What Happened To Nathan Riggs in Grey’s Anatomy? Exit Explained
Nathan Riggs' arrival at Grey Sloan Memorial caused a ruckus, but when he eventually left Grey's Anatomy, he left a mark on some characters.
- Nathan’s arrival at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital brought both challenges and acceptance, as he struggled to fit in but eventually found his place.
- Despite initial animosity from Owen, other characters, including Meredith, got to know Nathan on their own terms and formed relationships with him.
- Nathan’s exit from Grey’s Anatomy was happier than many other character departures, as he found love and closure with Megan, allowing him to grow and move on.
Grey’s Anatomy’s longevity guaranteed new characters would always be introduced and old characters would exit the series, and Nathan Riggs’ story intertwined with many of Grey’s Anatomy’s central characters since his appearance in season 12. Originally getting to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital because of April, who worked with him in Jordan after leaving Seattle following her firstborn Samuel’s death, it became clear early on that Riggs fit right in with the other doctors’ exceptionality at Grey Sloan. Still, Owen’s animosity against him also made clear that they shared a difficult history, making Nathan’s relationship with many at Grey Sloan Memorial tricky at first.
Owen’s refusal to acknowledge Riggs’ proximity positively prompted drama but didn’t stop characters altogether from getting to know Nathan on their terms. Despite initially taking Owen’s side as a favor to Cristina, Meredith eventually got closer to Nathan, with him becoming her first potentially serious romantic interest after Derek. Between Meredith not wanting to hurt Maggie by pursuing Nathan and Megan’s surprise return in Grey’s Anatomy season 14, things were never easy for the two. Still, Nathan’s exit from the show proved happier than many other characters’ departures in previous Grey’s Anatomy seasons, concluding his story in a way that let him grow.
Nathan Riggs Moved To California With Megan Hunt
With Riggs’ exit from Grey’s Anatomy being due to Martin Henderson’s contract expiring, no drama surrounding his departure, and Riggs’ exit storyline could be planned in advance. Megan being alive was a groundbreaking discovery, not only for Owen and his family but also for Nathan, who felt guilty because they fought before her helicopter disappeared and because he let her go in his place. While Megan and Nathan’s relationship had its ups and downs before Megan’s disappearance, finding out she was alive and reconnecting gave them a second chance, which they could take after Meredith saved Megan by performing the abdominal wall transplant that won Meredith a Harper Avery award.
Megan’s new shot at life was made better by Nathan’s determination to bring Megan’s son Farouk to the States, and his success proved to Megan that Nathan truly loved her and wanted to make her happy. Their move to California gave them the chance to start something new together, but it also proved Nathan’s best possible exit storyline. Indeed, the guilt and grief Nathan felt for so long for his hand in making Megan want to board the helicopter because of his cheating and the fact he let her go plagued him, so making Megan’s life better and their getting back together was the best ending for his story.
Megan Hunt Returns After Breaking Up With Nathan
Megan’s return in Grey’s Anatomy season 18’s premiere was motivated by Teddy and Owen finally tying the knot. However, while operating on the priest who was supposed to marry Teddy and Owen, Megan shared the news that her and Nathan’s relationship was a “pandemic casualty,” making them realize they didn’t have much in common besides having gone through their highest highs and lowest lows. In the end, despite Megan and Nathan’s love story ending, Riggs’ exit from Grey’s Anatomy still proved the best possible one for him, as not only he didn’t die like many other characters did, but its exit storyline also left him fulfilled.
