Over the course of its 20 seasons, Grey’s Anatomy has undergone countless changes, from its rotating crew of doctors to its untimely deaths and even the name of the hospital, formerly known as Seattle Grace. One thing that’s always stayed the same, though? The close, complicated, and loving bond between Meredith Grey and Richard Webber.
Although not technically father and daughter, the duo effectively took on those roles early on in Grey’s history, and their connection has only strengthened in the many years since. Going in to the show’s upcoming 21st season, Mer and Richard both have some serious personal dramas to contend with, but their tighter-than-ever bond means that they can get through everything.
As we eagerly await next season’s premiere on ABC, let’s revisit Meredith and Richard’s best moments together (so far!) on Grey’s.
Richard almost calls Meredith his daughter
Season 3, episode 17: “Some Kind of Miracle”
Meredith’s near-fatal drowning incident is devastating for many of her friends and family, but no one is more determined to save her life than Richard. As he continues doing CPR, long past the time other doctors would’ve stopped, he refuses suggestions to back down, saying, “This is Ellie Grey’s little girl. This is my —.” He cuts himself off, but it’s clear that the word he didn’t say was “daughter,” and the heartbreaking moment establishes the deeper connection that Richard and Meredith would develop over time.
Richard helps Meredith with her mother’s ashes
Season 4, episode 5: “Haunt You Every Day”
Meredith and her mother, Ellis, didn’t exactly have the most normal relationship, so it’s not surprising that when tasked with disposing of her late mother’s ashes, Mer takes an unconventional route. She decides to wash Ellis’ ashes down the OR sink, thinking that her mother would’ve liked the idea, and when Richard sees this, he opts to help Meredith rather than chastise her. They say a final goodbye to Ellis together and sit together in their complicated grief.
Richard sees Meredith in her wedding dress
Season 5, episode 20: “Sweet Surrender”
Meredith and Derek’s long-awaited wedding had its share of complications (including Izzie’s cancer), but one lovely moment comes when Richard sees Meredith excitedly trying on dresses. Instead of interrupting her time with her friends, he watches from afar, his happiness for Mer sweetly shining through.
Richard apologizes to Meredith for not being there for her when she was growing up
Season 5, episode 21: “No Good at Saying Sorry (One More Chance)”
Although Richard and Meredith’s relationship is now super-solid, the two weren’t always on such good terms. In the early seasons of Grey’s, Meredith resented Richard for his affair with her mother, and he treated her harshly out of a mix of grief and love. When things finally come to a head in this fifth-season episode, Richard emotionally apologizes to Meredith for his role in her fractured family, telling her that he “saw how neglected” she was and “didn’t fight for” her when he should’ve. “I should have fought for you, Meredith,” Richard tells her. “You were helpless. You were a baby. A beautiful, smart, funny little girl, and no one stood up for you. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” The apology strikes a chord with Meredith, who cries on his shoulder and later invites him to her wedding.
Richard steps up in a huge way
Season 8, episode 2: “She’s Gone”
What a doozy this plotline was! After Meredith messes with Derek’s Alzheimer’s trial in order to get Richard’s wife, Adele, the drugs she needs, she gets fired. Feeling guilty and not wanting Mer to suffer the consequences for trying to help his wife, Richard lies to the board that he’s the one who ruined the trial, claiming that Meredith was just covering for him. Unsurprisingly, he’s fired — but it doesn’t take long for him to return to the hospital, and for Meredith to feel deeply grateful for his sacrifice.
Richard tells Meredith she has “a gift”
Season 8, episode 12: “Hope for the Hopeless”
As a fifth-year resident, Meredith needs to choose a specialty, but even though everyone recommends that she should do general surgery like her famed mother, she’s unsure if she wants to follow in Ellis’ footsteps. Richard helps her contend with her conflicting emotions by telling Mer that she’s nothing like her mother and that she has “a gift” in the OR that she shouldn’t waste. The encouragement gives Meredith the inspiration she needs to pursue general surgery and work even harder to be better than her mother.
