Since 2005, Derek Shepherd has been captivating hearts. It is easy to get caught up in the idea of McDreamy with his beautiful hair, smile, and eyes. Also, let us not forget that he is an extremely successful neurosurgeon. However, McDreamy wasn't all dreamy. Oftentimes, it is glazed over, but he isn't the sun.
1. When he failed to tell Meredith that he was married
This was the first time Derek broke Meredith's heart. This was after he chased after her and begged her to give him a chance. Wouldn't it have been easier to say, "Hi, I'm Derek; I'm separated because my wife cheated on me with my best friend." Instead, he decided to let his wife come into town and tell her herself. Ouch. Personally, I don't want to be with someone who I couldn't trust. He couldn't have thought that this would end well.
2. When he still pursued Meredith, but then changed his mind and chose Addison
This is one of the most iconic quotes in television. At this moment, Meredith finally gave in and confessed her feelings for Derek after pretending to have no feelings. Derek had been begging her to take him back, and as soon as she declares her love, he picks Addison even after calling her Satan. I want a guy who knows what he wants, and I want to always come first.
3. When he judged Meredith for trying to move on after he broke her heart
After choosing Addison, Derek still couldn't let Meredith go. Meredith sleeps with George, and Derek calls her out on it. He basically calls her a whore, but Meredith snaps back saying that he can't judge her for trying to fix what he broke. Derek was jealous, and if he was jealous, why did he choose Addison over her? I don't think he gets to still be in her life and judge her choices.
4. When Meredith was finally happy with McVet and Derek makes her break up with him and still doesn't choose her
Meredith started dating Finn, Derek and her dog's vet, and Derek did not approve. He was, once again, jealous, but he still doesn't choose Meredith. He does sleep with her at a dance that she attended with Finn and he attended with Addison. Derek constantly chases after Meredith. Once Meredith breaks up with Finn because she believes Derek is finally coming around, Derek walks away. He leads her on, once again, to not choose her...once again.
5. When he used Lexie to make Meredith jealous
Now, this was just wrong. Yes, at the moment, he did not know she was Meredith, but he uses it to hurt Meredith. Also, in front of Meredith, Derek sees Lexie and says, "you are the girl from the bar." It is kind of known that Meredith is the original girl from the bar, so it was just another slap in the face. Meredith calls him out saying, "I'm the girl from the bar." He flaunts the encounter to hurt Mer. It didn't develop into a relationship, but he acted like it would. You don't intentionally hurt someone you love, and I don't want to be with someone that does.
7. When he dated Rose but kissed Meredith anyways
Skip to 2.04 because it is right after he kisses Mer. Meanwhile, he is dating Rose. He breaks the kiss to say he has to leave to talk to Rose because he wants to do more with Meredith than kiss, but he has to clear his conscience. So, he is going to break up with Rose just so he can be intimate with Mer, but he already kissed her. Poor Rose.
7. When he constantly throws temper tantrums when something doesn't go his way
His patient died. He is a neurosurgeon. People die, especially during major brain surgery. It happens. It couldn't have been his first death, but Derek lashes out as if it was the end of the world. He throws a tantrum. Mer goes and tries to talk to him, but he yells at her to leave. Derek planned on proposing to Meredith, but when she mentioned it, he took the ring and hit it into the woods. He knew this would hurt her, and he did it anyways. He is always intentionally hurting her.
8. When he didn't give credit to Meredith for their clinical trial
His reason for not giving her credit is the fact that she is young. He offers to call the editor to change it, but he doesn't mean it. He didn't believe she deserved it. It was her idea. She helped him with it, and he took all the credit. I don't want to love someone that is going to throw me under the bus like he did.
9. When he acts like the boss even though he isn't chief
He refuses to admit that he is wrong. He words things like it is the other person's fault. When Webber fires him, he refuses it to be true, so he says that they'll talk tomorrow. He undermines authority, and he doesn't do well with criticism. He plays by his rules and nobody else's.
10. When he can't forgive Meredith for trying to save Adele
He doesn't even show sympathy. Yes, Meredith did break the rules and ruin his trial. However, he could've shown some sympathy because he knows how sensitive this subject was to her. Her mother had Alzheimer's, and he had the right to be mad at her for ruining the trial, but he loves her. He should've been more understanding of why she did it. Instead, he doesn't speak to her for weeks. The separation even jeopardizes their adoption process. Love keeps no record of wrong. Love never fails, and if that is the case, he doesn't show love.
11. When he leaves for DC without thinking of his family
He is always pushing his own agenda without thinking of how it will affect the people around him. He leaves for DC without his family, and he is okay with it. He really is selfish.
12. When he kissed his assistant
He kisses his assistant while he is in DC. It is after the kiss that he realizes that he loves Mer, so he goes home. It took him kissing another woman to realize that he loves his wife and family more. Personally, I want someone to know that they love me. I don't want a man to have to kiss another person to realize that he loves me.
