ABC's The Good Doctor - Episode 2.07 "Hubert"
Dr. Shaun Murphy and Dr. Morgan Reznick must contend with two brothers who are bargaining over life and death. Dr. Claire Browne's friend who is dying of cancer asks her for something she doesn't think she can give her. Dr. Aaron Glassman is dealing with the effects of his treatment.
In 2018, it has become very difficult to keep up with every television show out there. It's even more difficult to provide adequate coverage on this site about the episodes that air every week. Not every show can get full coverage because of my busy and hectic viewing schedule. As such, some reviews will now be condensed to give only some summary thoughts. But it also affords a space for me to jot down my thoughts on the various episodes. And so, here are my thoughts on this week's episode of ABC's The Good Doctor.
"Hubert" was written by David Renaud and directed by Marisol Adler
What is it going to take to thaw the tension between Claire and Melendez? They are both holding to their convictions. And yet, they both need each other this week which does forge a greater sense of respect in their professional dynamic. Claire doesn't want to apologize for the actions that she took. However, she sees Melendez as the only surgeon who can possibly offer her dying best friend some hope. She wants to do something to alleviate her pain. She has to believe that there is something more that she can do. In the end, there is something more. The doctors can give her six more months to live. It is six more months with Claire and with her husband. Sure, there is the unique subplot of this dying woman trying to set up her husband and best friend for after she's gone. It absolutely feels like foreshadowing. In fact, it almost seemed too telegraphed that she would die during this intensive surgery which would then force Claire and Dash to reexamine this dying request. That doesn't happen though. Even though Claire gets into a fight with her best friend before the surgery, they are able to make up because everything works out. It's not a cure. It's just some additional time. Claire is grateful to Melendez for that. Melendez also sees that Claire is such a gifted and talented surgeon who can empathize with her patients while also thinking of procedures that no one else is aware of. She is a strong advocate for her patients. He does respect her in that regard. But he doesn't welcome her back into his service either. He still pushes her away. That's a shocking decision and one that teases that this conflict is bound to get even more dramatic before it is over. Elsewhere, Shaun and Morgan are dealing with feuding brothers who are having a tense negotiation that includes a kidney transplant and the family business. One has two functioning kidneys and the knowledge that he is smarter and capable of using this leverage to his advantage. The other is dying and is determined to stick to his beliefs. It's such a tense story that seemed like it was also going to end in tragedy. The show doesn't pursue that ending though. As such, it bucks expectations with the medical cases this week. It gives everyone involved a happy ending. The kidney is transplanted without the business needing to be sold. It was just difficult coming to that decision with it also seeming like it places new tension in their relationship. Of course, there is also that glimmer of hope in the end that perhaps everything will continue to work out for the best. All of this is mostly used as a learning lesson for Shaun to apply to his relationship with Lea after they decide to get a pet. They eventually land on a fish because it is beneficial for both of them. When the fish dies though, it sends Lea spiraling in her emotions and believing that she's a failure because of the decisions that she has made lately. It takes awhile for Shaun to assure her that she is incredible and special but he does eventually pull that off. He is able to go back to the pet store and argue for a new pet because the one they took home was dying of a disease picked up in the store. As such, that immediately lifts Lea's spirits. It's a cute story. One that could infer that they are potentially getting too romantically close again. But it also shares a little bit more about the hardships she faced with she moved away.
