TikTok did what it does best with *The Good Doctor*—it made the show go viral.
Like countless other teenagers scrolling through TikTok, I became captivated by the poignant story of Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) through short scenes posted online. After discovering the show was available on Hulu, I finally gave in and binge-watched all six seasons, both tragic and comedic, multiple times.
Nine months after the Season 6 finale aired, ABC released the first episode of the seventh and final season on February 20, and it was nothing short of spectacular.
The premiere, set two weeks after the Season 6 finale, follows Dr. Shaun Murphy, now an autistic surgeon and new father, on his first day back at the hospital. Shaun faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: choosing between two babies in need of the same donor heart or finding a way to save them both.
Every character shines with their own subplot, but none moved me as much as Dr. Morgan Reznick (Fiona Gubelmann) and Dr. Alex Park (Will Yun Lee). The couple navigates the challenges of raising their 11-week-old baby and learning she requires surgery, portraying their roles with a perfect blend of care, sarcasm, and anxiety. The emotional depth in their interactions, along with Shaun and Dr. Audrey Lim’s (Christina Chang) exploration of potentially fatal options, was both heartbreaking and healing.
What truly impressed me was the cinematography. I approached the episode with some skepticism, as shows often lose their edge after multiple seasons. However, *The Good Doctor* defied those low expectations with its expertly framed shots and inventive physical humor.
The episode followed the show’s familiar format, presenting and resolving one or two major medical issues within the 40-minute runtime. Typically, the series divides into two main plots and several brief subplots. While the premiere aimed to highlight each character’s importance, ABC may have overreached by giving everyone significant moments, which at times felt overwhelming.
Despite this, *The Good Doctor* continues to excel with its emotional storytelling, realistic performances, and stunning cinematography. My initial doubts about how Shaun would adapt to fatherhood were dispelled; not only is he “The Good Doctor,” but he also proves to be a great dad.
