TV & Streaming: Bold + Bingeworthy ‘The Good Doctor’ and ‘Atypical’ Are Back!

Left: Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) of The Good Doctor. Right: Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist) of Atypical.

 Trailblazing 'The Good Doctor' & 'Atypical' Are More Than Just Autism Awareness.

Both The Good Doctor and Atypical are BACK!! 
HELLO season 2 (x 2!)

Hell to the YES.

If you're not super in the know about Atypical or The Good Doctor (who are you!?!!! we can't be friends!) both shows feature a lead on the autism spectrum and nix the standard neurotypical route in favor of more diverse and unique storytelling. It’s not an exaggeration to say that narratives around autistic protagonists have been few and far between on tv. Other than the Big Bang Theory, ASD characters were never given the main role. They could be in the background of another character’s story, sure. But they weren’t given the opportunity to be the hero of their own story.


ABC and Netflix have changed that with these two shows.  Atypical and The Good Doctor put so much into autism awareness but never become preachy, sappy, or finger-pointing. Both have brilliantly crafted universes with characters and plotlines that are complex and oh so watchable. 

Let's crack in to season 2 of both shows! 😉

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After surgery notflix and chill: Shaun, Claire (Antonia Thomas), Morgan (Fiona Gubelmann) and Alex (Will Yun Lee)

In The Good Doctor, Dr. Shaun Murphy continues to be played tastefully and convincingly by Freddie Highmore. The San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital surgical resident has grown tremendously in the eighteen episodes of season 1. He’s gone from an isolating young twenty-something totally disconnected and unaware of the world to an active participant in his own life and the life of others. 


Friendship, something that was always just an abstract concept to Shaun becomes a major part of his world. Shaun goes from just having Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff), his long-time mentor and the president of the hospital, as a friend to hitting it off with his coworkers Claire (Antonia Thomas) and Jared (Chuku Modu) and even becoming close with his neighbor Lea (Paige Spara), before she skeddadles and moves across the country. It’s a beautiful progression that gradually and naturally grows in each episode because Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel, alum) is one of the most talented young actors out there. I just couldn’t get enough of how remarkable he was in season one.


Shaun’s character and Highmore’s eloquent performance aren’t the only things worthy of praise in The Good Doctor. (Although they deserve the highest of it! 😍✨)  

The doctors and other surgical residents Shaun work closely with are also diversified and three-dimensional. A majority of the characters in The Good Doctor are men and women of colour. These are characters that get A LOT of screen time and care from showrunners and writers. I gushed about in the first season and I continue to be thrilled by the time, depth and attention given to these characters. There are no stereotypes or boxed in roles for a single character in The Good Doctor.


Let’s talk tropes and all that jazz. Sure The Good Doctor may have some subplots common to all medical dramas…and, yeah, the medical speak still feels as alien as it did in season one (Teflon graphs, anyone?) but none of it feels cut and pasted from a medical drama template. This is no Grey’s Anatomy or Chicago Med spin-off.


The characters remain one of the strongest and most compelling things about The Good Doctor. Especially this new season with Claire’s struggle to be more assertive, Dr. Glassman’s devastating news, and the continually bossy and thoughtless Morgan (Fiona Gubelmann) bringing down the other surgical residents so she can be the best. Sensitive and composed Jared Kalu, the sweetheart of season one, is taking his life in a new direction while Neil Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) and Marcus Andrews (Hill Harper) are adjusting to recent promotions and #ItAintEasy

All of these characters, even the frustrating ones like Morgan, have a purpose for being here. It’s the mark of a successful show that keeps us tuning in despite our dislike for some of the side or revolving lead characters. 50 points to Gryffindor. The Good Doctor. This bangin’ medical drama was one of my favourite shows in 2017 and from how season two is going it looks like it might get all the love again! 

New episodes of The Good Doctor air Mondays at 10pm on ABC. They can also be watched on demand or the ABC website.

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Sam (Keir Gilchrist) and Doug (Michael Rapaport) on the move.

