The Good Doctor Review: Seven Reasons (Season 1 Episode 13)
While The Good Doctor is clearly about Shaun Murphy, the show has been slowly pushing another equally important character forward. On The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 13 “Seven Reasons,” everything is coming up Claire.
From the beginning, she has been slightly overshadowed and underestimated by her colleagues. (Never by audiences, we have always seen the diamond in the rough with her.) Well, not anymore.
Claire really started to find her voice on The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 10 “Sacrifice.” However, finding out her abuser gets to not only keep his job but, is offered a raise as well sends her over the edge.
Claire: Why didn’t you fire him?
It’s this moment of empowerment that proves to be the show’s best piece of writing this entire season. All season they’ve coasted along doing well enough with picking a few hot button topics to keep the show relevant to its viewers.
Compliments are given when compliments are due. Adding a strong voice to today’s climate of #MeToo definitely qualifies them for this honor.
When the subject was first brought up earlier in the season there were high hopes that it would continue to be a forefront issue. Especially, with how much it relates to so many women young and old. Then, the storyline is brushed to the back in favor of bigger, more shocking stories.
Well, times up. We’d all but given up on them ever bringing the story to center stage again when they and Claire decide that enough is enough.
Claire marching into the Vice President’s office and demanding answers is every woman who has ever been hurt or wronged in some way finally speaking out.
Why is Dr. Coyle allowed to keep his job? Not only that, but he is given a raise? How is that showing women that their voices matter? That they will be respected?
Allegra Aoki: We can’t make a policy of believing every woman who accuses a man.
As a woman, this makes me see red — even more so because it is said by a fellow woman. Not just any woman, but a woman in power.
She takes a vulnerable woman’s claims against her superior, who is harassing her, and chooses to side with the man. All because he is a doctor who benefits the hospital just a bit more from a financial standpoint.
So many women refuse to come forward about abuse because they fear a similar reaction when they do. If, their claims are taken and then passed over how does that make them empowered? How does that make them feel safe?
It’s easy to lose sight of the human side of things when you also have to look at the financial side of an institution. However, I believe this is where The Good Doctor could have defied reality. They could’ve set the bar.
Instead of having the hospital side with Dr. Coyle, they could back Claire’s claims. Ultimately, this would encourage other women that they matter and that their voices will not be silenced.
The hospital siding with Claire would’ve shown the world that women are not alone in the fight for equality and safety. Even more so, professional women are not alone. Their feelings and words matter more than the financial status of the workplace.
Then Claire takes Allegra’s response and runs with it. She decides to forge her own path and to find her own form of justice and retribution.
Claire starts her own women’s resistance. She tells her bosses where they can put their suggestion that she work with her abuser, and in turn seeks out others he assaulted and subsequently silenced.
This message ends up being a stronger one than any this show has given us so far. When the world hands you a difficult hand, you brush yourself off and keep moving forward. Claire refuses to back down; refuses to be bullied.
There is always strength in numbers. Let’s just hope that her new group of allies will encourage this version of Claire to stay the rest of the season.
Claire: You are stronger than you think you are.
She is already proving that her new self is here to stay with her moves to help others. She may be smaller and quieter than her fellow residents, but don’t ever underestimate DOCTOR Browne ever again.
The more Claire speaks out the more her fellow surgeons stand by her. Which leads her to know she is not alone in her beliefs.
It’s going to be a difficult road ahead. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Tearing down the walls built by oppressive men is going to take time, but Claire has the gumption and strength to see it through.
It only takes one voice to create a movement. Claire is that voice.
Most importantly, Antonia Thomas’ portrayal of Claire this whole season has everyone rooting for the young doctor. She brings a realness factor that is subtle and easily missed at times. That is until it hits you square in the face. Claire would not be the character she is if not for Thomas’ nuances.
Antonia can be the leader of my resistance any day. If Claire is anything to go on, Ms. Thomas is just as strong and passionate.
After a very empowering weekend, with The Women’s March and hearing the young Olympic athletes add their voices to the narrative of abuse survival, it’s cathartic to turn on a show about being yourself no matter the differences and see a young woman assert herself against the “man.”
Television is best when it reflects the world we know and still manages to help us cope with the difficulties of it all.
What did you think of this episode of The Good Doctor? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below! In case you missed it, catch up on our review of The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 12 “Islands Part Two” right here.
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The Good Doctor airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC.
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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.