!['The Good Doctor' Series Finale](https://cdn.statically.io/img/tvline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/the-good-doctor-season-7-episode-10-aaron-glassman.jpg?w=300)
TVLINE | David, the finale marks the death of Dr. Aaron Glassman, whose mortality is something we’ve discussed on and off for six years now. Did you always have a sense that Glassman’s passing would tie into the end of the show?
SHORE | No. I wish I was that brilliant! Liz has talked about this a fair bit, and it makes so much sense. It’s Chekhov’s cancer: If you introduce it in Season 1, you need to pay it off in Season 7.
FRIEDMAN | Shaun faces a really unique challenge because of his ASD: He’s a doctor, and his mentor has this very serious illness. He wants to deal with it as medicine, and Glassman doesn’t want to do that; he simply wants to have a personal relationship. For Shaun, that is as hard [to accept] as it would be for me to figure out how to treat Glassman’s cancer…. He has had this very close, and very vulnerable, relationship with Glassman, and that’s been key to his development. It’s such a natural question to ask, “How will he handle life without him?”
TVLINE | It sounds like the goal here was not about teaching Shaun that even the best doctors can’t save everyone. It was more about getting him to a point where he recognizes that being there emotionally for those he loves is sometimes more important than the medicine.
FRIEDMAN | I think that’s right. Shaun has dealt with losing patients before. He does understand that there are illnesses and conditions that can’t be beat. But what if this person doesn’t want to [turn] to medicine?
HIGHMORE | Shaun has always prioritized the medicine; that has always been his goal. That is what he needed to overcome the challenges that he has faced. For him to realize that he has gotten to a point in life where he is now surrounded by people who love him, who are there to support him, and who he cares so deeply about, it changes the way he sees his priorities in life. It shows just how far Shaun has come, and what it means to have unconditional love and share that with people.
TVLINE | Glassman helped get Hannah into rehab, and he’s seen Shaun grow as a surgeon, as a husband, and as a father. Do you think he was, in some sense, at peace with the cards life dealt him in the end?
FRIEDMAN | I think so, especially because Shaun — with Leah’s help, and with the help of the people around him — was able to step up and do the right thing by his friend, which is accepting that he didn’t want to fight his cancer and that he wanted to enjoy the time he had left. Shaun being able to empathize, and being willing to allow Glassman’s emotional point of view to take lead, I think that really shows Glassman that his work here is done.
It was an awesome, wonderful and fitting send off. I’m going to miss this show very much, but I revisit it as often as I can. I also hope there’s a spin off someday like New Amsterdam, Steve may have Autism as was suggested in a previous episode he could follow in his father’s footsteps.
I’m glad Perez made an appearance, most characters got a satisfying ending. However, Is it that Eden eventually died? they showed her as a little girl playing but she wasn’t at the TED Talk like Claire and Shaun’s children.
All the best to the cast and crew of the wonderful show. I hope to see them all in other projects soon.
Wondering same about Eden, reading every interview with writers & cast & she’s never mentioned. Will rewatch like do House every couple years!
I felt they did a great job of ending the series. I did have an ugly cry though. I will truly miss this show. 😭
Me too – I cried so much! It was a such a good ending to a great show!
This was one of the most satisfying series finales I’ve seen. It was so well written…it was perfect!
Aw, I like the idea of Shaun and Lea’s daughter being named Maddie, even if that was never expressly stated aloud.
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I thought this was a really good, satisfying sendoff. I loved Shaun going all out to help save Claire, and the nod to their long history and friendship together, and that they’re still working together. And I’m glad to see everyone finding their own personal and/or professional happiness – the flash forward showing what became of everyone was really nice and made me smiel (and get emotional – especially seeing Steve grow through the years). Shaun’s speech in the boardroom was a nice bookend to the pilot, and I liked his TED talk speech, too. The list of all the patients he saved scrolling behind him was a nice touch.
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And I felt for him with his struggle to accept that he would lose Glassman, and I also sympathized with Glassman for his refusal to want to do anything that would only delay the inevitable. I’m glad they were able to make peace and enjoy their remaining time together, and I liked how the show honored Glassman, with the foundation named after him, and showed all that Shaun had learned from him.
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I can’t believe this is the end! I”m sad to see it go, but I’m also glad that they were able to get enough of a heads up to write a proper finale. It’s been a good seven years. I look forward to seeing what the cast and crew go on to do next.
Great ending to a great show. I’m gonna miss you alot Shaunie. Freddie is a great actor and just a great person. Farewell St Bons.
yup glad i didn’t watch it, i’d be crying like a baby… honestly, Glassman’s attitude reminds me of my dad’s… he didn’t want any intervention… what about that treatment that could have shrank his tumour? It’s ridiculous sometimes and it’s beyond selfish to just give up and make your family accept it, even when they’ve got so many resources…
Sometime quality is better then quantity, I’m sorry your dad made a different choice then you wanted but i hope you have good memories of him.
may be true but doesn’t sting any less, and especially considering it felt like he didn’t even want to try. look at what happened to glassman end of season 1… he allowed shawn to convince him to try something, and got so many more years out of it. why couldn’t he let him try again especially considering like they said medicine has improved
Sadly, Murphy’s treatment plan would have given Glassman only one year, with half of that in hospitals and in pain. It was radical, and would have ruined the time Glassman had left. He made his choice.
