The Good Doctor: Season 4/ Episode 8 “Parenting” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)
Lea’s parents arrive, and at a certain point, you may think she is making more out of her relationship with Shaun than they are. Also, Claire reveals why she is on Dr. Lim’s case.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Lea’s parents arrive, and at a certain point, you may think she is making more out of her relationship with Shaun than they are. Also, Claire reveals why she is on Dr. Lim’s case.
| Director(s) | Rachel Leiterman |
| Writer(s) | Patti Carr |
| Aired (ABC) | 1/25/2021 |
| Introduced This Episode | |
| Mike | Barclay Hope |
| Pam | Julie Warner |
| Darya | Eden Summer Gilmore |
| Darya’s Dad | Kristoffer Polaha |
This content contains pertinent spoilers. Also, images and text may contain affiliate links, which, if a purchase is made, we’ll earn money or products from the company.
Recap
Father/Daughter Issues – Darya, Darya’s Dad
You know the story is good if we’re not trying to link it to the main characters, right? In the case of the patients for this episode, it is a 14-year-old girl named Darya and her dad who come to the hospital. Part of the reason is Darya doing a bit too much in gymnastics and taking hormones to have a more womanly figure. But complications arise as Darya’s dad releases his responsibility of making medical decisions to her, and when he reverses the decision, Darya saying she’ll have herself emancipated.
This leads to Dr. Lim, already stressed out and having no desire to give Darya some sort of grace, treating her like an adult. This includes, after her father falls ill, pushing Darya to make a medical decision for her dad. Which, when she can’t do so, leads to a reset in Darya and her father’s relationship. One which has long been fractured by Darya’s father more comfortable being her coach, after Darya’s mother died, than her father. Yet, with her injury, it seems their relationship will have to evolve.
Meet The Parents – Mike, Pam, Shaun, Lea, Dr. Glassman, Morgan
While Lea isn’t necessarily invested in what her parents think, because, usually, it is negative when it comes to her, they are still her parents. So, she allows them to meet Shaun, and Dr. Glassman and Morgan try to help Shaun prepare. However, things turn left as the idea Dr. Glassman doesn’t like Lea is brought up, thus ending that training exercise.
So, how did the actual meeting go? Honestly well. In fact, it goes so well that it almost makes you wonder if Lea pushed the worst-case scenario due to her own lingering feelings of whether Shaun and her could work vs. anything her parents felt. And even with her getting a text about thinking she isn’t mature enough for a challenging relationship, there continues to be this vibe that Lea may not be trying to hurt Shaun, but she is perhaps looking for a fight or issue when there doesn’t need to be one.
And mind you, Shaun confronts Lea’s parents, Mike and Pam, and they do make it clear it isn’t all in Lea’s head or that she is pushing her own narrative. However, after Shaun breaks things down and tells them off, low-key, it seems they take heed of Shaun’s words and try to work on their relationship with Lea, rather than solely focus on criticizing her decisions.
Oh, and just so every parental figure comes around, even Dr. Glassman makes nice with Lea. Albeit with a strained effort, but he does note he thinks she is smart and funny. It’s just his fear of something happening to Shaun remains so high that his fear of the worst has him avoiding Lea’s actions when she is at her best.
Talking To The Person, Not The Title – Olivia, Dr. Andrews, Claire, Dr. Lim, Jordan, Morgan, Dr. Glassman
When it comes to Olivia and Claire, despite talking to their superiors, in Olivia’s case, her uncle, the title doesn’t mean much in their discussions. With Olivia, Dr. Andrew’s desires for her are conflicting with her instincts. He wants her to be more like Jordan since she is bold and much easier to brag about than the quiet, though still brilliant, Olivia. Add in her methods not being showy enough or her procedures, and you can see her torn.
Luckily, Morgan, who seems to avoid the area she is supposed to work in whenever possible, pops her head in and presents her with an ultimatum. This pushes Olivia to think less of who Dr. Andrews wants her to be, which includes him using some emotional manipulation, in the form of a 20-year-old rock, or be who she is and put value into that. Leading to them, Dr. Andrews and Olivia, coming to an understanding.
That can’t be said when it comes to Dr. Lim and Claire, who now feels comfortable enough to call Dr. Lim by her first name, Audrey – which I completely forgot was her name. But, as much as Dr. Lim doesn’t mind talking to Claire, her harping on and on about her going to therapy, claiming the PTSD label, and even taking medication, it becomes a lot for Dr. Lim.
Leading to Claire revealing her investment comes from seeing what her mom went through in Dr. Lim, and with that in mind, Dr. Lim doesn’t want to be Claire’s means of making up for what she couldn’t do for her mom. So she puts Claire in the position where she feels the need to speak to Dr. Glassman who is a bit unsure if he should know Dr. Lim’s personal business and what to do once Claire reveals what she does.
Review
Highlights
How Shaun Handled Lea’s Parents
While we get why Lea was nervous about Shaun meeting her parents, there remains this feeling that she made more of it than it had to be. For in having Shaun prep to be liked by them, he stumbled and struggled. Yet, when he was allowed to be himself, speak as he would, he not only was able to be comfortable and seem to enjoy their company, but vice versa. And while, yes, this didn’t dispel some of their ignorance, it did push the idea that it wasn’t completely a Shaun thing that Mike and Pam were worried about, but more so a Lea issue.
To us, the importance of that is realizing, when it comes to Shaun, between Carly and observation, he was ready for this moment. Hence, he was not really freaking out when she brought up her parents coming or dinner until Lea made it into a production. More so, the person who wasn’t ready is Lea. Which isn’t to say I’m looking down on her for over-preparing. After all, there is a pattern in her life of her parents not liking the guy she is with and thinking she is just a rebel looking to get under their skin.
