S03.E20: I Love You

[Trini]

The doctors work against time and their own personal safety to save the lives of those around them.

Written by David Shore, David Hoselton and Adam Scott Weissman, and directed by David Shore.

Airdate: March 30, 2020

Edited March 29, 2020 by Trini

[Deputy Deputy CoS]

This show is godawful 

Worst season finale ever. I should write a better review but it doesn't deserve any more than what I've stated

Edited March 31, 2020 by Deputy Deputy CoS

[Diana Berry]

I’m so tempted to be done with this show.  So disgusted.

 

please tell me Nicolas Gonzales got some great job offer.

 

 

[Lady Calypso]

Wow. So, I guess I was totally wrong about who they'd kill off. Never did I think that they'd kill off Melendez. Truly, I thought he was one of the safest, behind Shaun and Claire. Yet, it was halfway through the episode when I realized that they were actually going there, and it definitely brought a damper to the finale as a whole as Melendez said goodbye to people. 

So, Claire got to say I Love You to Melendez before he died. It's just a shame that they went there. It was brave of the show to do that. It WILL shake up the show...like, a lot. But I'm a bit fearful that it'll be for the worse, especially for someone like Shaun. I remember that Melendez had to warm up to Shaun and it took a bit of time. So whoever takes over Melendez's job (I assume it won't be Andrews but a new character), it's just going to lead to more drama, I bet.

It looks like Park's leaving too. He seems to be moving back, but will he get a final episode to say goodbye or will he just be gone when next season starts? 

And Morgan may be out of surgery? It's a toss up, from the sounds of it. But, at the very least, she'll stick around...just not as a surgeon. 

Lea/Shaun... urg. No surprise Shaun basically ignored everyone telling him to move on once Lea kisses him. Who's to say that she's actually serious about giving it a try with him? He just almost died, in her eyes. It could be adrenaline. I guess we'll find out when the show returns if Lea/Shaun will be some happy couple or if Lea will push him away to find someone better. I'm so not interested in Lea/Shaun OR Lea's broken issues that they'll for sure try to tackle next season. I am so not in for another half a season of a Lea/Shaun road trip as she goes to discover herself or heal or whatever. That's what ruined season 2 for me. 

Seriously, I LOATHE that they went this Lea/Shaun route and Shaun decided to ignore even his dead brother in his head telling him to find someone else. This better be leading to Lea breaking Shaun's heart because...really, he WAS warned and refused to listen and I don't want his bad behaviour to be rewarded. 

It was a pretty meh finale, but it was just filled with events that don't make me happy at all so it made it even worse. 

[ShortyMac]

WTAF????? Why would they kill Melendez off?? And Park wants to leave? Reznick lost her career?

This is some BS.

 

[katycat74]

Well, that sucked. We lose Melendez and (presumably Park) and get the Shaun/Leah romance nobody was looking for? Okay then...

[catrice2]

No Jared, no Melendez and Claire starts with AND ends with a crappy season?? No, I'm out. I think these people think that fans were watching mostly for Shaun.  Oh, I forgot Park is apparently leaving and Leah and Shaun are together? 

I mean, how much disappointment can you thrown in one episode....and Park's young patient dies without getting to talk to his father..... who wrote this??!!1

[SunnyBeBe]

I’m done. They keep the horrible character Leah and kill off Melendez....please. I’ve lost interest.

[vibeology]

I am done with this show. Lea deserves better than a guy who threatened her property with a baseball bat and who hasn't shown any growth since. And I don't even like Lea. It's just an awful message.

Also, can Claire ever have a good day?

[catrice2]

Just now, SunnyBeBe said:

I’m done. They keep the horrible character Leah and kill off Melendez....please. I’ve lost interest.

They kept Glassman, Leah and Resnick!  

[woodstock]

No words. I thought the season finale for A Million Little Things was bad. This was god awful.

[Annber03]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeah, definitely wishing that whole ending with Shaun and Lea had gone differently. It won't surprise me one bit if they have issues next season because of all the stuff they've yet to fully address from what's happened thus far.

