"The Good Doctor" is a new show on ABC that had me sobbing from beginning to end. This show is about an Autistic man with savant syndrome. Dr. Shaun Murphy becomes a doctor with the surgical unit at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Maybe it is just from my living with a brother with autism for all of my life, but this show really understands autism and the biases that people with ASD face.
Here are some specific reasons everyone should watch the show:
1. It opens your eyes to something you've never thought of before
Have you ever seen someone who might act a little different and think "what a weirdo"? Have you ever seen someone with autism or any other disability and think about how sad life must be for them? Have you thought about how little someone in that position can accomplish? We don't think about these questions, we don't like to. This show shines a light on this issue and how you can really be preventing something that will better not only your life but everyone else around you as well, all by putting aside what you think you can tell about this person and see them beyond their disability.
2. The writing and mannerisms for Shaun are spot-on.
Throughout my life, I've known many people with autism. From school to home, to work; I've learned to recognize people who may be on the spectrum. The man who plays Shaun, Freddie Highmore, is not autistic, but his acting is spot on. His mannerisms, from the way he walks, runs, mumbles, speak, and even his movements are mannerisms that reflect people with autism. All his monologues and dialogues show that the people writing this show have really researched Autism Spectrum Disorder.
3. It's has everything you want in a TV show
Wanna learn about medicine? Wanna laugh? Wanna cry? Wanna feel hopeful? Wanna even feel hopeless at some points? This is the show for you. It has a great balance of all the things that make a great TV show.
This show really shines a light on something we ignore. We ignore not only the capabilities of people with disabilities but also the rights. Some think of people with autism as less than, not worthy, or stupid. The opposite is the case, in every single way. They can teach us so much about almost anything. They are kind and sweet and really honest. I told my mom to watch the show; actually, I texted her "I'm sobbing watch the good doctor right now and sob with me" and when she watched it she then posted this to Facebook:
"Thank you to the creators of "The Good Doctor." Thank you for creating a series that highlights the abilities that a person with Autism can have. Too often, it is the "weird," the word used in the episode, that is what is seen - people simply can't see past that. How sad for them. My son is on the spectrum and does not have savant skills (that we have found yet) but he is smart, he is capable, he has a NY Regents HS diploma, that neurotypicals have difficulty attaining, but he doesn't have a job yet because of the prejudice that is out there. After 3 months of volunteering, the feedback was - he doesn't smile enough and he isn't friendly with staff. That was with a voc hab program who gave no feedback prior to the end of the experience ..."That's the problem with most of our Autistic clients and they can't find jobs..." Really - sounds like the problem is with the program. Educate the other employees. Educate the community. People on the Spectrum don't chit-chat and they may not smile as much as others because they don't have the same social awareness. That doesn't mean they cannot contribute significantly. So many people on the Spectrum have so much to give, so much to contribute. Please let them. Give them a chance. See how much they can teach you, while you are teaching them. From the first episode - "Aren't we judged by how we treat people...we give hope to those people with limitations that those limitations are not what they think they are, that they do have a shot...we hire Sean and ...we are better people for it" Other people wish to win the lottery to relax and enjoy travelling the world. I wish I had the money to start a mentoring/job coaching center to connect adults with autism to their communities. Maybe someday. Until then, thank you again, for creating a show that depicts the possibilities behind the facade of a disability that is still SO misunderstood."
You might think this show dramatizes the view of autistic people in this hospital, but it doesn't. It is so on point with what people on the spectrum go through every single day. This show is amazing and if this article didn't really sell you, then here is one bonus:
Richard Schiff (aka Toby from "West Wing") is in it and is (obviously) AMAZING.
"The Good Doctor" is on ABC on Mondays at 10 pm EST, or catch up anytime at Hulu or abc.com