In case you missed it: A few weeks ago, I asked readers to send me their picks (and reasons) for the top 5 episodes of The Good Doctor Season 4 as well as their 3 “worst episode” picks.
For a judging panel of just 7 readers-- OK, 6 readers plus myself-- we put a helluva lot of interesting thoughts out there. WHICH IS AWESOME. Thanks to all who took the time to vote!
Are the seven voices that ultimately responded in line with the hundreds that apparently read the blog? I’m truly curious. So whether you’re a frequent commenter, a first-timer, or would rather email me with your thoughts on the unofficial “study” you’re about to read (KLawrence997-at-gmail-dot-com), I hope you’ll speak up.
This was great fun to compile- I hope you enjoy it too!
One note: several people, myself included, indicated there were certain episodes they’d include on their list if I’d allowed giving more than five “best” votes… that’s why there is an Honorable Mention category. (That’s HM for “Best”, not “worst”)
Off we go… starting with
THE TWO S4 EPISODES GETTING NO VOTES EITHER WAY...
and
Spilled Milk (Where Shaun feels disconnected from Lea until they hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time)
As for the 18 episodes from S4 that made the list of our judging panel, read on...
"Paige starring, directed by her friend, Freddie. As someone who has coded, the storyline was interesting to me. As TGD does often, it tapped into what’s happening in the world."-- Julianna
"With Freddie beautifully directing an episode highlighting Lea's work crisis and allowing Paige to brilliantly shine, of course this exciting episode would make my list of favorites. Plus it included 2 memorable songs that have made my list of favorite TGD songs."--Pamela
"Well, a Lea-centric episode, what else do I need to add? Her interactions with Glassy were pure gold!"-- Daniela
"This was the easiest pick of all, directed by Freddie and with Paige on the so-deserved spotlight... loved Decrypt and how it focused on a Lea side that we had never seen before. And Freddie's directing is amazing always, the way he focused on details, how he places the camera strategically to focus on something yet to cover the whole scale... everything so artistic, but with his special signature. It's a visual pleasure to see his work. And he took the best out of Paige too." -- SHEA ENDGAME
S4 Episode with 4 "Best" votes plus 2 Honorable Mention: Parenting
"I made a wish list for S4 during the many long months we were waiting for S4 to finally start, and one of the things I put on the list was 'Shaun stands up to Lea's parents on her behalf.' I got that wish in this episode, and that scene played out beautifully." --Amy
"Shaun’s confronting Lea’s parents in the hotel lobby sums up the season for me. Shaun’s love of Lea will not be shaken and he’s resolute in defending it. And the scene between Glassman and Lea-- Glassman still harbors doubts, like the audience, of Lea not being at (the level of) unconditional love like Shaun is… But you see he sees something different with Lea this time. -- Steven
"I want to mention this episode too because it felt so well balanced. And I loved it, I have watched it easily like 10 times hahahaha "-- SHEA ENDGAME
"We’d been waiting for this one a long time, and for the most part, it didn’t disappoint… AND… we got some great interaction between Glassy and Lea that we’d also been awaiting a long time. Just didn’t think we’d get it HERE as a bonus."-- Kelli
"All in all, it was a very enjoyable episode. But the particular reason why I loved it so much, is because for the very first time Glassman’s role in Shaun’s life was stated out loud. I’ve already explained that what totally captured me, at the very beginning, about The Good Doctor, was the Shaun-Glassman relationship. It’s something I’ve always cherished, and hearing Glassy being called Shaun’s dad for the very first time was priceless. As it was priceless not hearing Shaun replying that he hated fathers. He really came a long way!" -- Daniela
"Because the proposal of course! The writers finally gave them a break. Also what a great sendoff for Claire, especially her final scene with Shaun. Just beautifully done."-- Julianna
