The Good Doctor Season 7 Episode 7 Review: Faith

The Good Doctor Season 7 Episode 7, “Faith,” brings the show back after a second hiatus off the air. However, it makes up for the break with several new, refreshing subplots.

The episode continues exploring Dr. Shaun Murphy and Lea Dilallo-Murphy’s parenthood as they navigate hiring a sitter for Steve while Dr. Jordan Allen and Dr. Jared Kalu continue working through their grief over Dr. Asher Wolke’s passing.

Taking the doctors’ minds off parenthood and grief are several colorful patients, including a man who believes he is Jesus and a young woman who struggles with substance abuse and reminds Dr. Aaron Glassman of his late daughter.

In a refreshing turn of events, the patients stole the show in the latest episode. When Carl arrives on the scene offering to donate a kidney to a patient in need, he seems like a godsend.

However, things take a strange turn when it becomes apparent he thinks he literally is sent by god and is the reincarnation of Jesus. Even stranger are the mystery symptoms he experiences as his vitals fluctuate.

Hence, viewers are left guessing what is going on with Carl and the purpose of his bizarre religious delusions. At several points, both the characters and viewers start questioning whether he is inexplicably some saintly figure.

In a final twist, though, it’s confirmed his symptoms were caused by a medical condition, and he theorizes his mind concocted the delusion to cope with his feelings of insignificance.

It was a surprising but poignant twist that leaves viewers thinking about the human mind and how it interprets things like one’s purpose or destiny in unusual circumstances.

“Faith” also departs from the norm by introducing a patient, Hannah Ayleston, who will seemingly have a recurring role in the season going forward. The young woman forms a connection with Dr. Glassman, who is the first doctor to take her pain seriously.

It’s a subtle reminder of the stigma surrounding those with substance abuse struggles and how difficult it is for them to be believed by medical professionals who dismiss all their symptoms as withdrawals.

The stigma is especially unfair considering Hannah’s past doctors are partially responsible for her struggles due to prescribing her pills instead of getting to the root of the problem.

Meanwhile, Dr. Glassman’s story finally makes some progress this episode. Between his petty feuds with Dr. Murphy and Dr. Audrey Lim, it has been difficult to see where his story was going in Season 7.

The entry of Hannah helps establish he’s still not coping effectively with the loss of his daughter and may even explain some of his edgy and odd behavior this season. The mention of some mysterious scans also teases another potential health malady for Dr. Glassman.

However, The Good Doctor has experienced more than enough tragedy this season, so hopefully, the potential health issues are only meant to move Dr. Glassman’s story along and are not life-threatening.

As usual, the episode tries to lighten the mood with some light subplots. Dr. Murphy and Lea’s feud with Dr. Morgan Reznick and Dr. Alex Park over hiring a nanny is a fairly silly side arc.

Still, the story ultimately pays off as it results in the final bombshell that Steve may have displayed an early sign of autism.

It’s quite an interesting concept to explore how neurodivergent parents navigate the potential or the reality of their children also being neurodivergent. Dr. Murphey seems a little concerned upon recognizing the sign, making viewers curious to hear his thoughts on the matter.

Ultimately, the episode does an excellent job of introducing and wrapping up some strong patient stories while introducing two intriguing new story arcs regarding Steve and Dr. Glassman.

After two emotionally heavy episodes and a hiatus, “Faith” eases viewers back into the show with a pleasant mix of emotion and humor while effectively indicating it’s time to move on to some other interesting story arcs.

The latest episode of The Good Doctor bodes well for keeping things interesting and the tone appropriate for the remainder of Season 7.

What did you think of this episode of The Good Doctor? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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