So that's honestly it for Melendez, then? Wooooooooow. That sucks, I'm honestly sorry to see him go. 

And Park looks to be leaving, too? Man. Shaking things up, indeed. That's one hell of a way to reset things for next season. 

[topanga]

2 minutes ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I’m done. They keep the horrible character Leah and kill off Melendez....please. I’ve lost interest.

This. Arggghhh. 
 

2 minutes ago, vibeology said:

Also, can Claire ever have a good day?

So sad. I did like the final scene with her an Melendez. 

[Diana Berry]

Spoiler

 

Melendez was about the only reason I watched the show.  It certainly wasn’t for Shaun anymore.

 

[Mikita]

I'm in disbelief right now. Why?? I think that am done. They kill off a fave and leave us with a lead character that I no longer even like, and they put said lead in a romance with my least favorite character. I mean, I like Morgan better than her!

Season 1 Jared leaves. Now Meledez. I worry about what else they will do to poor Clair. 3 Seasons is enough of this show for me.

[vibeology]

I just remembered Melendez’s sister. 😭 Which is probably more than the writers did. 

[ElectricCityy]

And... I'm done. Killing off Melendez was not the move. I don't know what the hell the writers were thinking. Why would the network 'Ok' that? Horrible.

[Fable]

So that happened!  Melendez dies!  Apparently Park is leaving!  Who in the world knows what will happen with Morgan?  Why, why oh why do show runners feel like they have to kill or write people off to shake things up?  This was a good cast with decent characters, but let’s have drama first and foremost.  I can’t bring myself to comment on Leah and Shaun right now, it was just too predictable.  Thanks David Shore, for nothing!    

[catrice2]

I mean I need my Nicholas Gonzalez fix.  I am already inserting him into other shows...maybe New Amsterdam for Freema Agyeman?  A new action show of his own?

Oddly I find him attractive when he is in character (no matter what show) but not when he is being himself.  I thought he gave the best acting on the show. 

What a loss....this show just hasn't interested me that much in a while. They should have done the Claire romance instead of the Lim romance....they had chemistry from the start. 

Poor Claire...who in the writing room hates her?  First they ruin the relationship with Jared, then they give her an alcoholic, bi polar mother, kill her best friend, turn her into a "loose" woman, tease Melendez and then take him away..... this is too much. 

[Annber03]

7 minutes ago, vibeology said:

I just remembered Melendez’s sister. 😭 Which is probably more than the writers did. 

Ha, I was thinking about her, too! I was like, "Didn't he have a sister? How are things going with her?" 

But I guess now we'll never know any more about that, so....

I'm still going to watch the show, because I do like the cast and still like the characters overall, but yeah, it won't surprise me if people do stop watching. And I'm seriously wondering how the hell they'll deal with so much dramatic change next season. 

[Diana Berry]

It’s like how Chicago Med got rid of Colin Donnell.  

[sinkwriter]

Well, I'm pissed. Once I heard they might kill off a character, I had a weird feeling it would be Melendez because of his hidden, ignored injury, but I thought, no way... they'd be fools to get rid of such a good character.

I really didn't like him in the beginning, but he's had such an interesting journey from the beginning of the series up to this point, and I grew to really like him as a character. He became one of my favorites, and that's pretty huge. So yeah, I'm pissed.

*grumbles ... I guess that's one way they could go to make sure Claire doesn't cross the line and end up getting romantically involved with her boss. 😠 I hate the choice, though. I really hate it.

[catrice2]

I can only hope Nicholas has some great movie or series offer that he is keeping under wraps.  I could so totally see him in a Marvel Movie.  Imagine him instead of Kamili Nanjiani  (sp) 

Well one of few shows I watch on network television.....I don't think I will be back next year. 

[sinkwriter]

I kept hoping that Claire would come up with some weird surgery option they hadn't considered. I mean, come on, just last week she turned a beer thing into a way to pump blood into a patient out in the field. Why couldn't she come up with an unusual surgery to save Melendez? 

