If you’re one of the millions of viewers captivated by The Good Doctor, then you already know how powerful a medical drama can be when it’s fueled by emotional honesty, ethical complexity, and characters you genuinely care about. Freddie Highmore’s portrayal of Dr. Shaun Murphy—an autistic savant navigating the intense world of medicine—offers a unique lens on hospital life, as well as on what it means to be human. But what happens when you’ve reached the end of the most recent season and are left hungry for more? Fortunately, the television landscape is rich with shows that echo the same emotional beats, compelling storytelling, and moral challenges that make The Good Doctor so unforgettable.
This article presents a carefully curated and ranked list of 18 excellent shows that fans of The Good Doctor should absolutely add to their watchlist. These aren’t just random medical dramas; each series shares something core with Shaun’s journey—whether it’s the exploration of neurodiversity, the depiction of life-or-death decision-making in hospitals, or the simple yet powerful narrative of personal growth through adversity. Ranked from intriguing to essential, each recommendation builds on what makes The Good Doctor special, providing fans with more of what they love—intensity, empathy, and heart. Beginning with Chicago Med, a member of the larger One Chicago universe, this series focuses on the relentless pace of an urban hospital ER. With its interconnected characters and urgent medical emergencies, it mirrors the tone and energy of The Good Doctor while digging into the professional and personal complexities of being a healthcare worker.
Shows like The Night Shift add to that energy, delivering a gritty, late-night atmosphere and featuring ER doctors who use military experience to deal with real-world traumas. Pure Genius takes a more high-tech, futuristic approach by centering on a billionaire-backed hospital, yet still grounds itself in emotionally resonant cases that feel personal and transformative. If you’re open to a blend of medicine and metaphysics, Saving Hope is worth a watch—it imagines what it’s like when a doctor ends up in a coma but lingers as a spirit watching over his hospital, weaving philosophical ideas into practical medicine. For those who prefer more grounded but intellectually stimulating content, House, M.D. is essential viewing. Dr. House, with his unmatched diagnostic skills and complete disregard for social niceties, presents a stark contrast to Shaun Murphy, yet both men challenge the medical system and themselves in fascinating ways.
The series follows Sam, a teen on the autism spectrum, as he explores independence, love, and family—providing similar emotional highs and insights into neurodiversity. Shows like Parenthood take the focus even further away from medicine but offer emotional resonance through stories about parenting, mental health, and personal identity, themes very much aligned with Shaun’s development on The Good Doctor. As for more classic hospital dramas, Grey’s Anatomy is a staple. With nearly two decades of episodes, it’s a sweeping saga filled with romance, tragedy, and triumph, blending hospital politics with personal heartaches in ways that fans of The Good Doctor will find familiar and engaging.
Its exploration of family dynamics, personal trauma, and resilience is profound and beautifully written, making it the ultimate recommendation for fans who are less about scalpels and more about soul. In conclusion, while The Good Doctor may be a singular gem in today’s television lineup, it’s certainly not alone in its mission to explore medicine, emotion, and the human condition with depth and compassion. Whether you’re looking for high-pressure hospital settings, deeply relatable characters, or shows that challenge your thinking and tug at your heart, this list provides a roadmap to your next favorite series. Each recommendation complements the spirit of The Good Doctor, ensuring that even when you reach the end of Shaun Murphy’s story, your journey with empathetic and impactful storytelling has only just begun.
