Do you like Meradith Grey?

The show is centered around her so it's kind of hard not to like her. You have to realize how damaged she is. Her mom basically cared more for her career, than she did for Meredith. Had Thatcher not been a drunk, she would have let her go live with him. It's revealed in a later season that Ellis, her mom, tried to commit suicide when Dr. Webber chose to stay with his wife. Meredith was about 5 or 6 and she called 911. So how would you feel if your father couldn't stay sober enough to raise you because your mother was having an affair and then she didn't want to live for you? Again messed up. Then her dad gets sober and raises his other children. Often when people are hurt, they make stupid and wrong decisions, it's human nature. I can understand why she is the way that she is. stick with the show because the characters grow and mature and lots of things good and bad happen and it's an awesome show.

As for Derek, he found out that his wife was having an affair with his best friend and the baby they lost wasn't his, after surviving a robbery years before and had to watch his father die. Both of them are quite damaged and having to work out their lives as individuals and sometimes not be on the same page.