It’s Time To Finally Admit Derek Shepherd Was Actually A Huge Twat

If you can’t resist rewatching some of your favourite TV shows from your younger years, you’re not alone. Sometimes it’s nice to settle back into the comfort and nostalgia of the shows you watched growing up.

The thing about rewatching our fave shows as adults is that we pick up on things we may never have before. For example, back in the ’00s, the quiet, cool, hot guy who read books was the end goal of our teen fantasies. But then you grow up and realise people like Lucas Scott from One Tree Hill were really just boring AF. Or sometimes you learn they’re just straight-up problematic, like Chuck from Gossip Girl.

Which brings me to Derek Shepherd from Grey’s Anatomy, who also goes by the name McDreamy. See, Derek seemed like everyone’s dream man back in the day. A charming, good-looking, talented doctor, with incredibly wavy hair and a smile that’d thaw even the coldest of hearts.

He and Meredith Grey were the ultimate love story. Through their ups and downs, breakups and makeups, we all rooted for them to make it work. They were the epitome of relationship goals. They were PERFECT and he was a perfect, loving, supportive partner.

Until, well, you rewatch the show and remember that actually isn’t the case whatsoever.

This is like ripping a bandaid off. I’m just going to come straight out with it and tear that flimsy bit of plastic from your skin so hard that it pulls your arm hairs out.

It’s time to admit Derek Shepherd from Grey’s Anatomy actually really sucked.

Let’s count the ways.

1. Meredith was his rebound girl but he formed an attachment to her, even after learning she was an intern at the hospital where he was a senior figure.

2. When Meredith, once again the INTERN, tried to do the right thing in ending their fling, Derek the MAN IN POWER ignored it.

3. When they ended up together anyway, Derek never bothered to tell Meredith he was still married.

4. Then for some bloody reason Derek decided to go back to Addison, who cheated on him, but still thought he could have a say over Meredith’s love life.

Not only that, but he constantly guilted Addison about him choosing her over Meredith, even though that was his own damn choice?!

5. So of course, he then cheated on Addison with Meredith because he was so jealous Meredith was trying to move on without him.

He even tried to slut-shame Meredith before they got back together?!

6. When he and Meredith had a fight when they were back on and off again, she rightfully mentioned she can’t trust him. He then used that tidbit of information to gaslight her into thinking she’s fucked up.

“No matter what I do, you’re always looking for reasons not to trust me,” Derek said to Meredith, like he didn’t lie about having a wife, get back with that wife, then also admit to kissing a nurse literally the day before he and Meredith got back together again.

7. Derek also once pulled out the engagement ring he was planning to give to Meredith and goes on a drunken, emotionally abusive rant, then hit the engagement ring into the woods with a bat like it was all her fault?!

8. Derek also just constantly acted like he was the only one with any talent, putting down not only Meredith’s career ambitions but also blatantly acting like he was better than his sister, Amelia.

Some may say Derek could have a problem with women? Feeling a bit threatened, perhaps? Hmmmm?

9. And when he moved away for his career while they were doing long distance and Meredith was raising their kids and still being a kickass surgeon, he KISSED his assistant.

Sure, he pulled back saying he “loved his wife” but he still DID it.

10. And I’m sorry, what idiot doctor checks his phone while his car is in the middle of the road. Someone whose confidence levels are way too high, that’s who.

RIP dickhead.

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Now I have something to admit before we close this chapter.

Earlier in my career, at another website, I wrote something about Meredith being the worst character on Grey’s Anatomy. I’d like to acknowledge, I’ve since seen the error of my ways and take this time to apologise profusely.

Team Mer all the way.

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This article has been updated since it was originally published.