Chicago Med season 5 character review: Natalie Manning

What it means

Natalie’s trajectory over the fifth season was different, to say the least. The largest criticism of her character is that she can be overbearing—both Natalie herself and how she and her dramas had dominated large portions of previous Chicago Med seasons. But after the Phillip story got cleared up, she mostly took a supporting role, and that was refreshing.

Having Phillip turn into a crazy person was pretty eyebrow-arching (especially on the heels of Dr. Ava Bekker being revealed as a crazier person who killed herself), and Natalie getting kidnapped felt like it fulfilled some sort of requirement to put her in a life-threatening situation every season. But it was nice to see her take a step back, be a little more quiet, and do more things to help her fellow doctors and nurses instead of her problems being front and center.

Natalie’s still not perfect (her being arrested is an example of how she can still force what she believes is best on other people), but this season proved that Torrey DeVitto can be great in a supporting role, and that Natalie can continue to grow. Maybe being single for a while, at least until the writers put her together with Crockett, and not always in trouble will create a different Natalie. After all, Will is doing some growing up, so why wouldn’t she?

Plus, she still has Owen at home. Natalie could spend more time being a mother, and just take some time to slow down both professionally and personally. Chicago Med has put her through so much; certainly she’d want a break somewhere in there.