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Entertainment • TV

The Good Doctor

The Good Doctor is an American medical drama television series that follows Dr.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Good Doctor is an American medical drama television series that follows Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, as he works at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. The series stars Freddie Highmore as Shaun Murphy and aired on ABC from 2017 to 2024.

Premise

The Good Doctor follows Shaun Murphy as he joins the surgical team at a prestigious hospital in California and uses his medical talent to navigate professional and personal challenges.

Cast and characters

Freddie Highmore plays Shaun Murphy, with Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman and a large ensemble including Hill Harper, Christina Chang, Paige Spara, Fiona Gubelmann, Will Yun Lee, Antonia Thomas, Nicholas Gonzalez, and Tamlyn Tomita.

Production and broadcast

The series was created by David Shore and aired on ABC from 2017 to 2024. It was produced as a U.S. adaptation of the South Korean television series of the same name.

Final season

Season 7 was announced in 2023 and became the series' final season. Sources indicate it was shortened to 10 episodes and aired in 2024.

Key facts

  • The Good Doctor centers on Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome.
  • Freddie Highmore stars as Shaun Murphy, the series' lead character.
  • The show aired on ABC for seven seasons from 2017 to 2024.
  • The series was adapted by David Shore from a South Korean drama of the same name.
  • Season 7 was the final season, shortened to 10 episodes and aired in 2024.
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Canadian context

The Good Doctor aired in Canada through standard North American television distribution and remains widely known to Canadian viewers as a U.S. medical drama.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Good Doctor about?
It is about Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, who joins the surgical team at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital and faces medical and social challenges.
Who plays Shaun Murphy?
Freddie Highmore plays Shaun Murphy.
Who is in The Good Doctor cast?
The cast includes Freddie Highmore, Richard Schiff, Hill Harper, Christina Chang, Paige Spara, Fiona Gubelmann, Will Yun Lee, Antonia Thomas, Nicholas Gonzalez, and Tamlyn Tomita.
What happened in The Good Doctor season 7?
Season 7 was the final season of the series. Sources say it was shortened to 10 episodes and aired in 2024.
Is The Good Doctor cancelled?
The series ended after its seventh season, so it was not renewed beyond that final season.
What is Freddie Highmore's role in The Good Doctor?
Freddie Highmore stars as Dr. Shaun Murphy, the series' main character and central surgeon.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Doctor_(American_TV_series)
    Supports: Premise, setting, character description, Freddie Highmore as Shaun Murphy
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6470478/
    Supports: Series years, cast, lead actor, premise
  3. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Doctor
    Supports: Season 7 being the final season, episode count, 2024 ending
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80176893
    Supports: Series description and cast list
  5. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9dJq8KXjZs
    Supports: Series recap, premise, end-of-series context