THE GOOD DOCTOR returns with a season premiere penned by series star Freddie Highmore. The episode is titled “Hello”, which makes sense with the introduction of a new character (described below), but we’re also saying goodbye to another character: Jared.
When the episode begins we see that Dr. Andrews is now the hospital president and he’s calling the residents in for their reviews. Each of them is essentially given a personal task to work on. For example, Shaun is supposed to work on his communication skills, while Claire needs to be more assertive and Morgan has to be more of a team player. Then the residents split up for different difficult scenarios — both of which will ultimately give them a chance to do as Dr. Andrews requested. Shaun works with Jared on what is his last day, taking a mobile health clinic out to an area with a lot of homeless people and coming across a man that both doctors are determined to help. And Morgan and Claire pair up with Dr. Melendez for a very risky surgery that Andrews wants performed in order to bring the hospital notoriety and money for a new surgical center.
As Freddie Highmore says in the preview above, Chuku Modu gives a terrific performance in his final episode, leaving a lasting impression on Shaun. Elsewhere in the episode, Lisa Edelstein makes her debut in the first of a multi-episode arc. We quickly learn that her character, Dr. Marina Blaze, was reinstated by Glassman in one of his final acts as hospital president because she’s one of the best oncologists there is and he wants her to treat him. But everyone says that doctor make the worst patients and this is definitely the case for Glassman. He wants to be overly involved in his treatment and insists that Blaze do as he says, but it’s also clear that she isn’t afraid to push back and have him focus on beating his cancer rather than acting as his own doctor. While Glassman is pondering his own mortality, Shaun needs to figure out whether he can handle standing by his friend or take the easy way out and avoid the heartache.
THE GOOD DOCTOR returns for its second season on September 24 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.