The Good Doctor Episode 12 “Islands – Pt. 2” Recap

The Good Doctor Episode 12 aired January 15th, on ABC.

Oh, for goodness sake, will my tears ever end? I think this episode did me in.

So Many Goodbyes

The story lines that started last week were wrapped up this week—and good Lord, it was heartbreaking:

• Upon his arrival back at the hospital, Shaun initially handed in his 2 week resignation to Dr. Glassman, determined that he was going to leave and go with Lea to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Throughout the episode, mostly due to Claire’s intervention, Shaun changes his mind and by the end of the show he withdraws his resignation.
• Jessica ends things with Dr. Melendez. Of course it’s the right thing, but it still hurts.
• The twins … this was devastating. After one heck of an emotional roller coaster, filled with ups and downs, failures, and miracles, one of the twins dies. This was perhaps the saddest patient story line so far, and the most memorable.
• Jared is back. This was the only part of the episode I didn’t care for. Dr. Kalu, still desperately trying to get his job back, sues the hospital, and decides to claim that his being fired was a race issue. He won the law suit, but he’s lost all respect from the team, and I fear his character has taken a hit with the fans, as well. I don’t know what the writers were going for here. It feels like they wrote themselves into a corner with Jared and then couldn’t figure out how to get out of it. And what makes it even worse is the fact that the doctor who sexually harassed Claire is still on board because he makes the hospital money. Still not sure what the thinking is behind all this, but hopefully the writers know what they’re doing.

The episode wraps up with a final, heartbreaking scene between Shaun and Lea. She gives him her baseball, which he puts beside the photo of him and his brother, a very special place, signifying how much Lea means to Shaun. I sure hope Lea returns someday. She was good for Shaun.

I gotta say, after Pt. 1 of Islands, I wasn’t sure where the heck the show was going or if I liked the departure from its structure, but after Pt. 2, what I feel like is that this is reminder that The Good Doctor is not your average procedural, which is just another reason to love it.

My favorite line this episode (actually it’s more than a line, it’s the parting words between Shaun and Lea):

Shaun: I like Hershey.

Lea: You’ve never been to Hershey.

Shaun: Lea’s there.

Lea: Can I put my arms around you? Are you a good doctor … cause when i think of you, I think you are.”

The Good Doctor returns Monday, January 22^nd, 10/9C on ABC.

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