I did like Lim trying to come up with anything she could, though. And I thought both her final conversation and Claire's final conversation with Melendez were really beautiful. I'll admit it, I cried.

Fucking show.

[ElectricCityy]

Just checked Nicholas Gonzalez' twitter. He certainly isn't happy with this. 

[sinkwriter]

Park talking to that kid, as if he were the kid's father, broke me too.

 😭

Fucking show.

1 minute ago, ElectricCityy said:

Just checked Nicholas Gonzalez' twitter. He certainly isn't happy with this. 

Well, that news makes it even worse. I'm pissed on his behalf, then. That's some bullshit. They got rid of a talented actor and an interesting character just to stir things up? 😡

[Annber03]

2 minutes ago, sinkwriter said:

I did like Lim trying to come up with anything she could, though. And I thought both her final conversation and Claire's final conversation with Melendez were really beautiful. I'll admit it, I cried.

I also liked Lim and Claire comforting each other afterward, too. I do appreciate that they didn't pit them against each other over him or something like that. I'd love to see them bond more next season, both over the loss of Melendez and in general. 

[Lady Calypso]

4 minutes ago, ElectricCityy said:

Just checked Nicholas Gonzalez' twitter. He certainly isn't happy with this. 

Well, yeah, if you were unexpectedly let go from your job and only had a couple of months to process, all for "creative decisions", you wouldn't be too happy either. 

[Diana Berry]

6 minutes ago, ElectricCityy said:

Just checked Nicholas Gonzalez' twitter. He certainly isn't happy with this. 

Do you have the  link for his twitter feed ?

 

 

[MrsRafaelBarba]

This is some ole bullshit.

Judging from SM, this isn't going over well and they 'll lose viewers.

 

[Diana Berry]

If Melendez situation wasn’t bad enough.  We are stuck with Shaun and Leah?  I’d rather have him with the gal that he did the surgery on in the tunnel.

I feel bad for Gonzales.  

[ElectricCityy]

5 minutes ago, Diana Berry said:

Do you have the  link for his twitter feed ?

 

 

twitter.com/iamnickgonzalez

[statsgirl]

My mistake, trusting David Shore after all his mistakes on House. His idea of "interesting" is very different from mine.

With Melendez, Park and Carly gone, he just eliminated 3 of the only 5 characters on the show that I care about.  And gave me the relation I hate. Way to go, Shore.

[sinkwriter]

6 minutes ago, Diana Berry said:

 I’d rather have him with the gal that he did the surgery on in the tunnel.

Yeah, I was kind of rooting for that. I liked them in scenes together.

[Diana Berry]

Any chance this is a red herring and he isn’t really dead?  I mean they didn’t call his time  of death.   

Ty for the twitter link.  Yea I saw retweeting.  He’s not happy.  Looks like fans are also giving the writers twitter feed heck, too.

Edited March 31, 2020 by Diana Berry

[Annber03]

4 minutes ago, statsgirl said:

My mistake, trusting David Shore after all his mistakes on House. His idea of "interesting" is very different from mine.

I've only ever seen, like, one full episode of "House", but I do remember hearing about how House drove his car through Cuddy's house a number of years back, mainly because I remember that causing a LOT of kerfuffle and discussion on TV Line (and of course, all the articles that talked about it on any TV-related site I went to). 

So, yeah, knowing that happened, I shouldn't be surprised that he goes for these kinds of storylines. 

[Madding crowd]

Really hated them killing off Melendez. Why wouldn’t they call his family? I can’t believe he wouldn’t want to say goodbye to his family . Hospital shows always act like ones coworkers are the only people who show up for a dying person. He might have had friends he cared about too. The scene with Park and the boy was heartbreaking.

I also hoped Reznick would get in trouble for putting herself the hospital and her patient in danger but of course she is praised. I don’t mind Lea so I’m willing to see how it goes.

[Annber03]

Just now, Madding crowd said:

I don’t mind Lea so I’m willing to see how it goes.

I've never minded her, either 🙂. I've always been fine with her as a person, and I've liked the friendship she's had with Shaun. 