Meredith convinces Richard and Catherine to get it together
Season 11, episode 25: “You’re My Home”
Richard and Catherine’s relationship has taken some troubling turns throughout Grey’s, including their near-constant fighting during season 11. Many people try but fail to help mediate, and it’s Meredith, naturally, who finally gets through to the duo, calling them out for arguing instead of enjoying their time together. She brings up the recently deceased Derek too, telling Richard and Catherine that while her husband is dead, “The both of you are very, very much alive.” Says Meredith, “You yell and argue and fight, and you both should be thrilled to be able to do those things … and none of those things are reason enough to not be with the person that you love.” Spoiler alert: It works.
Richard reminds Meredith of the power of forgiveness
Season 12, episode 9: “The Sound of Silence”
In one of Grey’s most shocking episodes, Meredith gets brutally attacked by a sick patient, leaving her with her strength shaken and a jaw that’s wired shut. At first, she refuses to forgive both the patient in question (who didn’t mean to hurt her) and Amelia (whom Meredith had been using as a scapegoat for her grief over Derek). But once Richard sits her down to talk, she begins to bend. Richard reminds Meredith that “forgiveness is a powerful thing” and that it’s important “not only to make the other person feel good but to heal you.” It’s exactly what Mer needs to hear, and she takes his advice to heart — both with the patient and her unfairly maligned sister-in-law.
Meredith tells Bailey she won’t return to work until Richard does
Season 13, episode 14: “Back Where You Belong”
It’s safe to say that Bailey’s decision to replace Richard as head of the hospital’s teaching program doesn’t go over well, not least with Meredith — who just happened to have gotten suspended herself. When Bailey offers Mer her job back, she refuses to return until Richard gets his job back too, showing how much she cares for him. Bailey reveals to Richard what Meredith said, and although he later tries to convince Mer to not keep fighting for him, she doesn’t listen. He does, however, succeed in encouraging her to get her own job and not let her skills go to waste — so much growth!
Richard gives Meredith his approval of Andrew
Season 15, episode 20: “The Whole Package”
As a father figure to Meredith, Richard is always protective of her, especially when it comes to romance. So, when Mer starts dating fellow doctor Andrew DeLuca, it takes Richard awhile to come around — until he works alongside Andrew in surgery and finds him to be talented, kind, and respectful. Richard ends up giving Meredith his approval, telling her that Andrew’s a “good man” who’s proved he’s worthy of her.
Meredith helps Richard when he has cobalt poisoning
Season 16, episode 20: “Sing It Again”
Richard Webber has truly been through it all, including a scary bout of cobalt poisoning in Grey’s 16th season. Sick and disoriented, Richard escapes from his hospital room and heads to the OR, where he delusionally plans to perform surgery on himself. Thankfully, Meredith is the one who finds him because she manages to not only talk him down but also gives a moving speech about Richard having taught her everything she knows and not wanting to lose him so soon. It’s hard not to cry when Mer brings up her kids, telling Richard that she needs him to see them grow up.
Meredith tells Richard she’s glad she chose him as her medical proxy
Season 17, episode 11: “Sorry Doesn’t Always Make It Right”
Meredith’s Covid-19 saga is terrifying for both the characters and the viewers of Grey’s Anatomy, and few are more affected by the gravity of her situation than Richard. When Meredith finally wakes up from her coma, one of the first things she does is apologize to Richard for making him her medical proxy (in a previous episode) so he has to make tough calls like putting her on a ventilator. He waves off her apology and tells her he’d make the same choice again if he had to, prompting Mer to tell him that she’s glad she chose him for the role. It’s a sweet, meaningful moment for the duo.
Richard confides to Meredith that he’s ready to retire from surgery
Season 20, episode 10: “Burn It Down”
In the season 20 finale, a tragic death in the operating room convinces Richard that it’s finally time for him to step down as a surgeon. It’s a painful realization, but as always, Meredith is there to give him support and remind him that his legacy is more than enough. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for this incredible team!