Jordan’s grandmother comes to the hospital needing surgery, and Shaun faces new challenges at home and work regarding dealing with children.
| Aired (ABC) | February 27, 2023 |
| Director(s) | James Genn |
| Writer(s) | Garrett Lerner |
| Newly Noted Characters | |
| Grandma Evelyn | L. Scott Caldwell |
| Previously Noted Characters | |
| Jordan | Bria Henderson |
| Asher | Noah Galvin |
| Dr. Glassman | Richard Schiff |
| Shaun | Freddie Highmore |
| Lea | Paige Spara |
| Alex | Will Yun Lee |
| Shaun | Freddie Highmore |
| Dr. Andrews | Hill Harper |
| Daniel | Brandon Larracuente |
| Nurse Hawks | April Cameron |
| Dr. Lim | Christina Chang |
Recap
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There Has To Be A Better Way – Grandma Evelyn, Jordan, Asher, Dr. Glassman, Shaun, Lea, Daniel, Dr. Andrews
For Daniel, no one could be worse than Shaun to have to check in with. Just being a minute late triggers a drug test from him and leads to Daniel rushing, for multiple days, to make it before Shaun feels the need to make a comment. But what can Daniel do? He needs to go to NA, and going in the morning sets his day off right, but the best NA meeting is far, and the closest one is so old-fashioned it doesn’t give him the support he needs.
Lucky for him, Jordan’s grandmother, Miss Evelyn, is in the hospital and encourages Daniel to just make his own NA meeting, set the tone and culture, and with Dr. Andrews’ approval, he does it. Now, only one person, Nurse Hawks, shows up, but at least someone does.
Speaking of grandparents, Dr. Glassman is very gung-ho on fulfilling that role, and Lea is a bit uncomfortable with that. Not the idea of Glassman being the grandfather, but more so him child-proofing the house, butting into the naming conversation, and just not being a neutral house guest. So, Shaun and Dr. Glassman agree that, since there is an apartment down the hall, Dr. Glassman should just move in there.
You Have So Much To Learn About Kids – Alex, Shaun
While prepping for a child is part of Shaun’s to-do list, his lack of experience is still a problem. Case in point, his patient is a 4-year-old and Shaun, who has empathy, but mainly after he knows your routine and patterns, struggles. The child would like their stuffed animal to be part of the operations and everything, and because Shaun was a very logical child and thinks children don’t like being lied to, he is a bit stern.
Alex, who has raised a child, a son at that, finds himself having to do the emotional labor and show Shaun how to handle a patient like the kid. Which, by the end of the episode, he catches on, and it allows for Alex to, for once, not seem like a butthead.
Twice As Hard, Zero Acknowledgement – Dr. Andrews, Grandma Evelyn, Asher, Jordan, Dr. Lim
Jordan’s grandmother being in the hospital is stressful. What doesn’t help is also what her grandmother represents in her life. She has been such a force that, a lot of who Jordan is, is thanks to Evelyn. But, like any Black family, Jordan got the talk about being twice as good and working twice as hard. She internalized that, and while she succeeded, it also created a burden. One in which, due to not receiving the kind of praise she’d want, needed, or expected, has made her perpetually exhausted.
So when it comes to Dr. Andrews presenting the idea of Jordan talking to young women of color to act as an inspiration, she sees this as homework. Asher, perplexed by a resident not getting the brownie points he’d love to get, questions Jordan not taking the opportunity and her answer? It’s not her job or responsibility to act as a form of representation or to be an inspiration. Just being herself and putting that person out there is hard enough.
But, when it comes to Evelyn and Dr. Andrews, that is who they want these young girls to see. However, it takes Evelyn being in the middle of head butting between Dr. Lim and Jordan and Jordan coming up with the life-saving procedure for her to realize this is something she should do. Nervous, feeling unprepared, but as worthy as the girls who could use her influence.
Things To Note
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- All things considered, you’d think Lea’s parents would have swooped in by now, right?
