The Good Doctor

10 Best Episodes of The Good Doctor - Season 1

The Good Doctor is a medical drama that has been on ABC since 2017. It follows the story of Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, as he navigates his new life in a prestigious hospital's surgical unit. The show has been a hit on ABC, with 7 seasons and counting. If you’re looking for the best episodes of The Good Doctor, here are some episodes that have been ranked by fans.

One of the best episodes of The Good Doctor according to fans is the season 2 finale called "Heartfelt". In this episode, Shaun and Lea are tasked with repairing a young girl's heart. However, the surgery proves to be a challenge and Shaun is forced to make a difficult decision. This episode is a gripping, emotional finale that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Another great episode of The Good Doctor is season 5 episode 8, titled "Facing the Music". In this episode, Shaun and the rest of the team are forced to confront the consequences of their past decisions. As the team deals with the repercussions, Shaun must confront his own guilt and learn to accept responsibility for his actions. This episode is a powerful exploration of human emotion and the importance of accountability.

Written by Sophie and last updated on apr 10, 2024.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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The Good Doctor - S1E11

#15 - Islands (1) (Season 1 - Episode 11)

Dr. Marcus Andrews enlists Dr. Neil Melendez on a very sensitive kidney transplant between a pair of twins; Dr. Shaun Murphy decides to take an impromptu trip with his friend Lea and leave his problems behind.

The episode was rated 7.77 from 3025 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E13

#14 - Seven Reasons (Season 1 - Episode 13)

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Dr. Shaun Murphy suspects his patient is lying about the reason for her injury and makes a controversial assumption about her motives. Meanwhile, Dr. Neil Melendez’s personal life could be affecting his work and, ultimately, his patients lives.

The episode was rated 7.77 from 2922 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E3

#13 - Oliver (Season 1 - Episode 3)

In the episode titled "Oliver" of the medical drama The Good Doctor, Dr. Neil Melendez and Dr. Jared Kalu are confronted with the difficulty of treating their patient whose lack of honesty may cost him his chance at a life-saving surgery. Meanwhile, Dr. Claire Browne must learn to communicate with Dr. Shaun Murphy in order to retrieve a donated organ for the hospital. With their mission to save the patient, Browne and Murphy must work together to achieve a successful outcome.

The episode features a guest star, Tim Russ, who plays the role of Tuvok. His appearance threw some viewers off guard as he didn't speak like a Vulcan as they had expected. Some viewers also questioned what type of PlayStation controller runs on triple-A batteries. Despite a few questions, many viewers found this episode to be their favorite so far due to the intriguing dynamic between Shaun and Browne.

The episode was rated 7.81 from 4531 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E4

#12 - Pipes (Season 1 - Episode 4)

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In the episode 'Pipes' of the show The Good Doctor, Dr. Neil Melendez and his team are thrust into legal waters when a husband and wife are facing a life-changing decision concerning their unborn child. At the same time, Dr. Shaun Murphy is attempting to adjust to his new home environment, and also makes a big advancement with his coworkers.

The show has been positively received by viewers, with each episode outperforming the last. It focuses on the main character's strengths and weaknesses, while still exploring the strengths of the other characters. Additionally, viewers appreciate the moral questions presented in each episode, adding further value to the show.

The episode was rated 7.81 from 4288 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E9

#11 - Intangibles (Season 1 - Episode 9)

The Good Doctor's episode Intangibles follows St. Bonaventure hospital's international humanitarian program as the team takes on a young boy from the Congo with severe congenital heart anomalies. Dr. Neil Melendez has doubts about the safety of the procedure, while Dr. Shaun Murphy works out the best course of action. In a side story, Murphy's latest encounter with his neighbor Lea leaves him in a state of confusion.

This episode was met with much praise from the audience, with many commenting on the hilarious moments from Shaun. The ending also had viewers laughing out loud. All in all, this episode was a hit and showed why this show continues to be so popular.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 3272 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E10

#10 - Sacrifice (Season 1 - Episode 10)

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In this episode of The Good Doctor, a charming young doctor puts a member of the surgical team in an awkward position at work. In response, Dr. Glassman suggests that Dr. Shaun Murphy meet with a therapist. Viewers congratulate Jason for finally making it out of The Bad Place and applaud Claire for calling out the creepy doctor. The gamer's dialogue was met with criticism, as viewers found it to be unrealistic. In addition, viewers noticed three major events taking place during this episode. If viewers were in the gamer's shoes, they would have preferred death over the risk of being paralysed, as there are worse things than death.

