The Good Doctor: Season 2/ Episode 8 “Stories” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)
Dr. Andrews pops his head back in to address a Claire situation and Dr. Park’s past continues to be danced around. Also, it is revealed Morgan has friends.
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Dr. Andrews pops his head back in to address a Claire situation and Dr. Park’s past continues to be danced around. Also, it is revealed Morgan has friends.
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| Network | |
| ABC | |
| Director(s) | Michael Patrick Jann |
| Writer(s) | Sal Calleros |
| Air Date | 11/19/2018 |
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We All Have Our Regrets & Secrets: Morgan, Dr. Park
While dealing with a patient whose parents didn’t vaccinate them, Morgan and Dr. Park tell personal stories to try to push the family to vaccinate. Well, Morgan tells a personal story to Dr. Park dealing with her best friend whose son died because he wasn’t vaccinated. Which Dr. Park steals to try to convince the patient’s parents. Why did he steal Morgan’s story? Because he thought it was a good story.
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Problem is, with stealing Morgan’s story, he also has to deal with the consequences. Not Morgan going off since her attitude isn’t what it once was. More so it is the fact the mom caves and didn’t consult the dad before the patient got vaccinated. Thus leaving the dad upset and the patient blaming Dr. Park.
Leading to Dr. Park bringing up his wife cheating, him leaving, and now him rarely seeing his kid. Something the dad rolls his eyes about for Dr. Park having a story for every occasion got old quick. But, with all the stress that patient brought on, it did present an opportunity for Morgan. She built comradery with Dr. Park and with him wanting to go to a shooting range to chill, she invites herself and he seems okay with it.
Commentary
You got to give Morgan credit for taking her evaluation to heart. Over the last couple of episodes, she hasn’t been that snarky, has tried to be more personable, and has been a bit more of a team player. Not just in front of the seniors either, which is saying something. She even opens up about her friend’s kid who dies. Then, when Dr. Park steals that, she doesn’t flip out and then act real petty. Morgan just addresses the situation and moves on. Leading you to wonder if this is this maturity, her getting comfortable, or her not wanting to fight anymore?
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As for Dr. Park? I gotta say that this dude I need something more from. It has been established he was a cop, was married, got cheated on, and had a kid. However, he lacks personality to me. Something which once could argue is because he is old school and doesn’t believe in sharing or being overly emotional. Not just in terms of crying, but anger, empathy, and things like that. But, as a viewer, it is hard to not want to see behind the curtain more. Beyond just little tidbits. Especially since he doesn’t really have an interesting dynamic with any of the characters. Making him seem like someone who could be on his way out.
Which reminds me, did they ever replace Jessica’s character’s position? Though I don’t think a lawyer would have to be involved, this could become a legal situation, right? If both parents are in the child’s life and share custody, wouldn’t they both need to approve any kind of procedure or even injection?
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?: Claire, Dr. Andrews, Allegra, Dr. Melendez
Considering all Claire has gone through at the hospital, it seems Dr. Melendez cutting her off was the last straw and now she is looking to go elsewhere. For some reason, this comes up on Allegra’s radar and she pushes Dr. Andrews to care. Problem is, Dr. Andrews isn’t much for anything but paperwork and giving orders really. So the relationships between staff members? Honestly, he’d rather let them sort that out themselves. After all, they’re adults.
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However, with Allegra being about the hospital’s image, and thinking losing two diversity students looks bad, Dr. Andrews is gently pushed to do something. Even though, from the staff we’ve seen, the hospital looks pretty diverse already. But, with Dr. Andrews trying to be the best president the hospital has had, he talks to Dr. Melendez and low-key pisses him off. How? Well, by dangling that chief of surgery title over making nice with Claire. Something, at least we know, he’d want just to finally get one over his rival – Dr. Lim.
So, begrudgingly, he goes to talk to Claire, who has already been talked to Dr. Andrews and explained being iced out cut her education in half. But, being that Claire may have an ego, but is actually able to set it aside, she gives a fake apology just so Dr. Melendez can save face. Also, so he can hopefully get over himself. Now, whether that means she’ll stop courting other hospitals remains to be seen.
Commentary
All I got to say is, Claire is way too good for this world and she needs to be protected. Also, I am truly wondering how long is that Chief of Surgery position going to be vacant? I’m sure Dr. Andrews is pulling double duty and considering the things he and his wife were going through, you’d think he wouldn’t be taking so long to fill that position. Yeah, it is a nice carrot to dangle to keep Dr. Melendez and Lim in line but, for how long? Dr. Melendez honestly looked like he could give two shakes of a dog’s tale when being pushed to make nice with Claire. Not to say he wouldn’t want the money but, Dr. Melendez may not want the politics.
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Which is why I doubt either one may really get the position. Dr. Lim and Melendez aren’t necessarily people persons and neither seem all that geared towards office politics. Remember Dr. Lim fighting in court? Take note of how Dr. Melendez is on any given day. If Dr. Andrews struggles to deal with people, especially those who aren’t in power or have money, imagine how those two will handle the job.