"Everyone had major life changes… but in my totally biased opinion, the best change came for Shaun and Lea. I would be surprised if this episode didn't make anyone's five favorites list." --Amy
"A neat bow to wrap up the season. The proposal was that feel- good moment you carry over to the next season, and it was brilliant to have Lea propose to Shaun. It was explained as it had to be on her terms, which meant to me she had to reach the unconditional love that Shaun has for her."-- Steven
"It was emotional, it flowed beautifully and closed many storylines but also opened others. And Shea, the silent scenes between Shaun and Lea taking care of the baby... always Paige and Freddie deliver so well, they transmit so much with just a simple look. Claire's ending was beautiful, it felt so right... she was made for this and you, as viewer, remain hopeful that the character already found her place. It was amazing. And also, the simplicity yet the meaningful Shea scene of the proposal... Freddie said 'I hope that it feels honest, true and meaningful' I can say that without a doubt that's how it felt." -- SHEA ENDGAME
With 3 "Best" votes: Teeny Blue Eyes
"Yes, Lea was navigating some serious doubts about the pregnancy (thank God she got to talk to Claire about them), but watching Shaun deal simultaneously with the on-the-spectrum Dr. Chambers, who made him second-guess his own abilities…he had to grow up a lot in that hour. Still, his priority throughout was Lea's happiness-- her decision was his decision. The way they arrived at their ultimate choice together was a thing of beauty."-- Kelli
"The emotional pregnancy decision was handled very well. The change of heart at the end to keep the baby is my most favorite Shea scene of S4. The storyline of autistic Dr. Chambers was also my favorite medical case of the season." -- Pamela
"I loved seeing Shaun struggle to understand how he could be a good father. And the parallel between him and Dr. Chambers was so beautifully developed. Great television indeed!"-- Daniela
With 1 "Best" and 1 Honorable Mention: We're All Crazy Sometimes
"Lea acting crazy; Shaun leaping into the moving Striped Tomato like Starsky or Hutch! I had to laugh when he happily said, 'I hurt my knee!'"-- Julianna
"I have a soft spot for this one… not only because it’s where we first learned of the pregnancy, but it was such a fun little adventure for Shaun and Lea as they graduated to bigger (much bigger) challenges. It was the best way the show has paid homage to the Striped Tomato since they first unveiled it in 'Islands.'"-- Kelli
“There was SO much to love about this episode that having Shea kisses at both the start AND finish was mere sprinkles on the icing of the cake. Lovely conflict resolution with the symbolic presence of the doula… great underlying theme (womens’ needs being underserved in healthcare) that got the respectful script treatment that the 'Salad' episode was lacking... and since the next ep ('Waiting') wasn’t so much about #Shea’s own baby, this was the episode where 'she' felt the most real… like this was really going to go the distance. (Those bastards.)”--Kelli
Also with 1 "Best": Letting Go
“I know it was a follow-up on heartbreak for #Shea nation, but it was also a really well-constructed companion piece to ‘Dr. Ted’ that gave us refreshingly more Lea perspective than expected. Shaun’s handling of the grief was intriguing to watch too-- that phone scene between Shaun, Lea and Pam Dilallo is going to make a list of mine somewhere.”-- Kelli
With 1 Honorable Mention: Fault
“In an episode focused on Shaun’s leadership struggles, we got lots of #Shea extras: Shaun studying up to be a better supervisor (until Lea’s ‘sleep’ suggestion)... the list of Lea likes (Skittles, RuPaul’s Drag Race, etc.) … the ‘date night’ (for a few minutes anyway)... and the intertwining ‘I’m glad you’re here/me too’ in the aftermath of Shaun and Wolke’s loss, which we ALL needed to get us through the holiday break.”-- Kelli
OK, now we're gonna build in the other direction... time to start recognizing episodes that received "worst" votes...
