Grey’s Anatomy introduced fans to a stellar selection of characters, each with a distinct influence on the long-running medical drama. However, many of these characters have come and gone, often leaving fans confused as to why they left and yearning for their return. One prime example of this is Dr. Nathan Riggs, who starred in the show from Seasons 12-14.
This suave and charming surgeon was certainly a hit with the staff and viewers alike, but there’s no denying his dark past. From his fights with other surgeons to his intimate relationships with key peers, Riggs made quite an impression on the drama of the show. But, what happened to him, and why did he decide to leave Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital behind?
Who Is Dr. Nathan Riggs?
And Why Did He Leave the Show After Two Years?
| Year | Awarding Body | Awards Won By Martin Henderson | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Film Critics Circle of Australia | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Little Fish |
| 2009 | Australian Film Institute | Best Actor | House M.D. |
| 2005 | Australian Film Institute | Best Supporting Actor | Little Fish |
| 2000 | Australian Film Institute | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role | Kick |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actor | Secrets and Lies |
Portrayed by Martin Henderson (who was given a two-year contract with Grey’s Anatomy), Dr. Nathan Riggs was a cardiothoracic surgeon at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Henderson’s portrayal of the suave but conflicted Nathan Riggs became a quick hit on the show and was often compared to Patrick Dempsey’s Derek Shepard. Riggs became a crucial love interest of Meredith Grey’s, and through that relationship, fans also got to see a more vulnerable side to him as he opened up about the devastating loss of his ex-partner. Henderson was only given a short-term role on the show.
Known for his charming New Zealand accent and designer stubble, Nathan first arrives on the scene in Grey’s Anatomy Season 12 as a friend of April Kepner from the Army. At first, he is just there to get a surgeon for a boy named Kamal Aboud who has tumors on his hands. But after connecting with Miranda Bailey, he gets a job, much to the surprise and disappointment of Dr. Owen Hunt.
During his service in Iraq, Nathan was in a committed relationship with Owen’s sister Megan, who mysteriously disappeared when the helicopter she and her patient were on never reached its destination. All was not well before her disappearance because Nathan had cheated on her. This causes friction between Nathan and Owen, the latter blaming him for the loss of his sister. As such, the pair gets into several altercations, causing others in the hospital to take sides. Yet, when Megan returns in Season 14, Nathan and Owen’s world gets turned upside down.
Nathan’s Romantic Involvement With Meredith Was a Rebound
Both Character Were Still Grieving Old Losses
Nathan is still tied up in the loss of Megan when he arrives at Sloan Grey Hospital, but he eventually begins to pursue Meredith. At first, Meredith doesn’t like Nathan and sides with Owen during their feud. But in Season 12, Episode 23, “At Last,” an argument in the parking lot ends up with the two kissing, and Riggs and Meredith begin an intimate relationship. But it stays on awkward footing for some time, with Meredith not wanting it to get serious.
Meredith is still trying to get over Derek and a lot of other trauma when Nathan comes into her life. She is in therapy and doesn’t really want to get wrapped up in a new relationship. For his part, Derek is still in love with Megan, though he is trying to move on. This pairing symbolizes the irrationality of grief and highlights how both partners were only together to eliminate the crushing weight of their losses — in Meredith’s case, the death of Derek. The two only just start to get serious when Megan returns.
Nathan And Owen Are In Constant Conflict
Their Feud Frequently Put Patients Second
| Popular Nathan Riggs Episodes | Episode Title |
| Season 12, Episode 12 | “My Next Life” |
| Season 14, Episode 2 | “Get off on the Pain” |
| Season 13, Episode 20 | “In the Air Tonight” |
| Season 12, Episode 17 | “I Wear the Face” |
| Season 15, Episode 5 | “Danger Zone” |
Before Megan returns, Nathan and Owen clash often. Season 12, Episode 10, “All I Want Is You,” is a key example of this conflict that finds the two fighting relentlessly while waiting for a patient. Even when a series of other staff members try to jump in to resolve the issue, the men continue to argue about the intricate details of Megan’s disappearance. Not even an exploding ambulance can defuse their scuffle.
