The Good Doctor (5×11) The Family Review

For our review of the last episode of The Good Doctor, click here.

Synopsis: A young autistic surgeon who has savant syndrome relocates from a quiet country life to join a prestigious hospital’s surgical unit. (TV Guide)

What better than a family to help bring this family together? Salen may be gone for now but the resentment and dysfunction remain as this episode, or more specifically the cases, helped mend those difference in the unsubtlest of ways in what was a few growing moments for certain characters. Meanwhile, Isla Rose Hall absolutely steals the show as a little girl named Isla who forms an unlikely bond with Murphy.

As far as the hospital was concerned, it was time to start a brand new day with Andrews in charge as president and Lim who was reinstalled as chief of surgery. Murphy and Lea put their marriage plans on hold and agreed to live in the moment (but Murphy still found himself questioning what that exactly meant). Not everyone was happy with Andrews’ changes as president but maybe that was resentment over his past relationship with Salen. All those issues would need to be set aside as a family of 3 were admitted to the hospital following a car accident. The parents were in trouble but their daughter Isla fared much better in comparison. The doctors divided and conquered. While the father lost a leg and was in jeopardy of also losing an arm, the mother had issues with her brain, heart, and trachea. The conflict was between Andrews, Lim, and Glassman about how to deal with each parents’ issues. Eventually mending their differences, the three came together to help the parents. 

Murphy tended to Isla whose bond with him was immediate. He was different and gave it to her straight which she appreciated. However, Murphy was oblivious to that fact. Ultimately, her young age made it difficult to treat her though keeping her company while her parent were in surgery proved to be another challenge. She talked a lot and asked a lot of questions which was definitely cute. There was something about Isla that made Murphy open up to her if only as a means to put her at ease. However, she felt guilty for the accident, something that he could relate to. Murphy had to take charge with Isla’s surgery but he got it done. Meanwhile, Reznick did some soul-searching of her own. Turning over a new leaf, she decided to be more mindful and someone more mature. One of those steps is being resourceful as a means to keep the hospital clinic open that she lost funding for after confessing to what she did to get that funding in the first place.

In the end, Murphy learned that human connections weren’t so bad but it was not enough to want another one right away. Nevertheless, his time with Isla inspired him to make things right with Lea and propose to her again and give her a placeholder ring. Another nice moment saw Andrews, Lim, and Glassman bonding over some scotch.

Another well-rounded episode that let the characters shine while bringing plenty of drama.

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.