What happened to Natalie on Chicago Med?
Chicago Med had some major shakeups in the season 7 premiere. Not only were fans introduced to a pair of new characters, but they were forced to say goodbye to two characters who have been a part of the ED family since its inception.
One was April Sexton (Yaya DaCosta), was made her unceremonious exit offscreen, and the other was Dr. Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto), who bid farewell in the episode’s cold open. It may have been brief, but it was a worthwhile moment for a character who came to define some of the most iconic and memorable storylines in Chicago Med history.
Why did Natalie Manning leave Chicago Med?
Natalie’s exit was set in motion last season, when the normally upright doctor resorted to stealing medicinal drugs for her ailing mother. Will (Nick Gehlfuss) tried to protect her by taking the blame, but his firing compelled Natalie to speak up and ultimately accept the punishment for what she did. Put simply, she could no longer be trusted by Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) and the rest of the ED team.
The cold open of season 7 touches very briefly on the clinical drugs controversy, in that Natalie urges Will to approach the ED and get his job back. It’s not a stretch to assume that Natalie feels guilt over her role in the firing, and wants to make sure that he’s in a better place. “You better keep in touch”, Will tells his ex-fiancée before she drives away. “I’ll come find you.”
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Some fans may be curious as to where Natalie is headed, and whether she has a future in medicine given her recent actions. Thankfully, Chicago Med showrunners Andrew Schneider and Diane Frolov shed some light on the vaguer aspects of the season 7 premiere during an interview with TV Line.
Frolov revealed that Natalie is taking her son to her Seattle hometown to live with the rest of her family. Additionally, she will get a job at a prominent hospital in the area. “Her career is not damaged”, Schneider assured fans. “Goodwin did not make a big deal; she just let her go. So she goes on. She is going to be fine.”
dark. Next. Who’s in, who’s out on Chicago Fire, Med and PD?
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