“The Good Doctor” is back for another season of medical anomalies, cutting-edge procedures, hospital politics, and uplifting storylines. As the anti-“House,” the series is unapologetically sentimental and heartwarming thanks to its lead. Seen through the lens of Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), a doctor with autism and savant syndrome, everyday human interactions become more fraught, and in turn shine a light on the viewers’ own perceptions of the world.
“The Good Doctor” is back for another season of medical anomalies, cutting-edge procedures, hospital politics, and uplifting storylines. As the anti-“House,” the series is unapologetically sentimental and heartwarming thanks to its lead. Seen through the lens of Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), a doctor with autism and savant syndrome, everyday human interactions become more fraught, and in turn shine a light on the viewers’ own perceptions of the world.
In short order, the series presses reset on Shaun’s world by removing his mentor Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff) as head of the San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital and installing the much more antagonistic and ambitious former chief of surgery Dr. Marcus Andrews (Hill Harper) in his place. This challenges Shaun to not only navigate his job without the protection of his mentor but also learn to be the moral support for Glassman while he gets treated for his recently diagnosed brain cancer.
The show also continues to double down on heart — literally and figuratively — with its two medical cases of the week. The first is concerned with a much-publicized operation in which a patient has a backup heart installed (which will effectively make her a dual-hearted person much like the Timelords on “Doctor Who,” but without the regeneration abilities), while the second allows Shaun to have one of his brainwaves (thanks to physics) and realize that a troubled homeless man isn’t schizophrenic, but has a brain tumor that caused him to act erratically and leave his wife and daughter behind.
In trying to convince the man known as Harry (Raphael Sbarge) — but whose real name is found on his ID in the homeless encampment — to trust them and have the operation, Shaun says, “I have a neurological condition; I will always have it. You have a neurological condition too, but yours can be cured; you just need some surgery and you can be Edward Austin Thomas again.”
[Editor’s Note: The following article contains spoilers from “The Good Doctor” Season 2, Episode 1, “Hello” — the premiere episode.]
“The Good Doctor” is back for another season of medical anomalies, cutting-edge procedures, hospital politics, and uplifting storylines. As the anti-“House,” the series is unapologetically sentimental and heartwarming thanks to its lead. Seen through the lens of Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), a doctor with autism and savant syndrome, everyday human interactions become more fraught, and in turn shine a light on the viewers’ own perceptions of the world.
In short order, the series presses reset on Shaun’s world by removing his mentor Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff) as head of the San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital and installing the much more antagonistic and ambitious former chief of surgery Dr. Marcus Andrews (Hill Harper) in his place. This challenges Shaun to not only navigate his job without the protection of his mentor but also learn to be the moral support for Glassman while he gets treated for his recently diagnosed brain cancer.
