The Good Doctor Episode 13 aired January 22nd, on ABC.
This week got us back into the swing of things, as far as structure goes, returning to a two patient story line, and the surgical team all present and accounted for.
The Patients
First up, attended to by Shaun, Melendez, and Jared, is a Muslim woman with burns to her arms. She claims she was cooking and got burnt on the stove. But when she starts having breathing problems, and methanal toxicity, Shaun says she’s lying. Shaun then makes an unfortunate leap and flat out calls her a terrorist. Okay then—anybody else, this would be inexcusable, but it’s Shaun, we can give him a break. Melendez explains to Shaun why he can’t go around accusing someone of being a terrorist just because they are Muslim. In the end, Shaun was right about her lying, but not about the reason—she’s not a terrorist, she was making perfume with chemicals her brother stole. Reason number three on Shaun’s list of seven reasons why people lie—to protect someone else.
I gotta say, I appreciate the way this series takes on some very controversial issues, and even more, I appreciate that they didn’t stick Shaun in this show and make him out to be this wonderful autistic surgeon who never makes mistakes—Shaun is human, and he makes lots of mistakes, just like the rest of us do.
Our second patient is a man who has had a stroke, and this isn’t his first one. He’s rushed in with his wife and son by his side. Claire and Dr. Lim inform the wife that the surgery he needs would save him, but likely cause brain damage. The wife says no, he wouldn’t want to live like that. Later, Shaun tells Claire the woman is lying (he’s really onto the lies this episode), that if you love someone you would do anything to prevent their death. And Shaun is right, again.
The man was abusive and the wife feels it would be better to let him die than to have their son find out what kind of a man his father was. But, in a twist that nobody saw coming, the son already knew, and he’s been messing with his dad’s medications, which is why the man had the stroke. Surgery is done, the man will live, but the wife and son leave, hopefully in search of a better life.
The Team
Dr. Melendez’s ability to perform is brought under fire when his patient suffers a torn bronchi and it looks like it’s his fault…. Shaun reports him, because he thinks that Dr. Melendez is letting his personal problems (break up with Jessica) get in the way of his surgical abilities and putting his patients lives at risk. In the end, Melendez is okay, it wasn’t his fault. He’s still an arrogant surgeon, but he’s a very wise and humble man, telling Jessica that what they had together mattered, but it doesn’t mean it was right.
Jared still getting no respect from the others on the team, because of his “race” law suit, especially getting the evil eye from Melendez. But Jared comes through, saving a patient, and Melendez, urged on by Shaun, thanks him. I guess this is supposed to put Jared back in right standing, and it might with the surgical team, but I don’t know if it’s that easy for the fans. Plus, a new resident is on the way, and this might mean Jared is out anyway. We’ll have to wait and see.
Claire is still after Coyle, who she learns this episode has actually received a promotion. This ain’t right, and Claire is determined to take him down. She sets out to find other women who have been harassed by Coyle, and by the end of the show has already found one such woman. Go Claire! I’m anxious to see Coyle get what’s coming to him.
And just when I thought I was going to make it through a whole episode of The Good Doctor without crying, darn it, they went and did it again. Shaun goes to see Dr. Glassman, because Glassman didn’t show up for their usual Monday breakfast. He tells him he needs a friend, practically begs Glassman to be his friend. But Dr. Glassman is being a jerk, and refuses Shaun’s request. My heart broke when Shaun’s eyes filled with tears. Something about his teary eyes gets me every time. I wanted to go find Dr. Glassman and punch him.
As the episode ends, Shaun is going home, carrying a paper sack, and he knocks on the door to apartment 34, which used to be Lea’s apartment. Someone opens the door, and for a moment I thought Lea was back, but nope, Shaun has a new neighbor, a guy who offers Shaun a beer, which he turns down. Hey, if you knew anything about Shaun you’d know he likes Tequila, man. Shaun then goes into his apartment, opens the paper sack, and takes out—a pine tree air freshener. He smells the pine scent, and we see a flashback of his road trip with Lea, and my heart breaks again.
My favorite line this episode:
I think you should be my friend.” ~ Shaun
I want Lea to come back and I want Shaun to have a friend. Is that too much to ask for? I would be your friend, Shaun.
What are your thoughts on the big issues in Episode 13? Did you feel that Shaun’s calling his patient a terrorist was bigotry, ignorance, or just Shaun being Shaun? What about the little boy who messed with his dad’s meds? In the real world, would he be held accountable?
The Good Doctor is taking a break next week and will return February 5th, 10/9C, on ABC.
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