For years, the hospital series The Good Doctor ensured stable ratings for US broadcaster ABC. Now the end of the Freddie Highmore hit is certain
When The Good Doctor premiered in 2017, at first glance the series seemed like one of many hospital series that have dominated the TV schedule for decades. In the end, the dramatic story about the autistic doctor Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) won the hearts of viewers.
The ratings for the series opener were an unmistakable sign that ABC, the home of series high-flyer Grey’s Anatomy, had successfully launched another hospital series. After six seasons, however, the end of Dr. Murphy’s story has now been announced. The 7th and final season starts in February
The Good Doctor ends with season 7: Freddie Highmore leaves San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital
As the Hollywood Reporter reports, The Good Doctor is the second long-running series ABC is parting ways with this year. Seattle Firefighters, a spin-off of Grey’s Anatomy, will also end in 2024 after seven seasons. It looks like the US broadcaster is clearing out its program to make room for something new.
The Good Doctor star Freddie Highmore bids an emotional farewell to the role that has shaped his career in recent years. The Hollywood Reporter quotes the actor as follows:
‘Playing Dr. Shaun Murphy has been a great privilege and one of the most remarkable and rewarding experiences of my life. […] With love from Vancouver … Tequila, now!
As early as season 6, an attempt was made to keep The Good Doctor alive as a brand. A spin-off series called The Good Lawyer was planned, which was to be created from a backdoor pilot, meaning it was prepared in a regular episode of the main series. However, after the Hollywood double strike in 2023, ABC decided against ordering the spin-off.