My condolences on the loss of your father. Of course this episode hurt because it was so close to home. I hope the grief will ease as time goes on.
How is it possible that Freddie Highmore has never even been nominated for an Emmy? He. Has been amazing, i will miss this show.
IKR?! Hopefully he will be nominated this year AND win!!
This final episode was so sad but very good. It was amazing how the writers, producers and directors put 2 very important people in the show to face death and for Shaun to try to save both. It was sad for Dr Glassman to die but amazing how they showed 10 years later and Shaun speaking to fellow Dr’s. I love how they had Shaun and Claire start a Dr Glassman foundation after his death. It was also great seeing all the other Dr’s and their families and relationships over the years. It was especially wonderful seeing Shaun and Lea’s 2 kids, and after reading this article, that they named their daughter Maddie after Dr Glassman’s daughter. Brilliant and very well thought out. So sorry to see the show end.
One of the best series finales of a drama show… Always enjoy flash forwards in these… It had all the best aspects of the show in one… Love of characters and wild medical….
I wonder what’s next for Freddie after 2 amazing characters in this and Bates???
I throughly enjoyed crying for the final hour. Well done. The only thing that I though was left unanswered was whether Steve had autism. He kind of had a few odd facial expressions during the final hour which made me think that he was autistic, but unless I missed it through the tears, I do not think it was mentioned.
Not mentioned in show or in all interviews, but you’re correct, I agree (family member is special Ed teacher, she said more than likely).
Watching the scenes with Steve, I had the same thought. I’m glad the question went unanswered, though, because I think the message is – Does it really matter?
It was a fabulous series with fabulous actors and so well written. I loved how it ended. Thank you. Job well done. I will miss this show
So sad to see it end! I cried so many times! This was an amazing ending to an incredible series that I will miss. The way everything came together was exceptionally well written. What a perfect way to bring it all together.
Now, can Freddie Highmore finally get the Emmy nomination he deserves for his role as Dr. Shaun Murphy? He has been excellent and is past due on getting the recognition for his performance.
This ending was very captivating. Happy ever after without mushiness. I applaud the writers. Great job!
The flashback reminded me of Best ending to any series. Six Feet Under.
I agree, The Six Feet Under ending really made me bawl. Was well done.
I loved the show and it was sad I had tears in my eyes.
This was a brilliant tv series ! I loved every episode – it will truly be missed –
I was SO sad to see this touching series end! It was like saying goodbye for good to a good deal of your family and friends all at the same time…they will be missed! I’m not one to cry from watching tv shows or movies but I was “bawling”, part due to Glassman’s death and part due to the loss of the series. The sheer brilliance! This finale allowed us to grieve our loss of the show, during the finale! It was the most poignant finale I have ever seen and I absolutely loved the way it tied everything off and most of the endings were very happy!!! It was so great to see them all walking off together, at the very end. The most horrible and best episode of tv ever, all in one. And so “fitting” to Shaun to tie everyone’s story off as he ALWAYS needed to have an answer to all of his questions. Though I wish it could have been many more seasons thank you for 7 fantastic seasons with all of these amazing actors and actresses!!! Thanks for all of this amazing entertainment! Wishing them all the best in their lives ahead!!! So inspirational!!!
This was truly one of the most satisfying series finales I have ever seen. It tied up all the story lines except there is no mention of Eden so are we to suppose she died? The ending was such a fitting tribute to Glassman and I will miss this show a great deal. Freddie Highmore is an incredible actor, and it is a real shame that he has never won an emmy for his portrayal of Dr. Shaun Murphy. Thank you to the writers and cast for giving viewers a fitting ending to a wonderful show.
You might have missed it but tgere was a brief scene with her and her parents along with a picture of the adoption papers.
What is there to say…cried like a baby..I knew it was Maddie!
Great ending!
Over the years I have watched the series finale of many TV shows try to tie up all the loose ends and have dropped the ball. Not so with The Good Doctor. It was beautifully moving and so well written and acted. The best part for me was seeing the entire cast at the TED talk reveling in the work they had accomplished over seven seasons. Bravo to all!
Perfectly tied up in a nice ending of show bow. Love the time jump to see where they all ended up. Perfect ending! And to those above that are hitting the downs thumb— everyones comments have been awesome. Course Im sure you will hit the down thumb on this too. IYKYK…
I have loved this series since day one and the final episode did not disappoint. It was perfect…..it was well written and perfectly thought out letting viewers see all the lives of characters we have loved and followed throughout the series.
In my life time of tv. I’m 81 yrs THIS WAS THE BEST EVER. THE CAST. THE WRITING THE FINALE MORE THAN INCREDIBLE IN ALL WAYS.
I think the Good Doctor is one of the best shows on television. The finale was amazing . I hate to see it go .. but what a show it was..
The best wrap up ever. Kudos to the writers and the cast.
Who was Cyrill, that Shaun introduced to his other children?
I think that was Will Trent. Part of his fantasy future he was thinking about.