“There are parts of ‘Frontline’ Parts 1 and 2 that I LOVED (Shaun and Lea; Shaun and Glassman; Park and Shaun; Park and Shaun on video chats with Kellan and Lea at the same time) and parts that I HATED (especially Nurse Petringa dying, and the knowledge by the time of ‘Lim’ that these episodes contributed heavily to Lim's PTSD).” -- Amy
--
“I know it had to be done and it was well done, I’m not angry, disappointed, etc like some, but damn it was depressing.”-- Julianna
With 1 "Best" and 1 "Worst": Venga
“Love the Guatemala storyline, and Freddie’s obviously fluent Spanish.”-- Julianna
--
“The first part of the finale was weak imo... Storywise, I thought it lacked on touch and symbolism, which it should have had because of the meaning within the whole plot.The Shea scene of the episode was weak too... I understand that there is always a lack of time to develop more, but (Lea’s mention of possibly going back to Hershey) seemed like out of nowhere since we barely saw Shea together during the whole episode.” --Shea Endgame
Also with 1 "Best" and 1 "Worst": Not the Same
“Shaun got to work with Morgan in this one, and ever since Morgan and Shaun were teamed up during the quarantine in S2 and she was the one who told the nurse how to get Shaun back on his feet after he melted down... I have enjoyed Morgan and Shaun working together, and it was nice to see it again here. But mostly I love this episode because of all the Shaun and Lea goodness: them doing yoga together, Shaun giving Lea his bank password, Shaun asking Lea to move back in with him, Lea doing yoga at work and giving Shaun that look, her agreeing to move back in while looking into the future (she said she'd move in in a year anyway, so she was looking to her future with Shaun right from the start!)” -- AMY
“Maybe the execution of this milestone in #Shea history (Lea’s return to living with Shaun) got gummed up a bit timing-wise due to the need for the ‘Frontline’ episodes-- we’ll probably never know for sure-- but for me, what started well (the yoga sequences) got too rushed, starting with Lea’s lunchtime chat with Shaun (or was it mostly with herself? Oh, if she’d only had some real connections with the rest of the cast in the first half of S4!), and ending with her all moved back in by episode’s end. Put it this way: if this couple had been anyone BUT #Shea, I would have had serious doubts about their longevity after watching ‘Not The Same.’”-- Kelli
With 3 "Best," but 1 "Worst": Forgive or Forget
"Love the Shaun/Lea interactions. I love that Lea, depressed herself, saw that Shaun was sad too and suggested that they hike instead of going home. Also, Lea the budding, if very reluctant, surgeon! And Shaun’s quiet recognition of her in the ambulance, 'Yes, I am' [very lucky]. -- Julianna
"Reason 1 (for 'best'): All the awesome Shea content and what makes them so wonderful for us shippers--their love on display, their chemistry and humor when bickering, their mutual respect and support for each other and hello!!! Lea being Shaun's hero by saving his foot surgically!!!
"Reason 2: Being lucky enough to see the sets in Central Park in person, seeing Freddie and Paige going to/from the forest set and watching Antonia film the scene in the park. So memorable!!!" -- Pamela
"I think this choice will be unpopular... but I was very disappointed in this episode. Too many topics thrown there without a logic, none adequately explored (Claire and her dad, Debbie and Glassy, Shaun and Lea’s camping). It felt like a cacophony of rushed things. I had completely different expectations for this episode."-- Daniela
"The episode I rewatched the most....even though it was quite emotional and would produce tears with each viewing of the scene of the mothers' learning that their sons were going to make it. I also really appreciated seeing Lea involved so much with the mothers, really showing character development and growth." --Pamela
"It was a very emotional episode, reflecting on such relevant aspects of parenthood. Freddie’s performance was outstanding in every way." -- Daniela
"I didn’t like Shaun being called 'incompetent' by the ungrateful mom and then pushing (accidentally I understand) Lea into Shaun. It was another episode showing Shaun failing and unable to solve the medical problems, which were a hallmark of the first two seasons. I know Park needed some redemption so it was good that he made the save. (I also didn't like) ending the episode on a downer with Lea collapsing in the plaza. Knowing what it leads to makes it worse. -- Steven
With 3 "Worst" (and zero "Best"): Newbies
"Sorry, but the very absurd fight between Shea made of this episode one of the weakest of the season. It surprises me because the writer was Thomas L Moran, so to me it felt weirder that the conflict was so shallow, as they never ever gave the proper time to Lea's self-esteem issues, when it was soooo necessary." -- SHEA ENDGAME
