Spoilers from Chicago Med season 11 episode 2 from this point forward.
That's how you do a 200th episode, folks! Not only did Chicago Med bring back Nick Gehlfuss as Dr. Will Halstead after he had been absent for two full seasons, but the long-running medical drama had plenty of other surprises in store to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
During Chicago Med season 11 episode 2, the doctors worked on a variety of life-and-death cases, including one that was brought in by Halstead. While in Chicago with Natalie's son Owen to attend a Bears game, he dropped by Gaffney to visit with his old friends. On the way in, he came across a teenage boy who was in dire need of medical attention. He brough him in and assisted Frost.
While treating Jasper, the doctors discover that he was being used as a drug mule and his body was filled with balloons of cocaine. Jasper worried that if he didn't deliver the drugs, he and his brother would be in even more danger. But he's rushed into surgery, and that's when things take a turn. That's also when the episode delivers it's biggest surprise: Torrey Devitto as Natalie Manning!
Torrey DeVitto makes surprise cameo in Chicago Med season 11 episode 2 after Owen gets shot at Gaffney
Earlier in the episode, Halstead explained to Charles and Goodwin that Natalie stayed back in Seattle because she's 20 weeks pregnant with their son. The prospect of becoming a big brother and having even less attention from his busy doctor parents weighed on Owen's relationship with Halstead. But Halstead continued to help treat Jasper even though he felt guilty about not spending time with Owen.
While Lenox and Frost operate on Jasper, a woman that had been creeping around the hospital and sitting in the waiting room enters the OR. She holds the team at gunpoint and demands that the balloons of drugs from Jasper's body be placed into a backpack. She wants them to risk killing Jasper to retrieve all the drugs, but Lenox talks her out of causing any further harm.
Once the woman leaves the operating room, Lenox continues the surgery and instructs the team to call security, which Halstead already did after he and Asher noticed that no one in the OR was moving. Unfortunately, the team in the OR hears two gunshots outside in the ED. The perspective shifts to a doctor in a different hospital. She takes a phone call, and it's revealed to be Natalie. Goodwin's calling her to inform her that Owen has been shot.
Chicago Med season 11 episode 3 preview reveals Natalie is coming to Gaffney
DeVitto previously left Chicago Med as a series regular in season 6 after originating Dr. Natalie Manning in season 1. She returned as a guest in seasons 7 and 8, which helped to wrap up her story and establish that she ended up with Halstead and started a new life together in Seattle. Ahead of the 200th episode, NBC hadn't revealed Devitto's return. What a huge surprise for long-time fans!
Based on the preview for Chicago Med season 11 episode 3, DeVitto will be back as Natalie as she makes her way to Chicago to be by Owen's side after the shooting. The fact that she's back make sense because showrunner Allen MacDonald teased that Halstead would actually be around for multiple episodes. In retrospect, why else would he be around without Natalie?
However, the season 11 episode 3 synopsis NBC released ahead of episode 2 didn't give even a whiff of Natalie making an appearance: "Lenox and Frost receive an unusual request from the parents of a patient on life support; Ripley and Charles work with a man who can't remember who he is." However, could Halstead and Manning be the parents with an unusual request?
We'll have to wait and see what's next for "Manstead" and Owen, but at least fans can get excited that we don't have to just hear about Natalie. We can see her, too! It's amazing that this secret was able to be kept for so long without be leaked or ruined for fans. Doesn't it make you wonder what other surprises that could be pulled off this season? But first, let's focus on Manstead's comeback!
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC, streaming next day on Peacock.