise.
Episode 20
Thu, Apr 23, 2009 60 mins
Izzie won't let her taxing cancer treatments stop her from helping to plan Meredith and Derek's wedding. Meanwhile, Callie's father (Hector Elizondo) isn't happy when she introduces Arizona as her girlfriend to him; George shines---and Alex doesn't---in a trauma surgery; and Owen seeks out help for his post-traumatic stress disorder.
Episode 21
Thu, Apr 30, 2009 60 mins
Izzie's mother (Sharon Lawrence), who's something of a handful, shows up at Seattle Grace, while Meredith and Lexie receive a visit from their father (Jeff Perry), who's sober and sorry for past sins. Meanwhile, Meredith and the Chief fight about a case, and preparations continue for Meredith and Derek's wedding. Julie: Kellie Martin.
Episode 22
Thu, May 7, 2009 60 mins
As Meredith and Derek's wedding nears, college students are rushed to the ER following a car crash on their way to graduation ceremonies. Meanwhile, Izzie experiences familiar symptoms.
Episode 23
Thu, May 14, 2009 60 mins
Part 1 of 2. Izzie decides on whether to have cancer surgery; Mark prepares to move forward with Lexie; Owen makes a reassessment.
Episode 24
Thu, May 14, 2009 60 mins
Conclusion. George makes an announcement; Izzie's friends await her recovery from surgery; and Bailey is surprisingly unhappy after being accepted into the pediatric fellowship program. Meanwhile, the doctors work as a team following an auto accident.