‘The Good Doctor’ Fans Fuming After Show Kills Off Beloved Character: “I Don’t Even Want To Finish The Season”

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published April 4, 2024, 9:17 a.m. ET

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Viewers were left furious after the most recent episode of The Good Doctor killed off a fan-favorite character.

The medical drama, which is currently in its final season, follows Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) — an autistic surgeon at a California hospital. While the show has maintained stellar reviews throughout its seven seasons, some fans are now threatening to boycott following the shocking death of Dr. Asher Wolke (Noah Galvin).

Asher has been a series regular since Season 3. His storyline has primarily seen him reconciling his Jewish religion with his sexuality as a gay man. But it all comes to a head in Season 7, Episode 5 — titled “Who at Peace” — when he and a rabbi come across antisemites vandalizing a synagogue.

After asking them to leave, Asher explains that he’s a Jew and gay — and just when it seems like everything is resolved, they come back and fatally strike him over the head. Meanwhile, Asher’s boyfriend Jerome Martel (Giacomo Baessato) is left waiting alone at a restaurant, where he originally intended to propose.

At the end of the episode, a message appears on the screen. “If you or anyone you know has experienced antisemitism, racism, anti-LGBTQ+ related incidents or hate crimes, or if you want to learn more about what you can do to stop hate, please visit splcenter.org,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, devout fans of the show were angered by Asher’s fate.

“I usually don’t like making criticism like this but The Good Doctor killing Asher is horrifying,” one wrote. “I’m appalled they went with a gay bashing storyline like this as he’s reconciled his religious views. It’s frustrating this keeps being the narrative for queer characters. It’s sick.”

Another added, “The Good Doctor just pissed me off so bad,” while a third person echoed, “The Good Doctor episode really just pissed me all the way off. So unnecessary.”

Someone else said, “I cannot believe they really killed Asher off The Good Doctor. 2 times too many did they kill off a favorite character of mine like I don’t even want to finish the season.”

New episodes of The Good Doctor air on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.