“The Good Doctor” returns for its final season and as Shaun returns to work after Steve’s birth, so brews a major change for a few others.
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Plot Recap
It Takes A Village To Raise A Child – Alex, Morgan, Lea, Shaun, Dr. Glassman
Unfortunately for Alex, while he has reconciled with Morgan and are in a relationship, when it comes to Eden, she still takes a leading role and doesn’t co-parent. This includes when it becomes clear she will need another surgery, and he isn’t consulted what so ever.
As for the other child on “The Good Doctor,” Steve is doing well, and it has been two weeks since his birth. Dr. Glassman, sore as he is over Shaun’s betrayal, still isn’t talking to him and only sees the baby because of Lea trying to get the two to reconnect.
But, by the end of the episode, with seeing Shaun and Lea overwhelmed, he grants Shaun some mercy and does take Steve for a night.
Two For One Special – Shaun, Morgan, Alex, Dr. Glassman, Dr. Lim
While Lea remains on maternity leave, Shaun is right back at the hospital and his first case deals with two babies, one of them being Morgan’s Eden, who need heart surgeries. As always, Shaun comes up with a last minute save when there is one heart but two babies who need it, and this allows Eden’s life to be extended. However, it does require Shaun to do, as he always does, and push back when Dr. Lim tells him to stop or change directions. But, without having to use a cane and Dr. Andrews leaving the hospital president position, her mind is on who will be her next boss?
The answer? The board chooses her and Dr. Glassman to co-president, after them pushing and recommending one another. Which neither want since Dr. Glassman is still rather hurt about not being a surgeon anymore, and loathes the politics of the position, and Dr. Lim? Well, as shown throughout the series, while she can handle the pressure, and the work, the administrative side isn’t her favorite, and the politics of it all she finds draining.
Other Noteworthy Information
- Kalu and Dr. Allen have a minor issue due to Dr. Allen deciding to administer drugs to Dr. Perez, but they move past it as Dr. Kalu sees Dr. Allen struggling since Asher is in love and doesn’t give Dr. Allen much quality time.
Cast Guide
|
Character’s Name |
Actor’s Name |
|
Alex |
Will Yun Lee |
|
Morgan |
Fiona Gubelmann |
|
Shaun |
Freddie Highmore |
|
Lea |
Paige Spara |
|
Dr. Glassman |
Richard Schiff |
|
Dr. Lim |
Christina Chang |
|
Dr. Kalu |
Chuku Modu |
|
Dr. Allen |
Bria Henderson |
Review
Highlights
Dr. Lim and Dr. Glassman as Co-Presidents
For the final season, this could be an interesting setup for how things will be in the long run. I feel like Dr. Glassman is going to end this season retiring, and giving Dr. Lim the sole title of President, and with that we have some idea of where things could go. That is, assuming the usual fire, rehired, switching positions drama doesn’t happen.
But, twists and turns aside, one thing I do hope that comes from this is we get a last minute push of the nurses, or at lease Nurse Villanueva. They were always underused on the show, so allowing them a last hoorah via getting their dues would be excellent.
Shaun As A Father
For years “The Good Doctor” has been one of the most accessible, mainstream shows depicting autism. While other shows like “Atypical” ended, and “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay” got cancelled, “The Good Doctor” has soldiered on and arguably taken things further than what either of those two shows got to.
For both “Atypical” and “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay,” things ended before the teens featured were in pursuit of careers, independence, and more. They didn’t get as far as Shaun did with a career that has had notable success, full-fledged relationships, and now children. Though, to not discount “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay,” whose lead will be featured in the next episode, it did have the rare depiction of a woman who is autistic.
But, getting back to Shaun, being that entertainment is often many people’s go to example of what something is or could be like, it will be interesting to see how Shaun handles fatherhood and if the season may use time jumps to show Steve at older ages, never mind bring back the actor who played Steve, who has already played more than one character.
On The Fence
Dr. Kalu and Dr. Allen Paired Up
First off, please don’t have them date. I know that is the go to storyline for any character who doesn’t have anything going on, and that is something both characters suffer from, but I hope they just keep them single.
Following that, I’m curious what could really be planned with these two? With Dr. Andrews gone, Dr. Kalu’s fiercest critic is no more. Then with Dr. Allen, being that her character is usually latching onto another, rather than given independent storylines, or storylines she is the lead of, will there be a change?
Background Information
|
Network |
ABC |
|
Release Date |
February 20, 2024 |
|
Director(s) |
Rebecca Moline |
|
Writer(s) |
Liz Friedman, Jessica Grasl |
|
Previous Episode |
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Series Page |
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The Good Doctor: Season 7/ Episode 1 "Baby, Baby, Baby" – Episode Review
Summary
While many are saddened by “The Good Doctor,” ending, it seems to perhaps run its course. Yes, Shaun’s storyline is rare in accessible and mainstream media, but everything around Shaun has become increasingly stale over the years, so better to end now than Shaun’s ability to be a silver lining to fade until “The Good Doctor” is seen as an utter shell of its former self.
Overall
-
Dr. Lim and Dr. Glassman as Co-Presidents - 82%
82%
-
Shaun As A Father - 83%
83%
-
Dr. Kalu and Dr. Allen Paired Up - 72%
72%
Highlight(s)
- Shaun As A Father
- Dr. Lim and Dr. Glassman as Co-Presidents
Disputable
- Dr. Kalu and Dr. Allen Paired Up
I forgot they are introducing an autistic woman on the next episode. Now that you mention her, I’m looking forward to her, too, and seeing how well Shaun interacts with her. I never saw “Everything’s Going to Be Okay” (I’m too frugal/cheap to have nothing but the most basic of cable, which back in the days before streaming was under $20.)
Sadly, my daughter is too low-functioning to realize there is now proper female ASD representation. (It was one of the reasons I got away with only having 6 channels – the children’s programming on PBS was enough for her.) But you are so sweet to think of her!
Hi Amari! I can’t believe this is the last season! Thank you so much for hanging in there and reviewing until the very end!! Your reviews are great!!
While your logic as to why The Good Doctor should end now is sound, I am still sad to see it go. Although to me it came close to not being related to autism in any way last season, but instead just a good show about a very quirky guy. However, with Shaun wanting Steve and Lea to adhere to a very strict schedule totally reminded me of my daughter and how she craves having a strict schedule and not “going with the flow” as Lea likes to do with Steve.
I totally agree with you on not having Dr. Kalu and Dr. Allen start dating. Having Morgan and Alex together is bad enough without adding to our misery with Dr. Kalu and Jordan together, too!
I’m excited for this new character. The actress was on another show, “Everything’s Going To Be Okay,” which I think was one of the first times a lead character with ASD was a woman (Granted, I can name on one hand the shows I’m aware of with lead characters with ASD).
But, still, I’m hoping she’ll be a series regular so your daughter doesn’t just see nothing but boys and the occassional girl.