The Good Doctor season 2 episode 16 review: Shaun fights for his job

Tonight on ABC, The Good Doctor season 2 episode 16 brought us yet another chance to see Shaun Murphy fight to be a surgeon. In one way or another, he’s always fighting. It’s just a little bit different this time around when he is out of the surgical department. He can’t speak to patients, he’s stuck within pathology (which actually seems rather nice, even though it’s not where he wants to be), and there is no timeline for his return.

What can a guy like Shaun really do to actually turn his future around? Well, Dr. Han is not the sort of person who just turns his thought around on a dime. Take with one of the patients tonight, where Dr. Murphy ended up pulling all the stops to diagnose her ailment — caused by a combination of bacteria and medication. The problem was the way in which it happened — with him searching through her purse before finding the proof he needed of her diagnosis. Jackson was conflicted on the other side of this — he was grateful to have the information that he had! However, at the same time, he wasn’t so thrilled with the way that it was found.

Shaun has to come to grips with where he is now, and that also includes the state of things when it comes to Lea and the bond that he has with Dr. Glassman. Aaron, through most of this episode, was forced to deal with some issues of his own … ones that start from his past. He has an opportunity to try and love again, but the operative word there is try … sometimes, there is nothing that you can do. You can’t make someone want to open up, or also make someone realize that you have something to offer.

The Good Doctor, even without Shaun in surgery, still isn’t drifting away too far from the cases with some of the other characters. We saw that with Claire and Morgan working in order to ensure that their patient, a man of God who looked at his pain as penance for his past, could actually get better. Then, when a miracle happened, they faced the challenge of trying to get him to accept it. That was easier said than done. Claire was able to tap into her own faith and her past to encourage him to accept the treatment — sometimes, things cannot be explained and sometimes, you have to be willing to accept miracles … even if you are reluctant to do so.

CarterMatt Verdict

It was one step forward, and then two steps back for Dr. Murphy on tonight’s episode. The sad irony here is that in doing something so great within the pathology department, he showed that Dr. Han was right to put him there. It’s just not what he wants and he is going to have to come to grips with that. We also don’t think that he is the sort of person who’s going to be any less excellent with cases moving forward and because of that, he may be staying strong each and every step of the way.

This was a beautiful episode despite Shaun’s trials and tribulations, and one that at least raises the takes for what could be a critical one next week.

What lies ahead on The Good Doctor?

We’ve got a preview for the next new episode over at the link here — there are more troubles ahead for Shaun, but we do think that there is a reason for some hope.

What was your take on The Good Doctor season 2 episode 17? Sound off in the comments below. (Photo: ABC.)