"The Good Doctor" is a medical drama that airs on ABC. The series first aired in 2017 and is currently in its sixth season. The series follows several doctors from California's San Jose's St. Bonaventure Hospital. Specifically, the show follows the life of Shaun Murphy. Shaun is a surgeon at St. Bonaventure who is autistic. Throughout the series, Dr. Murphy is shown to battle with the demands of his medical career, his social life at the hospital, and his disability. At the beginning of the series, Dr. Murphy faces skeptics in the hospital. Many believe that he is unable to perform the duties of a surgeon because of his disability. Not only does the series explore the life of someone with autism, but the social issues, and constant struggles of the medical field. I believe that "The Good Doctor" changes the way that disabilities are portrayed in the media.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also known as Autism is a cognitive developmental disability that can affect the individual's communication, social skills, and physical and social behaviors. Individuals with autism can display a variety of symptoms from a wide range on the spectrum. While symptoms may vary, individuals typically have difficulty with communication (Both verbal and non-verbal), social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities. Individuals with autism are unique, and while one may struggle with displaying emotions, or social interaction, they may excel in areas such as math, science, or the arts. These symptoms are demonstrated throughout the series "The Good Doctor" and it's not always in the underdog always wins type of scenario.
Season five's episode eighteen, the episode explores numerous issues at St. Bonaventure's hospital. Regarding Dr. Murphy, we are faced with some of the difficulties he faces from his disability. One of those challenges is the struggle with communication and social interaction. Shaun throughout the series has had an issue with being brutally honest with individuals he encounters. In this episode, Shaun gives back the gifts that doctors Parks and Morgan give to Shaun and Lea for their wedding. He reasoned that the couple was not having a public wedding. Immediately following we follow the conversation with Shaun and the Wolkes. The Wolkes are the mother and father of Dr. Asher Wolke, Another surgeon at St. Bonaventure. During the conversation, Mrs. Wolke tells Shaun god bless you to which his response was "Okay, thank you." In another scene, Dr. Murphy asks Dr. Wolke if he was changing how he acts because his family was present. Shaun then goes to his fiancé and notices that she is not happy about having their wedding in a courthouse. Confused as to what to do next, Shaun seeks advice from Dr. Glassman. Dr. Glassman throughout the series is depicted to be a father figure to Shaun. This is evident during the scene where Dr. Glassman is attempting to tie the bow tie for Shaun. We are then presented with the wedding ceremony, where he interrupts Dr. Andrews, who is officiating the ceremony, by saying "I do" out of pure excitement.
A popular disability theorist by the name of Octavia Butler once said, "I want to portray human variety. . . (and) I want to do it without lecturing or resorting to stereotypes" (Shalk, 2018). I believe that this is portrayed in "The Good Doctor". In this episode specifically, we are met with Shaun's struggle with social interactions and his ability to communicate. When Lea tells Shaun that she is down about not having the dream wedding, but is okay with the courthouse wedding, Shaun immediately turns to Dr. Glassman. Throughout this series, Shaun turns to Dr. Glassman for advice when it comes to understanding people's intentions and communication. On some occasions, Dr. Murphy has been reprimanded for being too honest with patients and not showing empathy toward their situations. Shaun's struggles are put on display throughout the series, and while it may have the "empathetic good feeling" tone to his disability, there are times when he is faced with the harsh realities of the world and those in the medical field. The show does display that even with the day-to-day struggles of an individual with autism, one can overcome the challenges and can become someone successful. Even though that may contain the "all is well" type of tone, the series does show the difficulties Shaun faced to overcome his challenges and become who he is today.
Sonia Loftis states, "Many disability studies critics have noted that disabled characters in literary works and films are often minor characters: while they may prove central to the plot, these figures generally appear on the margins of the story" (Loftis, 2015). This is not the case in "The Good Doctor". Though the series does have many cast members, Shaun is typically the focus of the episode. Unless the episode is focused on a specific message for the audience, for example, a political or social issue. The series does tend to use Shaun as an inspiration piece, but as seen in this episode he is not the centerpiece. One may argue that the wedding is the main focus of the episode, but I believe that Wolke's battle with his family is what the show focused on. However, the show does highlight Shaun's battles with social interactions throughout the episode. I feel this type of approach is key for the depiction of disabilities within the media.
The media for far too long has portrayed disability as an inspiration and tends to kill off or cure the character after their purpose is served. This however is not the case in "The Good Doctor". The series which airs on ABC follows the struggles of Shaun Murphy, a doctor who is autistic and is a surgeon at St. Bonaventure. Specific to this episode, we see Shaun's difficulties with social interaction. Unlike the typical portrayal of individuals with disabilities, this series did not use Shaun's autism as a source of inspiration. Instead, though the series follows the life of Shaun, he is placed as a secondary character in this episode. The fact that the series can accomplish just that and still have the viewer engaged throughout is a step in the right direction on how individuals with disabilities should be portrayed in the media.
