Grey’s Anatomy has made fans laugh and cry and downright traumatized them through thought-provoking plotlines and unforgettable performances. Ultimately, it’s inevitable for a series as lengthy as Grey’s Anatomy not to experience actor turnover. Over the course of two decades, fans have witnessed the welcoming and departure of several fan-favorite characters.
Although not dead, many of these beloved characters return at some point to give viewers a heavy dose of nostalgia. Similarly, Nathan Riggs was one doctor that the viewers were starting to accept as McDreamy’s replacement, but his stay was short-lived. Now, after seven years, it seems that the medical show might be open to bringing back this familiar face.
Nathan Riggs Was Derek’s Replacement as Meredith’s Love Interest
Meredith and Nathan Were Each Other’s Rebounds
Patrick Dempsey’s Derek Shepherd left a meteorite-sized hole in the fans’ hearts after his tragic death in Season 11. It was a character exit that shook the Grey’s Anatomy fandom to the core, raising the question about the gaping hole in the hospital and Meredith’s life. Fortunately came Season 12 and, along with it, a fresh, handsome face who sought to smoothen the creases and bring stability to the ranks. Doctor Nathan Riggs enters the scene with a bang as the new cardiothoracic surgeon, who immediately takes a keen interest in Meredith Grey. Although Meredith was mourning Derek’s death at the time, Nathan came in like a breath of fresh air, intoxicating her world with a similar aura she once felt with her former husband.
However, unlike Derek, Nathan came with a lot of baggage from his past, especially his strained relationship with Doctor Owen Hunt. The two shared a history while working together in the field and later with April in Jordan. Therefore, Nathan was no stranger to Grey Sloan Memorial’s dynamics. However, some characters weren’t as welcoming as the viewers were of Nathan Rigg because of his turbulent past with Owen Hunt. It turned out that not only was Owen’s sister Nathan’s ex-fiance, but he also cheated on her right before she mysteriously disappeared. This caused some tension between Nathan and Meredith, but the two couldn’t deny the sizzling chemistry between them and eventually accepted their relationship. However, once Megan Hunt was back in the scene, Nathan found his love life spiraling down, which led him to make questionable decisions.
Martin Henderson Quietly Left the Series After Two Seasons
It Has Been Seven Years Since He Last Appeared on the Show
Nathan Riggs was an interesting addition to the Grey’s Anatomy cast, mostly because of his charismatic yet fluid personality. Despite taking up the mantle in the “handsome hunk department,” fans couldn’t shake the feeling that his complex emotional state wasn’t healthy for Meredith. Although the two started an intimate relationship, there was always friction because of someone, whether it was Maggie or Owen. Eventually, Nathan’s character arc is tied up when Megan Hunt returns after being presumed dead. This caused past wounds to open up and culminate into a complicated love triangle. Nathan Riggs became a problematic partner, especially when he decided to rekindle his love with Megan despite being with Meredith. Surprisingly, it was Meredith who made Nathan realize that his heart was with Meghan and he should make every effort to get together with her.
However, while a long-standing complex love story is a hallmark of Grey’s Anatomy, fans didn’t like how Nathan’s character was specifically associated with that particular plotline. His character was intentionally written to majorly play Meredith’s love interest more than anything else. It turned out that Martin Henderson had a short-term contract with the show, so the writers already had a complete story arc made up for him. His exit was inevitable, but recent developments have given fans hope for the return of the charming surgeon. After two intense seasons, Henderson’s Nathan Riggs left Grey’s Anatomy in 2017 when he followed Megan Hunt to Malibu to start a new life with her and their adopted son. He’s one of the few characters who never returned to the show, even for a cameo, but the series seems to have an opening to change that.
Nathan’s Return Is the Perfect Opportunity to Replacing Owen Hunt
His Return Could Provide Closure
It’s safe to say that Grey’s Anatomy missed out on using the alluring Nathan Riggs to his full potential. His obscure personality, charm, wit, and intensity could have been utilized in more ways than it was. Unlike Derek Shepherd, Nathan was not fleshed out in other directions in terms of his career growth. Riggs’s purpose to bridge the romance gap overwhelmed his character arc as a surgeon. By the time he was written off, Nathan was knee-deep in a love triangle that ended up with him leaving Grey Sloan. The only time that fans heard of Nathan again was when it was revealed on the show that he and Megan had called it quits as their marriage couldn’t handle the stress of pandemic isolation. With his love life in shambles again and him not being dead, it is a perfect opportunity for the show to offer this compelling character another chance.
The fandom feels that it’s high time that long-term characters like Owen Hunt are tied up with a satisfying ending. Hunt has been around for the longest time, going through everything from dealing with PTSD to finally tying the knot with Teddy. However, the viewers feel that the character has run its course and there’s nothing more that Owen Hunt can do and achieve. His character has been explored and expanded in almost all directions, and it’s time someone else takes the mantle. Therefore, when actor Martin Henderson said in an interview that he was open to returning if Shonda Rhimes wanted it, fans assumed he’d be the perfect person to fill in Owen’s position. Grey’s Anatomy’s ever-changing landscape and narrative could use Nathan’s fresh perspective or maybe more romantic drama.
Martin Is Open to Returning to the Medical Drama
He Has Teased Being Opent to the Possibility
After Martin Henderson exited Grey’s Anatomy, he ended up leading Netflix’s hit show Virgin River. During an interview about the series’ latest season, Henderson was asked how he would feel if he returned to the medical drama. The actor replied that he’d be interested to come back if the showrunners had a clear plan for his character. He also teased that Shonda Rhimes would support his return, making fans wonder whether something like that is already in the pipeline. Henderson added that he would be open to the possibility of it if it didn’t affect his current schedule with Virgin River. However, unlike last time, the actor put forward a few conditions for his character, including offering Nathan Riggs a chance to grow properly.
“If I were to go back, I would have to make sure that there was a really clear plan for why he was there.”
Reflecting on public opinion, Henderson highlighted the fact that if he were to come back, it would have to be on a definitive and solid ground. Even fans agreed that “short-term” was not meant for an emotionally complex and intriguing character like Nathan Riggs. He had a dark past, a complicated present, but a promising future. With actor Kevin McKidd’s reduced screen time, Grey’s Anatomy has the perfect opportunity to bring a promising actor back. Grey’s Anatomy fans have grown tired of Owen Hunt’s monotonous presence in the narrative in which every one of his stunts feels like a repetition. His drama with Teddy Altman feels emotionless and dry, and viewers simply think that he has nothing more to do.
In contrast to Owen Hunt, fans think that Nathan Riggs has a much more interesting story to tell. Nathan could not just fill Owen Hunt’s shoes but also dilute the lack of tenacious protagonists who used to be in bulk in the show. There used to be Derek, Jackson, Alex, Owen, Mark, and more prominent characters who ruled the scenes simultaneously, balancing the robustness of their personalities and place in the storyline. Nathan could bring back the aura and supremacy of a larger-than-life character who brings a certain intensity and authority to the screens. Die-hard Grey’s Anatomy fans would disagree, but after 21 Seasons, the show has entered a stagnant stage where nothing is quite as exhilarating as it used to be. It’s safe to say that going back to the roots or creating a similar structure as it was in Grey’s Anatomy’s golden era could possibly stimulate the audience again and bring back the familiar magic.