It seems that every fall lineup, there is one show that catches audiences in their tracks and becomes a hit for whatever reason. Sometimes the reason is unclear until later, but in the case of ABC drama The Good Doctor, the sheer humanity shining from the very first shot of the show is probably at least some of the reason why audiences reacted to it so well, that it became the most watched series of the new lineup. The show follows Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young doctor with autism, through his relocation to a prestigious hospital, and his struggles there not only with his own unique personality and difficulties in understanding social cues and in engaging with others around him, but also with the disbelief and stigma that exists regarding autism. Murphy is also coping with savant syndrome, which is a condition in which a person demonstrates unusually high abilities in one focused and localized subject or field, while having significant deficits in other fields.
In Shaun’s case, his syndrome allows him to envision the human body, including every fiber, muscle and ligament, which he uses to find unconventional solutions for difficulties in the medical field. Using CGI, the show manages to allow viewers participation in Murphy’s inner scan of the body, which he performs only with his mind. The show’s sensitive nature towards Murphy found a loving audience, and the showrunners are no newcomers; they are the creators of House, M.D, a show that dealt with a genius doctor who specializes in diagnoses – and struggles with drug addiction.
The Good Doctor is based on a South Korean drama of the same name, which started airing in 2013; it was also widely loved by audiences, and its concept caught the eye of ABC and Sony Pictures managers. The show is told non-linearly, with flashbacks to Murphy’s childhood with an abusive father who could not manage his different way of thinking and acting. At 14, Murphy met Aaron Glassman, President of the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Glassman became Shaun’s mentor, helped him deal through medical school, and, upon his graduation, invited him to become a surgical resident at his hospital. During the first episode, Glassman manages to convince the Board of Directors to employ Murphy, and the show follows his adventures in the hospital and out of it, with those who are sensitive to his difference; those who appreciate it; and those who see it as a weakness.
[post_page_title]Nicholas Gonzalez as Dr. Neil Melendez[/post_page_title]
Dr. Melendez has the position of overseeing surgeon at St. Bonaventure Hospital – which means he is Shaun’s boss, essentially, and Dr. Browne’s, too. He slowly is able to see Shaun’s technical abilities, but is hesitant to let him interact with patients initially. He is a perfectionist and expects nothing less of his residents that he does of himself. He is the fiancee of Jessica Preston, who is the hospital’s manager of risk assessment, and a friend to Aaron Glassman’s.
