The Good Doctor Review: Islands, Part Two (Season 1 Episode 12)

All season long, The Good Doctor has been about being our truest selves even in the face of adversity or change.

On The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 12, “Islands, Part Two,” this lesson hits harder than ever before. No one realizes this more than Dr. Murphy, Dr. Melendez, and Dr. Kalu.

Dr. Browne: Sometimes when we take a road trip, we are running from something.

What Murphy doesn’t realize, in that moment, is that he is running. He’s not running from Dr. Glassman like he wants to believe. He is running from himself and his fears.

Dr. Murphy doesn’t want to feel like he doesn’t have control on his life. To him, moving to Pennsylvania is the answer. He thinks that putting some distance between him and Dr. Glassman will give him the freedom and control he seeks.

He’s afraid of the control Dr. Glassman has because it doesn’t allow him to be taken seriously as an individual. He wants to be seen as equal to his peers and colleagues.

What he doesn’t know is that he really only needs Dr. Glassman’s approval and support. Something like that doesn’t require moving. I’m glad he realizes this before he moves clear across the country.

Dr. Glassman: If you stay, I’ll back off. I’ll let you make your own choices. Your own mistakes. I believe in you, Shaun.

Hearing Glassman tell him that he believes in him wakes up a part of Shaun that he doesn’t know he has — the part of him that really doesn’t want to leave San Jose. Dr. Glassman’s approval and faith inadvertently helps Murphy by telling him that he isn’t working against him, but with him.

Murphy’s struggles really bring to light the more human side of Dr. Melendez. It’s a side of him that I never believed existed until the last few episodes.

Melendez is going through his own struggles in his relationship. He loves his girlfriend, but he also wants kids; something she does not want. For a while, he agrees to give up his desire for kids in order to stay with her.

Katie: You used to say we were made like this for a reason.

Dealing with the life and death balance of Jenny and Katie opens not only his eyes, but Jessica’s as well. The twins firmly believe that they are made the way that they are for a reason. This strong faith is what influences his acceptance of his relationship ending.

While he may give up a bit of a fight when she tries to break up with him, in the end, Melendez sees her reason. He may not like it, but he can’t argue with it. He knows that staying with her means giving up the true future that he’s always wanted: kids.

Jessica and Melendez both know that staying together will only lead to resentment and anger. It’s heartbreaking to see this couple break up, but it makes sense. Because of Jessica, Melendez is unable to be his truest self. He is compromising when he doesn’t have to.

Speaking of compromising one’s self for a goal:

Dr. Andrews: When you misrepresent racism for something it’s not, you set us back.

So far, Dr. Kalu has been a man of integrity. He makes decisions that are for the better of others.

It is surprising, then, to see him play the race card in order to get his job back. While I don’t agree with him getting fired, I wouldn’t want him to compromise who he is just to get his job back.

Kalu does just that, and it’s disappointing to witness. Dr. Andrews even berates him saying that he doesn’t want him there. He is the one who fired him, sure, but it feels like he may have been reasoned with if given enough time.

For Dr. Kalu to claim he has been fired because he is a man of color is so beneath him and compromises not only who he is, but, who his mentors are as well. It’ll be interesting to see how his decisions affect the rest of the team moving forward.

This episode definitely has us all in tears on many occasions and for many different reasons. At the heart of it all is the triumph of the individual over the collective. While everyone works as a team, there are definitely moments for each team member to shine.

The individual characters figuring out their self-worth is what The Good Doctor is all about. “Islands, Part Two” simply reminds us.

Other Thoughts:

• Dr. Browne is quickly becoming my favorite character. Her voice of reason resonates and helps everyone.
• I hope this isn’t the last we see of Lea. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, she is great for Shaun.
• I am really proud of the step back Dr. Glassman takes on this episode. He finally realizes what is best in the situation.

What did you think of this episode of The Good Doctor? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and catch up on our review of The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 11 “Islands, Part One” right here.

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

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

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

26 Fantastically Feminist Female TV Characters from 2017