Yet, Shaun got them together. He reminded them the person they know and the woman he loves are two different people, and there needs to be a reconciliation of these two perspectives. So while Lea can be impatient and frustrating, she is learning and growing. Partly through her relationship with Shaun and just because she is an adult who needs and uses these skills.
And at the same time, it isn’t a one-way relationship. Her maturity is in her willingness to understand others. To her parents, Lea may seem immature, but did she not know them well enough to have an idea of what they would say down pat? Despite Dr. Glassman not liking her, in her mind, has she not done better than his own wife working for him? Then with Shaun, as he notes, it takes patience and active participation to not only communicate with him but expand what he likes, doesn’t like, and is willing to do.
To make a rather long bit short, what Pam and Mike seem to see is only a snippet of Lea based on short visits that they use to reconfirm who they think she is. However, Shaun let them know, the person they keep reinforcing with their prejudice doesn’t exist anywhere but in their heads. Making it seem being too much in their head isn’t just a Lea thing.
Realizing Claire’s Connection With Dr. Lim Is Due To Her Mother
One of the good things about Claire using her mother’s death as a reason to try to help Dr. Lim is that it does remind you of Claire’s story. That her mom dying wasn’t just done for a dramatic moment, but to come back around and show that she can’t just shrug things off. And perhaps to expand on that concept, with Dr. Lim, who I refuse to call Audrey, we’re not only seeing pieces of Claire’s mom but Claire.
Remember when Claire lost a patient, due to how she stuck that thing down their throat, way back in season 1, and was pushed to go to therapy because it affected her work, you can see some of the trauma she went through with Dr. Lim. And in all honesty, considering most medical shows focus on the victories, the grand ideas that Dr. Andrews asks of the 1st years this episode, that makes room for storylines like this. When you don’t have a long series of wins and the occasional lost patient, but the storyline is a succession of deaths, and that flatline sound is stronger than your own heartbeat.
And I think for Claire, and maybe this is why she formerly struggled with Morgan and others, in terms of friendship, she needs to see your dark side, to see you suffer to be able to bond with you. Not because she needs to feel superior, or angelic in comparison, but due to Claire finding her purpose in life through having the role as the healer, the helper, or that shoulder to lean on.
Take her friendship with Morgan. Until she realized Morgan needed her, wasn’t just looking for someone to fill her time or make into a fun project, Claire didn’t know what to do with Morgan’s pursuit. So with Dr. Lim, rather than it be about mentorship, it is about saving the person she couldn’t. Making Dr. Lim under Claire’s care and getting better, meaning Claire gets to redeem herself for not getting to do so for her mom.
Olivia Truly Trying To Forge Her Own Path
The more we see of Dr. Andrews and Olivia, the more you feel like the show is pushing that Olivia is the daughter Dr. Andrews and his wife didn’t/ couldn’t have. Now, it would have been nice if she was introduced sooner, especially when Dr. Andrews’ wife was around and her ability or desire to have a child was still fresh on our minds, but you can’t have it all.
So, we’re fine settling with Dr. Andrews watching his niece grow up to be still under his influence yet still on this quest to be her own person.
Lea and Dr. Glassman Having A Heart To Heart
It’s always a nice thing to be retold that Shaun is the closest thing to a child Dr. Glassman has. For even without invoking the death of his daughter, you can see Dr. Glassman still holding on for dear life. After all, in terms of being a parent, Shaun is the one person who makes Dr. Glassman feel like he did something right. When it comes to Shaun, his sacrifices weren’t for the betterment of himself, but for the other person. Hence where Shaun is today.
Yet, despite how capable Shaun is on his own, and despite that slap that cut the strings many seasons ago, there is still this connection and fear. One Lea doesn’t think is necessary, but Dr. Glassman is still poppa. Granted, Shaun never called him that but considering he’ll likely run to him like a father, let’s just imagine him calling Dr. Glassman that. Maybe due to Dr. Glassman asking just to help salve his own parental wound.
How Emotional Darya’s Story Could Get You
I’m noticing with season 4, especially this half, that the patients have stronger stories and aren’t just about boosting the lead cast members. It reminded me of season 1 when patients seemed to be their own person, with their own lives, and you feeling their story was part of their own show. Darya and her dad’s situation furthered that since, taking note of how her dad changed course to avoid dealing with the pain and frustration of being a single parent, and now that course hitting a dead end, it hits you. Especially when you take notice, Darya had no desire to change their relationship and would rather end it through the legal system than let it change.
Yet, even if it was callous on Dr. Lim’s part, being reminded she is a child and how much she loves her father, it was a nice reset. One that left me in tears, I don’t know about you.
On The Fence
Claire Snitching On Dr. Lim
This has the potential to blow up in Claire’s face. Mainly due to Claire having a history of going to upper management when she doesn’t like something her superior does. But, as we said earlier, getting too close to Claire can often be the kiss of death for a character. Especially if the power dynamics shift and either you do not accept her help or feels too reliant on you.
Heck, I’d even say Morgan no longer getting to be a surgeon was Morgan’s taste of Claire’s curse.
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Summary
Claire Snitching On Dr. Lim - 76%
How Emotional Darya's Story Could Get You - 83%
Lea and Dr. Glassman Having A Heart To Heart - 82%
Olivia Truly Trying To Forge Her Own Path - 81%
Realizing Claire's Connection With Dr. Lim Is Due To Her Mother - 84%
How Shaun Handled Lea's Parents - 87%
82%
As Dr. Lim's PTSD gets worse, so comes the question of whether Claire's need to save her goes overboard, just as much as Dr. Andrews trying to mold Olivia in his image. But, at the very least, Shaun shows all his socializing and dating history has made him the perfect guy to bring home.