I just don't see them as any kind of long-term romantic prospect, especially not with all they've been through lately. But yes, we shall see how this goes, I suppose. 

[Good Doctor Fan]

Am I the only Shaun ❤️ Leah fan?   So much more chemistry than that clinical relationship with Carly.  I loved that last scene!

I’m shocked about Melendez though. I kept thinking they’d find a solution.  😢 the Clair/Melendez and Clair/Lim scenes were great. 
 

[tinderbox]

I’m sad and shocked about Melendez being killed off.  

How do so many of you know Park is leaving the show?  Is it a rumor or did I miss something during his final scene?  His scenes with the trapped young man had me crying.  OMG

Who knows what’s going to happen with Morgan.  It will be interesting.  

I’m in the minority around here but I’m very happy Shaun and Leah are together.  I love them and hope their relationship works out.  

This wasn’t the most enjoyable finale I’ve ever watched but, for me, it has more to do with what’s happening in the real world right now rather than how a television drama played out.  I should have watched a romcom or a comedy on Netflix instead.

Edited March 31, 2020 by tinderbox

[Annber03]

7 minutes ago, tinderbox said:

How do so many of you know Park is leaving the show?  Is it a rumor or did I miss something during his final scene?  His scenes with the trapped young man had me crying.  OMG

Just him talking about moving back when he called his family at the end of the episode. But according to interviews with Shore, it doesn't sound like he plans to have him leave, and there's been no official confirmation that he's leaving, so...

I hope he doesn't leave, 'cause I like him. His scenes with the kid were good and yes, very emotional. 

[ECM1231]

Haven't read the posts yet but can someone explain what happened to Neil? Something with his small bowel? During his surgery I couldn't understand what Lim and Claire were saying. So he dies and Park is leaving? Bummer season finale! Boo to the  Leah and Shaun romantic coupling.

[thuganomics85]

Okay, yeah, well, all of that happened!

Totally surprised that Melendez actually does die and that it was creative decision, because, at best, it really felt more like Nicholas Gonzalez had wanted out and they had to scramble to give him an exit.  But judging from all of the interviews and social media, that's totally not the case?  I just can't wrap my head around that.  While he wasn't my favorite character on the show, I thought he had one of the best arcs; starting out as an obstacle for Shaun, but end up being a tough, but fair and helpful mentor; and considering all of the plots that seemed to be set up going forward, his exit is just baffling.  I certainly hope Gonzalez gets another gig soon, although sadly all of this stuff with the virus is probably going to put a pause on most everything in the television/entertainment industry.  Either way, I'll miss him here.

That said, I do hope that this leads to Lim and Claire spending more time together, because I think there is a lot of potential to explore that relationship.  Certainly helps that Antonia Thomas and Christina Chang are both excellent actresses.

Not surprised that Park's story ended tragically, but it was well-acted at least.  But now he wants to be closer to his family?  That whole thing definitely gave off a vibe of him not actually leaving for good, so I'm curious to see how they're going to make this work.  But I certainly don't want Will Yun Lee to go anywhere (unless he finally is given an opportunity to lead his own show!)

Also not surprised that Reznick manages to not get in trouble for breaking rules, and even re-earns the respect of Andrews.  But it sounds like she did damage her hands by helping the patient?

But let's get to the big one: against all odds, Shaun manages to save Vera/his patient and sure enough, his near death experience ends up making Lea realize that, hey, she totally does "love" Shaun, so now it's kissing time!  Yep, lets just forget about all of the creepy, obsessive behavior from Shaun or that lovely time he almost smashed her car and belittled her!  He was right all along!  Good grief!  Again, I wouldn't have minded the storyline if it ended with the show acknowledging that Shaun was in the wrong and needed to accept that Lea didn't owe him anything.  Instead, it feels like he is being rewarded for his bad behavior, and actually manages to make me think less of him.  If this type of writing continues to be in store for him, it will be interesting seeing how Freddie Highmore manages to keep rising above it like he somehow is able to, in my view.

