The Good Doctor Episode 16 “Pain”

The Good Doctor Episode 16 aired on March 12^th, on ABC.

Pain comes in many forms—just ask the team at St. Bonaventure.

The Patients (& Their Spouses)

• Dr. Andrews, along with Kalu and Reznick, treat a woman with cosmetic implants who has developed infections. When she’s told she’ll have to have to implants removed, she refuses, choosing to risk death instead. After some prodding from Reznick, and some misunderstandings between husband and wife cleared up, the husband convinces her to have the implants removed.

• Shaun, Claire, and Dr. Park assist Melendez, whose patient, Hunter, was also his first patient 10 years ago. Hunter is paralyzed and has been bound to a wheelchair, but he’s having phantom pain in his spinal cord. Turns out the pain isn’t phantom after all, his spinal cord has actually gotten better over the years, but there’s a mass there now which is causing the pain. When Melendez presents Hunter and his wife with a surgical option that might mean he would be able to walk again, Hunter wants to do it, but his wife is against the idea. Later, Melendez figures out that the wife is only afraid that Hunter won’t need her anymore if he’s able to walk again, and when she confesses this to her husband, he assures her that even if he could fly, he would still need her.

The surgeries are on, and in a head spinning series of shots where we go back and forth between both surgeries, one patient makes it, and sadly, one doesn’t—Hunter’s surgery is a success, but Dr. Andrews’ patient doesn’t make it.

Meanwhile

Lots going on with the team this week.

The biggest story was Claire. Her mother shows up at the hospital, begging for another chance. I have to say, I was onto her right from the start. Somehow I knew that she was just using our girl, and sure enough, after Claire takes a chance and reaches out, her mother reveals her true intentions—money. Poor Claire writes her a check, and then leaves with tears in her eyes.

Dr. Andrews and his wife are seeing more screen time, as they consider a procedure that could make him fertile again, but that could also leave him impotent. In the end, they decide it’s not worth the risk. But something tells me he may change his mind.

Reznick continues to manipulate, and this week she makes Jared her aim. However, she pretty much says the same thing we’ve all been thinking anyway, that Jared has lost his respect with the team, and it’s time for him to move on. I have a feeling he may not return in Season 2, but we’ll see.

And Shaun’s biggest concern this week seems to be whether or not he is marriage material. He even has a list of his good traits: “ … I’m organized, I have excellent visual spatial memory, and Leah says I’m refreshingly honest and fair.” Sounds like marriage material to me, but maybe Shaun wasn’t sure. So after telling Claire, “You’re beautiful, smart, and very good at your job” (you smooth talker, Shaun), he asks her if she would marry someone with a disability—and Claire says yes. And did you hear that sound? That was the sound of the thoughts of thousands of fans spinning with that scene—are Shaun and Claire going to get together? You know you thought it. I did, too.

Also, Shaun’s new neighbor, the one I said I wasn’t sure about, yeah Kenny… Dr. Park, our ex cop, ran a background check on him, and he has a criminal record. And in our closing scene, he has once again let himself into Shaun’s apartment (and helped himself to twenty bucks). Shaun is clearly disturbed at first, but then Kenny gets him involved in a game, and he loosens up, and is actually enjoying himself. This is hard for me … I want Shaun to have a friend so bad, but I don’t trust this guy, and I’m afraid he’s going to hurt Shaun. As a matter of fact, we’ve been promised a shocking season finale on March 26^th, and I wonder if it’s going to involve Kenny doing something bad to Shaun, or maybe Dr. Glassman getting hurt by this guy as he’s trying to protect Shaun.

My favorite line from this episode:

We waste our time and energy trying to prove that we belong.” ~ Hunter

Please share your reactions to Episode 16: Would you have risked your life to have the surgery, like Hunter did, if it meant walking again? What about Claire’s mom, did you see it coming? Any theories for the shocking season finale?

The Good Doctor returns for their Season 1 penultimate episode on March 19, 10/9 C on ABC, and the Season Finale airs March 26th, same time, same place.

Oh, and did you hear the news? Our favorite surgeons are coming back, The Good Doctor has been renewed for Season 2! Yay!

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