The Good Doctor Review: Heartfelt (Season 1 Episode 15)

With a girl’s heart literally on the line and a little boy’s heart torn about the decision for a new liver, it is clear what focuses The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 15, “Heartfelt.”

This show has always been about human nature and compassion, but this episode really steps it up and brings the doctors’ heart to the forefront.

Having cases that pull at our heartstrings is nothing new for this show. However, what The Good Doctor continues to do well is draw in the focus of these cases to present all sides.

Case in point the little boy dying from liver failure. He needs a replacement, and fast. What happens when the only option for a new liver is a former murder for hire assassin serving time in prison?

Dr. Andrews: Everyone deserves the right to turn their life around.

The doctors are all conflicted, some think it shouldn’t matter while others oppose the idea entirely. This is a perfect moment to introduce the newest doctor to their team. Dr. Alex Park ends up being the only one really opposed to the donor, on the medical side anyway.

If Alex wasn’t a part of the mold this episode wouldn’t be as riveting as it ultimately is. He adds not only an opposing viewpoint on the whole issue but also a fresh new perspective on patient care.

Coming from being a cop for many years has made this man a stellar doctor. He not only knows how to calm patients down but he can also think beyond the medicine with his cases.

At times, this makes his bias against Boris, the donor, very present and unappreciated. While I don’t agree with his reasoning and opinion I do reserve the right for him to have his opinion. Something, I feel Claire forgets at times.

Dr. Park: Don’t worry. He’s been a model inmate for 9 years.

Claire is a very vocally passionate doctor when it comes to her patients and what is best for them. However, this can sometimes get in her way. She believes what she believes and doesn’t really allow much room for accepting or even trying to understand Dr. Park’s side of things.

They should be working as a team.

Claire may feel like Boris deserves the right to donate his organs and that he can change. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop her from still being terrified of him upon their first contact. The inability of Claire and Park to work as a team is clear in this interaction.

He knows that she is still scared of Boris so he throws her words back at her. Their lack of compromise may very well hurt the team later on. It’ll be interesting to see if this was just a side effect of this particular case or if it’s something that will continue down the road.

The doctor’s having to examine what is in their hearts really resonates beyond the storytelling. It makes the show about more than just medical drama. It’s about humans and their need to be seen or heard as a person, not by what they’ve done or what “problem” they have.

Watching the young patient wrestle with his decision because of who the donor is is as interesting as the doctors’ struggle. He knows he needs the liver in order to survive, but he worries that accepting it will make him bad. Finding it in his heart to accept and in a way forgive his donor for his mistakes is a very poignant moment.

Here is a young child finding it within him to judge based on merit and motivation when there are others who can’t do that even as adults. Talk about a powerful message.

Shaun: Dr. Andrews said the people who matter judge on talents.

This may be about clothing versus the human in the clothes at a fancy party but beneath the surface, it’s about the entire story of “Heartfelt.” The outside rarely depicts the truth on the inside.

Boris may have murdered some people for money, but he doesn’t want to be that person. He feels regret and shame every day of his life. He tries to make up for it by donating organs to those in need.

To have his doctors look at him and judge him based on what he has done in the past leaves an impact on him. Not only that, it forces the doctors to examine their own lives and make a decision on where they stand.

This entire season Shaun has been subtly teaching them to not judge a person by what they are, more by who they are and what they can do. The impact of Shaun’s teachings is shown most strongly in Melendez and Andrews.

If this episode was at the beginning of the season there is no doubt in my mind that Melendez and Andrews would have been more hesitant to let this inmate donate. Frankly, it’s nice seeing that changes are happening all around the hospital.

It’s very likely that the show will only continue to grow and expand each of these characters’ hearts the longer they work together. That’s a story I am most excited to experience.

Other Thoughts:

• Morgan needs to check her attitude at the door.
• The heart patient getting to receive a hug for the first time has me in tears.
• Shaun treating himself to a tux was a sound decision. It’s great that he can now flex his independence.

What did you think of this episode of The Good Doctor? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below! Don’t forget to check out our review of The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 14, “She” right here.

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

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