References Loftis, Sonia Freeman. Imagining Autism: Fiction and Stereotypes on the Spectrum, Indiana University Press, 2015 Schalk, Sami. "Interpreting Disability Metaphor and Race in Octavia Butler's 'The Evening and the Morning and the Night.'" African American Review, vol. 50, no. 2, 2017, pp. 139-151.,
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also known as Autism is a cognitive developmental disability that can affect the individual's communication, social skills, and physical and social behaviors. Individuals with autism can display a variety of symptoms from a wide range on the spectrum. While symptoms may vary, individuals typically have difficulty with communication (Both verbal and non-verbal), social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities. Individuals with autism are unique, and while one may struggle with displaying emotions, or social interaction, they may excel in areas such as math, science, or the arts. These symptoms are demonstrated throughout the series "The Good Doctor" and it's not always in the underdog always wins type of scenario.
Season five's episode eighteen, the episode explores numerous issues at St. Bonaventure's hospital. Regarding Dr. Murphy, we are faced with some of the difficulties he faces from his disability. One of those challenges is the struggle with communication and social interaction. Shaun throughout the series has had an issue with being brutally honest with individuals he encounters. In this episode, Shaun gives back the gifts that doctors Parks and Morgan give to Shaun and Lea for their wedding. He reasoned that the couple was not having a public wedding. Immediately following we follow the conversation with Shaun and the Wolkes. The Wolkes are the mother and father of Dr. Asher Wolke, Another surgeon at St. Bonaventure. During the conversation, Mrs. Wolke tells Shaun god bless you to which his response was "Okay, thank you." In another scene, Dr. Murphy asks Dr. Wolke if he was changing how he acts because his family was present. Shaun then goes to his fiancé and notices that she is not happy about having their wedding in a courthouse. Confused as to what to do next, Shaun seeks advice from Dr. Glassman. Dr. Glassman throughout the series is depicted to be a father figure to Shaun. This is evident during the scene where Dr. Glassman is attempting to tie the bow tie for Shaun. We are then presented with the wedding ceremony, where he interrupts Dr. Andrews, who is officiating the ceremony, by saying "I do" out of pure excitement.
A popular disability theorist by the name of Octavia Butler once said, "I want to portray human variety. . . (and) I want to do it without lecturing or resorting to stereotypes" (Shalk, 2018). I believe that this is portrayed in "The Good Doctor". In this episode specifically, we are met with Shaun's struggle with social interactions and his ability to communicate. When Lea tells Shaun that she is down about not having the dream wedding, but is okay with the courthouse wedding, Shaun immediately turns to Dr. Glassman. Throughout this series, Shaun turns to Dr. Glassman for advice when it comes to understanding people's intentions and communication. On some occasions, Dr. Murphy has been reprimanded for being too honest with patients and not showing empathy toward their situations. Shaun's struggles are put on display throughout the series, and while it may have the "empathetic good feeling" tone to his disability, there are times when he is faced with the harsh realities of the world and those in the medical field. The show does display that even with the day-to-day struggles of an individual with autism, one can overcome the challenges and can become someone successful. Even though that may contain the "all is well" type of tone, the series does show the difficulties Shaun faced to overcome his challenges and become who he is today.
Sonia Loftis states, "Many disability studies critics have noted that disabled characters in literary works and films are often minor characters: while they may prove central to the plot, these figures generally appear on the margins of the story" (Loftis, 2015). This is not the case in "The Good Doctor". Though the series does have many cast members, Shaun is typically the focus of the episode. Unless the episode is focused on a specific message for the audience, for example, a political or social issue. The series does tend to use Shaun as an inspiration piece, but as seen in this episode he is not the centerpiece. One may argue that the wedding is the main focus of the episode, but I believe that Wolke's battle with his family is what the show focused on. However, the show does highlight Shaun's battles with social interactions throughout the episode. I feel this type of approach is key for the depiction of disabilities within the media.
The media for far too long has portrayed disability as an inspiration and tends to kill off or cure the character after their purpose is served. This however is not the case in "The Good Doctor". The series which airs on ABC follows the struggles of Shaun Murphy, a doctor who is autistic and is a surgeon at St. Bonaventure. Specific to this episode, we see Shaun's difficulties with social interaction. Unlike the typical portrayal of individuals with disabilities, this series did not use Shaun's autism as a source of inspiration. Instead, though the series follows the life of Shaun, he is placed as a secondary character in this episode. The fact that the series can accomplish just that and still have the viewer engaged throughout is a step in the right direction on how individuals with disabilities should be portrayed in the media.
References Loftis, Sonia Freeman. Imagining Autism: Fiction and Stereotypes on the Spectrum, Indiana University Press, 2015 Schalk, Sami. "Interpreting Disability Metaphor and Race in Octavia Butler's 'The Evening and the Morning and the Night.'" African American Review, vol. 50, no. 2, 2017, pp. 139-151.,