movie review good doctor

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

What's the Tomatometer®?
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening this week
Top box office
Coming soon to theaters
Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

Fandango at Home
Netflix streaming
Prime Video
Most popular streaming movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

The Fall Guy Link to The Fall Guy
I Saw the TV Glow Link to I Saw the TV Glow
The Idea of You Link to The Idea of You

New TV Tonight

Doctor Who: Season 1
Dark Matter: Season 1
The Chi: Season 6
Reginald the Vampire: Season 2
Bodkin: Season 1
Blood of Zeus: Season 2
Black Twitter: A People's History: Season 1
Pretty Little Liars: Summer School: Season 2
Hollywood Con Queen: Season 1
Love Undercover: Season 1

The Good Doctor

Where to watch.

Watch The Good Doctor with a subscription on Prime Video, Hulu, rent on Fandango at Home, or buy on Fandango at Home.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Orlando Bloom

Dr. Martin Blake

Riley Keough

Diane Nixon

Dr. Waylans

Troy Garity

Taraji P. Henson

Nurse Theresa

More From Decider

Anne Hathaway's 'Tonight Show' Interview Hits An Awkward Snag After The...

11 Best New Movies on Netflix: May 2024's Freshest Films to Watch

John Green’s ‘Turtles All the Way Down’ Cameo Is a Treat for His...

Spider-Man Swings onto 'X-Men '97' — But This Isn't Just Any Spider-Man

'GMA' Weatherman Rob Marciano's Firing Sparked By "Heated Screaming Match"...

Huey Lewis Tells Drew Barrymore What He Learned About Bruce Springsteen...

Sydney Sweeney Sings “Unwritten” Into Glen Powell’s Butt in Iconic...

Holly Madison Calls Bob Guccione A "Horrible Person" For Publishing...

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Good Doctor’ Season 7 On ABC, Where Freddie Highmore’s Autistic Surgeon Deals With Being A First-Time Father

Where to stream:.

The Good Doctor
freddie highmore

‘The Good Doctor’ Fans Fuming After Show Kills Off Beloved Character: “I Don’t Even Want To Finish The Season”

‘the good doctor’ co-showrunner confesses it was the network’s decision to end the show, not theirs: “abc told us it was time”, abc’s ‘the good doctor’ will end following upcoming season 7 , ‘the good doctor’ star hill harper not returning to the abc drama amid his senate race run.

The Good Doctor was one of the first shows we reviewed when we started writing this Stream It Or Skip It column back in 2017, and boy did we hate it . It had a promising idea behind it, featuring a surgeon who is on the autism spectrum with savant syndrome, but it felt like it was plopped on top of a standard medical drama that felt more like a soap opera than anything else. Of course, the show went on to be a big hit for ABC, and now it is entering its seventh and final season.

THE GOOD DOCTOR SEASON 7 : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) is in a mask and a gown, putting gloves on. As we pan back, his wife, Lea (Paige Spara) puts their newborn son Steve on a changing table.

The Gist: It’s been two weeks since Steve was born, and Shaun’s tightly-scheduled routine is working out well, at least in his mind. He has Lea timing this latest diaper change, and it’s his fastest one ever. It’s his first day back at work at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital, and he wants to make sure that the reminders on Lea’s phone to feed Steve and put him down for naps are configured correctly.

As he gets to the elevator of his apartment building, he runs into his neighbor and mentor, Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff). The two have not been on speaking terms since Shaun recommended that Dr. Glassman be removed from surgical service after he had some minor strokes. The interaction is uncomfortable to say the least.

At St. Bonaventure, Dr. Jordan Allen (Bria Henderson) is still in pain over her paramedic boyfriend moving away, and while she plans on going out with her buddy, Dr. Asher Wolke (Noah Galvin), another friend, Dr. Jared Kalu (Chuku Modu) is freezing her out.

When Shaun comes back, he immediately tells the chief of surgery, Dr. Audrey Lim (Christina Chang), that he wants to join her on her case, a heart transplant for a 12-week-old baby; Shaun figured that he can relate better now that he has a baby, as well. When he examines the baby boy for the first time, he sees a tiny scratch on his ear, and requires it be treated to avoid an infection that might make him wait on the transplant list.

In the meantime, the 11-week old daughter of Dr. Morgan Reznick (Fiona Gubelmann) is having difficulty due to a valve defect that has already been operated on once. After a procedure fails, Dr. Lim tells Dr. Reznick that the baby girl will eventually need a new heart, but other interventions can buy her time, albeit at some risks. With Dr. Reznick is her on-again, off-again, Dr. Alex Park (Will Yun Lee), wants to be part of the baby’s life, and supports Dr. Reznick as the surgical team, including Shaun, try to figure out which baby will get the incoming donor heart.

At home, the precise routines that Shaun has set up for Dave get thrown out the window because, well, anyone who has cared for a baby knows that they don’t exist on a clock. Lea is OK with keeping things a bit more flexible when Shaun isn’t there, but the idea that Steve isn’t on schedule fills him with anxiety. The night before the transplant, Steve’s lack of sleep drives Shaun to sleep in his office at the hospital, and the restless night brings about an idea of how both babies can be operated on when there’s only one heart available.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? It’s not a stretch to say that The Good Doctor is very House -like; both series were created by David Shore.

Our Take: We absolutely hated The Good Doctor when it premiered back in 2017, basically because the potential of Highmore’s role as a surgeon on the autism spectrum seemed to be wasted in a muddle of horny medical residents and humdrum cases of the week. Of course, the viewing audience showed us that we were full of it, making the show a hit that is now entering its seventh and final season. And, while the show has certainly improved since its debuted, there’s certainly a lot about it that annoys us.

By this point, with six-plus years of storylines and cast turnover, Shore has the right combination of characters and stories to make The Good Doctor a show that’s an entertaining watch. Just the machinations Drs. Lim and Glassman go through to avoid becoming the hospital’s acting administrator is the type of thing that plays well between characters that have been around each other for a number of years.

And the goal of giving Shaun a backstory where he uses his unique skills in both the cases he works on as well as managing life as a neurodivergent person is evident as he adjusts to fatherhood in the beginning of this season. Shaun’s brain works differently than most of the people around him, but it’s certainly admirable that Shore and Highmore portray Shaun as more than just a novelty, but as a person who has all the same life experiences that everyone else has.

We can’t help but cringe a bit at the fact that the neurotypical Highmore is still portraying Shaun in a bit of a heightened way, as if he still needs to use a monotone to light up a neon arrow that reminds the audience that “Shaun is on the spectrum, people!” Autism isn’t just one thing; it’s as varied as the number of people who are on the spectrum. The awareness of the general public about neurodiversity, especially autism spectrum disorder, has increased since The Good Doctor premiered, which makes Highmore’s portrayal seem all the more like a caricature, despite the work done by Highmore, Shore and the show’s writers to make his portrayal authentic.

