The Good Doctor – Risk and Reward

By starrymag | February 24, 2019

By: Jessica Wolff

 

 

Nigel Monroe (Peter Benson) supports Diane Monroe (Robyn Lively) as their baby is delivered in surgery. Dr. Audrey Lim (Christina Chang) shows them the baby, promising they’ll take good care of her during surgery. Allegra Aoki (Tamlyn Tomita) tells Dr. Marcus Andrews (Hill Harper) that the new chief of surgery is fashionably late. Allegra admits that she still has concerns about Dr. Jackson Han (Daniel Dae Kim), but Andrews believes he’ll be good for the hospital.

 

As Lim, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) and Dr. Claire Browne (Antonia Thomas) operate on the baby, Han declares that he’ll scrub into the surgery as he observes from above. After scrubbing in, Han has music put on, which distracts Shaun from hearing what Han has to say. Claire tells Han the music is distracting, but Han insists that surgery is distracting without it. Shaun drops an instrument and Han tests Shaun and Claire on their knowledge of the surgery. Han tells them he doesn’t have a solution yet, but makes a temporary strategy to buy them time.

 

Dr. Neil Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) confronts Han about canceling his surgery without notice. Han introduces himself, and tells Melendez that he wants his consultation on Minesh Goyal (Ravi Kapoor). Melendez tells him that he doesn’t do preventative medicine, but Han tells him that helping rich patients helps pay for surgery on poorer patients and that he wants the best helping Goyal. Melendez examines Goyal, asking why he requested all of the tests. Goyal tells him knowledge is power, and tells him about how his father died.

 

Larry Childs (Joe Adler) introduces himself to Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff) as he sits down for treatment. After Larry determines what kind of cancer Glassman has, he declares them tumor twins. Larry continues to try to talk to him about their treatments, but Glassman puts in headphones. Larry is undeterred, offering to introduce him to other patients. Glassman refuses, telling him he doesn’t go to a group, but Larry tells him that everyone needs a cancer buddy.

 

Melendez continues running tests on Goyal, and Dr. Morgan Reznick (Fiona Gubelmann) is excited at the opportunity to help out. Dr. Alex Park (Will Yun Lee) points out how pointless the tests are, and Morgan asks Melendez to describe Han. Melendez calls him arrogant, and Morgan believes having an ego is fine if he can back it up.

 

Alex shows them that Goyal has a tumor and the Monroes ask Shaun how their baby, who they named Persephone, is doing. Shaun tells them they’re looking for solutions to Persephone’s birth defects and Diane asks why she’s having so many problems. The Monroes tell him that Diane was on a specific anti-depressant at one point, and Shaun tells them about a study that linked the drug to Persephone’s birth defects, upsetting Diane.

 

Melendez shows Goyal the results of the test, telling him that the tumor can’t be confirmed as cancerous until a biopsy. Goyal leaves, refusing to worry until it’s confirmed as cancer. Shaun, Lim, and Claire discuss how to help Persephone, and Han confronts Shaun about telling Diane that she’s responsible for Persephone’s birth defects. Shaun argues he told her the medication was responsible, and Han questions how he thinks it made her feel.

 

Han tells Shaun that the Monroes are unhappy, but Lim and Claire defend Shaun, telling Han that social cues aren’t easy for Shaun. Han tells Claire to focus on her own shortcomings, and Shaun makes a suggestion to help Persephone. Han tells Shaun not to change the subject, but Shaun insists they’re still talking about Persephone. Han rejects Shaun’s idea, telling him not to talk to the Monroes again.

 

Lim calls out Han’s treatment of the residents, and defends Shaun. Han points out that Shaun doesn’t realize what he did wrong, and that his limitations will never change. Lim tells Han that Shaun deserves to be there, and Han tells her he’s looking forward to Shaun proving him wrong. Larry tries to tell Glassman that cancer is part of their identity, but Glassman disagrees. Larry explains that he’s going to need friends who understand what he’s going through, and hands him a barf bag when Glassman throws up, telling him he’s got his back.

 

Han checks on Melendez’ operation on Goyal, and Morgan compliments his work. Han tells her that he appreciates her effort in sucking up, and comments that Alex’s past work as a cop could provide a fresh perspective in the operating room. Melendez accidentally hits an artery and the team rushes to fix the mistake. Han compliments Melendez on the save, but Melendez determines that the biopsy is too dangerous. Melendez tells Goyal about the situation, and suggests they perform a risky surgery to remove the tumor without a biopsy. Goyal determines that he’d die either way if it’s cancer and asks to think it over.

