The Good Doctor, now with seven seasons under its belt, has undoubtedly cemented its place as a beloved medical drama. Centred around the autistic surgeon Dr. Shaun Murphy, played by Freddie Highmore, the show has garnered a massive following.
However, while the series aims to present a heartfelt narrative and shed light on important themes, it often stumbles into wildly improbable and sometimes ludicrous plotlines that can undermine its core message.
The Pilot Episode’s Implausibility
In its pilot episode, the show attempted to illustrate Shaun’s quick thinking and innovative approach by having him steal a box cutter from the TSA to perform emergency surgery at an airport. While this scenario highlights Shaun’s brilliance, it also stretches the limits of believability.
The idea that airport security would allow a passenger to commandeer a weapon and perform surgery in such a high-stress environment without any immediate intervention is far-fetched, even for television standards.
The Dramatic Death of Dr. Neil Melendez
Take, for instance, the dramatic death of Dr. Neil Melendez in Season 3. After being injured during an earthquake and seemingly getting the all-clear, Melendez’s sudden downturn and subsequent death from internal bleeding felt excessively melodramatic.
Such a significant character’s exit could have been handled with more nuance and less reliance on shock value, which instead left viewers questioning the plausibility and necessity of the storyline.
Shaun’s Backstory: Corny Horror Tropes
The backstory involving Shaun’s abusive father killing his pet rabbit in a fit of rage was an attempt to showcase the trauma and hardship Shaun endured. However, this scene was executed in a manner that felt more like a corny horror trope than a genuine moment of emotional depth.
Such depictions can sometimes trivialize the very real and serious issues of abuse and animal cruelty, reducing them to mere plot devices rather than meaningful commentary.
The Marlin Incident
One of the most absurd moments was when a patient arrived with a marlin stuck in his leg. The fish not only impaled the man but also led to the discovery of his aggressive cancer, adding an unnecessary layer of improbability. While medical dramas often deal with unusual cases, this plotline bordered on the ridiculous and detracted from the show’s attempt at realism.
The Season 5 Finale’s Tonal Shift
Perhaps the most jarring tonal shift occurred in the Season 5 finale. After Shaun and Lea’s heartwarming wedding on the hospital’s roof, the episode abruptly cut to Dr. Lim discovering nurse Villanueva bleeding out, only to be stabbed herself by her ex-boyfriend. This sudden violence felt out of place and unnecessarily brutal, detracting from the emotional high of the wedding and leaving viewers with a sour taste.
Drowning in Bodily Fluids
Season 3 also featured a patient who nearly drowned in his own bodily fluids due to a rare genetic mutation. The solution, involving a zebra fish, once again highlighted the show’s tendency to veer into the outlandish. While the aim might have been to showcase medical ingenuity, it instead felt like a convoluted stretch.
Biohacker Patient
In Season 5, the introduction of a biohacker patient was another instance where The Good Doctor seemed more interested in sensationalism than grounded storytelling. Biohacking is indeed a cutting-edge and controversial topic, but its presentation in the show was more fantastical than factual, adding to the list of improbable scenarios the series has tackled.
Balancing Drama and Realism
While The Good Doctor’s intentions are commendable, aiming to highlight the struggles and triumphs of an autistic surgeon in a high-pressure environment, the show often undermines itself with these wild and implausible plotlines. These storylines can overshadow the genuine moments of representation and emotional depth, making it difficult for viewers to fully engage with the characters and their journeys.
Grounding the Narratives
In striving to balance drama and realism, The Good Doctor would benefit from grounding its narratives in more believable scenarios. By doing so, it can continue to provide meaningful commentary on the medical field and the experiences of those within it, without resorting to sensationalism that detracts from its core message.
The Good Doctor Season 7 is now available on ABC for free.