"With two of the first-years gone by season's end, this newbies intro/post COVID storyline feels like a wasted episode; should have been about the fallout of S3 finale stories." -- Pamela
"Didn’t care for the know-it-all candidate who was telling everyone how to act. But obviously not a great Shea moment as Lea eggs Shaun on to communicate and then socially awkward Shaun commits the error of inadvertently insulting Lea. She gives off the vibe of I’m going to dump you until Shaun pulls off a save at the end with an inspiring speech…" -- Steven
"...Simply because there was no Shea, and I'm not counting the birthday gift search as Shea content-- especially when they don't even show what Lea's bday gift was."-- Pamela
"Exploring Lim’s PTSD was a good idea, but I didn’t like the episode’s execution. Once again, Shaun was there only as comic relief. His only significant scene was his teaching breakthrough in the OR." -- Daniela
“Ugh… While I appreciated the attention towards the mental health needs of our dear Chief of Surgery, it was a big ol’ bait-and-switch on the promo side of things for #Shea fans… the first of many this season of course. And then to all but keep Lea out of the entire episode ?? Too much." --Kelli
Finally, with the majority of the "Worst" votes (5)... probably to no reader's surprise...
"The case of the transgender pregnant man was SO important, beautifully portrayed and acted that it hurts me bad that this episode had such bad sides stories. The whole racism plot, I know is important and it's an issue that needs to be visualized, but to overload the episode with political and social troubles was too much and cost the show to have the worst imdb voting during its 4th season. To all of this, let's add the absurd Shea subplot, how they portrayed their relationship as a ridiculous sketch, what was the learning Shaun got out of this episode ? Seriously, nothing. All we saw was Lea acting like him and his crush simply puffed away because the woman liked pickles... OK? Aside from all that, the unnecessary dream kiss we saw bothered me terribly, especially when the leading characters hadn't had touched in like four episodes before this one. It all felt odd and sincerely off." -- SHEA ENDGAME
"...as an episode, as a whole, I won't be watching this one again."-- AMY
"Salad (it's not even worthy enough to include the whole title) - poor execution of some worthy issues AND she who shall not be named."-- Pamela
"The episode was poorly executed: they wanted to address too many social issues at once, so no one was adequately explored. Again, Shaun’s role was reduced to comic relief." -- Daniela
All 7 respondents had something to say about "Dr. Ted"… but not everyone was in agreement on whether that was good or bad. This gives TGD 4.16 the distinction of being The One With The Biggest Mix of Feels. (Like “Irresponsible”... not really a surprise!) Here’s a truncated version of all 7 responses:
"Admittedly, I struggled with the decision to include this episode because I haven't been able to rewatch it nor do I know if I can. It absolutely gutted me and to this day, when I see scenes included in fan videos, I get very emotional. This one hit me harder than any movie or TV show has in recent memory. I felt the baby's loss so profoundly. I included it for the artistry of the episode: the drama, the direction, the emotional impact and ESPECIALLY the performances with the highlight being Lea's heartbreaking sob upon finding out about the baby just by seeing Shaun's face." -- Pamela
"I know it’s an unpopular opinion, because it was a very sad episode. And I agree, it broke my heart, and I would have loved a completely different outcome. But it was a masterpiece, in every sense of the word!"-- Daniela
"The whole episode has so many different stages, you laugh, you cry, you worry, you feel and that's exactly what a great show should be. 'Dr. Ted' is a rollercoaster of feelings, a wave of emotions. I know many are still sad about the baby; it is sad, but Shea is still together, stronger than ever. I keep the fact that they love each other so much and are able to stick together after such a difficult test. Life is not easy and our reality check was this episode."-- SHEA ENDGAME
“Ooh, Child/Things are gonna get easier… they did get easier, they ARE getting easier, but what a beautifully sad work of art this was. I know and respect the pain “Dr. Ted” brought to some viewers, but from a writing/directing/producing angle, I can’t help but tip my hat.”-- Kelli
"Paige and Freddie were OUTSTANDING in this episode, they truly were, for every second of it, and when Shaun and Lea left the hospital after losing their daughter, all of the other doctors, their friends, watching them leave, coupled with Shaun hugging Glassman after Lea's D&C, was truly heart-rending, but the whole thing was just so incredibly sad." -- AMY
"I know TGD is a drama and there will always be some things that we don’t like, but I was looking forward to SheaBaby. Although I had a bad feeling after the end of Waiting."-- Julianna
SO---! Was it anything like you expected?