 

As they continue to look for a solution to help Persephone, Lim suggests that Shaun remain quiet around Han for a little while unless he’s asked a direct question. Claire argues that Shaun would still be doing suction if he did that with Melendez, and they rush to help Persephone, who has taken a turn for the worse. As they continue to find a procedure to help Persephone, Shaun asks Lim if he can give Han a suggestion. Lim tells him to go ahead, and Shaun explains his idea. Han agrees it’s a good idea, but Lim reminds them that it doesn’t solve all their problems.

 

Larry continues to insist that Glassman join the cancer support group while Glassman continues to resist. Larry tells him that they’re in a daily battle, and that he’d rather have company in facing it. Goyal tells Melendez that he needs numbers to inform his decision. Melendez gives him a percentage that the tumor is cancer, and Goyal agrees to the surgery.

 

Han and Lim explain the proposed procedure to the Monroes, but admit that there is a ninety percent chance of failure. Lim suggests that Persephone would pass peacefully if they pull the plug, and the Monroes argue over what they should do. Nigel insists that Persephone’s condition is as much his fault as it is hers, and Diane gets upset. Diane refuses to give up, insisting her guilt has nothing to do with her stance.

 

Andrews tells Lim and Han that the decision will be made by him since the Monroes can’t agree. Lim isn’t happy about it, but Han suggests it’s better that way. She suggests that the odds are stacked against them, but he is confident they can beat the odds. Andrews admits that he’s happy he isn’t responsible for these decisions anymore and tells Han that it’s his call as chief of surgery.

 

Glassman asks Shaun about how things are with Han, and Shaun fills him in on his issues with Han. Glassman asks if he’s ever wished that he had friends and coworkers on the spectrum. Shaun tells him he doesn’t usually, but having an autistic coworker now could take Han’s focus off him. Glassman tells Shaun about Larry’s insistence that they be friends, but Shaun tells him it’s a good idea. Shaun asks Glassman what he should do about Han, and Glassman tells him to get Han to focus on his abilities instead of his autism. However, Shaun points out that his autism is a part of him.

 

Han tells the Monroes that the judge ruled in favor of the surgery and Diane thanks him. The Monroes say goodbye to Persephone before she is wheeled into surgery. Han leads the surgery, but they find more complications. Meanwhile, Morgan is excited by the possibility of working with Han in the future, but Alex tells her she shouldn’t try so hard. Morgan complains that it’s hard when she doesn’t have anyone in her corner, and Alex suggests that she be nicer to people. She tells him that this is easier and they determine that they can’t remove Goyal’s tumor without him bleeding out. Melendez suggests they remove it from the back, shutting down Morgan’s objections.

 

Han has Shaun test their efforts, and everything seems to have worked until the pulmonary pressure starts spiking. They determine Persephone needs to be put back on cardiac support and stabilize her. Shaun determines that Persephone will drown in her own fluids, and Claire asks to go with Han to inform the parents. They inform the Monroes that the humane thing to do is let her go, but Diane refuses to give up. Claire tells Diane that she took the medicine to fight to keep going, and that letting Persephone go is not giving up on her. Diane agrees and Nigel comforts her.

 

Back in the operating room, Lim asks for a moment of silence before they pull Persephone off cardiac support. Shaun uses the time to come up with a solution, and they agree to the idea after some discussion. Glassman sees Larry talking to Candice (Candus Churchill) and joins their discussion and suggests they play a card game. Goyal asks Melendez if they got the tumor, and he tells him they did at the cost of his ability to move his left foot. Melendez promises that he’ll give him the biopsy results, but Goyal tells him it doesn’t matter anymore.

 

Han, Shaun, Claire, and Lim roll Persephone out, telling the Monroes that they were able to save her before letting them hold her. Melendez receives the results of the biopsy, but throws them in the trash without looking at them. Han joins Shaun on the bench, complimenting his diagnostic skills. He tells Shaun that he’ll be a good fit in the pathology department, but Shaun reminds him he’s a surgical resident. Han tells Shaun it’s a great opportunity to help patients without dealing with them. Shaun rejects the offer, telling him that he’s worked hard on his communication skills. Han tells him working hard isn’t enough, and Shaun tells him he’s a surgical resident. However, Han tells him he was a surgical resident and will do great work in pathology.