The Good Doctor episode 16 review: Shaun, Claire face issues of trust

The Good Doctor episode 16 was a thing of beauty — but also remember, beauty can have flaws, and beauty can also be derived and described in a wide array of different ways.

What made this episode one of the show’s finest was simply a matter of cultivating great case-of-the-week stories. These are not easy to craft within the span of an hour but somehow, the writers managed to pull it off.

First, you had the case of a wheelchair-bound man who decided that he wanted to undergo a dramatic change in his life. With that, he decided to undergo an operation that could help him to walk again in time. Shaun had reservations over it, mostly because he wondered if this operation would cause the man to lose some of the positive qualities that he had cultivated because of his circumstance. Meanwhile, his wife had some insecurity of her own that after the operation she wouldn’t need him anymore.

This case, regardless of the outcome, presented a smart, intelligent discussion about disability and how, at the end of the day, it didn’t matter so much as the person you are. He did make it out of there okay, and the risk that he took proved to be worthwhile.

Second, you had the case of Emma, a woman who at age 50 routinely found herself getting plastic surgery thinking that it was the only way to please her husband. He wasn’t doing a whole lot to make her feel like she didn’t need them. When it turns out that there was a surgery she needed that could compromise some of her appearance, she refused to have it at first, thinking that it could in some way ruin her marriage. Yet, not having it could cost her a chance at a future.

Unfortunately, in this case having it still did, but the lesson at the center of it remains unchanged.

Aside from the cases at the heart of the episode there were some other personal moments, including Claire trying to bond with her mother after some initial hesitancy. Where things get sketchy is that her mother asked her for money to help get her a place. Will it stop at just that? Also, it turns out that Shaun’s neighbor Kenny may have a criminal background — should Shaun be nervous over this?

CarterMatt Verdict

Back when The Good Doctor first premiered, we knew that it was going to be a great platform for Freddie Highmore and we were more than excited about that. Yet, as time progresses we’re also starting to learn that the strength of the show is equally in the heart of the writing and the strength of the entire ensemble overall. Collectively, they are working to make this show into something special.

What do you think about The Good Doctor episode 16 overall? Be sure to share right now in the comments!