‘The Good Doctor’ Season 3, Episode 17 ‘Fixation’ Review: Not Giving Up

You gotta hand it to The Good Doctor. This week’s episode titled “Fixation” pinches your heart from start to finish. I’m still reeling from Lea’s (Paige Spara) real feelings about Shaun (Freddie Highmore). But, this episode just adds another punch to the gut. It’s heartbreaking to see Shaun forcing himself to not be autistic. And to see him be reminded of it in one swift blow that crumbles his resolve? It’s awful.

In addition to him, Park (Will Yun Lee) and Lim (Christina Chang) are also handing out the pain pills in this episode of The Good Doctor. Park is dealing with family issues. And Lim is making impossibly tough decisions for her patients. These two are very strong characters in their own rights. And seeing them be vulnerable certainly hits deep. It’s only fitting though, given that The Good Doctor is ending soon. And well, how can you ever be ready for that? So, without further ado, here’s what went down in this week’s episode of The Good Doctor.

Optimistic Shaun

After that painful reveal, Shaun is actually taking Lea’s rejection quite well. He’s holding on to the fact that Lea loves him too. So, he’s treating it like any other challenge. But, as Glassman (Richard Schiff) tells him, it’s not about overcoming challenges. It’s about Lea. Unfortunately, Shaun doesn’t get it that first time.

Kailey Schwerman/ ABC

To prove he can deal with her messiness and selfishness, Shaun makes some adjustments. First off, he disarranges his canned goods from their usual alphabetical order. Then, he also puts the toilet paper in the wrong direction just as Lea used to put it. Afterward, he calls Lea over in the middle of work and proudly shows that he’s willing to do things he’s uncomfortable with. But, it doesn’t sway Lea. In fact, it’s counterproductive from her point of view given how Shaun pulled her out of work to show off that he can cater to her needs.

The Second Heartbreak

That again doesn’t deter Shaun. By the end of the day, he’s taken to insisting that they should date. He thinks that he can fix whatever problem is causing Lea to keep saying no. And he thinks Lea should let him. But, that’s the thing. Lea isn’t obligated to. As much as I want Shaun to be happy, Lea has the right to say no.

Kailey Schwerman/ ABC

She tries to make Shaun listen. But, he still insists on his standpoint. And that’s when she bursts. “Shaun you’re autistic! You can’t fix that,” she tells him. “You are who you are and I am who I am. And the two of us, we’ll never work.” At those words, it seems like someone poured a bucket of cold water over Shaun. He then turns and walks away without a word.

That moment hurt bad. Shaun felt like he had to change who he was. But, it still ended the same way. Nevertheless, I still liked how The Good Doctor had Lea stand her ground. Otherwise, it would’ve just felt like pity. With that, I’m afraid of what the finale episode holds for the both of them.

Desperate

While Shaun’s love life is in shambles, his work is actually faring far better. His new patient Alice (Ever Carradine) has trouble staying upright without any pain, nausea, dizziness, and the like. She’s been to 17 doctors, but none of them have been able to give her a diagnosis. After going through her extensive medical odyssey, Shaun figures out something. But, Alice doesn’t react well to the procedure. As Claire tries to save her life, Alice’s husband and daughter arrive.

Kailey Schwerman/ ABC

After the threat has passed, Alice’s husband inadvertently reveals that Alice was actually diagnosed with idiopathic dysautonomia.  It was confirmed by two other doctors. But, she wouldn’t take it. She believes that there’s something else or a better solution. Fortunately, Shaun spots other symptoms that don’t line up with Alice’s diagnosis.

After an MRI, they discover that Alice actually has bilateral adrenal medullary hyperplasia. The good news is that they can cure it by removing her adrenal glands. The bad news is that this would sentence Alice to more risks than if she doesn’t remove it. Alice immediately agrees to the operation but, her husband doesn’t. He even threatens to leave with their daughter if she goes through it. So, Alice relents. Luckily, Shaun figures out another way to do the operation with less resulting risks. And they’re able to help Alice get both her wishes.

Starting Anew

On a side note, Claire (Antonia Thomas) reunites with Dash (John Patrick Amedori), an old friend. Dash’s wife was actually Claire’s patient. And its a long story but she passed a while back. Now, Dan is asking Claire out. Even though it’s obvious she likes him, she’s holding back because she’s afraid of hurting him. And once again, Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) pulls through as an amazing friend.