What Could Happen Next
- Meeting one of Jordan’s five siblings
Review
Community Rating:
Notable Performances or Moments
The Burden Of Representation
2% of surgeons are Black, according to Dr. Andrews, though the JAMA Network (Journal of American Medical Association) notes 6.3% of surgical residents are Black. With that in mind, it means any surgeon is a rare commodity and with doctors held in such high regard, it means they are naturally seen as a role model or leader. As Jordan showed, that is a lot.
Can you imagine, you are barely comfortable with your place in an organization, yet you are thrusted to talk about your story, be a role model, and example? There is a reason why Jordan says that is homework and a burden. To be the level of perfect required means working even harder on looking right, having not only the professional life that is enviable but also personal life, and your ability to have a bad day limited. For snapping on someone? Being wrong? Now you have to really factor in how many people, beyond your own friends, family, maybe a spouse, you have let down.
Who would want to take that on? But, at the same time, when someone does, as Jordan does for over a dozen of girls on that call, you have to recognize the benefit to the lives they touch.
Highlights
Alex Schooling Shaun Without Coming Off Condescending
We’re far more critical than we should be, at times, when it comes to Alex. However, it’s mainly because he hasn’t had a storyline that benefitted him, without it being at the cost of someone else. I would even say, playing a prominent role in a storyline just wasn’t working. However, there is something about his dynamic with Shaun that works.
Unlike with Morgan, there isn’t this feeling of competition or pettiness. After all, Shaun is not going back and forth with you and wasting his time on nonsense. So, that only leaves Alex in a place to be a teacher, and as a teacher, Alex plays a role that works for him. That is where you can see his authority from being a cop come in, mixed with with him being a parent and learning, as a doctor, that sometimes you have to have a soft touch.
To me, this is a lane Alex can excel in and make it so he won’t have to latch onto Morgan.
On The Fence
The Inconsistency Of Nurse Storylines
Nurse Villanueva has faded back into the ethos, and now Nurse Hawks, who I think had an issue with Shaun, and got him his first write-up, is back into play and shows up for Daniel’s NA meeting. To me, I’d rather them add more focus to the nurses, especially in light of us losing a resident, than the alternatives. So, hopefully, we may not only get this nurse’s story but also see more from her peers.
But, just to preface this: They better not set up a love triangle with Daniel drawn to Nurse Hawks because “she gets it.”
| Season/ Episode | Synopsis | Episode Information | Topics & Focused Characters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Season 3, Episode 5 “First Care, Second Base” | A familiar face reappears this episode as Shaun deals with everyone pushing him to feel anxiety or be nervous over his first lead surgery. |
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| Season 3, Episode 4 “Take My Hand” | Claire and Morgan share another moment because of Breeze and Shaun, alongside Dr. Glassman, deal with their fear, and/or stubbornness. |
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| Season 3, Episode 3 “Claire” | Someone once said that for every person you steal from death, they take one personal to you. Claire learns that lesson this episode. |
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| Season 3, Episode 1 “Disaster” [Season Premiere] | We got through Shaun’s date with Carly, that he says is a disaster, as cases Shaun and Morgan work on put things in perspective. |
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| Season 3, Episode 2 “Debts” | Shaun continues to be pressed by everyone to give dating another chance as Dr. Andrews tries to embrace his demotion. |
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| Season 2, Episode 18 “Trampoline” | The unexpected happens for Shaun in a multitude of ways, including him taking the kind of leap we’ve been waiting for a long time. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season 2, Episode 17 “Breakdown” | Shaun tries to assert himself with Dr. Han as he feels largely unsupported. As that happens, Dr. Lim and Melendez contemplate coming out.
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| Season 2, Episode 16 “Believe” | Everyone is forced to be an advocate in some form, but the big challenge for many is being an advocate for themselves.
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| Season 2, Episode 15 “Risk and Reward” | A new chief of surgery comes about, and his style disrupts Shaun’s life as much as a talkative guy when Dr. Glassman gets chemotherapy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season 2, Episode 14 “Faces” | Guilt and regrets are prominent themes and emotions in “Faces” as old, and new, faces enter the characters’ lives. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season 2/ Episode 13 “XIN” |
Shaun finds himself confronted with the idea of being alone as he works with a patient who has autism, and a relationship, as well as Lea and Dr. Glassman asking for space. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season 2/ Episode 12 “Aftermath” |
While a lot of people heal old wounds, even find loved ones, some are left as lonely as they were when we first met them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
More people die, and there are moments in which the winter premiere of The Good Doctor will have you shed tears. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The mid-season finale is all about building anticipation as people die left and right and you wonder, will a main cast member be written off?
