The Good Doctor is an American medical drama television series that tells the compelling story of Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgical resident with autism and savant syndrome. Raised in the small city of Casper, Wyoming, Shaun grows up with a deeply troubled past before relocating to San Jose, California, where he begins work at the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.

At its core, the series explores not only medicine and life-saving surgeries, but also human empathy, prejudice, resilience, and what it truly means to be “different” in a demanding professional world.

The Good Doctor is a remake of a 2013 South Korean series of the same name. Actor and producer Daniel Dae Kim discovered the original show and was immediately drawn to its concept. He purchased the adaptation rights through his production company and began shopping the idea to U.S. studios.

Although CBS Television Studios initially declined to move forward with the project, Kim believed strongly in the story. He bought back the rights and later partnered with Sony Pictures Television, bringing on David Shore, the creator of the acclaimed medical drama House, to develop the series. This collaboration ultimately led to ABC giving the show a put pilot commitment, and in May 2017, The Good Doctor was officially ordered to series.

The series stars Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, delivering a performance that became one of the show’s strongest and most praised elements. His portrayal of Shaun balances vulnerability, intelligence, and emotional depth, making the character both memorable and impactful.

The main cast also includes: Christina Chang, Richard Schiff, Will Yun Lee, Fiona Gubelmann, Paige Spara, Noah Galvin, Bria Samone Henderson

Over the course of the series, several actors appeared in starring or recurring roles, including Nicholas Gonzalez, Antonia Thomas, Chuku Modu, Beau Garrett, Hill Harper, Tamlyn Tomita, Jasika Nicole, Osvaldo Benavides, and Brandon Larracuente. Some characters were written out as the story evolved, while Chuku Modu notably returned in season six and became a series regular again in the final season.

Although set in San Jose, California, The Good Doctor is primarily filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. The show is produced by Sony Pictures Television and ABC Signature, in association with Shore Z Productions, 3AD, and Entermedia.

David Shore and Liz Friedman served as co-showrunners, with Daniel Dae Kim acting as an executive producer—playing a key role in shaping the show’s vision from start to finish.

The Good Doctor premiered on September 25, 2017, and quickly gained a loyal audience. Critics offered mixed reviews over the years: while many praised Freddie Highmore’s performance, the series also faced criticism for certain storylines and its portrayal of autistic individuals. Despite this, the show sparked widespread conversations about inclusion, disability representation, and workplace acceptance.

In April 2023, ABC renewed the series for a seventh season, which premiered on February 20, 2024. It was later announced that season seven would be the final chapter of the show, bringing the journey to a close after seven seasons and 126 episodes, with the finale airing on May 21, 2024.