The Good Doctor returns to normalcy with the homecomings of Shaun and Jared.

On The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 13, Jared and Shaun work with Melendez on a burn victim who is facing serious complications. Meanwhile, Claire assists on a patient who is abusing his wife.

We have finally learned more about the repercussions that Dr. Coyle faced, or did not face, after his harassment of Claire. To say that I am disappointed in Allegra Aoki's decision not to fire him would be an understatement.

Sadly, though, I am not at all surprised.

In the comments of my review of The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 12, "MrWriteSF" wondered about other people's opinions of Allegra. At the time, I said I did not know enough about her to form a true opinion.

After her conversation with Claire, though, I can officially say I am not a fan.

Doing the right thing can make things a little better, especially if we do it together.
Claire

Permalink: Doing the right thing can make things a little better, especially if we do it together.

Claire may not have had any substantial proof, but Allegra seems to have brushed her report off without even investigating the claim. Instead of firing him, she gave him a raise and a promotion. Even though she says it is a job he will despise and quit soon, this is hardly fair to Claire.

Claire raised serious concerns about his harassment, and she even had a patient who witnessed it.

I wonder why Claire did not bring this up to Allegra, but I think it could help her case going forward. I love that Claire is forming an army of women to speak out against Coyle.

I just hope Allegra listens to them this time.

It was nice to see Shaun and Jared back in the hospital and working cases. It felt like a regular episode of the show, one that I loved before the recent decline in quality.

Jared's character development over the season had been a joy to watch prior to his physical assault of Dr. Coyle. Jared's return, though, was not met with open arms by everyone, and with good reason.

I am still furious about how race was brought into this storyline, but I hope everyone is soon able to adjust to the way things once were.

Unfortunately, Shaun and Jared's storyline left a lot to be desired. The show has been framed around the prejudice that people on the autism spectrum experience, but this time, it was Shaun being stereotypical about his patient's Muslim beliefs.

Nasha: I didn't expect this from you.
Shaun: I made a statement.
Nasha: But you're different.
Shaun: I have autism.
Nasha: You've experienced bigotry.
Shaun: Yes.
Nasha: Have people refused to serve you? Have you seen people change their flight because of you? Have people cursed you out before you've opened your mouth?

Permalink: Have people refused to serve you? Have you seen people change their flight because of you?...

Jared and Neil did not let him completely get away with his Islamophobia, and I understand that Shaun's autism makes him look at the facts and make blunt assumptions based on what he sees. This, however, seemed far out of left field for Shaun.

And when paired with Claire's abusive patient, everything seemed too preachy.

Perhaps that has been my biggest problem with the series recently. The storylines are not nuanced in any way. Instead, the writers are projectile vomiting their beliefs on to the audience. It is insipid and makes watching the show a bore.

I did appreciate the final scene between Neil and Jessica. As they both admitted their wrongs to each other, I was shocked at how mature they were behaving.

These two have been emotionally constipated every time we have seen them. Neil was finally able to admit that their marriage would not have been happy or lasting in the long run.

Melendez: I kept telling myself that I'm fine, but it's been hard. And me second guessing myself may be affecting my judgment. I don't know.
Jessica: If we're hurting so bad, maybe we made a mistake.
Melendez: No. It just means that what we had mattered. It doesn't mean that it was right.

Permalink: No. It just means that what we had mattered. It doesn't mean that it was right.

Neil was vulnerable and honest, which I think will make him a better boyfriend for another woman in the future.

Many of you have expressed your belief that they are heading towards a Claire and Melendez pairing now that he and Jessica are over. There is definite flirtation between the two, but I hope they wait before it develops any further.

I also hope that Shaun and Glassman are able to find a happy medium in their relationship moving forward.

Glassman clearly cares for Shaun, but he does not know how to do it. Perhaps it is because he feels that he may have failed with his daughter and sees Shaun as his "do-over" kid. Maybe he is trying to prepare Shaun for what will happen when he is no longer there. Whatever his reason, he should not completely abandon Shaun now.

Shaun is not wrong in saying that Glassman had overstepped his bounds earlier in the season. Shaun does, however, need a friend. He needs someone who cares for him and offers advice without trying to control him.

Glassman has listened to Shaun's feelings about needing space, but his refusing to even have breakfast with Shaun is too much. Shaun does not need Glassman to stop speaking to him. He just needs to be treated like a normal young adult who can make his own decisions and mistakes.

Shaun: Jared saved her life. If he hadn't acted so quickly, she would have died and that would have been your fault.
Melendez: Yes, it would have.
Shaun: You should thank him.
Melendez: Thank you, Dr. Kalu.

Permalink: Thank you, Dr. Kalu.

"Seven Reasons" was an improvement over episode 12, but it is still far from the show's best.

I know the series is capable of more, and the premise of it offers so many opportunities for storylines. It feels, though, that they are exhausting them all too quickly. My interest is waning, but I am hopeful that they can get it back on the right track.

What did you think of "Seven Reasons"? Did you enjoy it or are you still skeptical about the show's future? You can watch The Good Doctor online! Let us know your thoughts in the comments!