He noticed how she lit up seeing him. And he knows he makes her happy. Melendez also reminds Claire that she deserves to be happy. Taking his advice, Claire goes out with Dash. And they do seem to have chemistry. This made me quite nervous. I love Claire and Melendez’s relationship. But, once The Good Doctor turns that into romance, I’m out.

Outrunning Time

Elsewhere on the episode, Morgan (Fiona Gubelmann), Andrews (Hill Harper), and Park are treating Wes (Harold Perrineau), a former drug addict turned carer of at-risk youths. He’s taken to the hospital for a simple infection. But, it quickly spirals as the infection spreads to his heart. It creates some life long damage to his heart but, Wes pulls through the operation. Unfortunately, that’s not the last of it.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

After Morgan notices inflammation on his hands and feet, Lim (Christina Chang) orders more tests. The results reveal that the damages to Wes’s heart also affected his kidneys. Given that his kidneys were already weak before he even got infected, Wes has progressed to complete renal failure. Dialysis can buy him more time, but he needs a kidney transplant fast. Later on, the team discovers that Wes’s heart can’t handle normal dialysis. And his time is further cut short.

Kids

Meanwhile, Park’s son Kellan (Ricky He) comes to visit. But, while his dad was busy operating on Wes, he gets up to vaping with one of Wes’s charges, Max (Luke Slattery). Unfortunately, hospital security catches them and Lim surrenders Kellan to his dad. When Park confronts his son, Kellan suffers from a panic attack. Once he calms down, he reveals that that’s the reason he started vaping.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

At home, Park apologizes. He knows his current situation with his wife might’ve added to Kellan’s condition. But, he also thinks some of it is on Kellan. The kid doesn’t tell Park anything about his life. But, as Kellan explains, it’s because he doesn’t feel that his dad wants to know about it. “You don’t want to feel guilty about being a thousand miles away,” he tells his dad. “You just want to know that I’m ok. So, I say I’m ok.”

Ever since the quarantine episode, little has been mentioned about Park’s family. It’s not a big deal, but it’s nice going back into his personal life. His share of the story on The Good Doctor offers a perspective many people could relate to, especially on Kellan’s side.

Sacrifice

The next day, Wes’s adoptive kids led by Max confront Morgan and asks her if Wes is going to die. Even though she doesn’t answer them directly, Max understands. So, he volunteers to donate his kidney. They all got tested and he was a perfect match.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

Unfortunately, after a lengthy discussion, Lim, Andrews, Park, and Morgan thinks it’s not the best idea for Max to donate his kidney. Aside from he’s a minor, there are too many risks on Max’s part for the rest of his life. But, Max isn’t having it. Wes is like a father to him. As he admits, he might be a screw up doing drugs and getting into trouble. But, Wes isn’t. The only reason he hasn’t ended up in jail yet is because of Wes. “If I’m a halfway decent father someday, if I’m not a lost cause, it’s because Wes never gave up on me,” Max tells them. “He shouldn’t die because I made dumbass decisions.”

Max’s heartfelt speech moved everyone to change their vote except for the most crucial one – Lim. And sadly, it’s not a democracy. She thinks that though Max can make a good man someday, he’s not yet prepared to take the risks. As she sums it up, “One admirable decision can’t wipe away a lifetime full of bad ones.”

When Lim delivers the news to Wes, his face lights up for a moment with hope. But, he immediately understands. “It’s my job to save those kids,” he tells Lim. “Not the other way around.” Given that, he only has one favor to ask of Lim.

A Painful Lie

As it turns out, this favor was a lie. After talking to Wes, Lim finds Max in the chapel. There, she tells him that his kidney isn’t a match. She lies through her teeth telling him that Wes’s body would reject it. Hearing this, Max is crushed. But, it might’ve been the only way Wes could think off to save Max for the last time. Lim knows it as well and feels the pain of it. As Max’s pain gives way to tears, Lim puts her arms around him as she holds her own tears back.

Later on, while Wes is talking to his charges, Max listens intently. He seems to be clinging to every one of Wes’s words. Gone was the kid who had a quip to everything someone says. And in place stood a boy who seems determined to live the life Wes wants for him.

The Good Doctor continues next Monday, March 9th, with “Heartbreak” at 10/9c on ABC.