It’s over. Seven years of "I am a surgeon!" and blue-tinted medical diagrams floating over Freddie Highmore’s head have officially come to a close. When news broke that The Good Doctor ended, fans weren't exactly ready to say goodbye to the halls of St. Bonaventure. Most long-running procedurals usually limp toward a quiet cancellation once ratings dip, but this felt different. It was intentional. Sorta.
Television is a weird business. You have a show that consistently performs, a lead actor who is arguably one of the most talented of his generation, and a loyal global audience. Yet, the lights went dark. Why? Honestly, it’s a mix of creative integrity, shifting network budgets, and the simple fact that Shaun Murphy finally found what he was looking for.
He grew up.
The Real Reason The Good Doctor Ended When It Did
Most people assume the show got the axe because people stopped watching. That’s not really the case. While live viewership numbers in 2024 weren't what they were in 2017—because, let’s be real, nobody watches TV "live" anymore—the show remained a powerhouse for ABC and Sony Pictures Television.
The decision was largely about timing. Executive producers David Shore and Liz Friedman have been pretty open about wanting to land the plane on their own terms. Shore, who also ran House, knows a thing or two about knowing when a character has run their course. If you keep going, you risk the "Grey’s Anatomy" effect where characters just start dying in plane crashes or marrying ghosts. Nobody wanted that for Shaun.
There’s also the money. As a show gets older, the cast gets more expensive. Freddie Highmore isn't just an actor; he’s an executive producer who has directed and written episodes. By season seven, the cost-per-episode starts to climb. ABC was also looking to make room for newer, cheaper pilots and the spin-off The Good Lawyer, which—fun fact—actually didn't end up going to series despite a very strong backdoor pilot.
A Finale That Actually Made Sense
How many times have you watched a series finale and just felt... cheated? Lost did it. Game of Thrones did it. But when The Good Doctor ended, the writers took a massive risk that actually paid off. They jumped forward in time.
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In the final episode, "Goodbye," we see the tragic loss of Dr. Aaron Glassman. It had to happen. Glassman was Shaun’s North Star, his surrogate father, and his safety net. For Shaun to truly be "whole," he had to learn to navigate a world without Glassman’s guidance. The cancer storyline was brutal, sure, but it served a specific purpose: it forced Shaun to accept that he couldn't fix everything.
The ten-year time jump at the very end showed us a Dr. Murphy who was now the Chief of Surgery. He has a daughter. He’s married to Lea. He’s giving a TED Talk. It was a full-circle moment that mirrored the very first episode where he stood before the board to prove he belonged. Seeing him mentor a new generation of neurodivergent doctors was the closure the audience needed.
What Most People Get Wrong About Shaun’s Autism Journey
There’s been a lot of discourse over the years—some of it pretty heated—about whether the show’s portrayal of autism was "accurate." Since The Good Doctor ended, researchers and advocates have been looking back at the show's legacy with a bit more nuance.
Shaun Murphy was never meant to be a representative for every person on the spectrum. That’s impossible. Autism is a spectrum for a reason. Some critics felt the "Savant Syndrome" trope was a bit overplayed, making it seem like you only have value if you have a "superpower."
But talk to parents of kids with autism, or adults who grew up never seeing themselves on screen. For them, Shaun was a revolution. He wasn't the butt of the joke. He wasn't a villain. He was the hero. He had a sex life. He had a career. He had a temper. He was human.
The show worked because it didn't treat Shaun’s condition as something to be "cured." Instead, it forced the "typical" doctors at St. Bonaventure to change their perspective. By the time the show wrapped, the hospital was better because of him, not in spite of him.
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The Glassman-Shaun Dynamic: The Show's Secret Sauce
While the medical cases were the "hook," the relationship between Shaun and Glassman (Richard Schiff) was the actual heart of the series. It was often messy. Glassman could be overbearing. Shaun could be stubbornly literal.
Remember the season where they didn't talk? That was painful to watch. But it was also realistic. Parents and children (even surrogate ones) go through periods of resentment. When The Good Doctor ended, that relationship was the one that provided the most emotional weight.
Richard Schiff brought a grounded, weary humanity to the role that balanced out Highmore’s high-energy performance. Their final scene together on the carousel? That was the emotional peak of the entire seven-season run. It wasn't about surgery. It was about love.
Life After St. Bonaventure
So, what happens now? The landscape of TV is changing fast. Procedurals are moving to streaming, and the era of the "22-episode season" is mostly dead. The Good Doctor was one of the last of its kind—a massive, broadcast-network hit that felt like "appointment viewing."
Freddie Highmore is likely going to take a break or move into more behind-the-scenes work. He’s notoriously private (he doesn't even have public social media) and often retreats to the UK between projects.
For the fans, the show lives on in syndication and on Hulu/Disney+. But the void it leaves is real. There aren't many shows right now focusing so heavily on neurodiversity without making it a gimmick.
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Looking Back at the Legacy
When we look back at the 2010s and 2020s era of television, The Good Doctor will be remembered for its empathy. It wasn't always perfect. Some of the medical science was "TV magic" at best. Some of the supporting characters (looking at you, Dr. Melendez) were written out far too soon, sparking fan outrages that lasted for years.
But at its core, it was a show about a guy trying to be a "good" person. In a world of anti-heroes like Walter White or Tony Soprano, Shaun Murphy was an anomaly. He was earnest.
Why the "The Good Lawyer" Didn't Happen
Many expected a franchise. It’s the Hollywood way. Chicago Fire has Chicago P.D., Grey’s has Station 19. We saw Kennedy McMann play Joni DeGroot, a brilliant lawyer with OCD, in a crossover episode. People loved her.
The strike in 2023 shifted things. Budgets were slashed. Networks became risk-averse. Even though the pilot was well-received, ABC decided to pass. It’s a shame, honestly. It could have expanded the universe’s exploration of neurodivergence into the legal world. But for now, the story of this universe begins and ends with Shaun.
Moving Forward: What to Watch Next
If you’re feeling that post-finale depression, there are a few places to go.
- Extraordinary Attorney Woo: If you haven't seen this Korean drama on Netflix, stop what you’re doing. It follows an autistic lawyer and hits many of the same emotional beats as The Good Doctor but with a very different cultural lens.
- As We See It: A more grounded, gritty look at three roommates on the autism spectrum. It’s less "medical miracle" and more "real life."
- Atypical: A fantastic coming-of-age story that deals with family dynamics and independence.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
Now that The Good Doctor ended, here is how to keep the spirit of the show alive:
- Support Neurodivergent Creators: Look for shows and movies written by or starring people who actually live these experiences. Authenticity matters more than ever.
- Revisit the Early Seasons: Go back and watch season one. It’s wild to see how far Shaun has come from the kid with the scalpel in the airport. The growth is one of the most consistent character arcs in modern TV.
- Advocate for Accessibility: The show highlighted how small changes in a workplace (like clearer communication or sensory considerations) can help everyone thrive. Take those lessons into your own office or school.
The show is over, but the conversation it started about who gets to be a "hero" isn't. Shaun Murphy proved that being different isn't a deficit. It’s just a different way of seeing the world. And honestly? We could use a lot more of that perspective right now.