After eight seasons of shocking twists, cliffhangers and intense moments on “Grey’s Anatomy” we thought we’d seen it all.

But Thursday night’s Season 8 finale trumped it all.

Missed the finale? Watch it here

We knew from the final moments of last week's episode that some of the Seattle Grace doctors were on their way to Boise, Idaho to separate conjoined twins when their plane went down and crashed in a forest.

Based on a statement by creator Shonda Rhimes, we also knew that one of the major characters was going to die.

We just didn’t expect it to be so soon into the episode.

**Spoilers Ahead**

The episode opened with a flashback of Richard as Chief showing the then new residents around the hospital, telling them the years they’d spend as residents would be the best and worst of their lives.

Cut to the plane wreckage where Meredith is pulling a piece of debris out of her leg and Cristina is frantically searching for her shoe.  Arizona also lets out a bloodcurdling scream.

With Derek nowhere to be found, we see Mark Sloane (McSteamy) looking unharmed as he emerges from the wreckage and joins Meredith and Cristina in searching for the others.

While Meredith heads off to look for Derek, Cristina and McSteamy follow the sound of banging metal, which turns out to be Lexie trapped under the fuselage.

She is not looking well. But she can’t possibly be the one that dies, right? It’s too early on in the episode. Right?

Wrong. After an emotional exchange between her and McSteamy, he holds her hand as she slips away.

What??!!! How can you kill off “Little Grey?” But they did and an emotional scene follows when Meredith discovers her sister is gone. (We didn’t think we’d be reaching for the Kleenex quite so early.)

Not only was it a tearjerker right from the get go, it was also the most graphic episode we’ve ever seen.

We’ve gotten used to seeing gory surgeries and procedures over the past eight seasons, but we’re not used to seeing our beloved surgeons on the receiving end: Arizona’s femur sticking out of her thigh, the skin of Derek’s arm being sutured together with a safety pin and McSteamy’s heart being punctured in order to drain off fluid.

Meanwhile, back at the hospital it was agonizing to witness the doctors going about their days, oblivious to the horrific event that had occurred.

While the residents complained about having to go to Richard’s celebratory dinner, Ben and Bailey decide to stick out a long distance relationship and still get married, while Owen fires Teddy in an attempt to get her to take a great job at MEDCOM.

At the end of his shift, Owen finally realizes the plane never arrived in Idaho and something might be wrong as Karev, April and Jackson wait patiently for the missing doctors at the dinner.

But with night falling, in the forest, no matches to light a fire and little hope of being found, Meredith and Cristina huddle together as the lives of Derek, McSteamy and Arizona still hang in the balance.

How’s that for a cliffhanger?

About Sheri Block

Sheri Block has been covering entertainment for CTV.ca since 2008. In addition to covering Will and Kate’s Royal Wedding in London, Sheri’s highlights have included going on tour with “Canadian Idol,” being a stand-in on “Canada’s Next Top Model” and meeting Colin Farrell at the Toronto International Film Festival.Follow her on Twitter!

About Lindsay Zier-Vogel

Lindsay Zier-Vogel has been working for CTV.ca and covering So You Think You Can Dance Canada since 2008. In addition to interviewing the famed American choreographer Bill T. Jones and Canadian prima ballerina Karen Kain, Lindsay’s highlights include criss-crossing Canada on four SYTYCDC audition tours and covering the Juno Awards. Follow her on Twitter!