Grey's Anatomy suffered a hell of an adolescence: An instant hit when it debuted in 2005, the show had phenomenally addictive early days that gave way to some very awkward in-between years full of ill-conceived guest-star arcs (Brooke Smith's no-nonsense Dr. Erica Hahn? Melissa George's nutso Dr. Sadie Harris?), ghost sex, and extraneous moping. This season, however, something miraculous happened — the show didn't just survive through its seventh season, it got better. Way better.

Its epic season finale last spring, in which a gunman roamed the halls of Seattle Grace, killing or seriously wounding several characters, marked a rite of passage. What could've been classic shark-jumping instead sparked renewal. Since then, Grey's has gotten funnier, more mature, sexier, and braver. Here, we examine the thriving vital signs of the healthier-than-ever doctor soap.