Heartbreak

## Episode Chronology

**"Heartbreak"** is the eighteenth episode of Season 3 of *The Good Doctor*. It is the fifty-fourth episode overall, and aired on March 9, 2020.

## Synopsis

Dr. Claire Browne and Dr. Shaun Murphy treat a patient with a rare form of dwarfism. Meanwhile, Dr. Morgan Reznick, Dr. Audrey Lim and Dr. Alex Park treat a young man who had both arms torn off in a previous farming accident; and Shaun reacts to an emotional situation.

## Plot

Dr. Claire Browne arrives to find Shaun cocooned in a blanket surrounded by days of dinner and plastic bottles, followed by his plea of “I wish I was normal”.She replies by saying that everyone wishes they were normal and Claire evenually appeals to Shaun to get himself in gear and get to San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital to help his patients, not because they need him, but because he will feel better.

Unfortunately, it quickly becomes apparent that Dr. Murphy isn't just in the dumps, but wants to dump on everyone around him, too. His fellow residents also grapple with massive decisions regarding their futures.

The team presents a surgery, but the risk of an unstable spine and a speech impediment seems too great for Finn, the successful salesman who never takes a “No” for an answer.

Finn also has a lot of fun with the ladies. Even before he enters the OR, he has devoted Natalie assuring him that she will love him, no matter how he walks and talks.
Another girl on the side is equally passionate about Finn’s plight,sending him off to surgery with her passionate kiss.

Elsewhere, Dr. Browne reminds the patient that it is not hospital policy to “help you cheat”. Finn assumes the role of a love coach for Shaun. He prompts Dr. Murphy to get back on the saddle and savor all the opportunitiesfor love that are available for someone “different.” He describes how he adopted a strategy of talking to everyone in sight, which works great for a salesman.

Shaun unfortunately is petulant at every turn, and really stirs contention, and risks losing his career when he brazenly contradicts Dr. Melendez in his offering of a surgery. Eventually, Dr. Murphy admits that he isn't feeling any better and thus will not do the surgery, and instead will be going home.

Not one to give up easily, Dr. Melendez tells Shaun to help him prep the patient or he will not be his or anybody's resident at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Claire gets no credit from Shaun for the innovative approach in doing brain surgery and goes onto accuse Dr.Melendez of “just being nice” to his favorite. Irritated, Dr. Melendez defends his professional position. But later, he also can't deny his feelings for Claire when Dash sends flowers to her at the hospital. Despite how he's currently feeling, Neil reminds her that, “if he's the right guy, don't wait
for the right time,” all while trying to put his own feelings aside.

Claire's approach, modified slightly by Dr. Melendez, is successful, with some
inserted screws to help, and no certainty that Finn wasn't paralyzed.

Shaun eventually concedes “that was a good idea” to Claire. Finn passes his physical to show no permanent spinal damage, but he finds out someone damaged his Porsche. Natalie finds out about the other girlfriend and lets Finn witness her baseball bat attack
his precious vehicle before his life-saving surgery. Shaun admires her vengeance, even though it scares him.
“I like her,” he says during surgery. She has no permanent physical damage, either, taking great pleasure in ending the relationship “on my own terms.” As a result, Shaun takes her example as a lesson to emulate in his own life.

Meanwhile, Dr. Morgan Reznick finally comes clean to Dr. Glassman that the medications are not working for her rheumatoid arthritis. She also tells Dr. Lim that her upcoming surgery “will be my last,” as she absorbs the sanctity and the beauty of the place that fulfills her life calling. He urges her to find another specialty and
allow herself to practice medicine for the rest of her life.

There is a last-ditch surgery, but in 10 years, he tells her it will be “bone on bone.” He warns that she will not be able to “pick up a pencil”. The patient who gets the
benefit of Dr. Reznick's study and preparation, along with the rest of
the skilled team, is a farmer named Tyson. He survived a devastating accident on his combine only by sheer fortitude and will, dragging himself to make a call using his mouth and nose. He has his arms, but they are not able to give him much function
and there are issues with circulation and blood supply. Dr. Andrews and Dr. Lim get into a dispute over saving the arms in the operating room, and ultimately, Andrews's opinion is the only viable solution, after seeing that blood thinners will be needed for circulation throughout Tyson’s life.

Tyson refuted becoming “cyborg,” hoping to cling to his arms, but when Dr. Lim and the team tell the valiant young patient that “it's time” to let that hope go, he concedes to having prosthetic arms. In a truly noble and moving gesture, Dr. Lim insists that Morgan perform the installation of the prosthetic arms, noting that she knows every comma and word of the procedure from her study and readings, and practice in the lab.

Tyson had hoped to have his arms to “open a beer,” but his triumphant turn on the
cap of a water bottle brought cheers from his doctors, and more proof that being something “different” doesn't detract from the inner magnificent humanity.

Dr. Glassman comes to Morgan, telling her that she's made the right decision in
leaving surgery.
“I don't think it's the right decision,” she tells him, adding that she plans to have the surgery that will give her just a decademore of doing what she loves passionately.

As for Claire, she continues dating Dash but reveals to Neil that she is hesitant on even kissing him. Neil encourages her to not wait on the right time to make a move, especially if he is the right guy. Claire ponders this and then kisses Dash after their concert date. However, after performing a risky surgery on her patient and confessing her concerns to Neil, she then comes to a stark realization. She has another date with Dash that night but it's clear that she is not feeling him anymore. After leaving her date earlier than expected, Claire goes to therapy and fearfully admits to her therapist that she thinks she's in love with her boss, Dr. Neil Melendez.

## Cast

* Nicholas Gonzalez as Dr. Neil Melendez
* Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Browne
* Fiona Gubelmann as Dr. Morgan Reznick
* Will Yun Lee as Dr. Alex Park
* Christina Chang as Dr. Audrey Lim
* Paige Spara as Lea Dilallo
* Jasika Nicole as Dr. Carly Lever (credit only)
* Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews
* Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman
* Brittney Wilson as Nurse Julie Fletch
* John Patrick Amedori as Dash Snyder
* Nic Novicki as Finn Michaels
* Tom Stevens as Tyson
* Meghan Heffern as Nathalie Beauchemin

Co-Starring* Kelly-Ruth Mercier as Dr. Donna Malkin
* Paula Burrows as Kate Spotts
* Rebecca Wass as Nurse #1
* Cäsar Jacobson as Bartender

## Trivia

* Freddie Highmore (Shaun Murphy) and Brittney Wilson (Nurse Julie Fletch) have appeared on-screen together in the psychological drama series *Bates Motel*.

## Multimedia

### Videos

The Good Doctor 3x18 Promo "Heartbreak" (HD)A Patient Tries to Get Shaun a Date - The Good DoctorNeil Tells Claire She Shouldn't Wait on Love - The Good DoctorShaun Unloads On Lea - The Good Doctor
## References

1. ↑ "Ratings for Monday 9th March 2020" - SpoilerTV
2. ↑ http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20200224abc01/