The first episode played out somewhat predictably, especially after Shaun had his epiphany about treating both babies with a single donor heart. But at this stage of the game, we’re not exactly looking for medical stories with some sort of tragic twist to them. It’s enough to show Shaun as a father, Lea helping him patch up his relationship with Dr. Glassman, and the goings-on among their colleagues.

Sex and Skin: None in the first episode.

Parting Shot: Glassman encounters Shaun in the hall of their apartment building, trying to calm a crying Steve. He offers to take Steve for a little while; we see him holding Steve in his apartment, saying to him, “I’m Grandpa, by the way,” with a smile.

Sleeper Star: Christina Chang is a strong presence as Dr. Lim, something the show needed during its first season.

Most Pilot-y Line: Lea was (is?) the hospital’s IT director; how does she not know how to turn off the smart speaker that Shaun had linked to his scheduling app for Steve’s naps?

Our Call: STREAM IT. What, are we going to tell you to skip The Good Doctor after you’ve put in six seasons of watching? It’s never been our cup of tea, but David Shore and company have managed to put together a good ensemble that still works well together as the show enters its final season.

Joel Keller ( @joelkeller ) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com , VanityFair.com , Fast Company and elsewhere.

Stream It Or Skip It

Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? 'Yellowstone's Season 5, Part 2 Premiere Date, Streaming Info, And More

'The View's Sunny Hostin Covers Her Face In Embarrassment As Whoopi Goldberg Asks If She'd Let Sherri Shepherd Date Her 21-Year-Old Son

Jenna Bush Hager Embarrasses Hoda Kotb On 'Today' By Asking Her If She's "Recently" Made Out With Anybody In Public: "Don't Lie"

When Will 'BMF' Season 3, Episode 10 Be On Starz?

'The View' Derailed As Brooke Shields Describes Benjamin Bratt's "Modesty Sock" In 'Mother Of The Bride'

Jenna Bush Hager Suffers A Meltdown While Giving Advice To Viewers During A 'Today' Segment: "I Just Can't"

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

For Parents
For Educators
Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

Get the app
Movie Reviews
Best Movie Lists
Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

Best TV Lists
Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
Common Sense Selections for TV
Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

Book Reviews
Best Book Lists
Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

Game Reviews
Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

Podcast Reviews
Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

App Reviews
Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

YouTube Channel Reviews
YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

Explaining the News to Our Kids

Family Tech Planners
Digital Skills
All Articles
Latino Culture
Black Voices
Asian Stories
Native Narratives
LGBTQ+ Pride
Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

The good doctor, common sense media reviewers.

Doc on autism spectrum defies prejudices in medical drama.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Themes of acceptance run throughout the show, with

The cast is diverse in terms of race and gender, w

As the show is a medical drama, you can expect to

Typical hospital romance stuff: residents under th

Swears like "bitch" and "damn.&quot

Positive Messages

Themes of acceptance run throughout the show, with frank discussions about how our differences make us stronger.

Positive Role Models

The cast is diverse in terms of race and gender, with people of color in prominent positions of power. The lead character, Dr. Shaun Murphy, works to become a surgeon in order to help others, having been deeply affected by troubling losses in his childhood. He speaks his mind (it is made clear this habit is a hallmark of his autism) and breaks the rules if he needs to when a life is at stake. His mentor, hospital president Dr. Aaron Glassman, is a fervent advocate for Murphy, and argues with hospital staff about how the differently abled should not be defined by their limitations or preconceived notions.

Violence & Scariness

As the show is a medical drama, you can expect to see the usual amount of operating room scenes -- bodies open on the table, innards exposed during surgery -- and sometimes the accidents that lead up to someone being hospitalized. There are some flashbacks of the young Shaun being physically bullied by peers. An animal is thrown against a wall in one scene (we don't see the immediate aftermath). Some security guards tackle a character roughly.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Typical hospital romance stuff: residents under the covers together in the on-call room, a kiss in a hallway. References to "screwing."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Swears like "bitch" and "damn."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Good Doctor is a medical drama with all the usual trappings: workplace romances, bloody surgery scenes, and disagreements between the lower-level staff and the upper management. The main character, Dr. Shaun Murphy, is a young man with autism and savant syndrome, and the show examines the challenges he faces trying to work alongside his neurotypical peers who don't always understand the way he behaves (he's referred to as "really weird" by one). There are childhood flashbacks involving bullying and abusive family members.

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

Parents say (33)
Kids say (50)

Based on 33 parent reviews

Was really good until every single episode became about sex

What's the story.

In THE GOOD DOCTOR, Dr. Shaun Murphy ( Freddie Highmore ) -- an aspiring surgeon with a double diagnosis of autism and savant syndrome -- leaves his isolated life in the country for a job in the pediatric ward at San Jose's prestigious St. Bonaventure Hospital. He finds himself working alongside colleagues who are either curious about and befuddled by his atypical social behaviors -- like fellow residents Claire ( Antonia Thomas ) and Jared (Chuku Modu) -- or openly hostile, like the attending surgeon who brusquely informs Shaun that he has no intention of ever letting him actually perform surgery in his operating room. His only real advocate is a mentor from childhood, hospital president Dr. Aaron Glassman ( Richard Schiff ). Dr. Glassman puts his own job on the line when trying to convince the reluctant hospital board that they should be hiring Shaun not in spite of his differences, but because of them.

Is It Any Good?

While it may follow the same contrived formula that so many hospital dramas have relied on, this show is elevated by Freddie Highmore's genuine, sweet, and thoughtful performance. Autism is a spectrum disorder, and as such, no two autistic people are alike -- everyone has different personalities, behaviors, and levels of functioning -- which means that no show is going to get autistic characters "right" 100% of the time. This show is no exception. Add in the fact that the lead character also has savant syndrome, meaning that he conveniently exhibits above-average skills in certain areas (in his case, an encyclopedic medical memory), and it would be easy to criticize The Good Doctor for making what some in the autism community have termed "inspiration porn."

There's also the fact that the show relies on the idea of a "quirky doctor who's bad with people, but great with medicine." Dr. Murphy's relationship with his mentor Dr. Glassman is warm, and while the doctor is fervently outspoken in his belief that his skeptical colleagues need to learn to accept Shaun, he doesn't make the mistake of speaking for him, as if he's helpless -- a detail that may seem small, but that makes his advocacy and their bond ring true. If they can continue to examine Shaun's interior life and how he navigates his challenging new environment without turning his behavior into a punchline, they may have a solid show on their hands.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about diversity in the workplace, and why it's important. What does it mean to be "neurodivergent"? Why is it important to hire differently abled people?

