The Good Doctor continued Monday, October 2nd, on ABC, with Freddie Highmore as autistic savant, Dr. Shaun Murphy.
Scut Work
In episode two, Dr. Murphy has reported for his first day of work at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital after his morning rituals, which include an alarm for every task, even brushing his teeth. With all those alarms, you’d think he’d make it to work on time, but nope, he’s five minutes late. Dr. Melendez, still not happy about Shaun’s presence there, assigns Shaun the job of scut work, handling tasks the other surgeons don’t want to do, like paperwork, getting lab reports, and waiting for farts. Throughout the episode, Shaun’s overactive attention to detail, and his bizarre bedside manner, in which he tells patients the honest truth (imagine that), causes problems.
Meanwhile
The rest of the staff get some screen time and further development when a new patient with a malignant tumor presents a challenge, and a moral dilemma or two, in the O.R. Dr. Claire Brown makes promises she might not be able to keep, and Dr. Kalu takes credit for a lifesaving move that was Shaun’s idea.
A Few Changes
The second episode was different than the first, in several ways.
The tone was much lighter. The pilot episode was very dramatic, but this time around there was quite a bit of humor with Shaun’s lack of tact and communication skills.
While the show continued with the flashbacks, they mostly zeroed in on one memory this time and didn’t throw as much at us as in the pilot episode.
And finally, the use of on screen graphics to show us what Shaun is seeing when he looks at the patients was toned down considerably.
Still a Hero
One thing remained the same, Dr. Murphy came to the rescue in the end, when he makes an at home visit to the family of a young girl he discharged earlier, and ends up rushing her back to the hospital for emergency surgery. Dr. Melendez steps in just as Shaun is about to start the surgery, and dismisses Shaun. However, Dr. Andrews pulls rank and Melendez is forced to let Shaun stay.
The episode ends where we started, with Shaun, back at home, sleeping on his mattress.
Ratings are good, and ABC just announced a full season pickup of The Good Doctor, so we’re gonna get to see a lot more of Dr. Shaun Murphy and the team at St. Bonaventure. I’ll be watching. What about you? What did you think of Episode 2?
The Good Doctor
Episode 3 airs October 9th, 10/9C, on ABC.