The Good Doctor - the journey of acceptance

Dr. Shaun Murphy, played by the brilliantly talented Freddie Highmore

"The Good Doctor," Dr. Shaun Murphy, played by the brilliantly talented Freddie Highmore showcases a young doctors introduction to his first residency at San Jose’a St. Bonaventure Hospital. The hospital’s board is hesitant to hire an autistic savant with incredible visual, spatial and memory diagnosing skills due to his lack of interpersonal skills and bedside manner.

The pilot episode bravely confronts the hiring decision of the prestigious hospital. The president of the hospital, played by the great Richard Schiff, argues with his fellow board members that preserving the hospital’s reputation is not the right choice. As his mentor, Richard’s character passionately fights for Shaun’s right to work. The only other person that sees Shaun’s capabilities is Antonia Thomas’ role as resident Claire Browne. Her earthy empathic character shows how some people are born to be caring and forgiving doctors. 

Throughout the episode, glimpses into Shaun’s life as a child and his close relationship with his brother develops a better understanding of Shaun’s mental and emotional hardships. The scenes into his past are not to justify why Shaun should be hired, but to explain who he is as an adult. Throughout each scene Highmore beautifully shows how each day someone with autism can live a normal life. This is not a young man who needs help organizing his daily activities or living in his own apartment.

“The Good Doctor” is about society’s lack of effort to understand what each individual can offer to society. Just as the civil rights or gay rights movement, The Good Doctor, shows autism is not a hindrance or a failing. It just simply asks the viewer what’s wrong with a capable brilliant autistic man wanting to be a doctor?

"The Good Doctor" review by benMUSA
(ABC Series - just ordered a full season 10/3/17)  - Based a 2013 South Korean show with the same name. 
Starring Freddie Highmore, Nicholas Gonzalez, Antonia Thomas, Richard Schiff, Chuku Modu, Beau Garrett, Irene Keng, Hill Harper, and Tamlyn Tomita

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