“The Good Doctor” from ABC has captivated audiences for seven seasons with its poignant portrayal of Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism, and the dedicated medical team at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Among the show’s compelling characters is Dr. Alex Park, played by the talented Will Yun Lee. Recently, at a Television Critics Association press tour, Lee offered a deeply moving glimpse into the personal connection he forged with the show, revealing how the medical drama unexpectedly intertwined with his own life’s challenges.
During the press tour, while discussing the experience of joining an established show, Lee became visibly emotional when recalling his early days on “The Good Doctor.” His vulnerability was sparked by a question about what it was like for actors joining the series after its initial success. Fiona Gubelman, portraying Dr. Morgan Reznick, spoke first about feeling welcomed, setting the stage for Lee’s unexpectedly raw and honest response.
“I remember coming in at the end of Season 1, and…” Lee began, his voice catching as he choked back tears. He paused, overwhelmed, before remarking on the sudden onset of his emotion, comparing it to a melodramatic movie scene. This heartfelt reaction took those present by surprise, offering a powerful moment of authenticity in the typically structured environment of a press event.
The depth of Lee’s emotion stemmed from a deeply personal experience. Around the time he started filming “The Good Doctor” in late 2017, his young son, Cash, had endured two strokes. The first occurred in 2016 when Cash was just three years old, followed by a second stroke seven months later. The journey to diagnosis was lengthy and arduous, eventually revealing Moyamoya disease, a rare condition affecting blood flow to the brain.
Fortunately, Cash underwent successful brain surgery shortly after Lee joined the cast of the ABC medical drama. The parallels between his real-life medical ordeal and the fictional hospital setting of “The Good Doctor” were unavoidable and profoundly impactful. The professional sets, designed to realistically mimic a hospital environment, became a stark reminder of his personal struggles.
Lee confessed that the initial episodes were intensely challenging. “After the first episode, I was, like, ‘I don’t think I can do this show,’” he admitted, contemplating leaving the series due to the emotional strain. The constant immersion in a hospital setting, so soon after his son’s health crisis, was almost unbearable.
However, Lee chose to stay, a decision that proved to be transformative. He recounted a pivotal moment during the filming of a Season 2 episode directed by showrunner David Shore. In a scene that required intense emotional depth, Lee recalled crying for twelve consecutive hours. This experience, while demanding, proved cathartic. Lee described it as a turning point, helping him process his grief and sadness. He humorously noted, “He cured me of being sad and crying all the time. And so here I am, seven seasons later… But obviously, I’m still crying,” referencing his emotional moment at the press tour.
As “The Good Doctor From Abc Television Show” approaches its series finale, both on-screen and off-screen emotions are running high. The show is set to air its third-to-last episode, followed by the penultimate episode, and culminating in the highly anticipated series finale.
Paige Spara, who plays Shaun’s wife Lea Dilallo-Murphy, expressed the bittersweet sentiment shared by many of the cast, acknowledging the deep personal connections formed over seven years. Executive producer Erin Gunn echoed this, describing the news of the show’s ending as tearful yet filled with gratitude for the show’s long run.
Showrunners David Shore and Liz Friedman addressed the cancellation with a sense of inevitability common in the television industry. Shore wryly commented that he had always known the show would end when the network made that call, a pragmatic view of television production cycles. Despite the somber note, the producers assured fans that the advance notice of the final season allowed them to craft a satisfying conclusion. Friedman highlighted the writers’ efforts to create a “great finale” that would resonate with the dedicated fanbase of “The Good Doctor”.
The final season’s shortened episode count, a consequence of industry-wide strikes, was acknowledged as “unfortunate” by Shore. While previous seasons enjoyed a robust 18-22 episodes, the final season was condensed to just ten. Despite this limitation, and contrary to the typical decline in quality sometimes seen in long-running series nearing their end, “The Good Doctor” remains strong. The show is not fading out but rather maintaining its narrative strength and emotional depth as it heads towards its final episode.
“The Good Doctor” has evolved significantly since its inception. Dr. Shaun Murphy’s journey from a young, somewhat naive intern to a confident surgeon, husband, and father has been central to its appeal. Furthermore, the show has broadened its scope to become a true ensemble drama, allowing for richer storylines involving the entire cast, including Dr. Alex Park.
Both Shore and Friedman reiterated their sadness at the show’s ending. Friedman optimistically suggested that Dr. Shaun Murphy’s journey would continue in the hearts and minds of viewers, even after the series concludes. While acknowledging the end of this chapter, she hinted at the enduring potential for stories centered around such a compelling character, promising a memorable and fitting conclusion to “The Good Doctor from ABC television show.”
