The Good Doctor season 3 fall finale: Did Shaun’s father die?

Entering The Good Doctor season 3 fall finale on ABC tonight, we knew that we were entering into some tough territory for Shaun Murphy. While he’d worked tirelessly in order to ensure that he could be good in his field, there were still issues pertaining to his parents that were lurking in his past.

During the episode tonight, he had to face some of those head-on after learning that his father was gravely ill. For most of this episode, we saw him wrestling with the difficult decision to go and visit his dad. He saw his mother and, after careful consideration and support, he decided that he wanted to see him. He saw this as a chance for closure.

Yet, the moment that Shaun saw him, the sentimental moment turned harsh as Shaun’s father lashed out at him and blamed him for Steve’s death. He called him weak and, soon after being there, the man died. Shaun’s dad is gone, but he is lucky to have some other people in his life. Dr. Glassman was one of those people and he’s grateful to have him. He offered to be there after the fact — heck, he was there every step of the way, even after telling him the truth about his father’s death. (In the closing seconds, Shaun started to break down and it was Lea who was there for him to hold and comfort him. His acceptance of that was a reminder of the strength of their relationship and what they’ve gone through. Yet, it may also turn into something more.)

One more thing we should note here is that Freddie Highmore was outstanding in this episode — it served as another powerful reminder of his versatility and commitment. How has he never been nominated for an Emmy?

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This was an episode about coming to understand some harsh realities in life. Shaun had to face the death of a family member, whereas Claire had to recognize more of her spiral after losing her mother. She made a decision to enter therapy to deal with some of what she was struggling with. It’s a step that may eventually lead to healing.

Related News – Be sure to get some more news on The Good Doctor, including when the series is coming back for more new episodes

What did you think about The Good Doctor season 3 fall finale?

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