In this new season of Atypical, Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist) is now navigating his senior year of high school. His younger sister, Casey (Brigette Lundy-Paine), one of Sam’s most valuable supporters -- and an anchor in his wildly unpredictable high school -- for the first time goes Han solo. Casey takes the Clayton Prep track scholarship. 

 Split from Sam she’s is enrolled in a semester of classes that make Rory Gilmore’s Chilton seem like a cakewalk. Enter a squad of bourgeois day-drinking trust-fund teens and bitchy athletic girls (..or ARE they?!) Atypical is all about creating characters that are deeper than they first seem. 


Season one revolved around relationships. Sam’s relationships with his parents, his sister, his friends, and his therapist Julia (Amy Okuda) all took the limelight. Most importantly though, was Sam’s sudden desire to have relationships with girls and a girlfriend. 

Sam and Paige (Jenna Boyd) aka the best dressed character of Atypical

So much of the season one’s plot and hijinks centered on Sam seeking that connection and embarking on the tricky world of high school dating. Fumbling with social cues and his emotions made for hilarity, and both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. 

Sam’s independent streak continues in this new season! 

 “I am my own man,” becomes Sam’s catchphrase as he shrugs off his overbearing mom more and more than ever before. 

This season is ALL about personal discovery, goal-setting, and taking on life. Sam’s autism is inextricably linked with his identity. That was obvi from day one in episode one. Now, when he joins an autism support group for teens, Sam is becoming more aware of the space he takes up and who he is. 

Actor Keir Gilchrist is so talented in portraying Sam and all his idiosyncrasies -- his boldness, outspokenness, and his I-am-who-I-am take it or leave it sensibilities-- that he’s created a character that’s charming, inspiring and unquestionably believable.  

Sam and Zahid (Nik Dodani), that guy in the year book who wins the most likely to break the internet category

Atypical’s side characters continue to get plenty of looove too. Zahid (Nik Dodani) and Paige (Jenna Boyd) are even more charismatic than they were last time and just as lovable and entertaining. Enthusiastic and geeky Paige is adjusting to singledom. And rule-breaking, life of the party Zahid, Sam’s best friend, and Tech Tropolis coworker continues to treat Sam as a best friend. Not a best friend with autism. This is so so so empowering. Sam isn’t talked down to or babied by any of his friends or family. He’s accepted for who he is, and that’s such a valuable thing to see not only for those with ASD but for neurotypicals like me! 

Sam and his monologues about Antarctica, the most memorable thing about Atypical season one, is once again essential to every episode. His borderline obsession for the snowy land and its snowy animals adds to the intelligence, whimsy, and delightfulness of his character and the tone of the show. After all, one of the ways he sees and interacts with his world is through the lens of his extensive knowledge of penguins and Antarctica. 

Elsa Alert, Elsa Alert! Sam, Doug and Casey (Brigette Lundy-Paine) aren't exactly Pro-Elsa ATM.

But it’s not all quirky fun, there’s plenty of piercing and cutting drama, the kind of make tears prick up in your eyes. Doug Gardner, aka dad, (Michael Rapaport) is dealing with the fallout of Elsa’s, aka mom’s, (Jennifer Jason Leigh) affair with the stud-muffin bartender from season one. Sam’s struggles in reconciling with his mom’s affair show in his abrupt and choppy words and his blink-and-you-miss-it range of expressions, some of Gilchrist’s most impressive acting.   


The dynamic between Doug and Elsa is so painfully off-kilter and strained. So much so that at moments it physically hurts to watch their relationship continue to break down. Leigh and Rapaport are unwaveringly committed to their characters-- flaws and all. Their performances are masterfully executed and it makes Atypical even more incredible. 


All of the moments matter in Atypical. There’s no filler taking up valuable episode space. All of the characters matter. There are no cookie-cutter characters parroting lines on the screen. Atypical continues to be a smart, fast-paced and bold dram-com that’s unlike anything on tv or streaming. 

Elsa (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Doug before they went Splitsville at the end of season one

All of Atypical season 2 is streaming on Netflix. 

   

I have ALL the feels. 💗

How about you? Have you watched The Good Doctor or Atypical? Let’s chat! Drop a comment below!