Do You Remember The Time?: Dr. Glassman, Shaun
It’s getting worse. Yes, he can walk, drive, talk, and still has some of his wits. However, Dr. Glassman’s memory is fading and his ego isn’t going with it. So, with his doctor getting on his nerves, he turns to Shaun for even if he can’t keep a secret worth a damn, Shaun might bend the rules a bit for him. You know, so Dr. Glassman can be his own doctor and get a little less criticism in his life.
Problem is with that idea, Shaun decides to give him a memory test and Dr. Glassman stumbles. Though, with forgetting who Steve is, that is all Shaun needed to hear. With that, it’s clear to him there are serious issues afoot.
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Commentary
While you have to note Shaun’s investment in Dr. Glassman comes from him being a father figure to him for more than a decade, there is also a shared history he might be worried about. After all, on top of being his advocate and helping him get this far, he is also the only one who he can talk about the things he got from people as a kid. Though, most of all, he is the only one he knows who remembers Steve. Someone Shaun may not be as reliant on, physically or memory wise, to get through his day but Steve was still his brother. The first one to show him real and consistent love.
Leading to the need to bring up Shaun’s patient kissing him and what that sparked. It made it so he wanted to touch Claire’s hand afterwards and I think, in combination with Dr. Glassman losing his memories, it may push Shaun to want more. To have actual closeness beyond friendship. For rather than holding onto memories, he may actually want to make some. Not just with anyone either, but someone who can truly be a significant other in all ways that term can mean.
Highlights
- Claire’s value being noted from the top of the hospital. Arguably beyond her being a Black woman.
- Shaun and Claire’s patient, a Black woman, not being the victim or the parent who didn’t know, but getting to play the bad guy a little bit.
- Morgan, little by little, opening up. Not enough to make you think she has gone soft but enough for you to remember she is human. It’s just she is sometimes an aggressive and abrasive human.
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Low Point
- What can’t be solved by the assumption there is a tumor and finding one?
On The Fence
- Park is taking baby steps into opening up, but I need more. A couple of flashback scenes or something. He drastically changed his life because of that affair. Let us see that.
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I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving!!
With Claire and Shaun getting together, I noticed on another website comments section that there are shippers really hoping they become a couple, and there are shippers hoping Claire and Dr. Melendez become a couple. As I am sure you are sick of reading from me, I do not like the idea of Claire and Dr. Melendez getting together, with just one reason being that he is in a position of authority over her. (When she’s not a resident anymore, then maybe I’ll reconsider.) With Claire and Shaun, I’m not as so vehemently opposed, but I agree that Claire has no romantic thoughts towards Shaun. Also, I think Shaun is too focused on Lea to think of Claire as anything but a very nice person and a work friend.
I’m more then happy to share any “insights” I have being around different people with autism and parenting someone with autism, especially since sometimes that seems to be my whole world :)! (Side note: “The Good Doctor” is very accurate!) I appreciate the acknowledgement!!
I, by no means, am sick of your very valid reason for not liking Claire and Dr. Melendez getting together. Between him being in a position of authority and her past with Dr. Coyle, it doesn’t seem like something either should get into.
Also, I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving as well (^_^)
I agree with you about Park. I found him really interesting at first when they combined the cop and the dr. aspects (i.e. with the patient from jail and the girl with the fake i.d.). But they don’t do that anymore and now he’s a little dull. A flashback scene for him is a good idea.
Now that Claire is back doing surgery with Melendez, I’m hoping this isn’t the start of the 2 of them getting together. I loved how she stuck up for herself to Dr. Andrews and while giving Melendez an “out” to get back on his team, it doesn’t mean the start of romance. I know you didn’t comment on that, but I’m saying it now anyway.
I totally noticed Shaun almost touching Claire’s hand. I’m not sure it was romantic or just a happy reaction to what they just saw with their two patients. Either way, it was still sweet to watch a man with autism want to almost touch somebody’s hand!
Jessica’s position has not been filled. I have noted this on many different occasions this season because there have been situations where Jessica/an actor/actress in Jessica’s position would have jumped in to give the hospital’s legal opinion on something that had just happened. For example – Lim pretending the girl’s i.d. was real even though Park told her it wasn’t and doing an operation her parent’s would not have wanted; Claire going to the parents of an injured rock climber to have them force the surgery Claire wanted even though the patient was over 18, etc. Anyway, as a divorced parent, regarding getting the other parent’s approval, it depends on how serious the procedure and how strongly the other parent fells about it. If the other parent doesn’t care, they don’t have to be notified. But if it’s something that falls under the “We discussed this!!!!” heading, then they have to be notified. But the onus was on the mother telling the father, not on Park. He (rightly, imo) figured the mother told the father.
I personally never understood the push for Claire and Shaun to be a thing. I think it is a misinterpretation of her kindness and understanding than her having romantic thoughts. Which could very well apply to the Dr. Melendez thing as well. Yes, they had a intimate conversation in season 1, but that doesn’t mean there are feelings there. Even if, in the show, she got teased about the idea once or twice.
Thanks for the parental view point. I haven’t experienced certain things, being a parent or being around someone with autism, so shows like this are the only way to know what that maybe be like.