Not only does this highlight that neither man can let go of their personal struggles and focus on the more pressing matter at hand, but it also shows Megan was the catalyst of their conflict. As a result, viewers see these acclaimed surgeons fall into arguments time and again as their guilt and despair at their loss boils over, which only tarnishes their professional reputations.
Their battles continue in Season 12, Episode 15, “I’m Not Waiting Anymore,” when the team is working on a multiple organ transplant case. As tensions in the OR escalate, Nathan and Owen argue about the best course of treatment for this complex patient. But they make the case about themselves, ignoring the patient entirely and digging up the past. Although the loss of Megan is still an open wound, their volatile reactions to each other only make every situation worse. Riggs and Hunt’s arguments aren’t a battle for power, but a journey toward finding justice for their loved one.
Nathan Riggs Patches Things Up With Owen
He Also Finds Love Again With Megan
| Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 U.S. Viewership Episode Title | Viewership |
|---|---|
| “Break Down the House” | 8.07 million |
| “Get Off on the Pain” | 8.07 million |
| “Go Big or Go Home” | 8.06 million |
| “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head?” | 8.08 million |
| “Danger Zone” | 7.67 million |
| “Come on Down to My Boat, Baby” | 7.38 million |
| “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” | 8.13 million |
| “Out of Nowhere” | 7.52 million |
| “1-800-799-7233” | 8.27 million |
| “Personal Jesus” | 8.62 million |
| “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” | 8.93 million |
| “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” | 7.32 million |
| “You Really Got a Hold on Me” | 7.52 million |
| “Games People Play” | 7.07 million |
| “Old Scars, Future Hearts” | 7.18 million |
| “Caught Somewhere in Time” | 7.61 million |
| “One Day Like This” | 7.15 million |
| “Hold Back the River” | 6.84 million |
| “Beautiful Dreamer” | 6.97 million |
| “Judgment Day” | 6.93 million |
| “Bad Reputation” | 6.54 million |
| “Fight for Your Mind” | 6.66 million |
| “Cold as Ice” | 7.35 million |
| “All of Me” | 7.60 million |
The rift between Nathan and Owen does not stay that way, though. Eventually, Nathan admits he made a mistake by cheating on Megan and tells Owen that, unlike him, Nathan stayed in Iraq to look for her. Finally, the two come to a kind of truce at Owen and Amelia’s wedding. When Owen’s best man ends up at the hospital, Nathan takes the rings to the ceremony where Owen invites him to stay.
Nathan is also able to patch things up with Megan after she is found. By this time, he is in a relationship with Meredith, but Meredith can tell he still loves Megan. She advises him to do something really special for her to prove it. In a gesture of his love, Nathan goes back to Iraq to find Farouk, an orphaned boy that Megan had raised like a son while she was there, and brings him back to the States. Once Megan and Farouk are reunited, she sees how much she means to Nathan.
Nathan Riggs Follows Megan to California
The Two Have a Happy Ending Together . . . Sort Of
Because of Martin Henderson’s short contract with Grey’s Anatomy, the writers seemed to have used it to create a complete story arc for the character, Nathan Riggs. Fans said goodbye to Dr. Nathan Riggs in Season 14, Episode 5, “Danger Zone.” In his final episode on the show, Riggs follows Megan to Malibu, where the couple and their adopted son begin a happily-ever-after life. But, a small revelation later on in the show’s arc, reveals that Nathan and Megan didn’t stay happy for the long term.
- Riggs also enjoys playing sports such as darts and baseball.
- He and Megan share an adoptive son named Farouk Shami.
Nathan is mentioned periodically in later seasons, but in Season 18, Episode 1, “Here Comes the Sun,” fans discover Megan and Riggs separated during the pandemic (a storyline that highlighted how Grey’s Anatomy changed over the years), since going through isolation together makes them realize they aren’t happy. While they were initially happy, the show reveals that their relationship could not stand the strain of certain trials. Yet, since Dr. Riggs is mentioned a few times throughout the later seasons, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he made a comeback.