Why Owen Hunt’s Sister Was Recast in Grey’s Anatomy

Presumably, it's almost impossible to find a single Grey's Anatomy character who has had simple and healthy family dynamics. There's always something hiding in the past of the series' main characters that involves a problematic sibling who also happens to be a brilliant doctor. After the whole Derek/Amelia and Meredith/Maggie dynamic, the next Grey's Anatomy surgeon to have their personal lives explored were Owen Hunt and his younger sister Megan Hunt.

Megan was only previously mentioned in earlier seasons until her highly-anticipated appearance in Season 13, but it was short-lived. Although it's unlike Grey's Anatomy to recast actors frequently, Owen's sister was surprisingly portrayed by a different actress in her second appearance.

Who Was Owen Hunt's Sister?

She Was Presumed Dead After Her Chopper Disappeared 10 Years Ago

Megan Hunt with a notepad beside Owen Hunt in army uniform in Grey's Anatomy

When it comes to exploring familial connections and the past of its doctors, Grey's Anatomy goes the extra mile to give a strong foundation to the overall narrative. Whether it was Meredith Grey or Miranda Bailey, the show has a good track record of exploring the family trees of its characters and making them fit into the story like a piece of a puzzle. As for Doctor Owen Hunt, while family was never his strong suit, fans initially did get a glimpse into his personal life through his mother, Evelyn Hunt. She had been making appearances every now and then since Season 5. However, it was she who tells Meredith about Owen's little sister in Season 12 and how she has been presumed "missing" for the past ten years. It was understandable why Owen never spoke of her because of the ambiguity surrounding her survival and the bitter memories of the past.

First Appearance

Last Appearance

Season 13, Episode 8, "The Room Where It Happens" (By Bridget Regan)

Season 18, Episode 13, "Put The Squeeze On Me" (By Abigail Spencer)

It's conveyed that Owen and Megan enjoyed a healthy relationship as siblings, with the latter always looking up and following her big brother. The two went to medical school together, and Megan followed in Owen's footsteps to join the army. As an ambitious and headstrong woman, Megan aimed for the stars and wanted nothing more than to climb her career ladder, but she was disappointed when she was cut short. Megan Hunt first appears in a flashback scene during Owen's surgery, played by the talented Bridget Regan. Owen remembers his sister as someone who would question him at every step and push his buttons. She considered herself to be a better surgeon and someone willing to take risks if it meant the end result would be saving the patient's life.

Bridget Regan Only Appeared In a Single Grey's Anatomy Episode

Regan Couldn't Return For a Multi-Episode Arc

megan hunt played by Bridget Regan staring at Owen Hunt during surgery

Bridget Regan is a household name in the world of television, appearing in several popular shows like Jane the Virgin, White Collar, The Rookie, and more. The talented actress and producer made her Grey's Anatomy debut as Owen Hunt's younger sister, Megan Owen, in Season 13, Episode 8. She only appears as a vivid memory to Owen during a difficult surgery in the operating room as the pressure makes him remember the times with his sister in Iraq.

Regan particularly stood out in the role with her bright red head and dynamic personality that's completely opposite to Owen's. Unfortunately, that was the last fans saw of Regan on the show. It was reported that the actress would not be returning to reprise her role because of scheduling conflicts. She was too busy with TNT's The Last Ship and couldn't accommodate an elaborate arc as Megan Hunt because of scheduling conflicts. After her debut, the show had already decided to offer the character a more pronounced place in the story than initially intended.

Fortunately, ABC was able to nab another talented actress to portray the role for the "multi-episode" arc. Ultimately, Abigail Spencer stepped in to play Megan Hunt for the character's proper introduction to the series in Season 14. Spencer is another renowned name in the industry, best known for her roles in hit shows like Suits, How I Met Your Mother, Rectify, and more. Spencer's first appearance in Season 14's premiere brings an emotional heaviness to the storyline as Owen reunites with his sister when she is recused from Iraq after an entire decade.

