Why ABC added five episodes to 'The Good Doctor'

“The Good Doctor” is a recently released series from ABC Network and the show was immediately ordered for a full season. ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey announced that the TV series episodes were extended.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “The Good Doctor” will add five additional episodes to bring a total of eighteen episodes for Season 1. "We are thrilled to announce that we are giving our viewers additional episodes of 'The Good Doctor,'” President Dungey shared.

The series, which premiered last October 2, talks about the life of Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) as a resident surgeon in San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.

What is ‘The Good Doctor’ all about?

The first five minutes of the series premiere was an immediate scene stealer due to the protagonist’s unique case. Shaun Murphy is a young surgeon diagnosed with two conditions: autism and savant syndrome. He showed exceptional medical skills from day one. Unfortunately, not all people can understand and accept the limitations of his social skills.

As ABC reported, his only advocate in the hospital is the President, Dr.

Aaron Glassman. The role was portrayed by Richard Schiff. Glassman fought for Murphy’s right to be hired despite his autistic condition. ABC cites how he challenged the hospital board and staff’s skepticism and prejudice, promising to step down from his position if Shaun does not live up to his expectations.

Viewers can expect that there will be no sugarcoating and exceptions for Shaun’s part. We will continue to see how he can emotionally adapt, learn to sympathize and empathize. In the end, those who watched the first two episodes will understand his goal to save lives. He may not be able to express it like the normal ones but his determination to let people live longer is what shined best in the series.

Ratings

Moreover, the series’ pickup reportedly came after two weeks of solid ratings. “We have an amazing team in front of and behind the camera, led by Freddie Highmore’s incredibly nuanced performance as Dr. Shaun Murphy,” Dungey explained. He expressed the network’s confidence that the show will continue to captivate more viewers.

As for the ratings, ABC News revealed that the first episode ranked the series as the no. 1 Monday drama to date. It improved the 10 PM slot by fifty percent for the network. “The Good Doctor” also obtained the biggest TV playback numbers, making the premiere broadcast jump up to 5.5 million viewers. After three years, it was recorded as the biggest debut for any new show on any network.