The Good Doctor Season 2 Episode 18 Review: Trampoline
Paul Dailly
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Shaun has his job back!
The Good Doctor Season 2 Episode 18 focused on the aftermath of Shaun's dismissal from the hospital, and he spiraled well and truly out of control.
I did not expect Shaun to be admitted to the hospital as a patient. That came out of the left field, but that's what happens when you get into fights with sketchy looking men in bars.
Drinking in the morning is not something Shaun ever does, but he felt like he lost everything, and struggled to cope with it.
It was a real twist of events for Shaun to still try to find a way to diagnose the man ... even after he attacked him.
Shaun didn't want to admit that he was drinking because then the truth about what happened would have come out.
Shaun turning to Carly to get his blood checked was predictable, but it helped him realize the pair had a stronger bond than he could have ever hoped.
Carly has always had a soft spot for Shaun ... ever since she met him, and he was yelling at her to expedite the results of a test for a patient.
Shaun: They're treating you for abdilamisis. That makes sense.
Man: Why are you here?
Shaun: I am a doctor. Why are you sad? I'm sad, and angry, and confused, and I don't know.
That also helped Shaun realize that there could be something more between them and asking her on a date before running away with both the flowers and the chocolates made me chuckle.
He was too caught up in the moment and the fact that someone agreed to go on a date with him to care about what he was holding in his hands.
My one true hope, however, is that this is not the start of a love triangle.
Lea looked pissed when Shaun walked passed her with the flowers and chocolates while dressed to the nines.
If you watch The Good Doctor online, you'll already know that every time Shaun and Lea have been anything more than friends, disaster is not far behind.
They work much better on a platonic level, so I hope she doesn't get jealous that Shaun is moving on. She was the one who shut him down on several occasions.
My major gripe with "Trampoline" was just how easy it was for Shaun to get his job back.
The board made a big hoo-ha when Dr. Han was brought in as the Chief of Surgery.
Related: The Good Doctor Season 2 Episode 17 Review: Breakdown
Having him leave mere weeks after was not a good look for the hospital. I liked that Glassman was on the board and fighting Shaun's corner, but I was blindsided when Andrews actually stepped up to defend Shaun.
That came out of nowhere, but Andrews is always looking at the staff below him. He may not always be on the screen, but these people are under a microscope.
Claire: Shaun? Come in, tell us what you saw, what you did.
Shaun: I can't. I'm not a doctor here.
Claire: You're still a doctor, Shaun. We need to know what happened.
Shaun: I... found him like that.
He knows that Shaun has saved the day in a variety of situations, and I dare say it helped on that day because Claire used Shaun's train of thought to help diagnose a patient.
Dr. Han wanted to feel in control of his staff, and if people higher than him were going to meddle, then that's not the environment he wanted to be in.
It's easy to say that Dr. Han was in the wrong for demoting Shaun in the first place, but he did make some compelling arguments.
His biggest concern about Shaun was the lack of professionalism. There were many instances Shaun should have been fired, but he was allowed to continue working. There comes a time when that's an excuse too far.
Many fans hated Dr. Han, but I didn't think he was that bad. He could have acted in a better way to some of his staff, but aside from that, he was trying to make sure he had the best functioning team of surgeons he could.
Shaun: I have a question for you.
Lea: Yes. I don't mean yes. I also don't mean no. Just what is the question?
Shaun: Do I look nice?
Lea: Yes, Shaun. You look very nice.
Shaun may have gotten his job back this time, but I'm not sure that's always going to be the case. There are going to be plenty more bumps in the road.
Did anyone else think the scene with Lim and Melendez confirming their romance was beyond cheesy?
I'm all for some romance, but I refuse to believe anyone will be able to take either of them seriously after that scene.
Lives were on the line, so they thought it was a good idea to kiss it out? Yeah, I'm not buying that one bit.
Related: The Good Doctor Renewed for Season 3
That being said, I am happy that Lim got Han's job.
She's as tough as nails and will not take B.S. from anybody, so I'm looking forward to seeing her in her new post.
Then there was Glassman and Debbie. They will go down as one of the worst couples on TV in quite some time.
Glassman is cancer-free, so I'm all for him wanting to make bold moves that he would never have if his life were not on the line.
Proposing to Debbie was a real shocker, but the moment she branded the proposal as "stupid," I soured on the character.
Glassy did not give up, and now he's engaged.
Why do I get the feeling that this union is not going to stand the test of time?
"Trampoline" did not feel like a season finale.
Some of the characters made big strides, but there were no cliffhangers that will have people talking until the show returns.
What are your thoughts on the episode?
Are you glad that Shaun is pursuing something with Carly?
Hit the comments below.
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
