Let's be honest about the impossible task Martin Henderson had. He walked onto the set of Grey's Anatomy in 2015, barely a few months after Patrick Dempsey’s Derek Shepherd died in that horrific semi-truck accident. The fans were grieving. Ellen Pompeo was, by her own later admission, annoyed that the network felt the need to "get a penis in there" so quickly. Then comes Nathan Riggs, a charming cardio surgeon with a New Zealand accent and enough baggage to fill a Boeing 747.
He wasn't just a new doctor. He was a lightning rod.
For two seasons, we watched Nathan Riggs navigate a hospital that basically hated him on principle. Whether it was Owen Hunt’s unexplained (at first) rage or Meredith’s cold shoulder, the guy couldn't catch a break. But then, just as we started to actually like him—just as "MerRiggs" became a thing people actually rooted for—he was gone. Poof. Living the dream in Malibu.
If you’re still wondering what really happened behind the scenes or why his departure felt so abrupt, you’re not alone. The story of Nathan Riggs is one of the weirdest, most polarizing, and ultimately "happy" exits in the show’s history, even if it left a lot of us feeling a bit cheated.
The Nathan Riggs Arrival: A "Stopgap" for McDreamy?
When Riggs first showed up in Season 12, the "McDreamy hole" was gaping. The show was at a crossroads. Could Grey’s survive without its primary male lead? The producers thought they needed a replacement fast. Martin Henderson was cast, but the reception was... mixed.
He didn't try to be Derek, which was his saving grace. Riggs was messier. He was a guy who had spent years in Jordan and Iraq, working in dirt and blood. He had this quiet, humble vibe that Derek Shepherd—let’s be real—never really had. While Derek was the "sun," Riggs was more like a comfortable campfire.
But the chemistry with Meredith was the big question. It started with a one-night stand in the back of a car, which felt very "early Grey’s." It was impulsive and a little dirty. Fans were split. Half the audience wanted Meredith to remain a widow forever (unrealistic, but okay), and the other half was just glad she was smiling again.
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The problem? The writers didn't seem to know if they wanted him to be "The One" or just "The One for Now."
Why Owen Hunt Hated Him (And Why We Cared)
For a long time, the beef between Owen and Riggs was the main engine of the character's plot. It wasn't just professional jealousy. It was deep, dark, military-grade resentment.
We eventually found out why: Megan Hunt.
Riggs was engaged to Owen’s sister, Megan, when she disappeared in a helicopter over a combat zone. Owen blamed Riggs because Riggs had cheated on her, and they were fighting right before she got on that chopper. It was classic Shondaland drama. It gave Riggs a layer of guilt that made him more than just a "hot new doctor." He was a man living with a ghost.
Watching them eventually find common ground in the OR was satisfying. It took years, but seeing Owen finally stop punching the guy in the hallway was a relief for everyone.
The Megan Hunt Twist That Changed Everything
Season 13 ended with the ultimate "Grey's" bombshell. Megan Hunt wasn't dead. She had been a prisoner of war for ten years.
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Suddenly, the Meredith-Nathan relationship hit a brick wall. This is where the writing got really interesting, and honestly, pretty mature for a soap opera. Meredith didn't fight for him. She did the opposite. Having lost Derek, she knew that if Derek ever walked through the door, she would drop everything. She told Nathan to go.
It was a "no-win" situation that felt like a win for the characters' growth.
What really happened with Martin Henderson’s contract?
Here is the thing most people forget: Martin Henderson was never meant to be there for a decade. He had a short-term, two-year contract.
In interviews with Deadline and Digital Spy, Henderson made it clear that he knew his time was limited. He wasn't fired, and there wasn't some massive "behind-the-scenes" drama with the cast. It was a creative decision. The writers brought in Megan Hunt specifically to give Riggs a way out that didn't involve a body bag.
For a show that loves to kill off its leads (George, Mark, Lexie, Derek), giving Nathan Riggs a "happily ever after" was almost radical. He got the girl. He got the kid (Farouk). He got the beach house in Malibu.
The Breakup We Didn’t See
If you haven't kept up with the later seasons, here is the kick in the teeth: the "happily ever after" didn't actually last.
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In Season 18, Megan Hunt returned to Seattle. She dropped a casual line that still annoys some fans: she and Nathan broke up during the COVID-19 pandemic. They realized they were different people. Ten years of captivity and a decade of grief had changed them too much.
It felt a bit like the writers were undoing the one "clean" exit they ever gave a character. If they were just going to break up anyway, why did he have to leave? Well, because Martin Henderson had moved on to bigger things—specifically, becoming the heartthrob of Netflix's Virgin River.
Is a Nathan Riggs Return Possible?
In recent years, Henderson has been asked if he’d ever come back to Grey Sloan. His answer? "Never say never," but with a caveat.
He told Collider that he’d need a "clear plan" for the character. He didn't want to just be a background doctor or a brief "hello" in the hallway. He felt that Riggs was never fully defined beyond being Meredith’s love interest, and if he returns, he wants more meat on the bone.
With Grey's Anatomy hitting Season 21 and beyond, the door is always ajar. We’ve seen everyone from Nick Marsh to Addison Montgomery return. Why not the guy who helped Meredith heal?
What You Should Do Next
If you're feeling nostalgic for the Riggs era, the best way to revisit it is to watch the Season 14 episode "Danger Zone." It’s a flashback-heavy episode that finally explains the Iraq backstory and gives Nathan his original exit. It’s arguably Henderson’s best work on the show.
Also, keep an eye on casting news for the upcoming seasons. With the show leaning heavily into its "legacy" characters lately, a guest spot for Dr. Riggs isn't as far-fetched as it was five years ago. Just don't expect him to stay—he’s a California guy now.