The Good Doctor is a show about Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome. This episode, titled "Sacrifice," is full of suspense and drama. Throughout the episode, viewers see Dr. Shaun Murphy and the rest of the surgical team try to navigate the difficult situation put in front of them by the charming young doctor. Dr. Glassman eventually recommends that Dr. Shaun Murphy see a therapist, setting the stage for further character development and story arcs.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 3200 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E8

#9 - Apple (Season 1 - Episode 8)

In the episode "Apple" of The Good Doctor, a robbery at the grocery mart Dr. Shaun Murphy is shopping at, puts lives at risk due to his communication limitations. Despite this traumatic day, Dr. Aaron Glassman is concerned he may not be doing enough to help Shaun. This episode was highly praised, as many viewers found it to be the best episode of the season so far and better than 90% of the trash on TV. It was also considered very touching, and even borderline tear jerking.

The episode was well-received by viewers, as it was seen as interesting and cute. It also showed how Shaun's communication limitations can sometimes put him in difficult situations, but how Dr. Glassman is always there to help him as best as he can. It was an episode that taught viewers a valuable lesson about understanding those with communication limitations, and how we can help them.

The episode was rated 7.87 from 3412 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E17

#8 - Smile (Season 1 - Episode 17)

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The episode Smile from the show The Good Doctor follows Dr. Shaun Murphy as he questions the need for an elective surgery that will allow a young patient to smile for the first time. Dr. Claire Brown and Dr. Morgan Reznick also discover that their patient has lied about her identity. This episode of The Good Doctor has received a lot of positive reviews, with many viewers expressing their love for the show.

The ending of the episode was particularly gut-wrenching, making many viewers' hearts sink. Despite the bittersweet ending, viewers were left with a sense of hope, as the episode depicted the power of a smile and the strength of the human spirit. This episode of The Good Doctor proves once again why it is a fan favorite and why viewers keep coming back for more.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 2625 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E5

#7 - Point Three Percent (Season 1 - Episode 5)

In the Point Three Percent episode of The Good Doctor, we see Dr. Shaun Murphy make an unexpected encounter with a young patient who looks strikingly similar to his deceased brother, Steve. While Shaun is taken aback by this discovery, he soon discovers that his parents had been hiding his diagnosis from him and struggles to understand why he isn't allowed to know the truth about his own health.

The team of doctors at St. Bonaventure Hospital is also seen trying to figure out what is causing their patients' increasingly severe allergic reactions, and are in a race against time to find the cause before the next reaction kills another patient. Despite the interesting plot, this episode was met with mixed reviews from viewers, with some finding it to be emotionally moving, while others thought it was a cheap move to use his brother's clone. Nevertheless, the heartbreaking ending of the episode left many viewers in tears.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 4001 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E7

#6 - 22 Steps (Season 1 - Episode 7)

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The Good Doctor is an inspiring show that focuses on Dr. Shaun Murphy, a resident doctor at St. Bonaventure Hospital. In the episode "22 Steps," Shaun takes on the case of a patient with autism and must confront prejudice from an unlikely source.

The episode is off to a great start, with viewers not being disappointed yet. As Shaun works to diagnose and treat the patient, the prejudice from an unlikely source is present and the episode highlights the importance of acceptance and understanding. Meanwhile, Dr. Jared Kalu has to learn to accept his limitations as a surgeon.

Viewers are already loving the episode and would highly recommend watching this inspiring series. A memorable moment for sure is when Shaun drops the mic at the end of a powerful speech. This moment is sure to stay with viewers for a long time.

