{{for|the 2023 zombie comedy film|As We Know It (film)}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{AI-generated|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox television episode | series = Grey's Anatomy | image = | season = 2 | episode = 17 | director = Peter Horton | writer = Shonda Rhimes | production = 212 | airdate = {{Start date|2006|2|12}} | guests = * Christina Ricci as Hannah Davies. * Kyle Chandler as Dylan Young. * Loretta Devine as Adele Webber. * Jillian Armenante as Mindy Carlson. * Cress Williams as Tucker Jones. | prev = It's the End of the World | next = Yesterday | season_article = Grey's Anatomy season 2 | episode_list = List of Grey's Anatomy episodes }} "'''As We Know It'''" is the 17th episode of the second season of the American television medical drama ''Grey's Anatomy'' and the show's 26th episode overall. Written by series creator Shonda Rhimes and directed by co-executive producer Peter Horton, it originally aired on February 12, 2006, and is the second of a two-part story, following the first part, "It's the End of the World". Both episodes were named after the R.E.M. song "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)".
On its original broadcast, it was watched by 25.42 million viewers, with both parts receiving positive reviews from television critics upon broadcast and its bomb storyline leaving a lasting impression on pop culture.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Grey's Anatomy': A Look Back at THAT Bomb Scene |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/04/20/greys-anatomy-bomb-scene/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cortero |first=Ryan |date=2025-06-13 |title=The Most Shocking and Intense 5 Minutes of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ History Changed the Entire Show |url=https://collider.com/greys-anatomy-as-we-know-it-episode/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Kelli |date=2025-05-20 |title='The Cleaning Lady' Just Channeled 'Grey's Anatomy's Most Iconic Episode |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1193198/the-cleaning-lady-season-4-episode-9-recap-bomb-hospital-thony/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=TV Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
The episode, along with its first part, earned Rhimes a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.<ref>{{Cite news |title='24,' 'Grey's Anatomy' top Emmy noms |url=http://www.qctimes.com/entertainment/article_ecd7dd78-e03e-5daa-b016-b38176466e7e.html |access-date=1 December 2009 |publisher=Quad City Times}}</ref> Guest stars Christina Ricci and Kyle Chandler were both Emmy nominated for their performances in the categories Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series respectively.<ref>{{Cite news |title='24,' 'Grey's Anatomy' top Emmy noms |url=http://www.qctimes.com/entertainment/article_ecd7dd78-e03e-5daa-b016-b38176466e7e.html |access-date=1 December 2009 |publisher=Quad City Times}}</ref>
==Plot== The episode opens with a voice-over narration from Meredith Grey about the inevitability of death and the urgency of making the most of the time one has left.
Miranda Bailey is in labor, but without her husband, Tucker Jones (who is undergoing neurosurgery), by her side, she refuses to push. George O'Malley teams up with obstetrician Addison Montgomery to convince Bailey to have the baby. George finally manages to give Bailey the motivation she needs, ultimately holding her while she delivers the baby. Meanwhile, Izzie Stevens and Alex Karev continue their physical relationship, having sex again.
The hospital's Chief, Richard Webber, is under immense stress from the ongoing chaos, leading everyone to believe he is suffering a heart attack. This concern brings his wife, Adele, to the hospital. During this time, Tucker goes into cardiac arrest but is saved by Derek Shepherd in surgery.
Meredith finally removes the explosive from the patient, and Dylan Young, the leader of the bomb squad, takes it away. As Meredith steps out of the operating room, she watches Dylan carry the bomb down the hallway. Suddenly, the bomb explodes, killing Dylan and a second bomb squad member, and knocking Meredith unconscious.
In a revival of the "shower scene" from the first part of the episode, this time with a more serious tone, a fully clothed Izzie and Cristina Yang wash the blood off a stunned Meredith, while George looks on. Despite the catastrophic events, both Tucker and the man who had the explosive embedded in his body survive.
At the episode's conclusion, Preston Burke and Derek overcome their earlier rivalry and become friends, addressing each other by their first names. In a quiet moment, Cristina tells a sleeping Burke, "I love you, too," reciprocating his confession from that morning. A dazed Derek later visits Meredith, commenting, "You almost died today." When Meredith admits she cannot remember their last kiss, Derek recalls it for her, saying she "smelled like some kind of flower". Meredith identifies the scent as lavender, and Derek leaves the room with a smile after their bittersweet exchange.
==Music== The episode's title refers to the song "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Steve |last2=Nguyen |first2=Hanh |last3=Travers |first3=Ben |last4=Miller |first4=Liz Shannon |last5=Schneider |first5=Michael |date=2018-01-30 |title=The Best Post-Super Bowl TV Episodes of the Last 35 Years |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/best-super-bowl-tv-show-episodes-1201923004/ |access-date=2025-09-27 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref>
Anna Nalick's "Breathe (2 AM)" features in this episode for the first time. Considered an iconic song associated with ''Grey's Anatomy'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Janelle |date=2023-06-08 |title=The 10 Best Needle Drops in 'Grey's Anatomy,' Ranked |url=https://collider.com/best-needle-drops-greys-anatomy-ranked/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Prahl |first=Amanda |date=2017-11-21 |title=Relive "Grey's Anatomy"'s Most Emotional Moments With 20 of the Best Songs From the Soundtrack |url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/best-songs-grey-anatomy-44289455 |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Popsugar |language=en}}</ref> it was later reprised by Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey in the show's musical episode.<ref name="CL2">{{cite web |last1=Mitovich |first1=Matt Webb |last2=Gelman |first2=Vlada |date=March 24, 2011 |title=For Grey's Anatomy's Lexie, Things Get 'Steamy' and 'Awkward' With the Men In Her Life |url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/03/greys-anatomy-preview-chyler-leigh/#more-202485 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325211646/http://www.tvline.com/2011/03/greys-anatomy-preview-chyler-leigh/#more-202485 |archive-date=March 25, 2011 |access-date=March 25, 2011 |work=TVLine |publisher=Mail.com Media}}</ref>
==Reception== Dave Anderson of ''TV Guide'' praised the use of Anna Nalick's song in three pivotal scenes, particularly highlighting the moment where George O'Malley convinces Dr. Miranda Bailey to go through with the birth, calling it T. R. Knight's "turn for Emmy consideration".<ref>{{cite web |last=Anderson |first=Dave |date=February 13, 2006 |title=Grey's Anatomy Let me get this... |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/Greys-Anatomy-Let-60152.aspx |access-date=February 2, 2013 |work=TV Guide}}</ref>
In December 2011, ''Wetpaint'' named this episode, along with its first part "It's the End of the World", as one of the five best episodes of ''Grey's Anatomy''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Clarendon |first=Dan |date=December 12, 2011 |title=The 5 Best Episodes of Grey's Anatomy |url=http://www.wetpaint.com/greys-anatomy/articles/the-5-best-episodes-of-greys-anatomy- |access-date=July 16, 2012 |work=Wetpaint}}</ref> ''Variety'' also listed the episode in its Top 10 Most Bizarre Medical Maladies encountered in the series.<ref>{{cite web |last=Angulo Chen |first=Sandie |date=May 6, 2009 |title='Grey's' most {{sic|bizza|rre|nolink=y}} medical maladies |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003262 |access-date=October 13, 2012 |work=Variety |publisher=Reed Business Information}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb episode|0759138}}
{{Grey's Anatomy episodes|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:As We Know It}} Category:Grey's Anatomy season 2 episodes Category:2006 American television episodes