THE GOOD DOCTOR 1x02 "Mount Rushmore"

At the end of my review of The Good Doctor's premiere episode, I said I would like it to make me full on cry. And the second episode has left me basically on the verge of that.

Shaun scares a patient during rounds
Image: ABC

   The episode starts off with all the obstacles you might expect as Dr. Shaun Murphy enters his first day as a surgical resident at St. Jose Bonaventure Hospital. His issues with communication and his bluntness cause upset during rounds, leading Dr. Melendez to consign him to scut duty. Shaun is all too happy with this, for he quickly believes this is to aid his development as a doctor, although it becomes quickly apparent his approach to confirming patients' healthiness or illness may be skirting on the edge of over-zealous.

   An unnecessary MRI is ordered for a simple ear infection, a hypochondriac is sent home unconvinced he is not ill and Melendez overrules Shaun's approach to a young girl with a tummy ache who may be suffering a more life-threatening problem. These may look like mistakes, but are probably more likely a symptom of Shaun yet to learn to separate the needle from the haystack once he's found it; the search for another needle does not need to continue once one has been found.

   And Shaun is everywhere in this episode. He's at a patient's bedside ("I'm not just waiting for farts; I'm doing all the scut work"), he's visiting the laboratory to hurry tests along, he's in examination rooms, he's visiting a patient at their home - and he's in the OR.

   There was a natural growth in the leniency shown to Shaun by Dr. Melendez as the episode progressed, which culminated in his finally being allowed in the OR alongside Melendez to perform surgery on a young girl whose tummy ache did in fact transpire to be a life-threatening intestinal malrotation.

Shaun is consigned to scut duty by Dr. Melendez
Image: ABC

   But it's how we got there that broke - at the very least - my heart.

   I mentioned in the pilot episode that, despite my dislike of the flashbacks, they do a great job of informing the main plotline. "Mount Rushmore" was no different. Flashbacks of Shaun's brother attempting to teach him how to knock on people's doors and lie to survive brought us to two wonderful - and wonderfully juxtaposed - moments. The first, another flashback, this time of Shaun following his brother's death, unable to knock on that front door. The second in the present, where, to save that young girl's life, Shaun has no choice but to knock on that front door and convince those parents to buy into his presence.

   I had no idea somebody knocking on a front door could be so bloody heartbreaking.

   But while Shaun is the undoubted MVP of the episode - and his story circles to just the right point in his eventual acceptance into the OR - there's a number of other character beats to mention.

   Dr. Jared Kalu may be after just two episodes the procedure-seeking, credit-stealing weasel that it took Dr. Carter in ER an entire season to become, but he's also right when it comes to Dr. Claire Browne's hypocrisy. If Kalu can be dressed down for taking credit for the idea Shaun proposed to save a patient's life, then Claire can be just as validly critiqued for suggesting the surgical team don't even try the idea in case it goes wrong, and then lie to the patient about taking that stance.

   Lastly, Dr. Melendez's vehement exclusion of Shaun was attacked by 3 hospital staff: Dr. Marcus Andrews, the Head of Surgery; Jessica Preston, board member; and Dr. Glassman, hospital President - but it's Preston who makes the most significant point: despite Melendez's valid concerns, his current treatment of Shaun is going to make him appear as if he is on the "wrong side" and "prejudiced" - which is exactly how I receive his character so far. Perhaps in future episodes, Melendez will soften his stance enough that actions such as Shaun desperately visiting a discharged patient at home won't be warranted.

   But Shaun will still be the MVP. I have no doubts about that.

RATING: 9/10

POINTS OF NOTE:

• "If you don't do Dr. Melendez's test right now, I'll throw a rock through your window." Flashback informs plotline - this time for hilarity.
• Nicholas Gonzalez (who plays Dr. Melendez) made it past the pilot after all. I suppose Kevin Alejandro was too busy to take his spot this time.
• Chuku Modu (who plays Dr. Kalu) has a typically posh British accent. One day, we'll see a Scouser on an American show. That'll be interesting.
• Dr. Glassman, don't think I missed you. You still one of the MVPs.