Like most medical dramas, The Good Doctor was no stranger to cast changes over its impressive run, but one death sent the series into a creative tailspin from which it never emerged. With The Good Doctor season 7 ending deemed a success, it’s a shame that one character’s death made it impossible for an encore during the series finale. Had they appeared, they would have elevated the episode.
Sometimes, shows kill off beloved characters to open up new storytelling opportunities. Sadly, this death screamed shock value, as it was part of one of The Good Doctor’s most unbelievable storylines. The broader issue with the demise is that the individual was the glue that held numerous plots together. Thus, the decision had a detrimental effect on the show.
Neil Melendez Was The Good Doctor’s Best Character
The Good Doctor never recovered after writing out Neil Melendez because he was a crucial element of the show. Looking back on the series, Melendez had the strongest arc, so there was no reason to cut his storyline short while there was so much more left to tell. Melendez was introduced as Shaun’s adversary in The Good Doctor season 1, but he slowly started to understand Shaun, and the two even formed a decent bond.
By the time Melendez was unceremoniously written off the show, their friendship was in a great place. The only logical reason to write out Melendez was that he was beginning to outshine the show’s main character. Otherwise, it didn’t make much sense. Many of the most important plots revolved around Melendez because he served as a great counterpoint to some of the other characters and their conflicts.
Melendez brought a first-class skillset to the hospital, and the show’s attempts to replace him failed so miserably because he was irreplaceable. Keeping him around for longer would have ensured The Good Doctor’s continued triumph as one of the best medical dramas on the air.
Neil Melendez Should Have Been With The Good Doctor Until Its Series Finale
Many arcs flame out in long-running shows, meaning changes must be made to switch things up. At the time of his death, Melendez was still growing, making him one of The Good Doctor’s most crucial characters. As a result, he deserved to have a presence on the show through to its conclusion. His importance aside, the series didn’t manage to mine any good storylines out of his death.
Knowing that the show’s quality nosedived for its final four seasons as it attempted to bring in many new characters reiterates why it was such a blunder. A better direction would have found Melendez leaving town, like Claire Brown and Jared Kalu, who returned numerous times after their characters exited the hospital. Melendez could have popped in and out as and when the show called for him. Details about Nicholas Gonzalez’s exit have been kept under wraps, so it’s hard to tell whether he wanted off the show. As a whole, his arc warranted a better farewell.
The Good Doctor Could Have Survived For Longer If It Treated Its Characters Better
A running issue on The Good Doctor throughout its seven-season run was how character arcs were handled. For instance, the series didn’t know what to do with Jessica Preston after her relationship with Melendez ended. As the hospital’s in-house attorney, she should have been front and center for many episodes she wasn’t included in.
The Good Doctor went from being one of the highest-rated shows to one of the lowest, but it likely would have survived longer if it had kept its cast intact.
Regardless, The Good Doctor failed to utilize Jessica when Melendez cooled things off. Instead of crafting a new arc, she was written out of the show after the first season. The same can be said for Carly Lever, who became a major character due to her romantic connection with Shaun. The character was removed from the show shortly after they went their individual ways. Being in a relationship with a more prominent character shouldn’t be a necessity to remain on the show.
These issues made getting invested in the show difficult because characters would vanish at the drop of a hat, only to be substituted with a crop of interns to fill the time. Granted, a few of the newer characters stood the test of time, such as Jordan Allen. The continued changes also affected the numbers, too. The Good Doctor went from being one of the highest-rated shows to one of the lowest, but it likely would have survived longer if it had kept its cast intact. Unfortunately, the show never bounced back after Melendez’s death.
