Two original Chicago Med characters return in season 11 (one expected and one a surprise), and their appearances give the show a chance to redeem its failure from seven years ago. The good news is that both doctors are expected to stick around Gaffney Chicago Medical Center for more than one episode. Consequently, the series has numerous opportunities to rectify its mistake.
Nick Gehlfuss reprises his role as Dr. Will Halstead in Chicago Med season 11, episode 2, which also just so happens to be the show’s 200th episode. Gehlfuss previously exited the NBC medical drama at the end of season 8. So, Halstead’s return comes more than two years later, and surprisingly, he isn’t the only original character Chicago Med is bringing back.
Torrey DeVitto Returns As Natalie Manning In Chicago Med Season 11, Episode 2
Manning Returns After Owen Gets Shot
Following a series of unfortunate events, Torrey DeVitto reprises her role as Dr. Natalie Manning in the final moments of Chicago Med season 11, episode 2. As viewers learn at the hour’s beginning, she is happy and in love with Halstead. He moved to Seattle to be with Manning at the end of Chicago Med season 8, and they’ve been together ever since.
In fact, Manning is pregnant with her and Halstead’s son. Before the baby arrives, Halstead and Natalie’s young son, Owen, travel to Chicago to go to a Bears game in an attempt to bond. Unfortunately, everything goes wrong during their trip. First of all, Halstead is having trouble connecting with Owen, who isn’t all that happy to be getting a brother.
Halstead also gets distracted when he finds a sick boy in Gaffney’s parking lot. It turns out that he’s being used as a drug mule to transport bags of cocaine, which doctors find in his stomach. While in surgery, a woman comes in with a gun, demanding the drugs. She ultimately flees, but not before shooting Owen on her way out of the hospital.
Sharon Goodwin promptly calls Manning, who is still in Seattle, to inform her of the horrifying news. The Chicago Med episode fades to black on that note. However, Manning will be back in the Windy City in episode 3, “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades.” She’ll undoubtedly be preoccupied with Owen’s condition, but perhaps the NBC series can sneak in a happy moment for Manning.
The NBC Show Ruined Manning & Halstead’s Wedding In Season 4
Manstead Never Got The Chance To Go Through With Their Nuptials
While Manning and Halstead technically got their happy ending when they reunited in Seattle during the Chicago Med season 8 finale, the brief scene wasn’t enough to make up for how much the One Chicago show has put them through. For example, Manning and Halstead had the wedding from Hell in season 4, episode 9. They never even made it down the aisle.
Instead, Manning waited anxiously for Halstead, who was late, to arrive at the church in “Death Do Us Part.” When he finally did, it was only to say goodbye. Halstead, unbeknownst to Manning, was working with the FBI, and when his cover was blown, he had to go into the Witness Protection Program and skip out on his wedding.
The FBI and Chicago Police Department let Halstead see Manning one last time outside the church, where they said a heartbreaking and frantic goodbye to one another. As such, the fan-favorite Chicago Med couple didn’t get married that night. Sadly, Manning and Halstead never got a second chance at a wedding, as the whole experience led to them calling off their engagement.
On the bright side, Manning and Halstead eventually worked things out. They even now have a child on the way. However, the two characters still aren’t married, and the NBC medical drama has yet to make up for the disappointing disaster that was their wedding day in season 4. Hopefully, Chicago Med can make amends for that mistake in the upcoming episodes.
Chicago Med Can Finally Give Manning & Halstead The Wedding They Deserve
The 2 Original Chicago Med Characters Can Get Married In Season 11
We’ll just assume that Chicago Med won’t be cruel enough to kill off Owen. His situation is dire, but it’d be quite shocking if the child actually died, bestowing even more trauma upon Manning and Halstead. So, once Owen most likely survives, perhaps the writers can make up for the couple’s first botched wedding and give them one more akin to a fairytale.
Gehlfuss and DeVitto are expected to appear in multiple Chicago Med season 11 episodes, meaning that the next hour, “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades,” won’t be their final outing in the NBC TV series. Assuming that episode 3 ends with Owen’s recovery, maybe the following hour will feature Manning and Halstead getting married. They deserve a magical wedding day, after all.
The fans also deserve to see Manning and Halstead getting their happily ever after. A quick reunion at Seattle’s airport wasn’t enough. On the other hand, a last-minute wedding in Chicago would be perfect. Only time will tell what Chicago Med has in store for Manning and Halstead’s remaining episodes in season 11, though.
New episodes of Chicago Med season 11 air on Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on NBC, followed by Chicago Fire season 14 at 9 pm ET and Chicago PD season 13 at 10 pm ET.