Have you found a kindred #Shea spirit aligning with your thoughts of the season?
Or are you dismissing some of these thoughts with the familiar words We’re All Crazy Sometimes…??
The comments await!!
4 comments:
I loved the post, Kelli.
The way you merged our comments together to create a general ranking was clever. I’d love to hear other readers’ opinion, in order to know if our votes were representative of the general audience or not 😉
I just wanted to add something, considering that I didn’t include an honorary mention in my personal ranking. I was thinking about ‘Not the Same’, which I consider a nice but normal episode.
Nothing special about it, apart from a couple of nice moments, like the yoga session, when Shaun went on his knee and offered Lea his banking password, or his exchange with Glassman, when Glassy told Shaun that he’d been learning from him since the first day they met.
But there’s one thing that only recently got my attention. Lea’s line about how “When feelings change, everything changes”.
It was obviously primarily intended as a reference to Shaun and Lea’s relationship, but there’s so much more to it. And you can really understand it only after completing the whole season.
I think that the main theme of season 4 was Change. It was introduced in ‘Not the Same’ with that line from Lea and it was concluded in ‘Vamos’ with Shaun’s “People need to move forward”.
It’s evident how Shaun and Lea grew as a couple this season, but they grew as individuals as well.
Lea’s growth was striking: she started out as a rebel girl who couldn’t settle in, or keep a job, or keep a boyfriend, and ended up becoming a mature woman, with a promising career, a stable relationship, almost a mom…
And what about Shaun? He struggled a lot this season, it’s true, but he achieved his goals 100 per cent!
And he could not have done any of that without changing the way he perceived himself and the things around him, first. His feelings indeed changed, he moved forward. Thanks to that he could be brave enough to become a supporting partner to Lea, a reliable mentor, a good friend, an expecting parent, he could finally accept Glassman’s fatherly love (when he couldn’t before), he could endure even the pain of losing his unborn daughter, dragging Lea along with him. He became a more emotionally mature person.
Almost every other character went through a similar process, if you really think about it.
Park and Morgan, about letting themselves being vulnerable enough to start a relationship together. Morgan, in particular, finally accepting the inevitability of saying goodbye to surgery forever.
Lim, about accepting her PTSD, and finally gathering the courage to start a new relationship.
Andrews, with his pained decision of ending his marriage and look ahead.
Claire, moving past Melendez, her childhood traumas, and literally jumping into the unknown in order to embrace a new future.
That leaves Glassman. He certainly moved forward from his fears about Shaun being hurt, not only finally granting him autonomy, but recognizing his maturity and ability in managing his relationship with Lea.
It’s a great leap of faith for him, if you think of Season-1-Glassy.
But he still has got some work to do in order to move forward from his own guilt-related pain about Maddie.
We thought he did improve when he got married to Debbie, but apparently it wasn’t such a wise decision, after all.
So, I hope that season 5 will provide some closure for him as well in this regard. Surely there will be plenty of opportunities to address the issue again. Namely, the aftermath of his failed relationship with Debbie, Shaun and Lea’s wedding and Shaun’s residency ending, will surely provide an emotional enough context. No more missed opportunities, please!
