The Good Doctor Season 7 Episode 4 Review: Date Night

The Good Doctor Season 7 Episode 4, “Date Night,” returns to the season’s main focus on parenthood as it examines several sets of parents and parents-to-be who struggle to keep their relationship alive amid change and tragedy.

The episode sees two sets of couples — Dr. Shaun Murphy and Lea Dilallo-Murphy and Dr. Alex Park and Dr. Morgan Reznick — attempt to get the spark back in their relationships after becoming parents. Meanwhile, Dr. Murphy tries to help a young man with atypical symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

While there is some imbalance in the focus given to each story arc, the handling of multiple mature topics is done quite well.

One of the topics the episode isn’t afraid to broach is the topic of sex. There is quite a humorous but relatable story arc in which Dr. Reznick and Dr. Park struggle to find a private place to do the deed.

Although their situation is comically exaggerated, it does help drive home the point that relationships change after parenthood, and sometimes couples have to find unique ways around the changes.

The problem with Dr. Murphy and his wife is a little more complicated, as they struggle not just with physical connection but with seemingly any kind of connection and communication.

One can’t help but feel the episode is hinting at future trouble in their relationship if they’re unable to find their groove as Dr. Park and Dr. Reznick did. Having these two couples’ stories play out helps demonstrate that there isn’t one way or a set timeframe to adjust to parenthood.

Meanwhile, the focus on these two couples also makes it easier to broach the topic of relationships and parenthood with several other characters.

Dr. Murphy’s struggles with his young family impact his and the viewers’ perspectives of his patient, Cam Howard, and Howard’s wife, Gilly. While medical dramas can get into emotional territory, this case is particularly heartbreaking.

Believing her husband has Alzheimer’s, for which there is no cure, Gilly feels pressured to choose between keeping her pregnancy and placing Cam in a care facility or terminating her pregnancy to be Cam’s full-time caretaker.

It’s an unimaginable choice that really puts into perspective how small obstacles like getting back the spark or making time for each other actually are, in comparison to couples’ navigating life-altering diagnoses.

Fortunately, Dr. Murphy discovers that Cam’s true diagnosis is not as devastating as Alzheimer’s, and viewers don’t have to watch Gilly make such a painful choice.

Ultimately, it’s quite wonderful how the episode will make couples with everyday struggles feel seen while also reminding them that much bigger obstacles exist that other couples still manage to find the strength to face.

In the midst of the heavy topics and storylines, viewers also get a positive update on Charlie. The young woman works with Dr. Park instead of Dr. Murphy for a day and finds she flourishes under the former.

Her issues with Dr. Murphy will still need resolving, but it is nice to see her character grow and succeed after the past few episodes failed to paint her in a very positive light.

The only side arc that feels out of place is, again, the ongoing drama between Dr. Audrey Lim and Dr. Aaron Glassman. The story of them butting heads as co-presidents still feels silly and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.

Bringing Dr. Lim’s mother into the pictures is intriguing, but there isn’t much room to develop the pair’s relationship and dynamic.

Although there are some underdeveloped side arcs, The Good Doctor‘s latest episode is largely a success as it delves into serious topics and leans into its strongest main plot point, parenthood.

What did you think of this episode of The Good Doctor? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Good Doctor airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

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