10 Reasons You Should Be Watching ‘The Good Doctor’

Last fall ABC premiered its newest medical drama, The Good Doctor. The show was met with almost immediate acclaim and top viewing numbers. It seems everyone loves the show, and for good reason.

In case you aren’t already watching we are here to help you out. Here are our reasons why we think you should be.

1. Great balance between the medicine and the human connection

Sometimes, medical shows struggle to find the perfect balance between the compelling medical aspects and the heartfelt human ones. The Good Doctor really seems to have found a way to combine them both in a way that keeps us hooked and interested.

As an audience, we also find ourselves learning a thing or two. We come for the doctors but stay for the medicine and the story. Going into Season 2, we are excited to know more about the medicine so we can see if there is hope for a few of the doctors.

Some of Dr. Murphy’s greatest lessons during Season 1 were centered around his connection to the people he was treating. There was one patient who looked almost exactly like his brother and another one who challenged his concept of emotions and feelings.

It’s all important and well balanced with everything else going on.

2. There are no overly dramatic stories

One of the reasons I stopped watching ABC’s other hit medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy, was their overly dramatic plot points. There are only so many things that could logically happen to a set of doctors at a Seattle hospital.

While some people are okay with that kind of story, not everyone is. If this describes you then The Good Doctor is more your speed. They never over-dramatize anything.

In fact, the craziest thing to happen all season was a prisoner lashing out the doctors. To me, that is more realistic and logical. Something that fits really well with our main character, Dr. Shaun Murphy.

To me, the realism of it all harkens back to the first medical drama I ever fell in love with, ER. Their storylines are compelling and interesting enough to keep us on the edge of our seats, but they never go for the shock or wow factor.

3. Female Empowerment

In today’s world, we are constantly looking for female characters we can love and believe in. We look for shows that accentuate the strength of women in power fields.

The Good Doctor consistently tackles such elements through their mainstays: Dr. Claire Browne (Antonia Thomas), Jessica Preston (Beau Garrett), and Alegra Aoki (Tamlyn Tomita). These fierce women constantly show their power and strength through their passion and command against the men in their lives.

Bonus: each of these women are from different ethnic backgrounds.

4. Diversity Unifies

If you want a true representation of what our wonderful nation is about, just take a look at the doctors of San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Not only are they all from a diverse set of racial/ethnic backgrounds, but they also have their own set of qualities that set them apart from the world.

The biggest example is, of course, the focal point of the show, Dr. Shaun Murphy.

He is an autistic savant who struggles with day to day human interactions. However, through his relationships with the other doctors and patients, he learns how to grow and expand socially.

The faith that each of these doctors has in Shaun is astounding and well worth the watch. It’s a faith that is earned and not done so overnight.

Another big unifier for this team of doctors is their all-around mutual respect of each other as individual humans. They have many different social, economic, and racial experiences to contend with, and it almost never gets in the way of their work.

It’s a unity our great nation really needs right about now.

5. Their differences are their biggest strength

As mentioned before, these doctors rely heavily on each other, and so their differences can’t get in the way. It’s not always easy, but fundamentally they make it happen.

One prime example of strength through differences comes on The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 15, “Heartfelt,” when Dr. Browne wanted to give a patient a second chance, and Dr. Park didn’t believe he deserved it. They agreed to disagree morally and find the best way to medically help their patient.

The differences aren’t always between the doctors though. Sometimes, it is between the doctors and their patients.

One of the most talked about instances came on The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 14, “She,” between Dr. Murphy and his trans-patient. Through discussion, Dr. Murphy learned to better understand and accept his patient as she wished to be seen.

It’s a hard lesson to be learned, but in the end, he’s a better doctor and person for it.

6. It has heart

The Good Doctor is teeming with heart and soul. How could a show centered around the success of an autistic doctor not be?

We are made to care about the patients and their struggles, but also the doctors and their separate stories.

We want Dr. Melendez to become the dad he so desperately wants to be. We want Shaun to find a friend who cares about him as much as he deserves. Dr. Browne has us cheering for her success in spite of her mom.

This all happens because the writing on the show is phenomenal and worthy of our time and attention. They draw us in and connect us to these characters at their most basic desires.

7. Connection to current affairs

The best shows in 2017 were the ones that successfully addressed current issues and concerns with an open mind. The Good Doctor is definitely one of these shows.

In a subtle way, the series addresses the issues of African Americans and racism. It also blatantly address the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace.

On The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 10, “Sacrifice,” Dr. Browne had a situation with a male superior making her feel sexually harassed and uncomfortable. She mentioned it to her boyfriend but told him she would handle it. Then when her boyfriend tried to defend her, she pointed out that while his actions were chivalrous they were unnecessary.

This is not only a show of solidarity with the real-life women reporting sexual misconduct but also a show of female strength and independence. Dr. Browne is inspiring girls to always stand their ground no matter what they believe.

8. Talented Cast

Whether we are looking at screen veterans or newcomers, everyone on The Good Doctor is extremely talented. They all bring little nuances to their characters that keep us interested in them, rooting for them, or basically despising them.

First and foremost, we have the talented duo of Freddie Highmore and Richard Schiff. Their prowess proceeds them and is a big draw for many of the show’s fans.

Then there are Beau Garrett, Hill Harper, Will Yun Lee, and Nicholas Gonzalez. They all have roles that speak volumes to their fans. They bring their experiences with them to their newest roles to add just a little bit extra to our screens each week.

We can’t talk about the talent without also mentioning our other interns working alongside Dr. Murphy. Antonia Thomas, Chuku Modu, and Fiona Gubelmann are fantastic parallels and foils to Freddie Highmore.

Overall this vast, talented cast works well together, and no one person outshines another. They all mold together seamlessly in scenes.

9. All characters are equal

This may seem redundant just looking at the title, but bear with me. By this I mean that unlike many hierarchy-driven work environments the doctors and interns are on an equal footing.

That is not to say the attendings aren’t above the interns and the chiefs aren’t above everyone. Conversely, it does mean that all of these doctors are trusted and respected on the same level.

Interns aren’t simply dismissed as being ill-equipped or inexperienced. The attendings and the chief listen to their ideas and concerns.

They don’t always agree with an intern’s assessment, but the channel of communication is there. No one goes unheard by anyone. It makes for a more secure and trusting environment.

10. Renews our faith in the health care system

One of the biggest draws to this show, for quite a few fans, is the faithful attention to the reality of health care. The Good Doctor created a world in which the doctors see issues with their own system and work tirelessly to fix it.

More than once there is a story focused on a patient that is being cheated by the health care system. The series makes strides towards bridging that gap of mistrust between patients and doctors.

Knowing that there really are doctors out there who care about their patients over their ability to pay or be insured gives us faith that someday soon it all will change for the better.

It’s important to believe in the health care system, despite its flaws, because it allows us to make great changes. We have to understand not everyone blindly follows or trusts it.

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Catch the Season 2 premiere of The Good Doctor on Monday, September 24 at 10/9c on ABC.

Are you ready for season 2 of The Good Doctor? What is your main reason for watching? Let us know in the comments below.

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