The Good Doctor Review: Stories (Season 2 Episode 8)
The Good Doctor Season 2 Episode 8, “Stories,” proves once again that the show still hasn’t figured out what stories need to have focus and which ones should be second fiddle. It’s a balance that needs to happen soon or the show risks losing the momentum it gained in Season 1 entirely.
While The Good Doctor is a medical drama, it needs to focus less on trying to wow us with flashy stories. It doesn’t really impress, and in fact, ends up getting old.
CHRISTINE HORN, ANTONIA THOMAS, FREDDIE HIGHMORE
The stories that are chosen oftentimes fall under boring or overdone. Take “Stories” for example. Both medical cases are ones that every doctor show has done numerous times before.
It would be more interesting to watch if it felt like the stories were their own entity and if there were something unique to set them apart from the carbon copies that came before them on other highly successful medical dramas.
A major problem with “Stories” is that we aren’t made to care about either patient. With the boy and his parents from the beginning, it’s clear that the issue isn’t going to be his actual illness it’s the fact that he isn’t vaccinated.
The kid has a condition that splits his spinal cord in two and then the two parts get tangled up together or around the spinal column. That is some really compelling and fascinating medicine right there.
WILL YUN LEE, ELLIOTT SANCRANT
I personally want to know more about the condition and see the doctors talk out and explore all of his options. Instead, I have to muddle through the irrelevant issue of his vaccination. (Sure, it matters in the very beginning when they think he has polio, but once the test comes back negative the whole issue should be dropped.)
As for the husband and wife, that is a story as old as time. A tumor causes personality change. At least make it different and interesting.
It might have been more intriguing to have the husband leave. Find it is all too hard to handle, and walk away. To be honest, that is slightly less “tied up neatly” and a bit more “real.”
Another big misstep of this episode is leaving Dr. Glassman’s troubles until the very end. There is one small scene towards the beginning and then another in the middle, but the juicy important part is at the end.
RICHARD SCHIFF, FREDDIE HIGHMORE
If the show wasn’t consistently shoving Dr. Glassman and his condition to the side I would assume it is due to set up work. That they were planning on adding a thing or two later on.
It’s a huge disservice to the character to have him relegated to the side. All through Season 1, Dr. Glassman is painted as this medical giant; a man of many talents and skills.
He is strong and controlled, and really regimented in how he lives his life. Then he gets a tumor and everything gets flipped upside down for him. This is the compelling medical that The Good Doctor should be focusing on.
Focusing on Dr. Glassman’s recovery gives them the opportunity to be still considered a medical drama while also giving characters their due diligence. Give us hope, trauma, turmoil, and anger as well as cool medical procedures and treatments.
RICHARD SCHIFF
Dr. Glassman is an icon to this hospital and yet, lately, he’s merely been an afterthought. The dynamic between him and Shaun is worthy of multi-episode focus. As is his strained relationship with Dr. Andrews.
“Stories” is a great example of what happens when a show thinks they need to try and top the medical of the previous season without giving enough focus to the characters that carry out the medical each week. What’s left is a feeling of disinterest and detachment.
While the majority of the focuses on this episode are misplaced there is one story that does matter and is handled flawlessly.
ANTONIA THOMAS
By this, I mean the continued conflict between Dr. Melendez and Dr. Browne, which has now involved Dr. Andrews. It’s a story that continues to shock and surprise us with each step.
Now, Dr. Browne is being asked to apologize for doing what she felt was right. It’s a show of male figures in the workplace trying to throw their weight around to silence or push down women.
Its very much appreciated that The Good Doctor is choosing to have this conversation. This whole time Dr. Browne has stuck by her initial stance; never wavered.
To see her stick to her guns tells us that the show isn’t sweeping important, female-empowering stories under the rug. Dr. Browne may apologize in the end but it’s because she believes not doing so will hinder her education under Dr. Melendez.
More female power, and fewer overdone storylines please. Give us something new and inventive, much like Season 1.
Further Thoughts:
- Park and Reznick getting closer and trusting each other as colleagues is nice to see.
- Dr. Andrews actually talking to both sides of the Melendez/Browne conflict is a step up from what we’ve seen so far this season.
What did you think of this episode of The Good Doctor? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Be sure to catch up on our review of The Good Doctor Season 2 Episode 7, “Hubert” 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.