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Dr. Andrews finally decides who will be chief of surgery as the residents deal with emotionally, and morally, challenging patients.
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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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The value of emotional intelligence plays a big part not just for patients, but the personal lives of doctors.
Featuring: Dr. Glassman, Debbie, Lea, Shaun, Morgan, Riley, Jas, Claire, Dr. Park, Dr. Lim, Dr. Melendez, Shaun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As we learn Claire does have a life outside of the hospital, two brothers trigger Shaun’s memories of not just Steve but his father.
Featuring: Dr. Glassman, Lea, Shaun, Armando, Santiago, Morgan, Kayla, Dash, Claire, Dr. Melendez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Present and future relationships are being established and tested as people take leaps or push some out of their comfort zone.
Featuring: Shaun, Lea, Dr. Lim, Dr. Park, Dr. Glassman, Debbie, Dr. Blaize, Claire, and Dr. Melendez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Everyone’s baggage becomes an issue and while some unpack and deal with it, others barely unpack and just try to not let it hold them back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
With Lea back, combined with Dr. Glassman’s diagnosis, and Dr. Melendez deciding to test Shaun’s bedside manner, something is bound to give. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Things get a bit heated as Claire and Nurse Flores become assertive and the men in power positions not only question their judgement but say borderline offensive things. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Andrews first task as president is yearly reviews. Which, for many, the criticism helps both their professional and personal lives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not since Anne (also known as Anne with an E on Netflix) has a show grabbed ahold of me like The Good Doctor may also do to you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Despite Dr. Melendez still neglecting Shaun, Steve's influence continues to make Shaun the best doctor he can be. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
While we are left with the lesson that you can’t win them all, there is a rebuttal in there about still, at the very least, trying. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As Dr. Andrews takes more to Shaun, Dr. Melendez finds himself part of another procedure with legal repercussions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There is a child who looks like Steve in the hospital. As you can imagine, that means you need to prepare your tissues. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What begins as an episode showing our favorite residents rise to the occasion leaves them all with hard lessons to learn. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In another tear-inducing episode, Shaun encounters an autistic person with an ideal family and his peers deal with grieving over patients. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admitting you are wrong & dealing with guilt are the focus of the episode. And not just within everyone’s professional life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
With a mistake which could lead to a lawsuit and another a child’s death, it seems more people might be visiting Dr. Mohan – alongside Jessica. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shaun finally seems to succumb to the pressure he is under but not because of the work. Rather, it is because of Dr. Glassman. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The first half of ABC's The Good Doctor is a consistently tear-inducing saga with very few issues to name. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conjoined twins set up an episode about separating from your past to discover a more fulfilling future. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jessica finally is given some oomph and, for the first time, we experience patients for more than one episode. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As Shaun, almost annoyingly, points out the obvious and shows his own bias, Claire decides to pursue Dr. Coyle being properly punished | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A new resident seemingly will act as some sort of villain for the show and alongside her introduction is that of what trans youth go through. Especially in terms of medical issues. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shaun gains invaluable lessons from Morgan, unexpected kindness from Dr. Andrews, and poor Claire experiences a moment she didn’t see coming. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd chances at happiness are a big thing this episode. Especially in regards to Shaun’s friend Kenny and the arrival of Claire’s mom. But, of course, not everyone deserves a 2nd shot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The upside of a situation is what everyone is trying to find but, as you can figure out, not everyone can end the episode happy. Much less satisfied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Setting aside the life or death situation of Dr. Glassman, Shaun creates a problem that may give him and Dr. Glassman something bigger to worry about. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Good Doctor starts strong but as you get used to the tear-jerking patients and moments of the hospital staff, you begin to see flaws which can use some patching up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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