When the sixth season of the Grey's Anatomy spinoff series Station 19 returns to the air on October 6, 2022, the opening storyline involving a tornado ripping through Seattle is both dramatic and terrifying. Natural disasters are nothing new to shows like this, but, when well done, they allow the audience to see both the best and worst of people in times of turmoil.
However, this is far from the first memorable episode of Station 19's run over the past several seasons, and the best of the best have been voted on by users on IMDb.
Little Girl Blue (S5E6) - 8.2
Holiday episodes of popular TV shows are always a fan favorite for the way they often pause the overarching narratives so that characters can celebrate with friends and family and spread cheery feel-good vibes. In "Little Girl Blue," Station 19 and Station 23 put their differences behind them regarding the neighborhood fire and convene for a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.
In a rousing expression of gratitude among the firefighters following Dean's death, the title of the bittersweet episode refers to Pru, Miranda and Dean's daughter, who is looked after by Maya and Carina during the holiday before her grandfather arrives and reveals that her true name is Arike. In a tender moment of heartfelt reflection, IMDb users rightly reward what makes the show so great: character-driven storytelling.
When The Party's Over (S5E15) - 8.3
Despite the difficult yet gracefully-handled subject, "When The Party's Over" is one of the most emotionally fraught episodes of the acclaimed TV spinoff series. Deliberately aired during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April), the episode concerns Andy's traumatic experience in the present and how it relates to a similar encounter she experienced as a young girl.
With the death of a vital character also shocking audiences to the core at the end, IMDb users voice how important the timely topic is, how dedicated the actors were during the episode, and how brilliantly told the story was by using flashbacks to underscore how long the scourge of sexual assault has persisted.
All I Want For Christmas Is You (S5E8) - 8.3
Another uplifting holiday episode, "All I Want For Christmas" finds the Station 19 firefighters responding to several crises throughout Seattle while tending to a slew of personal revelations. A feel-good affair, Maya and Carina donate to Toys for Tots, Emmett paints a portrait of Travis, and together, the main characters unite to perform a charitable Christmas miracle.
While IMDb users are quick to note how the episode marks a clear improvement over the hit-or-miss beginning as well as commend the standout performance by guest star Andrea Bowen as an abused spouse, the emotional heft of the Christmas miracle comes when the crew members save Vic's life as well as that of Terrence, an innocent man pinned between two cars.
Friendly Fire (S2E14) - 8.3
When a coffee processing plant suddenly explodes in "Friendly Fire," the Station 19 members risk life and limb to rescue a rival station 42's chief. With a kinetic urgency and immediacy framed by a ticking clock to start the episode and flashbacks to depict the previous 5 hours leading up to the blast, the episode has a gripping structure that never lets up.
Beyond the brilliant storytelling method, IMDb voters have rated the episode highly for the way Vic endearingly proposes to Ripley despite their unconventional relationship and the cliffhanger that ensues when the latter collapses on the street due to his underlying medical condition.
Dream A Little Dream Of Me (S3E13) - 8.3
"Dream a Little Dream of Me" refers to the bizarre nocturnal fantasies Andy experiences with her deceased father when taking new medication following Pruitt's death. In addition to a candid exploration of chronic sleep disorders as it relates to grief, IMDb voters felt strongly about the amusing subplot involving Vic recruiting Station 19 to participate in a sexy firefighter calendar photo shoot.
The cross-section of dreams, fantasies, and reality combine to create one of the most surreal episodes, but it's the grounded moments between Andy and Sullivan, who both reveal they are orphans in a candid heart-to-heart that really resonates the most among fans of the show on IMDb.
Something About What Happens When We Talk (S3E10) - 8.3
Hailed by IMDb users for its sincere writing that stays true to the characters and excellent performances from the cast, "Something About What Happens When We Talk" finds Station 19 in a group-therapy session to express their traumatic feelings following Rigo's death. An important episode tackling the timely topic of mental health, it's easy to see why the episode is so strong in the eyes of IMDb voters.
During the joint-therapy session, it's Maya's heartfelt confession about her regrets over pairing Jack and Rigo on that fateful day and the consequences of how she'll be perceived from now on that stand out the most. Along with the awesome soundtrack, IMDb users praise the ray of hope for a new beginning that the end of the episodes hints at.
Things We Lost In The Fire (S5E5) - 8.7
Arguably the biggest emotional gut-punch in the history of the successful spinoff TV show, Dean's shocking death in "Things We Lost In the Fire" continues to haunt IMDb users. Following the unexpected explosion, the lovable fan-favorite leaves his beautiful baby daughter Pru behind and never gets to tell Vic how much he loves her, which makes the fatality doubly upsetting but impossible to forget.
Despite the tragic sadness that left most fans reduced to tears, at least the show adheres to the realistic adage "the good die young," a truism that most law enforcers and firefighters experience more than most. It may seem counterintuitive to reward such a sad episode with such a high rating, but if anyone deserves a heartfelt send-off, it's definitely Dean.
For Whom The Bell Tolls (S2E16) - 8.7
A somber tone clouds "For Whom the Bell Tolls" following the tragic death of Lucas Ripley, a top-three episode of Station 19 in the minds of IMDb voters. Between the grieving process of the crew, sudden wildfires that erupt in California, and Andy and Ben attempting to save a man hanging from a chandelier, the penultimate frame of season 2 has the dramatic impact and visceral thrills the finale lacked.
While some IMDb voters were quick to impugn the medical accuracy of the EMTs in the episode, others hailed the revered medical drama for unifying and equating firefighters with revered military ranks, underscoring how grateful citizens should be for the way firefighters serve their country and risk their lives to perform their duties.
I'll Be Seeing You (S3E12) - 8.8
When a storage unit goes up in flames in "I'll Be Seeing You," Station 19 responds quickly to extinguish the blaze. The sheer heroism of Pruitt at the end of the episode is partially why the episode became the most viewed at the time, even if some IMDb users felt the melodrama was a bit too contrived.
By now, it seems clear that the highest-regarded episodes of Station 19 are the ones in which major characters risk and lose their lives to save others. Beyond Pruitt's heroic sacrifice, the heartfelt sendoff of Andy's father is a tough act to follow.
Always Ready (S2E15) - 9.1
As alluded to in "Whom the Bell Tolls," the death of Lucas Ripley one episode prior in "Always Ready" remains the watershed emotional event on Station 19 for IMDb voters. Divided into tearful flashbacks and aching final moments of his life, the lasting image of Vic resting on her fire hoses as her crew members enter, one by one, to console her is truly touching.
As such, nearly every IMDb user who commented on the episode mentioned crying like a baby throughout the episode, especially in the final few moments. Vic and Ripley were the heart and soul of the show to this point, and the result is a bittersweet reminder of how loved ones can be taken in an instant.
Source:gamerant.com