The episode was rated 7.89 from 3560 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E12

#5 - Islands (2) (Season 1 - Episode 12)

In the episode "Islands Part Two (2)" of The Good Doctor, the twins suffer from complications after their surgery and the team at San Jose Boneventure Hospital must make a difficult decision. At the same time, Dr. Shaun Murphy returns to the hospital after his trip with Lea and decides he needs a more permanent change, giving Dr. Aaron Glassman his two weeks’ notice.

The episode was an emotional rollercoaster, with the ending song "Someone To Stay" being especially moving. Viewers were sad to see Lea go, as she is so cute and endearing.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 2944 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E6

#4 - Not Fake (Season 1 - Episode 6)

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In the episode "Not Fake" of the show The Good Doctor, Dr. Shaun Murphy and Dr. Claire Browne come up with a daring and experimental procedure to save the life of a young groom. However, the success of the procedure depends on the groom's bride-to-be and his parents' ability to work together. Meanwhile, Jared faces a difficult challenge as he tries to emotionally connect with a patient whose scars may prove too deep to overcome.

The episode has a lot of suspense and drama, especially when it comes to Jared's patient. Viewers cannot help but hope for the best possible outcome for the groom and his family. Additionally, viewers hope that Shaun will find love in the future, as he has been unlucky in love so far. Despite the heart-wrenching moments, the episode is filled with positivity and hope, making it a great watch.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 3768 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E2

#3 - Mount Rushmore (Season 1 - Episode 2)

In the episode Mount Rushmore, Dr. Shaun Murphy’s first day at St. Bonaventure Hospital is complicated by his attention to detail. Meanwhile, Dr. Claire Browne learns the importance of honesty when confronted with a difficult diagnosis for her patient.

The episode was full of humor and light-hearted moments. One of the most memorable scenes was when Shaun and the nurse waited for a patient to pass gas to help diagnose her condition. The comedic timing and delivery of the lines was perfectly executed, eliciting many laughs from the audience. Freddy Highmore also demonstrated his acting prowess with his portrayal of Shaun. His endearing nature and natural charm brought the character to life and made him instantly likable.

The episode was rated 7.96 from 4860 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E1

#2 - Burnt Food (Season 1 - Episode 1)

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The Good Doctor, a new show following the young surgeon Dr. Shaun Murphy, is a modern take on the genius type IQ in lower "E.Q." circumstances. The pilot episode, Burnt Food, follows Dr. Murphy as he relocates to the prestigious St. Bonaventure hospital's surgical unit. His only advocate, Dr. Aaron Glassman, challenges the skepticism and prejudices of the hospital's board and staff when he brings him in to join the team.

The Good Doctor is a show that has captivated viewers with its thought-provoking storytelling, and an amazing performance from everyone involved. Fans have praised the show for its unique portrayal of its characters, and how it brings out the best in them. The first episode, Burnt Food, left viewers wanting more, with its abrupt ending that still manages to leave you feeling emotional. With such strong themes of friendship and family, The Good Doctor is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

The episode was rated 8.00 from 5486 votes.

The Good Doctor - S1E18

#1 - More (Season 1 - Episode 18)

In the heart-wrenching episode "More" of The Good Doctor, the St. Bonaventure team is faced with a race against time to unravel the mystery behind a young college student's unexplained injuries. As the stakes rise and the clock ticks, tensions run high as they work to prevent the student's condition from deteriorating further. Viewers are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions as they root for the doctors to uncover the truth and save the day.

Meanwhile, Shaun finds himself grappling with a personal loss that threatens to overshadow his focus during a critical surgical procedure. As Shaun navigates the delicate balance between his emotions and responsibilities, viewers are left on the edge of their seats, wondering if his distraction will jeopardize not only his job but also the life of the patient under his care. The episode delves into the complexities of Shaun's character, showcasing his vulnerability and resilience in the face of adversity.

With poignant moments that tug at the heartstrings and an emotional conclusion that leaves a lasting impact, "More" is a standout episode that resonates with fans of The Good Doctor. As viewers eagerly anticipate the next season, the episode's powerful storytelling and compelling performances continue to solidify the show's reputation for delivering gripping narratives that touch the soul. Brace yourself for a tear-jerking journey that underscores the brilliance of this beloved series.

The episode was rated 8.14 from 2582 votes.

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