For 11 seasons, Patrick Dempsey starred as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy, but his nickname of «McDreamy» wasn't earned. From the beginning, Derek was labeled «McDreamy» in reference to his good looks and charm, but he didn't always live up to the moniker. While he was certainly charming, Derek's treatment of Meredith Grey and the other women in his life proved that he wasn't the perfect man or love interest he was frequently painted out to be.
Derek Shepherd first appeared in the Grey's Anatomy pilot as a one-night-stand of Meredith's, but it was clear that he was going to stick around when it was revealed he was an attending neurosurgeon at Seattle Grace Hospital where Meredith was just starting her internship. Due to their age gap and the hospital's hierarchy, there was a power imbalance between the couple that posed some challenges, yet Derek pursued Meredith in spite of her reservations and she couldn't resist his charms. Thus began the great love story of Meredith and Derek, or «MerDer.»
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At the end of the Grey's Anatomy season 1 finale, the big twist that Derek was still married to Addison Montgomery, and that he hadn't told Meredith, put his McDreamy persona into question. Hurt over Addison cheating on him with his best friend Mark Sloan, Derek never held back in his criticism of his first wife, even when they were working together. His disrespect didn't stop with Addison, as Derek's jealousy of Meredith moving on with Finn caused him to be spiteful, going as far as to shame her for being sexually active. His distaste for women who own and are not ashamed of their sexuality continued with Derek's youngest sister in
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