How do you feel about the show's portrayal of someone with autism? Was it stereotypical, or more nuanced? Did Shaun remind you of any autistic people you have known?

Some characters in The Good Doctor debate openly about Shaun and his merits while he is in the room -- almost as if he isn't there. Do you think there is something about Shaun's behavior that makes them feel emboldened to act in this way? Why might this be considered offensive?

Premiere date : September 25, 2017
Cast : Freddie Highmore , Richard Schiff , Hill Harper , Antonia Thomas
Network : ABC
Genre : Drama
TV rating : TV-14
Last updated : September 17, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Grey's Anatomy

Want personalized picks for your kids' age and interests?

Drama TV for Teens

Books with characters on the autism spectrum.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission.

The Good Doctor Is Filled With So Much Goodness It Might Make You Sick

The guiding principle of The Good Doctor is summarized right there in its title. This is an ABC drama about a promising young surgeon who wants to make a positive impact and should be celebrated — and probably will be in every episode, if the pilot is any indication — for his extraordinary capacity to perform medical miracles.

In fact, less than ten minutes into the first episode, which airs tonight at 10 on ABC, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) is already performing one of those miracles, using his borderline telekinetic ability to diagnose and treat a boy suffering from a serious accidental injury in the San Jose airport. The first half of the episode, the only one ABC made available in advance, toggles between those suspenseful moments, as Shaun attempts to bring breath back into the child’s lungs, and a board meeting at St. Bonaventure Hospital, where Shaun’s mentor, Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff), is arguing that Shaun should be brought on staff despite the fact that he is autistic. The initial portion of the hour also sprinkles in some flashbacks to Shaun’s childhood, as well as scenes involving other members of the St. Bonaventure staff, who mix business with pleasure to a degree that suggests they may have stumbled over to The Good Doctor after a stint on Grey’s Anatomy .

Every time the action cuts away from the dire situation Shaun is dealing with, all the tension in the episode gets punctured, which speaks to an overall tendency on The Good Doctor to soften every conceivable edge. There’s a lot going on here; too much, really. Like so many TV pilots, this one is auditioning for our attention and trying to cram every key character, theme, and backstory into that first tryout. It’s possible that once the show settles in, it could improve. It certainly has some factors that, at least theoretically, should work in its favor.

The Good Doctor comes from executive producer and writer David Shore, who created Fox’s House , a medical drama centered around a lead character who was nothing but edges. Its two leads, Highmore and Schiff, are both excellent and manage to make some very heavy-handed dialogue sound less didactic than it otherwise might. (“He sees things and analyzes things in ways that are just remarkable, in ways that we can’t even begin to understand,” Schiff says of Shaun. This is not the last time the actor will remind us that The West Wing provided excellent training for grounding overly earnest moments.) Seth Gordon — executive producer and a director of Netflix’s Atypical , another recent series about an autistic protagonist — directed The Good Doctor ’s pilot, which is why some of the visual cues that convey autistic sensory overload may feel a tad familiar.

The Good Doctor is one of multiple new or recent shows centered around young men on the spectrum. In addition to Atypical, the best of the lot so far, there is also Young Sheldon , the Big Bang Theory prequel that, like The Good Doctor , emphasizes the magnificence of its young hero’s mind but, unlike The Good Doctor and in keeping with Big Bang ’s approach, never outright discusses his condition.

The ABC series, like Dr. Glassman, is very open about Shaun’s autism and the fact that he has savant syndrome. But it’s mostly on a mission to prove that he is capable of doing extraordinary things, able to express compassion, and, most important from the show’s perspective, deserving of the audience’s empathy. Basically, Shaun is a superhero, right down to the X-ray vision and the extremely tragic childhood that made him realize he had a calling to help others in need.

There is nothing wrong at all with making a show about an autistic character that emphasizes his skills and talents, but, as with any lead on any drama, he should also have what every person has: some flaws. While The Good Doctor doesn’t shy away from presenting Shaun’s difficulties with communication and social norms, it tends to spin those qualities into a positive. When he says things in an overly blunt fashion — like telling a superior that he is very arrogant, then asking, “Does that make you a better surgeon? Does that hurt you as a person?” — it frames this as honest, laudable truth-telling rather than an ill-advised comment.

Shaun exists not only to make patients better, but, apparently, to make everyone around him a better person. There’s not a lot of nuance in that. Hopefully The Good Doctor will find some more of it in the episodes ahead. If it doesn’t, all the over-the-top sentimentality is going to make viewers feel sick pretty quickly.

the good doctor

Editor’s Picks

Most Popular

What is your email.

This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us.

Sign In To Continue Reading

Create your free account.

Password must be at least 8 characters and contain:

Lower case letters (a-z)
Upper case letters (A-Z)
Numbers (0-9)
Special Characters (!@#$%^&*)

As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York , which you can opt out of anytime.

an image, when javascript is unavailable

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

The good doctor: film review.

Orlando Bloom leads this psychosexual film that is less about medicine than the banality of evil.

By Sura Wood

Share this article on Facebook
Share this article on Twitter
Share this article on Flipboard
Share this article on Email
Show additional share options
Share this article on Linkedin
Share this article on Pinit
Share this article on Reddit
Share this article on Tumblr
Share this article on Whatsapp
Share this article on Print
Share this article on Comment

Orlando Bloom , playing a first year medical resident with an important piece of equipment missing from his kit, craves worship and goes to extraordinary, psychopathic lengths to get it in The Good Doctor , a tense, psychosexual film that could make people think twice before checking into a hospital. Bloom has a following from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and as a leading man in light romantic comedy, but he’s a long way from either of those personas in this outing, and without other big-name stars, the doctor’s box office prognosis is only fair.

Directed with a measure of ironic detachment by Irishman Lance Daly ( Kisses ), working from a competent screenplay with elements of black comedy by John Enbom , the film, set in the flawed paradise of Southern California, is less about medicine than the banality of evil and the narcissism of Dr. Martin Blake (Bloom), an outwardly courteous young doctor whose ambition and homicidal tendencies are masked by his good manners and pallid affectless exterior. Early on, following a serious mistake with a patient, there are hints he may be a calculating impostor but, in a deftly handled shift, it turns out he’s a far more sinister breed.

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

‘firebrand’ trailer: alicia vikander’s katherine parr competes for survival with jude law’s king henry viii, lily gladstone is on a mission to find her missing sister in ‘fancy dance’ trailer, jeremy strong in talks to join jeremy allen white in bruce springsteen movie for 20th century, glen powell, anthony mackie, laura dern to star in legal drama ‘monsanto’, rebel wilson says she “lost money” on ‘bridesmaids’ after she had to buy premiere dress, new ‘dora the explorer’ movie to star ‘you are so not invited to my bat mitzvah’ actress samantha lorraine (exclusive).

