‘The Good Doctor’ Season 3 Episode 20 Preview: Let's look back at this season ahead of its final chapter
Almost seven months and 20 episodes later, the third season of ABC’s popular primetime drama 'The Good Doctor' is finally coming to an end. In the two-part season finale, we see the leading team of surgeons at St Bonaventure Hospital fight the aftermath of an earthquake that hit the city. In an effort to fight the exigency, some of them manage to survive, some remain at the hospital to take care of the victims, and some of them, who are outside face the consequences and end up in danger.
If one has to point out at the underlying theme of the season, it was all about the evolving love and romance among the key characters. Everything else was only to catalyze their stories forward.
While we cannot say for sure, who will survive to see another season, and who will not, we want to take a look back at the entire season, just as a quick recap and bring it all down to one big ending.
For starters, and most important of all, it was Dr Shaun Murphy’s love life. Yes, as much as there dramatic life events of other doctors, Shaun’s life events did steal all the attention and not to mention, all our hearts as well. From being hesitant to approach his love interest Dr Carly Lever, to eventually asking her out, dating her for months, while undergoing quite a few ups and downs, Shaun has gone through the full circle of his dating life.
But that’s not all. He realized that his friendship with Lea Dilalo had taken the form of romance and he tried to get his love life back all over again, but to no avail. If rejection was left out of his earlier cycle, Lea ensured to check that box for Shaun. And now, as he stands on the thin line of life and death, trapped under rubble, Lea's feelings stand on trial. Lea now realizes how important Shaun is to her, as he overhears him pouring his heart out to a victim.
Apart from Shaun, there was also the relationship of Dr Neil Melendez and Dr Audrey Lim which went through a rough patch and eventually ended, much to our disappointment. But perhaps, it was for their own good. Post-breakup, both Neil and Audrey evolved and became different people, each better at their jobs and as individuals. And because Neil was on his own, he had the time and space to devote himself to work and mentor younger residences.
This also gave him the opportunity to guide Dr Claire Browne, only to develop a soft corner for her. The two became friends, and grew closer, until Claire realized one day how much she loves Neil. Perhaps Neil does too but being her senior and mentor, he couldn’t open up about his feelings. Now, as he lies in the hospital, injured in the earthquake and fighting for his life, his love life could take a whole new turn. But will he survive to see this?
Joining the bandwagon of the theme of the season, we also had Dr Aaron Glassman, who gets married this season. After a few initial hiccups, his newlywed wife, Debbie and he learn to live with each other’s flaws, start working together, and carry on with their married life.
In other words, love blossomed for some people this season, while it died for others, making it a season of ‘ultimate evolution’.
What will the next season bring? To understand, we have to endure the painful last episode of the season and wait for the characters to take us through the last chapter of their season 3 journey.
‘The Good Doctor’ Season 3 Finale Part-2 Episode 20 will air on March 30, 10 pm/9c, only on ABC.