The Good Doctor has become a popular medical drama series thanks to its charming characters and gripping storylines. The show has been praised for its fairly accurate science and thoughtful portrayal of neurodiversity.
“Burnt Food” – 8.7 (Season 1, Episode 1)
It’s not surprising that the first-ever episode of the show is considered among the best; it’s when fans get to meet one of the smartest characters in The Good Doctor, after all. Dr. Shaun Murphy has a dramatic entrance that shows him saving a kid on the way to work.
With only a pocket knife and some empty bottles, he’s able to keep the injured victim stable until he’s brought to the ER. While this is happening, Dr. Aaron Glassman attempts to explain his absence to the hospital board, which he accuses of being prejudiced. The whole ordeal ends in a satisfying manner when the board members are proven wrong by a viral video of the heroic doctor.
“Friends And Family” – 8.8 (Season 3, Episode 10)
The “Friends and Family” episode has a little bit of everything that makes The Good Doctor such a good series, including a few cliches medical dramas often show. In the hospital, the doctors are dealing with an interesting case of an NFL player who purposely injures himself in the gym.
Meanwhile, Shaun, Lea, and Dr. Glassman have all flown across the country to meet Shaun’s estranged and dying father. The situation turns chaotic very quickly and actually goes against what’s expected from the cliché by showing that reconciliation isn’t always something to strive for. Finally, Claire musters up enough strength to meet a therapist. All three storylines are masterfully woven together to make a cohesive and poignant episode.
“Hurt” – 8.8 (Season 3, Episode 19)
An earthquake wreaks havoc on Los Angeles in the aptly named episode, “Hurt.” Dr. Glassman, Dr. Melendez, and Lea find themselves in precarious situations when the local brewery they’re in starts to collapse.
Shaun doesn’t hesitate to crawl through the wreckage to find Lea but ends up meeting an injured Vera instead. Lea is able to listen to their moving conversation about love and regrets through a walkie-talkie. Dr. Melendez and Claire pull off another amazing save on a survivor, while Dr. Park struggles to save a victim that reminds him of his son. It’s a chaotic and intense episode that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