Jmanthoughts

The Good Doctor Review: What I Thought About It, and Is It Worth Watching?

The Good Doctor is a show that didn’t interest me at first, but after people have told me how good it is, I decided to give it a try. I was afraid that the show would get old, and it’d be the same every episode. Thankfully, the show hasn’t been to repetitive in it’s episodes. I noticed this by watching an episode every now and then with friends. Each episode had an interesting spin to it. So I caved in, and started binge watching.

The Good Doctor is a very interesting TV show, that takes a common idea, and makes it unique. The show has several qualities that I enjoy about it, but with every pro there’s also a con. Today, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of The Good Doctor, and is it worth watching.

And of course…#spoilers for the Good Doctor.

Let’s get started.

The Good Doctor Pros.

There are many aspects of The Good Doctor that I enjoy. It’s creativeness and flexibility allows it to be more than just another doctor show. The show builds off of the characters and let’s you see not only their side of the equation, but lets you empathize with several of the surgeons. Most notable person they try to get you to sympathize with, is Shawn Murphy. There are other ones too, such as: Dr. Melendez, Claire, and Dr. Lynn. These characters are made in a way that lets you see their human side.

Now, the show mainly focuses on Shawn, but it’s more than just him learning how to socialize with people better. It’s about how his life is making making other people’s lives better. Leah and Dr. Glassman are great examples of this.

Leah gives Shawn confidence and a focus that no one else could give him. Her character has one of the most important roles, in my opinion. Her ability to teach Shawn things he never thought he could do, gives her a very unique role, but it evolves to be more than just that. Shawn is just Shawn. There’s no agenda with him. He’s just Shawn, and Leah, who’s life has been surrounded by deception, needs a person like that. Shawn helps Leah to see what a true friend is like.

Dr. Glassman starts off as a father figure to Shawn, but I’ve always felt like he under appreciates him. They do make it clear that Dr. Glassman is babying Shawn, but overtime, we see Shawn gain more independence, and Glassman give him more space. Glassman is an interesting character on the show, but my biggest problem with him is one simple thing, but we’ll get to that later. He’s a character who I think has a lot of potential. Even more than he has now.

I feel like Dr. Brown is another character who helps Shawn. She’s the only character, THE ONLY ONE, who I HATED in the beginning of the show, and I now enjoy. Like a lot. She’s one of my favorite characters because she’s not a winy little princess, but a bad*** doctor who genuinely cares about her patients, her job, and Shawn. The moment I gained all of the respect for Claire, was on season 2, episode 18, Trampoline, the finale of the season. The moment where Claire puts herself in Shawn’s shoes, is probably her greatest moment in the entire show. It not only shows how much she’s evolved, but shows that Shawn has influenced her in a positive way.

Now, I know I’m talking a lot about the characters individually. The reason for this, is because the characters are essential to the story line. I know you’re thinking, “Well, duh.” But what I mean by this is that this is the show spends hours and hours trying to teach you about these characters and to get you invested into their lives. These characters entire jobs, are to get you emotionally invested. That’s why I’m talking about the characters individually.

It’s also interesting that the show introduces new patients every episode, yet you create a bond with the patient. Why is that? Is it because they’re going through a relate able problem? Or maybe the actors are just talented? The answer to this question is a little bit of both.

Not every patient that comes through those doors, you create an emotional bond with, but one thing that you do is get invested in how our main characters feel about them. That’s why you get invested at all with the victim/patients. This show has spent many episodes developing our characters individually, and when they get invested in the patient, you do too.

The Good Doctor has a lot of pros that I enjoy, and I’m a fan of all the doctor/surgeons/surgical residents/presidents of hospitals.

The Good Doctor Cons.

As much as I like this show, no TV-show is perfect. The show sometimes can go in an emotional roller-coaster. This is the intended goal of the show, but I feel like they overdue it a few times. Certain episodes I walk away from with a bitter taste in my mouth or I’m just sitting there, thinking, “That’s not realistic…at all.”

Now, in case you’re one of those people who’s like, “Maybe they’re not trying to be realistic.”… Are you kidding me? The show is set in today’s time, it’s dedicated in giving you a bunch of medical facts that sound fancy, and give the doctors real life problems. They’re trying to convince you that this is legit, and they do…like 70% of the time. That 30% is an emotional mess that’s waiting to be thrown in the garbage. Season 2, episode 12, Aftermath , focuses on the doctor’s individual lives. It lets us see, not only what they do outside of work, but gain a better relationship with the characters as well, but the problem with this, is one simple thing. I DON’T CARE!!!

This is a great example of the emotion garbage that is not only unlrealistic at some points, but also just meaningless to the story. The only the that progresses through this episode is Melendis and Lynn’s relationship. That’s the only thing that is good in that entire episode.

I’m sorry if I seem to be a bit harsh, it’s just that I don’t want this show to end up like Pure Genius . If you don’t know, Pure Genius was a doctor show very similar to the Good Doctor. There were a few differences: There’s no doctor with autism, it focus’s on a doctor, played by Dermot Mulroney, and a few other differences. Now, this show was pretty fun to watch. Gave off the same feel that The Good Doctor does, but the difference is, Pure Genius was focused on the doctor’s lives. They did focus on the patients, but the show evolved around this main doctor getting hired by a billionaire, who’s in his mid twenties. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Good Doctor got a lot of it’s ideas from Pure Genius.

Pure Genius was cancelled. Among other things, one reason why was because the story line was getting boring. It was focusing more on the doctor’s individual lives rather than them at work. I don’t want the Good Doctor to do that.

The Good Doctor does have some cons, but they’re mainly speculations of what I hope they won’t do. I have some problems with some of the characters, but most of them I enjoy, as I do with the show.

Things That Surprised Me

One thing that surprised me, going into this show, was the way Shawn sees the body organs floating around, and how he solves the unusual problems. I think this is amazing. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did. It was an unusual pleasure.

In the end, is this worth your time? I would say yes. If you would like a dramatic show, with medical facts, and a doctor who has autism, I can’t think of a better show for you. 🙂 This show has many unique things that make it special: in good and bad ways.

I hope the writers watch their steps as they march on, but I’m excited to see season 3 and the episodes to come. Until next time!

Published by Gibberish

I'm a huge fan of movies: Disney, Warner Bros., ect. Probably my favorite movies are from Marvel Studios, and I love talking about them. View all posts by Gibberish

Movie review: A Good Doctor

In the hilarious French film A Good Doctor, an unwell emergency doctor recruits a totally unqualified courier to perform his rounds.

