‘The Good Doctor’ Season 3, Episode 14 ‘Influence’ Review: Shaun Goes Viral

The good doctor is not into being viral. This week on The Good Doctor, Shaun (Freddie Highmore) is facing a little influencer trouble. And he discovers the double-edged merits of being a doctor with autism. After all, fame isn’t quite high up in Shaun’s list of goals. Just imagine Shaun on the internet like that. It’s quite the discussion but this episode titled “Influence” nails the answer to that problem.

On the other hand, this week’s episode of The Good Doctor also dabbles a little bit on the topic of whether online medical advice is fine or not. And well, let’s just say things get a little interesting. It’s a fiesta of arguments and opinions all right. And with everything in this episode, you might find a lot of siding going on. So, here’s what happened.

The World of Fame

After a little “pre-dawn romantic interlude” as Carly (Jasika Nicole) calls it, Shaun rushes off to work and meets Kayley (Chelsea Alden), an influencer. She’s been feeling something like an eternal sore throat and her voice has turned perpetually hoarse. However, no doctor has been able to give her a concrete diagnosis. So, she heads to the ER. Shaun is clearly excited by her puzzling symptoms. However, what he didn’t expect is to suddenly go viral.

Sergei Bachlakov/ ABC

After Kayley features him on her social media, without his permission might I add, Shaun shoots up to the spotlight. And it doesn’t sit well with him. He values his privacy. And after a bunch of Kayley’s fans ambush him outside the hospital, he makes it clear to Kayley that he did not appreciate what she did. After all, she didn’t ask first nor did Shaun want the attention. Morgan, on the other hand, loves it. So, she’s doing everything to earn Kayley’s favor.

The good thing is Shaun finally found the root of her problem. After Kayley suffers a sudden stroke, Shaun realizes that she might have Eagle syndrome. It’s a rare condition that causes pain in the throat and face caused by an unusually long styloid process bone. To get rid of it, Kayley has to get surgery.

The Good Doctor PR

With Shaun’s newfound fame, the hospital immediately wants to exploit it. Lim (Christina Chang) thinks a little publicity for St. Bonaventure won’t hurt. However, Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) and Andrews (Hill Harper) both think it’s a bad idea that might blow up in their face. Their biggest worry is that Shaun says or reveals something that’ll embarrass the hospital. So, they all leave it up to Glassman (Richard Schiff) to ask Shaun if he wants to do it or not. It’s weird though how the conversation skipped over real-life privacy policies though.

Given this new PR pressure, Lim starts taking the image of the hospital into account in every decision she makes. So, when Morgan asks to be the lead in Kayley’s surgery, Lim agrees. As she says, “It also might reflect well on this place to have a young woman be the face of Kayley’s surgery” like it’s not the PR talk.

Sergei Bachlakov/ ABC

When Glassman talks to Shaun, it’s obvious the latter doesn’t want to do it. Glassman knows it but, he still tries to convince Shaun to do it. “I think stories do matter,” he tells Shaun. “What you do and what you have done might be inspirational for people to hear.” Now, that’s great advice right there because there are people who might need role models like Shaun. But, at the same time, it puts focus on Shaun’s autism and what people like him can and can’t do. And in the show, all the attention seemed to be zeroing on Shaun’s autism. What’s great about this bit is that The Good Doctor really takes care to show both sides of the argument no matter how well-intentioned the roots are.

Reaching no decision with Shaun, Glassman agrees to do a job interview with Lea (Paige Spara) who’s now out of a job in exchange for Shaun considering the interview.

Brewing Jealousy

In the midst of all that influence issue, Shaun also finds himself facing Carly’s jealousy. Although, of course, he doesn’t easily recognize it. Not knowing if he should do the interview, Shaun asks for Carly’s advice. Much like the discussion with Glassman, Carly sees its pros and cons. But, in the end, she gives Shaun probably the best advice he could get. “You aren’t supposed to do anything except what you believe is right.”

Liane Hentscher/ ABC

Unfortunately, that sweet moment comes crashing when Shaun gets up declaring he’ll ask Lea for advice next. Carly immediately flares up, especially when Shaun admits that he had lunch with Lea without telling her. And to be honest, it seems like Carly’s overreacting. Oddly enough, it’s Morgan that points out that fact and in a surprisingly nice way even. So far, this has been one of the biggest issues in Carly and Shaun’s relationship and it’s getting a little old and flat.

Later on, though, Carly does take Morgan’s advice. She decides to make peace with the fact that Lea is part of Shaun’s life. And Shaun tells her that they’ll work on it together.

To Tell or Not to Tell

One of the most interesting arguments of the episode is the ethical dilemma after Kayley’s surgery. In the operating room, Morgan creates a slight complication due to her rheumatoid arthritis. But, Morgan pulls through and finishes the operation like no mistake happened. The question is do they tell Kayley about the mishap or not?

Sergei Bachlakov/ ABC

Transparency is hospital policy. But, any negativity from her could cost the hospital. And it could turn into lawsuits for Morgan and everybody involved in the surgery. As Shaun smartly put it, all of them are responsible since they were watching Morgan’s every move and nobody stopped her. However, as Andrews reasons out, the complication isn’t relevant to the outcome. As logical as that seems, I can’t help but feel that this might turn into something bigger. After all, Shaun screwing up in the past was a pretty big deal. It also makes me wonder where Morgan is headed exactly now that her sickness is starting to get out of her control.

This experience humbles Morgan and she doesn’t seem as thrilled to be in front of Kayley’s phone afterward. On the other hand, Shaun decides to skip the interview. And what he said really strikes the heart. “I considered all the arguments,” he tells Glassman. “I want to be known as a good doctor, not a good autistic doctor.”

Home Self Medication

Elsewhere on the episode, Claire gets the case of a single mom who uses her daughter’s stool to do a home fecal transfer. Once the child utters the words “Mommy drunk my poop,” that was it for me on the matter of home medication. Park (Will Yun Lee) thinks its highly inappropriate for anybody to do. In contrast, Claire (Antonia Thomas) thinks that sometimes people aren’t left with any choice and Melendez agrees with her.

Fortunately, this disgusting twist comes out with a little good. The mom loses a chunk of her colon but, her circumstance also forces Claire and the others to test her daughter’s stool. This leads them to find out that the child has a genetic condition that leaves her highly exposed to cardiovascular complications. Fortunately, they were able to operate early and treat her before it gets any worse.

Unfortunately, at the end of all this, someone throws an anonymous favoritism complaint at Melendez. All through the episode, he’s been siding with Claire in arguments. And the only other person involved in those arguments is Park.

The Good Doctor continues Monday, February 17th, with “Unsaid” at 10/9c on ABC.