Ep 1. Hello

After an impressive and successful first season, The Good Doctor returns with its second season, and the first episode is titled "Hello." In the episode, Shaun Murphy, the autistic surgical resident at St. Bonaventure Hospital, returns from his multisite experience and faces new challenges both in his personal and professional life.

As Shaun comes back to the hospital, he finds himself confronting an unruly patient who requires surgery. However, things take an unexpected turn, and Shaun is left alone in the operating room to direct his fellow resident Reznick. Though it's not the first adventurous situation he's found himself in, there's a lot on the line, and this surgery will significantly impact his professional standing. Furthermore, he has to deal with the repercussions of his decisions while having to navigate dealing with his colleagues, his mentor, and his own insecurities.

Simultaneously, Shaun is also dealing with the loss of his close friend and mentor, Dr. Aaron Glassman, who's struggled with cancer since the end of season one. As Shaun tries to find solace in the friendship of his neighbor Lea, Dr. Glassman is slowly deteriorating, and Shaun struggles with feelings of urgency and guilt, worrying that he's not doing enough to support him. Shaun's emotional turmoil only intensifies when Reznick talks to him about Dr. Glassman parting ways with the hospital.

In the meantime, the operating room drama continues to unravel. Shaun's presence in the surgery room becomes a problem that triggers the hospital's board to question his suitability for the surgical program. Dr. Melendez, Shaun's attending surgeon, also faces scrutiny from his superiors, as they pose questions about his unusual choice to partner with Shaun when all evidence points to his incompetence.

Outside the hospital, Shaun is stuck in a complicated love triangle with both Lea and his co-worker Claire Brown. As Claire competes with Lea for his affection, Shaun struggles with his feelings, which weigh heavily on his burgeoning relationship with his neighbor. Moreover, Shaun's profound emotional intelligence and extraordinary surgical skills create tension amongst his colleagues, particularly his fellow resident Reznick, who sees him as a challenge to her own professional advancement.

Overall, the episode explores new facets of Shaun's character, highlighting the positives of his autism, while also revealing his vulnerabilities. It also gives an honest look into the intricacies and workings of the healthcare system while managing to keep the audience engaged with the hospital's life-and-death situations. While Shaun remains at the center of the show, the supporting characters all trickled in their own narratives, adding depth and complexity to the show.

Hello is a refreshingly captivating episode that serves as an excellent season starter. It gives viewers enough of a sense of continuity while also developing new directions for the show to go. With high stakes, engaging subplots, and well-choreographed medical scenes, this is easily a must-watch episode for both fans of the show and newcomers.