Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is the perfect opportunity to bring back one of the best but most forgotten doctors on the show. Grey’s Anatomy introduced Nathan Riggs (Martin Henderson) in season 12 as a love interest for Meredith shortly after Derrick’s passing. Over his short time on the show, Riggs and Meredith had a fairly pleasant relationship with one another. However, when Riggs’ fiancé, Megan Hunt, was found alive after being reported missing in Iraq years ago, he left Meredith and moved to California to restart his life with Megan.
While Riggs’ departure wasn’t exactly one of the worst Grey’s Anatomy character exits, it did create an unfair storyline. His appearance on the medical drama even introduced a tense conflict with Megan’s brother, Owen Hunt, who always blamed Riggs for Megan’s disappearance. His relationship with Meredith never received the ending they deserved, and neither did his conflict with Owen. Fortunately, Grey’s Anatomy’s Martin Henderson revealed he “would always be open to the possibility” of reappearing in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 and giving his character proper closure.
Riggs’ Grey’s Anatomy Exit Ends Up Being Heartbreaking
Riggs’ Happiness In California Was Short-Lived
Riggs and Meredith had a fairly pleasant relationship over the course of Riggs’ time on the show, with the potential to form a committed, long-term relationship as well. As both characters had experienced serious loss in their lives, they could relate to one another and connect in deeper ways. However, Grey’s Anatomy season 14 reintroduced Megan to Riggs’ life. While Riggs had really enjoyed his time with Meredith, he chose to break up with her and return to Megan now that he knew she was safe.
Unfortunately, when Megan returned to Grey Sloan years later, she revealed that she and Riggs broke up during the pandemic. While stuck at home, they realized the relationship was not working anymore and decided it would be best to separate. Grey’s Anatomy’s Nathan Riggs and Megan’s breakup is even more heartbreaking because it means Riggs and Meredith’s relationship never reached its full potential.
It is almost unbelievable that Riggs and Megan would break up after being apart for so long in the context of Megan’s harsh circumstances.
Since Riggs had helped Meredith heal from her heartbreak over Derrick, the Grey’s Anatomy couple had truly bonded. They had the potential to stay together for years in a committed relationship in Seattle. If Riggs never moved away to California to be with Megan, maybe he and Meredith would have stayed together for life. It is clear that both characters are interested in long-term relationships, and if it had not been for their split, they could have been the one for each other.
Riggs’ Return In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Can Explain What Went Wrong Between Him & Megan
Riggs Can Finally Reveal His Side Of The Story
Not much is known about their breakup besides what Megan revealed in Grey’s Anatomy season 18. The pandemic could be particularly tough on couples who were spending more time together than ever before, so it seems like a valid reason that a COVID-19 lockdown pushed them towards a breakup. However, Megan was missing and presumed dead for 10 years. It was almost unbelievable that Riggs and Megan would break up after being apart for so long in the context of Megan’s harsh circumstances.
After reuniting, Megan and Riggs were only together for four years before breaking up sometime before Grey’s Anatomy season 18. As they had spent 10 years apart and Megan had surely gained unbelievably harsh life experiences before she returned home, the two characters could have changed too much to return to how things were before. Riggs’ return in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 could answer these queries and reveal the true reason why they broke up after years of being apart.
How Riggs’ Return Can Impact The Changing Landscape In Grey-Sloan
Riggs Could Bring Some Tension To Grey Sloan
Riggs could come back to Grey Sloan in his profession as a cardiothoracic surgeon. The return would reunite him with past colleagues, including Owen Hunt and Teddy Altman, who also worked with him in Iraq when Megan went missing. While Owen and Riggs never got along after Megan’s disappearance, his return could potentially force a reunion on good terms between the two old friends. Now that Megan is safe and she and Riggs have split up amicably, Riggs’ return in Grey’s Anatomy season 21 does open up the potential for a friendly reconciliation between him, Owen, and Teddy too.
As Meredith and Nick seem to be endgame, Riggs could reignite old feelings as the one that got away from her.
Besides Riggs’ difficult relationship with Owen, his return could cause trouble for Meredith’s relationship with Nick Marsh. As Meredith and Nick seem to be endgame, Riggs could reignite old feelings as the one that got away from her. Riggs coming back to Grey’s Anatomy would be great for plot development, but it could cause some conflict between his old friends as old memories get brought up again.