“Good Doctor” – A Netflix Web Series Review

In may 2021 Netflix started streaming ‘The Good Doctor’ series, before that it wasn’t available on Netflix, it was available on Hulu and ABC.com. Season 1 to 3 are available on Netflix while Season four ended in June 2021, and is currently available on Hulu and ABC.com. According to one piece of news, the new season 5 is coming on 27 September 2021.

Facts about the Show

This is a series about doctors and their parallel lives. Shows a brilliant cast and brilliant direction, brings light on what in actual life doctors go through. The genre of this series is Medical, and we see romance in the parallel life of doctors as well. This is one of the popular shows for those who have a certain interest in this genre of watching doctors and surgeons. This show brilliantly holds a fascination for doctors and their lives. This series is produced by Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios in association with production companies.

The Plot

This particular story is about a doctor, who is Autistic. Butt has been given, an amazing chance to prove himself with all his skills as, Doctor.  The series stars Freddie Highmore as Doctor Shaun Murphy. He is Autistic but a Surgical resident, at the fictional San Jose. St. Bonaventure hospital, the other cast of this show is as brilliant as the concept. The good doctor was first featured in October 2017, ABC picked up the series for a full season.

This story revolves around the character Doctor Shaun Murphy, who is autistic and diagnosed with Savant syndrome. Autism, a mental condition characterized by difficulty in communicating and using language and abstract concepts. Any autistic person faces a difficult time in expressing emotions and understanding the emotions of the person they are talking to. But here in the story, it is shown that Doctor Shaun Murphy has developed some of his skills by practicing firmly. He has developed his senses by using them in a way that helps him read his patient’s mind and help him diagnose the patient’s condition. And with his developed senses; he is completely capable of understanding any patient’s problem. He is high functioning and is capable of living on his own, capable of managing his own affairs.

The Story Continues…

Before Doctor Shaun Murphy becomes a part of San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital, there was a huge discussion between senior other doctors of how he can be able to perform surgery with his autism. They were completely against him, during his journey as a surgical resident. Nobody accepted him the way they accept other surgical residents. Because of his autism, he has faced a lot of issues and unique challenges while treating patients or communicating with a team of doctors. And while performing anything medically. Despite all this, he is brilliant. When it comes to diagnosing any disease, his mind can actually analyze and visualize the condition of the patient. Based on his analysis he was able to diagnose any disease quickly and correctly, without even any test.

Doctor Aaron Glassman is considered to be his mentor. He is behind him, teaching him, helping him about how to live a successful life even with autism. San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital belongs to Aaron Glassman and he is one of the boards of directors. He wants everyone to give Shaun a chance to work as a surgical resident and learn surgery completely. Every other member on board wants him to justify why they should give Shaun, an autistic doctor a chance to be a surgical resident. They all have doubts about hiring him as a surgeon. Because a surgeon must have sympathy, empathy, and communication skills along with other skills, where he lacks as a doctor.

A Dialogue from the Series

The justification given by Aaron Glassman was –” I met Shaun murphy when he was 14 years old, I was living in Wyoming at the time, he was and still is an extraordinary man. Yes, he has autism, but he also has Savant syndrome; genius-level skills in several areas. He has almost perfect recall, he has spatial intelligence, sees things, and analyzes things in ways that are just remarkable in ways that we can’t even begin to understand. Those are assets, undeniable assets for any doctor, particularly a surgeon.”

Season 1: Episode 1

In season one episode one, it has shown that Doctor Shaun Murphy saved the life of an eight-year boy at the airport; with his level of critical thinking and analysis. After that, he got hired at San Jose St. Bonaventure hospital. He started working with a team of surgical residents. Dr. Marcus Andrews is the head of the department and Dr. Neil Melendez is the head of his surgical team. The reason why he wants to be a doctor with his autism is touching and emotional. His father is abusive and never supports him, Shaun and his brother left the house and started living on their own. Once his little brother gave him a toy scalpel and told him that you’re the smarter one and you can do anything you want. But unfortunately during his childhood, he lost his brother and a pet rabbit. He couldn’t save their life back then. But he wanted to save the life of others now by being a successful diagnostician and doctor. And that’s why he becomes a doctor.

The Emotional Moments

The story behind this series is touching, emotional, and inspiring. It is us who keep limitations on our abilities but there is no such thing as limitations. Anyone can do anything they want. The sky is wide open with opportunities. All we need is just to take one step forward and believe, that everything is possible. This series brings hope to life, hope to those who think that any ability or any disability can decide their fate.

96 % of OTT platform user has watched the series. However IMDB rates this series 8.1 on a scale of 10.

The Romantic Part

As we move down with the show, Shaun begins to feel other emotions like love, romance and wanted to be with a girl, Lea. He understands and feels the ups and downs of dating life and explores romanticism with her. Even though he has difficulty understanding emotions, he tries his best with Lea. Lea also supports him physically, mentally, and emotionally and with everything going on with him. He seems to have a more difficult time when he came to know that his mentor Dr. Glassman has got Cancer. But anyway, he dealt with that too and learn from every situation he goes through. He learns from each and everything that comes in his way. He embraces his life by overcoming all the challenges that arise with autism; a good show to watch.

The Criticism

This show has received criticism as well. Some of the viewers were not in favor of watching such a show with doctors having Autism. Some people even have raised concerns over the representation of people on the autism spectrum in the media; about the overall message that this series show.

‘The Good Doctor ‘is just a normal medical drama with a twist. Like a coin, everything has two sides to look at. Some may have criticized it but on the other hand, a large number of audiences have praised the concept, cast, and their overall performance.

In the fourth season they have shown about covid pandemics as well and all the difficulties it brings. But they also have shown the dedication that one doctor holds for this Nobel profession.  The directors have beautifully cast and directed this show. Hold your curiosity and questions about what happens next with Dr. Murphy; wait a little while as the brand-new season is coming next month, I.e., 27 September. Stay tuned for more. Until then bye…