The Good Doctor Review: Sacrifice (Season 1 Episode 10)

On The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 10, “Sacrifice,” the focus is once again on Dr. Browne and Dr. Murphy as they struggle through a similar lesson. This one is on finding a voice.

There are so many stories of underdogs finding their voice after months, sometimes even years, of being pushed into a hole or oppressed. The biggest group of underdogs lately has been women.

Dr. Browne is two levels of underdog. She is woman and she is black.

While working on her case, Dr. Browne also has to worry about the overbearing shadow of her superior, Dr. Coyle. Dr. Coyle is a personification of any male figure in a woman’s life that has ever demeaned them or made them feel gross just because they are a woman.

I am really proud of Dr. Browne for standing her ground against him. She is showing women and girls everywhere that this kind of behavior isn’t okay. She is a warrior.

As always, Dr. Browne’s troubles are symbiotic to those of Dr. Murphy.

While she needs to find her voice as a woman being sexually harassed, Dr. Murphy needs to find his as a young man with a disability. This whole season has been about Dr. Murphy breaking down barriers and showing everyone he works with, that he belongs there.

On “Sacrifice,” that struggle is even more apparent as Dr. Murphy starts to unravel towards a breakdown. He wants to be seen as equal to his other doctors, but time and time again finds himself to be ignored or brushed over.

Throughout The Good Doctor Season 1, Dr. Melendez hasn’t been giving Dr. Murphy chances because he doesn’t think he is up to the task. Just when Dr. Melendez has started to believe in him, Shaun, begins to spiral out of control.

One of the biggest misconceptions about autism is that people with it struggle to cope in the workplace, and that comes from these meltdowns that occur in high stress situations.

So far, The Good Doctor has been really good about steering away from common misconceptions and clichés. It’s a good thing that it took Shaun this long to have a full on unraveling due to stress.

The show doing this is allowing the public to open their minds to the possibilities of what people diagnosed with autism can do, instead of automatically thinking of what they can’t.

Shaun spends the entire episode speaking with his patient about his view on life.

Bobby: Doing whatever the hell you feel like doing is always an option.

The inspiration and confidence that Dr. Murphy’s patient instills in him both adds to as well as lessens the stress in his own head. It’s clear that Shaun believes he can be a self-serving adult and make his own decisions. However, in the end we all question whether or not he really can.

Can Dr. Murphy sacrifice his own comfort to please Dr. Glassman?

Shaun feels powerless the most when he is around Dr. Glassman. It is evident in how he speaks and acts around him as well as how much he favors him in his life. This bond is both a help and a hindrance. These two men are both the best and worst things for the other.

It’s clear that Dr. Glassman has always been Dr. Murphy’s biggest champion. Unfortunately, that role has forced Dr. Murphy to rely on Dr. Glassman to speak for him. His voice is through his mentor. Now that Dr. Murphy has been working as a doctor he’s come to realize that he has some control and say on his own life.

Shaun: What if it doesn’t make me happy? What if it makes you happy?

I love the bond between Dr. Glassman and Dr. Murphy because it reminds me of a father and a son. However, it’s problematic that Dr. Glassman doesn’t really see Shaun for Shaun. He sees Shaun for his autism.

This is something that many loved ones and caretakers fall into. They want what they believe is best for their loved one without actually bothering to stop and analyze whether or not it’s what they want.

This causes more stress, which in turn upsets their loved one.

On the other side of the coin, Shaun needs to realize that he does still have limitations no matter how hard he tries to deny it. Shaun is making strides at being a functionally social human; however, there are still things he can’t do. In his drive to be “normal” he is denying himself the acceptance that he has to ask for help sometimes.

I’m very interested to see how Dr. Glassman’s pushing of Shaun will affect the rest of the season. It’s clear that not only their relationship is fractured, but it’s the only one that truly matters at the heart of the show.

In the end we’re left with a poignant message from Dr. Murphy’s patient.

Bobby: If you went out today, could you say the same?

In this moment, Bobby is talking to Dr. Murphy about whether or not he is happy and satisfied with his life, and it’s such a powerful, relatable moment.

This episode definitely leaves me with much to think about. I am feeling empowered as woman to speak up for injustice; not just in myself but others as well. We should never stop learning and trying to invoke change.

What did you think of this episode of The Good Doctor? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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The Good Doctor airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC.

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