Download as Ogg
Download as MP3
Download as AAC
Play Ogg in browser
Play MP3 in browser
Play AAC in browser

There's an old theatrical quote from the deathbed of a famous actor: "Dying is easy...", he's meant to have said, "..comedy is hard".

And after all too many films that backed that up, I found myself popping into another French Film Festival title, expecting another harmless bit of Gallic fun.

The English title was A Good Doctor - though in France it's simply called Docteur?

It was certainly fun, but it was rather better than that. It was one of the most expertly put together pieces of work I've seen for donkey's years, though looking back I shouldn't have been surprised. Just look at all the elements: comedy or farce, a doctor, a courier, a substitute - all French words!

A Good Doctor opens on the aging, disgruntled emergency doctor Serge. He's the only on-call doctor on the night before Christmas. He hates Christmas anyway - and he takes it out on another all-night worker Malek, a bicycle courier delivering meals to partygoers.

Malek is as cheerful as Serge is Scroogelike. Until disaster strikes.

Serge accidentally runs into Malek's bicycle. This is bad for both of them. Malek can't deliver anything without transport, and Serge has thrown his back out.

He can barely move, let alone climb the many stairs to his various patients. He tries to call in sick, but there are no available replacement doctors. So there's only one thing for it.

Serge offers to give Malek the use of his car. In exchange, he does the legwork for Serge's house calls. It'll be easy, he assures Malek. Stay on the line, I'll walk you through the medical stuff by phone.

What, as they say, could possibly go wrong?

What goes right is an old-fashioned, brilliantly constructed French farce - the sort of thing that old masters like Moliere, Feydeau and Jacques Tati have been doing for years.

It all starts with the writing. A Good Doctor is as tight and mathematically contrived as most American examples are approximate, and dependent on inspired ad-libs.

Initially, Malek is very tentative - understandably - particularly when confronted with his first patient, a large gentleman requiring rather more hands-on treatment than he was expecting.

And some of his other patients are puzzled that he seems to keep conferring with his inside pocket.

But under the instructions of his medical puppet-master, so to speak, Malek becomes more confident.

At least confident in his bedside manner. He continues to find it difficult remembering his name - Dr Serge Mamou-Mani. Or precisely how to work the digital thermometer.

The secret of a French farce is in the characters. Everything happens for a reason, and everyone has their reasons for doing it.

We discover why Serge hates Christmas so much, and why he's so short with his daughter-in- law Rose. We find out why Malek was on a bike in the first place, and how his plans for the future change that night.

Things go wrong, things go right and the performances by expert farceurs like Michel Blanc as the real doctor and Hakim Jemili as the fake one are perfectly judged, light as a feather and supremely human.

It's funnier because nobody plays it as a comedy. It's played absolutely straight, and the proof of the pudding was in the laughter.

A Good Doctor was laugh out loud funny all the way through, and the only concern was that such a perfect setup might stumble before the end.

Not at all. We were in the safest of hands - a first-time writer-director called Tristan Séguéla.

I'd never heard of him either, but on the strength of A Good Doctor, I look forward to his next film. Yes, comedy is hard, but when you get it right, it's…. well, there isn't an English phrase for 'joie de vivre', is there?

To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following:

See terms of use .

Get the RNZ app

for easy access to all your favourite programmes

Subscribe to At The Movies

Podcast (MP3) Oggcast (Vorbis)

‘The Good Doctor’ Final Episodes: Claire’s Dramatic Return, Glassman’s Big Risk & More

The Good Doctor

8 Most Painful TV Cancellations of 2024
‘The Good Doctor’: Richard Schiff’s Real-Life Daughter Ruby Kelley Guest Stars

There are just two episodes left of The Good Doctor . The ABC medical drama will come to a close on Tuesday, May 21, with the penultimate episode May 14. Next week, former series regular Antonia Thomas returns as Dr. Claire Brown, and she’s not the only familiar face that’s coming back before the series ends.

ABC previously announced that Brandon Larracuente will return as Dr. Daniel Perez along with Thomas. Thomas will appear in Episode 9 and The Good Doctor series finale, but it’s not clear when Larracuente will be back. There’s only two episodes left though, so it’s got to be one of them! Larracuente isn’t seen in the promo for The Good Doctor Season 7 Episode 9, but the video is all about Claire.

The promo reveals that Claire is back in California for a personal medical issue, and it hints that Dr. Aaron Glassman ( Richard Schiff ) could be risking his career to help Hannah ( Ruby Kelley , Schiff’s real-life daughter) recover from an opioid addiction and overdose. Here’s what to expect from the last two episodes of The Good Doctor , from available episode titles and descriptions to the Episode 9 promo and more.

The Good Doctor Season 7 Episode 9, “Unconditional”: Tuesday, May 14

In Episode 8, “The Overview Effect,” Shaun ( Freddie Highmore ) and Lea ( Paige Spara ) fought over whether or not to have Steve tested for autism. They agreed to enroll him in a clinical trial that could potentially pinpoint signs of autism in infants, but they ultimately decided against it by the end of the episode. Navigating their neurodivergent-neurotypical dynamic is something that these young parents will have to continue for the rest of their lives, but even with this fight, Episode 8 proved that Shaun and Lea can work things out when parenting gets hard.

'The Good Doctor' Boss Says They Didn't Want to End With Season 7

Brighter days are ahead for the family when Claire, Shaun’s best friend, returns in Episode 9, “Unconditional.” She left San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital to take a job in Guatemala and returns for a personal medical examination. The promo above reveals a heartbreaking truth after the happy reunion: Claire has breast cancer. Dr. Jared Kalu ( Chuku Modu ), Claire’s former romantic fling, seems to be breaking the hard news to her in the promo.

Glassman insisted that Hannah move into his apartment while she recovers following her overdose in Episode 8. He decided to prescribe her low doses of oxycodone, given to her by him on a strict schedule, to orchestrate harm reduction and ween Hannah off the addictive drug. This will threaten Glassman’s career. As Shaun warns with a panic in the promo, this could cost Glassman his medical license.

“Prescribing her oxycodone is unethical. You could lose your medical license, you need to make her leave,” Shaun tells his mentor, who appears unfazed by the risk. As Glassman told Hannah in Episode 8, his own daughter died of an overdose. Taking care of Hannah, for him, is deeply personal. It makes it all the more touching that this potential chosen family dynamic is being portrayed by Schiff and his own daughter.

Could Glassman seek advise from Perez, who’s a recovering opioid addict as well? Perez left in The Good Doctor Season 6 finale to go heal from getting treated with fentanyl following a medical emergency, so this would be a logical way to bring him back. Or maybe he just misses Dr. Jordan Allen ( Bria Samoné Henderson )? We’ll take both options!

