The Good Doctor: Season 3 Episode 16 “Autopsy” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)
Alongside a hint as to what’s next for Dr. Lim, Shaun decides to tell Lea how he feels, and her reaction is…
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Alongside a hint as to what’s next for Dr. Lim, Shaun decides to tell Lea how he feels, and her reaction is…
| Directed By | Freddie Highmore | |
| Written By | David Hoselton | |
| Aired (ABC) | 2/24/2020 | |
| Introduced This Episode | ||
| Aiden | Cameron Gellman | |
| Trinity | Ariah Lee | |
Episode Recap
Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde: Aiden, Claire, Morgan
Claire and Morgan come across a curious case. One in which a man, when he is technically sleeping, becomes the polar opposite of who he is when awake. But, with a brain cyst drained, the young man, Aiden, returns to who he is.
But, while Aiden returns to some form of normal, things remain complicated between Claire and Morgan. For with Dr. Melendez, and Morgan’s complaint, still causing issues, it creates tension. Especially with Morgan revealing to Claire she made the complaint and Claire accusing Morgan of sabotage.
Yet, with a quick apology, it seems Claire accepts these kinds of actions are what comes with being in Morgan’s life. Which, be it as peers, maybe still friends, is what she has learned to deal with.
Platonic Friends: Dr. Melendez, Claire
With that said, Claire and Dr. Melendez put on a performance at the hospital so they can still see each other and hang out. Mind you, Claire pushes the idea they are platonic, but sneaking around does make you wonder how platonic is this? Never mind what is it about Claire that makes Dr. Melendez willing to risk further criticism? Especially knowing between Morgan and Alex, if either caught them, there would be no hesitation in them reporting him to Dr. Lim?
The Child Left Behind: Dr. Lim, Trinity
Previous to Dr. Lim and Dr. Melendez dating, it was noted back in season 2, episode 5, Dr. Lim is a divorcee. However, as for the possibility of children? That wasn’t really brought up. Making the appearance of Trinity, a child dropped off to the ER 8 years ago a surprise. One which triggers Dr. Lim to call her own mother. Perhaps leading to us finally getting to see some development from her after her character being stuck in relationship purgatory.
Do You Love Me?: Lea, Shaun
Naturally, Shaun breaking up with Carly makes the rounds and leads to everyone thinking because Shaun has autism, he isn’t expressing his feelings about the breakup. However, it honestly seems Shaun is fine with what happened. Well, better said, Shaun may not have liked that the relationship ended, but he isn’t necessarily heartbroken. Carly was his first in many ways, and when it comes to many things, but Lea was Shaun’s first in other things of importance to him. Plus, he got broken up with and encouraged to be with someone else. It wasn’t like Carly did something, or he did and got caught.
Hence why Shaun seems a bit unfazed when it comes to the Carly thing and struggles with not only telling Lea that he loves her but asking her out. For while her loving him back is likely, lest we forget, it isn’t like Lea hasn’t drawn a line and created boundaries with Shaun before. Note: she did kiss him, way back in season 1, but she hasn’t really tried to push anything since doing that. Shaun has pretty much operated as her best friend, the most consistent person in her life, and she never asked, or seemingly wanted, him to be anything more.
Which is perhaps why when Shaun asks her out, she comes up with every reason she can to make it so he’d rescind what he said rather than be forced to reject him. Yet, rather than try to do a 180 to preserve the friendship, Shaun asks if her passive rejection deals with him having autism? To which the only reply Lea can give is a sigh since she doesn’t have it in her to either say yes or reveal that she simply doesn’t, and may never, see Shaun in a romantic way.
Review/ Commentary
Highlights
The Possibility of Dr. Lim Having A Backstory Developed
As of this episode, I feel the only thing we know about Dr. Lim was revealed in the early part of season 2, and since then, she has either been Dr. Melendez’s love interest or the Chief of Surgery. Two roles that aren’t given much oomph. Add on she hasn’t really fostered the relationship she once pursued with Claire, in terms of them being women of color looking out for one another, and it left her on ice.
But, with her meeting Trinity and calling her mom, it seems beyond being divorced, and liking to speed, we may learn more about Dr. Lim in one episode, similar to the information dump we got with Morgan, than we have the entire series.
On The Fence
Aiden
While I know many of the cases are real, Aiden having this anxiety-ridden studious kid matched with this frat boy partier broke the streak of good supporting characters. Which isn’t to say he was acted in such a way I couldn’t get into, but I’m starting to realize “The Good Doctor” does one of two things with its patients. Either they dump a whole lot of medical jargon to complicate their situation, and yet find the fix within 3 days, or else they write a tear-jerker story that genuinely allows the patient/ guest star to shine.
With Aiden, they went the jargon route, and thus we were left with a strange patient who fulfilled an obligation.
Shaun Losing A Patient Didn’t Feel Like A Big Deal
Have most of the residents lost a patient? Yes. However, even with Shaun going overboard to get an autopsy, even dragging Carly, using guilt, to do so, it seemed Shaun losing a patient wasn’t as big as when Claire and others did so.
Mind you, the whole idea of you will lose a patient eventually, and will need to move on, has been put out there before. However, considering the amount of blood and how the woman died, you’d think that would haunt Shaunt a little bit more. Especially since that was someone’s mother and, throughout his venture, it seemed like the show could have shifted and made the woman’s story trigger Shaun’s feelings towards his mother.
Lea Taking The Cowards Way Out
Lea not seeing Shaun in a romantic light has long been established. For, if she did like him romantically, we’ve seen Lea have no trouble being the aggressor. She initiated a kiss with Shaun, and from that point, she backed down from doing anything which would imply she has romantic feelings for him. Yet, since that kiss, we’ve seen her with many a guy, smiling in their face, kissing them, and definitely having sex.
So, at this point, I wish Lea would have just made it clear to Shaun, and fans, she and Shaun are not end game. Yes, they get along, and she has adapted to many of his neurosis, but she isn’t into Shaun romantically. Be it because of the side effects of his autism, or just seeing him as someone she can cuddle with, but not go beyond. And, hopefully, she isn’t demonized for feeling how she does, no matter what the reason.
Claire & Dr. Melendez Sneaking About
I get Claire doesn’t have friends and has been skipping therapy for who knows how many weeks now, but nothing about this Dr. Melendez situation seems right. Them sneaking around, faking arguments to keep people off their trail, or spending time alone rather than rectifying the issue by simply inviting Morgan or Alex to join them. For isn’t that the issue, fear of special treatment? Something that could easily be abated by Dr. Melendez fostering relationships with everyone, equally, rather than honing in on Claire.
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Lea Taking The Cowards Way Out - 75%
The Possibility of Dr. Lim Having A Backstory Developed - 85%
Aiden - 74%
Shaun Losing A Patient Didn’t Feel Like A Big Deal - 73%
Claire & Dr. Melendez Sneaking About - 72%
76%
While it seems the show will continue to allow someone not named Shaun to get the spotlight, so begins the need to question, once more, how long can “The Good Doctor” go on, considering its trajectory?
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