One of the reasons why Megan Hunt's entrance to the scene was impactful was her past history with Grey Sloan Memorial's cardiothoracic surgeon, Nathan Riggs. However, she was also a core component in the medical aspect of her association with the hospital. Megan suffered a severe abdominal injury during a bombing that wasn't properly closed. Naturally, Meredith quickly became involved with repairing her "frozen abdomen" so Megan could return to her son.

Who Was In a Relationship With Megan?

Megan, Owen, Teddy, and Nathan Worked Together as Surgeons in the Army

Megan Hunt and Nathan Riggs

Before the Hunt family ever set foot in Grey Sloan Memorial, they were stationed in Iraq, working in the field as trauma surgeons. At that time, Megan Hunt was dating Nathan Riggs, who had asked her to marry him while Owen was in a relationship with Beth. However, there was trouble in paradise when it was revealed that Nathan was cheating on Megan. They had a big fight after their supposed engagement, leading them to question the integrity of their relationship.

Their argument was one of the reasons why Megan was adamant about getting on the chopper that was going to carry out her patient. Sana was one of the victims of a shooting and was catered to by Megan after the incident. However, it was during their heated argument that Sana's condition became critical, and Megan wanted her to be on the first chopper out. Despite the lack of space, Megan insists on boarding the helicopter because she wants to get away from Nathan.

Unfortunately, the moment the chopper takes off, new information comes to light that Sana was, in fact, one of the shooters. On the chopper, Sana causes a commotion, and that's the last anyone saw of the helicopter and Megan. This was one of the reasons for Nathan and Owen's tattered relationship because Owen blamed Nathan for making Megan go on the chopper. Both men had told Meredith their version of the incident, but Owen insisted that Nathan was nowhere near the liftoff point that day.

Megan had told Owen earlier that day that she wanted to get away from Nathan because she found out about his betrayal. Ironically, when Megan is recovered, Nathan is in a relationship with Meredith, and he finds himself in a familiar situation. Despite what he had felt for Meredith, it was obvious that Nathan still had feelings for his ex-fiance.

What Happened to Megan Hunt in Grey's Anatomy?

Her Journey Was a Difficult One

Grey's Anatomy Hayes and Megan Hunt

Megan Hunt brought with her a ton load of drama, especially for Meredith. Her arrival complicated Meredith and Nathan's relationship as the latter felt that he still felt a spark between him and Megan. However, it was extremely off putting the way Nathan jumped the ship by never ending things with Meredith completely and proposing to Megan at the same time. This caused a severe rift between the two since Megan initially rejected Nathan's proposal because she felt that Nathan was still not truly hers. As a matter of fact, Megan had all the right to decline a romantic arc because she was already going through a lot with her abdominal surgery and worries for her son Farouk. Spencer's Megan had a tough journey even before she went missing. She was a trauma surgeon in one of the worst places to be, but she believed in her cause and capabilities.

Even after suffering a grievous injury, all Megan wanted was to return to her son, who was still in Iraq. Despite agreeing to almost all aggressive approaches, Megan was unable to retrieve her son because of an infection in her abdomen. Later, as a grand gesture and a way to win Megan back, Nathan used a strategy to get Farouk a medical visa to travel to the US so he could be reunited with her adoptive mother. After their heartfelt union, Megan Hunt underwent even more distressful events, which included living through her son's illness and his multiple surgeries.

Ultimately, while confusing, Megan's character arc came to a satisfying end when she decided to move with Farouk to Los Angeles. She also finally accepted Nathan's proposal, who also left Grey Sloan Memorial to move to LA. Sadly, in her final appearance on the show, Spencer's Megan reveals during Owen and Teddy's wedding that she and Nathan split up, and it may have been for the best. Characters like Megan Hunt bring a refreshing perspective to prolonged stories like the one in Grey's Anatomy. She was an inspiring character, a dedicated mother, and a good sister.

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