The Breakdown: After being pushed over the edge by something, Person #1 (usually female) has a freak-out and spends a good minute or two rambling emotionally in between heavy, over-dramatized breaths of air to Person #2. Typically stumbles over words, talks about how things were “supposed to be” instead of how they actually are, and has eyes full of tears. (Meredith coined this style of whining, by the way.)

Building Tension: Person #2 is either A.) their superior, or B.) another person who’s composed. Regardless of which choice, Person #2 will always calm the former down by offering some totally awesome advice either through snapping at them/one upping them or through real-talk with lots of eye contact.

The Realization: Hysterical person begins to calm down. While they are doing this, Person #2 has a moment of insight and realizes the advice they just gave is applicable to their problems, too. (But it’s only when they’re giving it to someone else do they recognize how it could do use in their lives! Isn’t that crazy?!)

The Solution: Both characters go separate ways and correct their problems in montage-form over some Matchbox Twenty/Fray styled music with lyrics that typically apply to the drama goin’ on. (Loose ends are always left though, because during this montage they show the mistakes being made that will lead to next week’s end-of-episode freak-out.)

The Future: Aforementioned characters will probably end up having sex together before the end of the series.

TL:DR? Grey’s Anatomy can be summed up as an exclusive group of promiscuous coworkers in the medical field who freak out a lot and give each other advice. And never get fired for losing their cool with superiors because they’re typically sleeping with them, used to sleep with them, or have friends who do sleep with them.