Happy Thursday Everyone! The week is almost over and that also means another passion blog. This week I got some inspiration from one of the other courses that I am taking this semester, and that is RHS( Rehabilitation and Human Services). For one of my assignments I had to explore and understand how media representation shapes perceptions of disability. So, I thought it would be fun to talk about one of the tv shows I am actually using for my assignment and that is “The Good Doctor.” Some of you may have heard of this show before, its streaming services are on ABC and Hulu. The Good Doctor features Shaun Murphy (played by Freddie Highmore), A young autistic surgeon with savant syndrome, who leaves his calm country life to join the surgical unit at the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital, a decision strongly encouraged by his mentor, Dr. Aaron Glassman. Shaun, who had a rough childhood, is alone in the world and unable to connect with those around him, but he finds his niche by using his amazing medical talent and intuition to save lives and challenge his colleagues’ skepticism.
The Good Doctor’s significance to the television landscape stems in part from its ability to honor persons with disabilities, highlighting both the benefits and problems of daily life for them. In an interview, Highmore stated that his character cannot represent all persons on the spectrum, but rather seeks to raise awareness of those who live with these diseases.The cast and crew work hard to create a series that incorporates so many elements, such as medical terminology and realistically portraying persons with medical issues.
The struggle autistic people experience in their capacity to empathize with others is one viewpoint the writers of THE GOOD DOCTOR portray on screen. This presents a unique set of obstacles for Dr. Murphy’s bedside manner as a physician. Dr. Murphy speaks directly to everyone, which makes him an endearing character in certain respects, but he definitely lacks soft skills.
Other characters, such as top surgeon Dr. Glassman (Played by Richard Schiff ), train Dr. Murphy through other people’s doubts in his professional abilities during his shifts at the hospital. The show’s poignant moments and engaging characters definitely appeal with viewers, as the first season was one of the year’s best new TV shows.
Something may strike a chord with Dr. Murphy’s painful youth when viewers learn more about his past. He was a child when he ran away from an abusive father and witnessed his brother trip and die in front of his eyes. All of these terrible childhood traumas compound the stress of navigating medical school without a support system.
This series is so beautifully crafted. The raw emotions that the actors poured into all the scenes makes this show worth watching. It gives viewers insight into the lives of individuals who are trying to sustain a normal life but suffer with savant syndrome. I hope this review was convincing enough for you guys to give it a watch. See you next week!