The Episode 9 logline says that “Dr. Glassman struggles to manage Hannah, who remains unresponsive to his attempts to help,” and that the newly engaged Dr. Alex Park ( Will Yun Lee ) will be seeking out “the perfect last-minute wedding location” for him and Dr. Morgan Reznick ( Fiona Gubelmann ). A Good Doctor wedding could be in the cards for the series finale!

The Good Doctor Season 7 Episode 10, “Goodbye”: Tuesday, May 21

Here’s the official description for The Good Doctor series finale: “As the doctors consider their futures, they work together to solve one of the most important cases of their careers.”

Fans can expect to see this season’s cast, along with Thomas, in the final episode. Other possible guest stars include Larracuente, if he doesn’t come back in Episode 9 (ABC previously said that Thomas would appear in two episodes, and Larracuente would appear in one), and Bess Armstrong as Dr. Audrey Lim’s ( Christina Chang ) mom Eileen. We’ll hopefully also see Jerome Martel ( Giacomo Baessato ) return to keep the late Dr. Asher Wolke’s (Noah Galvin) memory alive in the final episode.

What are you hoping will happen in the series finale ? A time jump to baby Steve’s future? A wedding? Romantic connections revealed as endgame? Let us know in the comments below.

The Good Doctor , Tuesdays, 10/9c, ABC

Antonia Thomas

Brandon larracuente, bria henderson, freddie highmore, paige spara, richard schiff.

Latest Clips

Meet the cast.

Livestream this show & more on our newly-updated LIVE TV page

Recommended Shows

MORE TO WATCH ON FREEFORM, FX & NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Follow The Good Doctor:

The Good Doctor (2011)

Stream & Watch The Good Doctor

Trailers & Clips

Cast & Crew

Movie Details

Similar movies.

Movie Reviews

Follow Moviefone

Latest trailers.

Screen Rant

Doctor who season 14 reviews are in — what are critics saying about ncuti gatwa's first season.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Chicago PD Season 11 Finale Synopsis Sets The Stage For Upton's Exit

6 reasons we're a bit worried about doctor who season 14, "you see him at his most scared": doctor who season 14 features a villain even the doctor fears, "you see him at his most scared": doctor who season 14 features a villain even the doctor fears, doctor who season 14 episode detail teases connection to 1 classic doctor era.

Critics are praising Ncuti Gatwa's performance in Doctor Who season 14, calling it a return to form for the beloved sci-fi series.
Ncuti Gatwa is the first Black and openly queer actor to play the Doctor, marking a notable casting choice in the show's history.
Doctor Who season 14 also introduces a new companion, Ruby Sunday, with critics calling the pairing with Ncuti Gatwa " magnetic ."

The Doctor Who season 14 reviews are in, and critics are praising Ncuti Gatwa's first season. With Russell T Davies returning as showrunner after holding the position from 2005 to 2010, the latest season of BBC's long-running sci-fi series stars Sex Education 's Gatwa as the fifteenth iteration of the titular Time Lord who travels through space and time using the British police box known as the TARDIS. The Doctor Who season 14 cast also introduces Millie Gibson as the Doctor's newest companion, Ruby Sunday.

Now, ahead of the Doctor Who season 14 release date on May 11, critics have started sharing their reviews. Overall, the reviews praise Gatwa's performance and are calling season 14 a return to form for Doctor Who . For instance, The Guardian 's Jack Seale says, " Ncuti Gatwa will make this show far more fun than it’s been for years ."

What Doctor Who Season 14's Reviews Are Saying About Ncuti Gatwa's First Season

Doctor who appears to be in very good hands.

Overall, the Doctor Who season 14 reviews are overflowing with praise for Gatwa's performance . Gatwa's casting is notable since he is the first Black and openly queer actor to play the Doctor . In addition, season 14 is the first season following Disney+'s acquisition of Doctor Who 's international broadcasting rights, which is where the show will stream in the United States. This represents a new creative direction for the long-running sci-fi show, and the critical response appears to be overwhelmingly positive.

Empire 's Jordan King writes, " Doctor Who’s latest reboot gets off to an unpredictable, exciting, and incredibly promising start " and " make no mistake: the future of Doctor Who has never been brighter ." Variety 's Aramide Tinubu also voices approval, writing, " Ncuti Gatwa delights in Disney+’s audacious and adventurous Doctor Who ." Critics are also calling the pairing between Gatwa and Gibson " magnetic " and other castings, such as Jinkx Monsoon, are being praised. IGN 's Robert Anderson writes, " Jinkx Monsoon is the latest Doctor Who casting coup, and the 'Queen of All Queens' delivers a killer performance ."

Doctor Who has confirmed that season 14 will be airing in May 2024, but upon reflection, there are some worries about the new episodes of the show.

According to critics, Doctor Who season 14 appeals to both long and first-time viewers alike , with Collider 's Samantha Coley calling it " a madcap adventure for fans both new and old ." However, The Guardian 's Jack Seale says showrunner Russell T Davies spends too " much time spoon-feeding new fans ." This represents the small amount of criticism aimed at Doctor Who season 14, some of which also comes from The Telegraph 's Anita Singh who says that, while " Ncuti Gatwa shines ," it's " among the clunky culture-war posturing ." Soon enough, audiences can see the new season and form their own opinions.

Doctor Who season 14 premieres on May 11.

Source: Various (see links above)

*Availability in US

Not available

Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits.

Doctor Who Season 14: Release Date, Cast, Trailer & Everything We Know

'Doctor Who' Season 1 Review: A Madcap Adventure for Fans Both New and Old

The Doctor and Ruby Sunday return for new adventures with a healthy dose of humor and heart.

The Big Picture

The new season of Doctor Who provides a fresh start for the franchise, with a captivating storyline and dynamic new characters.
Ncuti Gatwa shines as the charismatic Fifteenth Doctor, balancing whimsy with emotional depth in a stunning performance.
The chemistry between Gatwa and Millie Gibson as Doctor and companion makes for compelling viewing.

Back in November, Doctor Who bounded back onto our TV screens with three special episodes to celebrate the franchise's 60th anniversary. With the return of Catherine Tate and David Tennant , audiences were treated to a brief series of adventures that not only brought the 2005-2019 era of Doctor Who to a satisfying conclusion , but also paved the way for something new to begin.

Enter Ncuti Gatwa . In a shocking twist bi-generation , Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor appeared alongside Tennant’s Fourteen. Now, after sending his counterpart off to a peaceful retirement, Fifteen is back to set off on his own series of outrageous adventures with Ruby Sunday ( Millie Gibson ), the companion he met by coincidence in the 2023 Christmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road.” Together, the two will face space babies, the Beatles, aliens, and more as they fight to keep the universe intact — all while having endless fun traveling the stars.

