Fans of The Good Doctor were eagerly awaiting the potential spin-off The Good Lawyer, which had a well-received backdoor pilot during the sixth season of The Good Doctor.
The pilot introduced Joni DeGroot, a brilliant young lawyer with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), portrayed by Kennedy McMann, who demonstrated a nuanced performance that resonated with viewers. Joni’s character, guided by her mentor played by Felicity Huffman, offered a fresh representation in legal dramas by addressing complex issues surrounding mental health and disability within a high-stakes profession.
When ABC announced that they would not be picking up The Good Lawyer, many fans expressed their disappointment on social media, with some even petitioning for the series to be reconsidered or picked up by another network. The legal drama was seen as a natural extension of The Good Doctor universe, bringing a different yet complementary perspective to the franchise. With Joni’s character, the spin-off had the potential to break new ground in television by exploring how mental health conditions like OCD can impact a person’s career and life. The character’s empathy and resilience were emphasized in the pilot, which drew praise from fans and advocates who felt that Joni’s portrayal provided both visibility and depth to an underrepresented experience in popular media.
The decision to halt the spin-off’s development followed a period of uncertainty due to the Hollywood strikes, which delayed ABC’s decision-making processes and impacted numerous projects. Ultimately, the network’s choice not to move forward with The Good Lawyer left many fans feeling as though they were losing not only a compelling character but also a unique opportunity to see more inclusive storytelling on mainstream television.
As the final season of The Good Doctor approaches, fans continue to hold out hope that The Good Lawyer might find a future home on another platform. The character of Joni DeGroot, with her blend of vulnerability and strength, has left a lasting impression, and many believe her story has the potential to explore legal and social issues in a way that is both compelling and meaningful. The strong fan support and positive critical reception of the backdoor pilot are seen as a testament to the story’s potential.
