21 of the Best Medical Dramas and TV Series to Watch if You Like Grey’s Anatomy

Blending humour, stirring storylines, and heart-wrenching dialogue, Shonda Rhimes’ Grey’s Anatomy has captivated viewers and fans since its first episode debuted in March 2005. The rise and popularity of the medical drama are evident in its longevity, with the recent premiere of its record-breaking 20th season proving to lovers and naysayers alike that it is here to stay. If you’re a fan of Grey’s Anatomy, its ensemble cast of characters, and its riveting storylines, these are 21 of the best medical dramas and TV shows to add to your watchlist.

Grey’s Anatomy has held a special place in the hearts of viewers since its pilot episode first aired in 2005. Nineteen extraordinary years and 20 seasons in, the show remains firmly etched in viewers’ hearts and minds, forever imprinted as one of the best medical dramas and TV series to have ever graced our television screens. In spite of its many efficacious distinctions, Grey’s is far from the first medical drama to capture an audience, and it most certainly will not be the last.

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Medical dramas and their rise in popular television

Since the release of City Hospital in 1951, medical dramas have become a longstanding staple in the realm of tv series, best beloved amongst casual viewers and hardcore fans alike. Arresting narratives and compelling plotlines created the perfect maelstrom to stoke public interest, whetting viewers’ apPetites for all matters pertaining to medicine. And thus began the golden age of medical dramas, which unfurled an endless procession of programmes.

From classic favourites like ER to laughter-inducing comedies like Scrubs, each fresh offering brought with it a host of lovable characters and enthralling diagnoses — all of which viewers ate up with gusto. So prolific was the golden age of medical dramas that it birthed series and shows that continue to grace our screens decades after the airing of their inaugural episodes.

Contrary to its name, BBC’s Casualty is the longest-lived and longest-running medical drama in the world, with a staggering 1,331 episodes spread out over 38 seasons. The show first premiered in 1986; today, an extraordinary 38 years later, it is still in production, and continues to be aired on BBC One. And while Casualty’s longevity certainly points to a positive trend in viewership and ratings, it’s not the only show who can boast of a decades-long run.

When the very first episode of General Hospital debuted in 1963, no one could have anticipated the heights it would go on to scale. Sixty-one spectacular years and seasons later, it is the longest-running medical soap opera in the world, its iconic (and sometimes unbelievable) plotlines garnering the love of a cult following that has continued to support the show even today.

So, what makes medical dramas so very addictive, and why do we keep coming back for more?

While different audiences react and reflect differently upon their medical drama addictions, a good assumption is that said dramas provide a balm for life’s unfortunate afflictions. Like death and taxes, Health (or the lack thereof) is certain to come for us all in due time. And in times of sickness, what could be more comforting than watching a hero emerge on-screen in the form of a conventionally attractive doctor? From medical personnel who will stop at no end to ensure their patients’ survival to the tenacity displayed by said patients, medical dramas are here to remind viewers that they, too, can overcome their miserable maladies.

Beyond the intangible fluff of hope, medical dramas also serve as ground zero for discourse on ethics and bedside manner — discourse that medical students and policymakers will certainly find helpful in the course of their careers. By presenting dynamic scripts and scenarios, medical dramas provide diegetic value that encourage analysis and deliberations, allowing aspiring physicians to come up with best practices for treatment and patient care alike. This can also help to develop critical thinking and accelerate decision-making — with ample research that extends beyond what is portrayed in the show, of course. And, in the case of younger viewers, exposure to physician life, even on screen, can inspire a future career in medicine.

If you’re a fan of Grey’s Anatomy (and other medical dramas), here’s a comprehensive list of the best medical dramas and TV series to add to your watchlist!

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The best medical dramas and tv series to watch if you like Grey’s Anatomy