The show follows the adventures of a Time Lord “The Doctor” who is able to regenerate, and the Doctor’s human friends. The Doctor and companion’s journey through time and space in the TARDIS – a time-traveling ship shaped like a police box – saving the universe with a combination of wit, bravery, and kindness.

What Is ‘Doctor Who’ Season 1 About?

As this is the first season of Doctor Who produced by both the BBC and Disney, it also serves as a soft reboot of sorts. While the gap between the eras is much shorter, this new season — whether you call it Series 14 or Season 1 — serves as an entry point for new viewers, much like 2005’s Series 1, which rebooted the franchise with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper .

Much of the first episode of the new season serves as a primer on Doctor Who as new viewers get an understanding of who the Doctor is through the eyes of newcomer Ruby Sunday. While it would be easy for this to feel redundant to an audience who’s been watching the show for decades, Gibson and Gatwa make it bright and fresh as we get a better sense of their dynamic while the uninitiated learn about how the TARDIS works, who the Doctor is, and where he’s from. There are also plenty of Easter eggs for fans who’ve been around to pick up on and a depth to Gatwa’s performance that is only enriched by the Doctor’s beautiful and tragic history.

The first two installments of the season maintain Doctor Who ’s episodic nature, with each sending the Doctor, Ruby, and the TARDIS on a wild adventure through time and space. However, picking up the threads of the mystery surrounding Ruby Sunday, the new episodes set up an arc that will likely span both the first and second seasons . Ruby’s parentage remains a mystery, with little clues dropped that will have audiences hard at work attempting to put together the puzzle pieces. Not only will you want to look through every frame for the tiniest details, but you’ll also want to listen closely as connections are made and sound, in particular, weaves the new episodes together in an intriguing way.

On top of that ongoing mystery, the new season begins to dig into the Doctor’s own mysterious origin story, further exploring the franchise-altering lore of “The Timeless Child.” In doing so, the world of Doctor Who has also expanded past typical aliens and monsters — though there’s still plenty about to be sure — but in terms of what’s possible, the 60th specials have truly blown the lid off, with these new episodes leaning even further into the wild and wacky imagination of showrunner Russell T. Davies .

Russell T. Davies' Return Infuses 'Doctor Who' With New Magic

Each era of Doctor Who has its own merits and each has a selection of top-notch episodes that anyone could make a case for as some of the show's best. That being said, Davies’ first four seasons are arguably looked back at with the most nostalgia, and fans of that initial run are bound to find these new episodes a genuine delight. While audiences for the series have ebbed and flowed over the years — through no fault of the spectacular cast and crew of each season — viewers who may have drifted away will find it easy to jump back in with Fifteen and Ruby. Those who’ve happily consumed every episode since “Rose” will also find the stories they loved still woven into the very fabric of the series. Davies adds a richness to the stories of the previous era and stitches Fifteen's journey to that of the past Doctors, with the help of Gatwa’s well-researched performance. Nothing's been glossed over or ignored, despite not necessarily being required viewing for new audiences to keep up.

As he did in those early seasons — especially Series 4 — Davies has created a story that is everything you want from Doctor Who . The Doctor and Ruby are giggling and making jokes as often as they are running for their lives and going toe to toe with terrifying foes. There’s an inherent silliness and whimsy in Davies’ writing that makes it easy to pick up, but his best work is also laced with a deep well of love and loss. Each story will have fans laughing one moment and reaching for the box of Kleenex in the next. In addition to the Doctor and Ruby, Davies has crafted some fantastic supporting characters in these episodes. With guest appearances from Golda Rosheuvel and Jinkx Monsoon , the new season of Doctor Who is packed with powerhouse performers who each bring their own bit of magic to the story.

Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson Are the Right Duo for a New Era of 'Doctor Who'

From the minute he bounded onto the UNIT rooftop in David Tennant’s underwear, Ncuti Gatwa has embodied the Doctor . And with each episode of the new season , it only becomes more and more clear how utterly perfect he is for this role. Gatwa’s Doctor is incredibly charismatic and charming, always jumping from one thing to the next in his excitement to show Ruby the stars. But what really brings his performance to the next level is his ability to accompany that campy sense of whimsy and joy with a deep sense of suffering and loss . While the Doctor is by no means an innocent creature per se, it’s clear that they are always trying to make the universe better. Gatwa easily jumps from emotion to emotion as he strives to see the shimmering beauty and hope in every corner of the universe while also being haunted by the things he’s seen and done. He balances humor and madcap joy with a depth of emotion that the Doctor has always had but never really been able to express to this extent.

Alongside him, Millie Gibson plays the Doctor’s fearless companion, Ruby Sunday . From the start, Ruby is such a fully realized character in her own right, and she impressively holds her own opposite the wild and marvelous character that is the Doctor. Gibson infuses everything that she does as Ruby with love and uses that to fuel her every action, whether it’s jumping into danger to save someone else or doing something as simple as choosing where to go on her adventures. Ruby's bravery, gumption, and love in her heart make her a perfect companion .

Ruby’s chosen family is still very much a part of her story, and her background as an average girl with an average job and a small group of queer friends instantly makes her feel very real and relatable. And her heart of gold makes it easy to see why she’ll be just as much of a hero as the Doctor in their many adventures. Davies’ writing makes heroes out of seemingly ordinary people because, in reality, ordinary people become heroes every day. It renders a show as outlandish and fantastical as Doctor Who more grounded in our world.

Together, Ruby and the Doctor are a dynamic duo that I could watch travel the universe together for many seasons to come. Gatwa and Gibson have a bright and bubbly chemistry as well as a level of deep trust in each other that will have fans rooting for them at every turn. These first two episodes do a really solid job of showing how they work together and why they’re drawn to each other. Reminiscent of duos like Ten and Donna or Eleven and Amy, Ruby and Fifteen have an easygoing relationship that makes them fast friends. And while you can see the influence of those past duos, Gatwa and Gibson are unlike any pair that has come before, bringing their own delightful spin to the show. Most importantly, they prove that there’s nothing better than finding that person you can be in cahoots with 24/7.

These episodes kick off a new era of Doctor Who that is bright and full of possibility . With love as its guiding principle, the new season isn’t afraid of getting silly, scary, and a little bit serious — all within the space of a single episode. Davies also returns at the top of his game, with a Doctor and companion that we just can’t help but fall head over heels for and an overarching mystery that will have fans eagerly awaiting every new episode.

Doctor Who gets an exciting refresh with the new season, especially thanks to its bright young stars, while also welcoming back old fans with solid writing from Russell T. Davies.

