33 Moments of Emotional Torture For Anyone Who Watches Shonda Thursdays
To some people, Thursday is just an inconvenient roadblock to the weekend. To fans of writer/producer/force to be reckoned with Shonda Rhimes, it's the day that television's holy trinity unites for a three-hour block of TV full of pure, epic, murderous, sexual-tension-fueled reasons to keep living. ABC's Shonda Thursday airs Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away With Murder back to back to back, leaving loyal viewers in a steaming hot puddle of wine and emotions by 11 o'clock, without fail. Keep reading to see exactly what goes down!
01
:upscale()/2015/11/12/969/n/1922283/893e07748ee5aafc_greys.gif)
As you turn on Grey's Anatomy, you're feeling pretty optimistic.
02
:upscale()/2015/11/13/854/n/1922283/b5efd5a82c3d6f8f_jimmy.gif)
Shonda is a certified TV genius, after all. What’s the worst that could happen?
03
:upscale()/2015/11/09/946/n/1922283/b7a788a0801f54cf_3.gif)
Everything at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital is suspiciously calm . . .
04
:upscale()/2015/11/09/948/n/1922283/1d745706e1ae8225_4.gif)
. . . until a plane crashes into a train, which flips onto a ferry and sails into the hospital?!
OK, this storyline may not have happened quite just yet, but we won't rule it out.
05
:upscale()/2015/11/09/948/n/1922283/e8c422e8710be4ab_5.gif)
Then you realize your favorite character is trapped under debris and possibly bleeding out.
06
:upscale()/2015/11/09/948/n/1922283/6cc734e6815e1321_6.gif)
Thank God you know Shonda would never kill off your favorite character in such an awful way.
07
:upscale()/2015/11/09/949/n/1922283/dce619c187fb0c86_7.gif)
Your favorite character dies 30 seconds later.
08
:upscale()/2015/11/09/962/n/1922283/d9624b28de4eab11_8.gif)
You casually start hyperventilating into the paper bag you keep stuffed under the couch cushions for Shonda-related emergencies.
09
:upscale()/2015/11/09/962/n/1922283/c4ed2da80f1d062f_10.gif)
You tweet Shonda 1,000 sobbing emojis and tell your roommate you'll never watch the show again.
10
:upscale()/2015/11/09/962/n/1922283/f92e12371b613a9f_9.gif)
Then you calm down during the commercial break and realize that this character’s death actually makes sense.
Shonda just did what had to be done!
11
:upscale()/2015/11/09/962/n/1922283/b189ee478e5c4e8b_11.gif)
You’re still going to write an angry blog about it later, though.
12
:upscale()/2015/11/12/971/n/1922283/fd7d8f3a58c8ac08_scandalgif.gif)
Scandal starts and your heart rate goes up for different reasons (Olivia and Fitz are making out, obviously).
13
:upscale()/2015/11/12/958/n/1922283/0d76489a06a838aa_scandal1.gif)
Their relationship is finally on track for once and you couldn’t be happier. *prayer hands emoji*
14
:upscale()/2015/11/12/968/n/1922283/3a4e827fd5b63eeb_scandal2.gif)
Then Olivia suddenly delivers a dramatic three-minute monologue about how they’re not meant to be.
15
:upscale()/2015/11/12/968/n/1922283/657e40175c228b4d_scandal3.gif)
GIRL, WHY?
16
:upscale()/2015/11/12/968/n/1922283/cdbe51aeea87ceb8_scandal5.gif)
Meanwhile, Huck's rocking back and forth in the fetal position in a scene that lasts at least a decade.
17
:upscale()/2015/11/12/968/n/1922283/0c3f650c249053a3_scandal6.gif)
And as soon as Cyrus starts pointlessly yelling, you know it’s time to break out the wine.
18
:upscale()/2015/11/13/744/n/1922283/b328f8300db509c0_giphy_1_.gif)
Good thing you did, too, because Jake takes off his shirt and your body literally ignites.
19
:upscale()/2015/11/12/968/n/1922283/47156dcf3291142d_scandal8.gif)
Unfortunately, the episode ends the way it almost always does: Olivia and Fitz aren’t together, and your heart is breaking.
20
:upscale()/2015/11/12/981/n/1922283/8cc7978f3bb2344f_htg1.gif)
How to Get Away With Murder just started, though, and you’re pumped for Annalise Keating and co. to distract from your agony.
21
:upscale()/2015/11/12/981/n/1922283/9bb1270c14009232_htg4.gif)
The first flash forward scene is so overwhelming that you immediately forget about Liv and Fitz.
22
:upscale()/2015/11/12/981/n/1922283/97b4e55329b650ba_htg2.gif)
Once you get it together, you zero in on the hotness that is Connor Walsh’s face.
23
:upscale()/2015/11/12/981/n/1922283/04ad6529ac5921d7_htg3.gif)
And tune out the annoyance that is Michaela's constant complaining.
24
:upscale()/2015/11/13/803/n/1922283/8e51ea21211cae90_suspicious.gif)
There's a weird moment of sexual tension between Wes and Annalise when you're like, "Are they a thing? Aren't they?"
25
:upscale()/2015/11/12/986/n/1922283/e29fbfc47e4f821d_htg7.gif)
Immediately followed by Annalise having an intense emotional moment to herself.
*cue your tear ducts burning*
26
:upscale()/2015/11/12/981/n/1922283/15b87271e0938876_htg6.gif)
The interns are fighting with each other while you fight internally with your desire to openly sob.
27
:upscale()/2015/11/12/986/n/1922283/22ed849752800e05_htg8.gif)
It’s OK, though, because the team wins the case and Annalise takes them to da club to celebrate.
28
:upscale()/2015/11/12/986/n/1922283/d2fbf59d0a0c8e6e_htg12.gif)
"This episode will end on a good note,” you quietly murmur to yourself. “Shonda owes me that.”
29
:upscale()/2015/11/12/986/n/1922283/208073e6a6aef073_htg11.gif)
The closing scene is another flashback, which shows everyone you’ve ever known or loved dead or dying.
30
:upscale()/2015/11/12/988/n/1922283/edd274b7c45d5bbe_htg14.gif)
You briefly pass out.
31
:upscale()/2015/11/13/814/n/1922283/8f16ad690486b6c0_door.gif)
You're canceling your cable for real this time.
32
:upscale()/2015/11/13/744/n/1922283/93dfd60bd8029579_PreacherJet.gif)
Goodbye, cruel world.
33
:upscale()/2015/11/13/748/n/1922283/d85773b3d2c712ff_rihanna.gif)