Daniela, Glassy’s story should be interesting in S5. His relationship with Shaun has already entered a new phase; it should grow in that new direction as Shaun becomes a married man. I keep thinking of when he asked Shaun if his friendship with Lea could become something more. In spite of his often fraught relationship with Lea, he still wanted the best for Shaun.
And his relationship with Lea is bound to change as she becomes his “daughter-in-law”. I hope the writers explore that!
He now has 2 failed marriages; how will he react to Shaun’s wedding? He’s explicitly backed off being overprotective, but he’s still Glassy! He’s said himself that he can’t help giving advice. This could go either way; wary (again) of Shaun getting hurt and warning him be careful, or holding back because, after all, those 2 failed marriages. If the former, he could have an angry Lea to contend with!
I didn't participate in the vote, but it's funny because the list of my favourite episodes would have been the same one as the general one that you put together Kelli, but also in the exact same order too! And not only that, but I felt like reading my own thoughts as I was reading all comments.
It's not really surprising anyway...As Lea/Shaun/Shea fans on this blog, it's normal that we are drawn to the same episodes, although there are still of course some differences of opinions here and there.
Since I love the relationship between Lea and Glassy (I know, that's brand new information^^) and they have far too few moments together, their scenes in Decrypt and Parenting made me like those episodes even more. And Glassy being mentioned as Shaun's second father was very cute. In Decrypt, it was fantastic finally seeing Lea shine and show how good she is at her job, and in Parenting I loved how Shaun supported Lea and the speech he made to her parents.
In Vamos, I liked that all characters got to shine, each having important moments. And it was so welcome that the episode ended on a positive note for everyone (although a bit rushed for Park and Reznick). Shaun helping Lea with the baby and Lea in the end being able to hold her and smile brightly to Shaun was heartwarming. Of course the best was the proposal, so fitting that it was done by Lea, and so fitting for them that it was done in a simple way, on the spot, without any fuss or big speech, with no ring, in a word, authentic!
Teeny blue eyes, we're all crazy sometimes, gender reveal, and letting go are also episodes I loved, despite some minor issues I have with them. For example, in "we're all crazy sometimes", I'm still not convinced that Lea acted particularly crazy.
As for dr Ted....It's in fact among my favorite episodes, so probably 8th out of 20. It was very upsetting, but I loved how all characters were there to support Lea and Shaun, and the acting was top notch, especially Paige's, but she was brilliant the whole season. Also, this tragedy allowed to explore the deep sadness that comes with a miscarriage in Letting go, which was important to do given how taboo it is despite many women going through that. And I felt that Letting go explored those feelings in a respectful and authentic way.
As for "Forgive or forget", I liked it a lot, several great Shea moments. And if it was based on Shea moments alone, this episode would rank very high in my favourite episodes list, but as a whole I agree with Daniela about "too many topics thrown without logic, not adequately explored". Still in my top 10 though!
And about episode 9...how not agree about the inanity of the existence of such an episode. It was certainly irresponsible to write it like that. It's a shame, it was an interesting idea to explore for Shaun the notion of physical attractiveness only vs real love with emotional bond and physical intimacy.
Julianna, I totally agree with you!
Glassy and Shaun's relationship has entered a new phase, and I sincerely hope that they decide to explore it adequately and not just through a two-minute scene per episode (but I fear that's exactly what we'll get...)
Obviously, that should bring with it a deeper exploration of Glassy and Lea's relationship too.
As far as I'm concerned, those 3 are the heart of the show.
And about that, I'd rather see them grow even closer, further developing what they have already started in season 4.
So, about your two hypothesis, I definitely want the second one.
Glassman concerned about Lea breaking Shaun's heart is becoming old. And it's something that's already been cleared between them. It would also be inconsistent with Glassy's more recent behavior.
So, hopefully, he will be fully supporting and involved with their wedding. After all, like every parent, what Glassy really cares about is just Shaun's happiness. And there's no doubt that Lea is the one who makes him happy!
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