The new season serves as a good entry point for new audiences without turning away longtime fans.
Ncuti Gatwa makes an outstanding Doctor with the range to be both dazzling and devastating.
Millie Gibson and Ncuti Gatwa have a bright chemistry that'll keep audiences coming back for more.
The campiness may not be for everyone, and the mystery of Ruby Sunday could still go either way.

Doctor Who Season 1 premieres with two back-to-back episodes on Disney+ on May 10 at 7 PM ET and on BBC iPlayer on May 11 at 12 AM BST.

Watch on Disney+

Ncuti Gatwa Delights in Disney+’s Audacious and Adventurous ‘Doctor Who’: TV Review

By Aramide Tinubu

Aramide Tinubu

Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly Keep Overly Elaborate Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Dark Matter’ From Collapsing in on Itself: TV Review 11 hours ago
Elisabeth Moss Stuns in FX’s Fascinating Spy Thriller ‘The Veil’: TV Review 1 week ago
‘Mother Play’ Review: Jessica Lange Is an Unhinged Delight in Dysfunctional Family Drama on Broadway 2 weeks ago

Ncuti Gate as The Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday in “Doctor Who”

As the new Doctor at the helm of the Tardis, the police box-shaped time-traveling ship, Ncuti Gatwa takes “ Doctor Who ” on a thrilling ride that doesn’t disappoint. The ancient alien and his latest companion, Ruby Sunday ( Millie Gibson ), embark on a vibrant season jammed with all the magical elements that have made the show a British television staple for 60 years.

Popular on Variety

The episode opens with Ruby scoping out the Tardis and the Doctor explaining his origin on the planet Gallifrey. Intrigued by the knowledge, Ruby is overwhelmed when the Doctor activates his ship, landing them in the age of the dinosaurs. Since the Mesozoic Era wasn’t exactly human-friendly, their stay is brief, and they catapult into the future, landing in the 22nd century on a stinky space station run by a group of talking babies. While the episode is full of adorable tots and one very special guest star, its critiques of forced birth and Western societies’ refusal to protect children also resonate.

With the new season, Davies offers callbacks to past iterations of the show — with a twist. The Tardis has a stark white interior and backlit circles, echoing the original 1960s ship. However, the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver has been updated with a new look and bears a Rwandan proverb, a nod to Gatwa’s heritage.

Even with this new energy, some episodes are more riveting than others. Episode 2 leans into the twist-dancing and beehive hair of the ’60s. But it doesn’t quite come together, despite “Drag Race” winner Jinkx Monsoon’s appearance as the music-stealing Maestro. Yet the profound bond between Ruby and the Doctor keeps the season from ever going off-kilter. While the voyagers share a zest for excitement, their true connection is born of the sense of loss that simmers in both their hearts. The series’ strange adventures and the chemistry between the leads will be enough to keep viewers tuned in. But it’s Gatwa’s star turn that elevates the season. With his megawatt smile and colorful costumes, he dives into the role, delivering a refreshing dynamism that makes the season a uniquely mesmerizing watch.

The first two episodes of “Doctor Who” premiere May 10 on Disney+ with new episodes dropping weekly on Fridays.

More From Our Brands

Superchunk: how steve albini made us sound ‘bigger than we were in real life’, this land rover defender 6×6 restomod is a road beast with good manners, jokic joins elite company with third nba mvp award, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, peacock’s friday the 13th series loses bryan fuller as showrunner, verify it's you, please log in.

Cast & crew
User reviews

Back to Black

The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

Sam Taylor-Johnson
Matt Greenhalgh
Marisa Abela
Eddie Marsan
Jack O'Connell
70 User reviews
75 Critic reviews
49 Metascore

Nick Shymansky

Perfume Paul
Great Auntie Renee

Uncle Harold
Auntie Melody

All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

The Big List of Summer Movies

More like this

Did you know

Trivia Marisa Abela had done most of the singing in this film herself. She trained extensively to mimic Amy Winehouse 's vocals.

Technical specs

Runtime 2 hours 2 minutes

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Email not verified

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Movies / TV

The Good Doctor

Critics Reviews

More Like This

More From Decider

Anne Hathaway's 'Tonight Show' Interview Hits An Awkward Snag After The...

11 Best New Movies on Netflix: May 2024's Freshest Films to Watch

John Green’s ‘Turtles All the Way Down’ Cameo Is a Treat for His...

Spider-Man Swings onto 'X-Men '97' — But This Isn't Just Any Spider-Man

'GMA' Weatherman Rob Marciano's Firing Sparked By "Heated Screaming Match"...

Huey Lewis Tells Drew Barrymore What He Learned About Bruce Springsteen...

Sydney Sweeney Sings “Unwritten” Into Glen Powell’s Butt in Iconic...

Holly Madison Calls Bob Guccione A "Horrible Person" For Publishing...

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Good Doctor’ Season 7 On ABC, Where Freddie Highmore’s Autistic Surgeon Deals With Being A First-Time Father

‘The Good Doctor’ Fans Fuming After Show Kills Off Beloved Character: “I Don’t Even Want To Finish The Season”

THE GOOD DOCTOR SEASON 7 : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? 'Yellowstone's Season 5, Part 2 Premiere Date, Streaming Info, And More

'The View's Sunny Hostin Covers Her Face In Embarrassment As Whoopi Goldberg Asks If She'd Let Sherri Shepherd Date Her 21-Year-Old Son

Jenna Bush Hager Embarrasses Hoda Kotb On 'Today' By Asking Her If She's "Recently" Made Out With Anybody In Public: "Don't Lie"

When Will 'BMF' Season 3, Episode 10 Be On Starz?

'The View' Derailed As Brooke Shields Describes Benjamin Bratt's "Modesty Sock" In 'Mother Of The Bride'

Jenna Bush Hager Suffers A Meltdown While Giving Advice To Viewers During A 'Today' Segment: "I Just Can't"

Or browse by category:

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

Common Sense Selections for Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

Explaining the News to Our Kids

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

A Lot or a Little?

Positive Messages

Positive Role Models

Violence & Scariness

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Parents Need to Know

Where to Watch

Community Reviews

Was really good until every single episode became about sex

Is It Any Good?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Did we miss something on diversity?

Suggest an Update

Grey's Anatomy

Drama TV for Teens

The Good Doctor Is Filled With So Much Goodness It Might Make You Sick

Most Viewed Stories

Editor’s Picks

Most Popular

Sign In To Continue Reading

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

site categories

Related Stories

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

The Good Doctor Review: What I Thought About It, and Is It Worth Watching?

Share this:

Published by Gibberish

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Movie review: A Good Doctor

Recent stories from At The Movies

Get the RNZ app

Subscribe to At The Movies

‘The Good Doctor’ Final Episodes: Claire’s Dramatic Return, Glassman’s Big Risk & More

The Good Doctor