Yeah, I'm going to guess Carly also is just gone or, at best, will be regulated to recurring going forward.  They really just threw their hands and gave up on the character after she and Shaun were done.  Maybe she find solace with all the other departed characters like Jared, Allegra, and Jessica (remember her?!  Wouldn't blame y'all if you didn't!)

Not going to pretend that I won't be back, because I do enjoy these characters and, honestly, I even enjoyed the majority of this season.  But I really think they made the wrong call by going all in on Shaun/Lea as a romantic couple.  I wasn't wild about Shaun/Carly, but I felt like that relationship was a good way for Shaun to learn about being in a romantic relationship and learning to grow from it.  But honestly, it feels like they just regressed him instead, and I feel like Shaun/Lea is going to be ridiculous going forward forever how long it lasts.  I just hope this decision isn't the beginning of a tailspin.

 

Edited April 2, 2020 by thuganomics85

[statsgirl]

This episode was so over the top -- woman trapped on a rebar in a basement filling up with water; young man severed and unable to be helped, Melendez working fine until he suddenly collapses and and can't be saved by any surgeon on this hospital of surgeons.

Nick Gonsalves, you brought a nuance and believability that raised the level of this show and I hope you find a show that appreciates you.

1 hour ago, catrice2 said:

No Jared, no Melendez and Claire starts with AND ends with a crappy season?? No, I'm out. I think these people think that fans were watching mostly for Shaun.  Oh, I forgot Park is apparently leaving and Leah and Shaun are together? 

I mean, how much disappointment can you thrown in one episode....and Park's young patient dies without getting to talk to his father..... who wrote this??!!1

David Shore, misery porn writer.

I've never seen Shore write a healthy, functional relationship on any of his shows, not on Due South and certainly not on House. I had hoped that the decade since then he had developed an appreciation for relationships that aren't dysfunctional, maybe watched Sullivan's Travels a few times, but nope. At the end of season 3 again he "shakes things up" and gets rid of the morally good characters while doubling down on the bad relationships.

1 hour ago, Diana Berry said:

Melendez was about the only reason I watched the show.  It certainly wasn’t for Shaun anymore.

I've lost interest in Shaun this season, he's moved from a good portrayal of someone on the spectrum to someone with real psychological problems. Glassman has also lost me because he's enabling Shaun so badly.

1 hour ago, catrice2 said:

Poor Claire...who in the writing room hates her?  First they ruin the relationship with Jared, then they give her an alcoholic, bi polar mother, kill her best friend, turn her into a "loose" woman, tease Melendez and then take him away..... this is too much. 

You forgot that they killed her mother too.

This is typical Shore, the attractive young woman just can't catch a break. (See Cameron) Characters that don't behave well get to have good lives.

Now I have to go find some chocolate to cope with this episode.  And to rewatch the Killjoys finale where every character gets a good ending.

[PinkRibbons]

I found it very jarring that Shaun's storyline was completely divorced from everyone else's. Lim and Park knew he was in a basement rapidly filling with water with an immobile patient. I know they were dealing with their own shit, but not even lip service to their colleague being in mortal danger this whole time?

At the very least I needed Glassman to show some concern, Shaun is pretty much his own kid.

To make Lea literally the only person who cared about Shaun was the kind of dramatic choice that really breaks suspension of disbelief.

[Ava Belle]

The Good Doctor has officially JUMPED THE SHARK. Hideous season finale makes it unwatchable in the future.

[Annber03]

16 minutes ago, PinkRibbons said:

I found it very jarring that Shaun's storyline was completely divorced from everyone else's. Lim and Park knew he was in a basement rapidly filling with water with an immobile patient. I know they were dealing with their own shit, but not even lip service to their colleague being in mortal danger this whole time?

At the very least I needed Glassman to show some concern, Shaun is pretty much his own kid.

To make Lea literally the only person who cared about Shaun was the kind of dramatic choice that really breaks suspension of disbelief.

Yes! This bugged me, too.

And even after he was out, I would think Shaun would've wanted to at least see how his colleagues were doing, too. It'll be interesting to see how he reacts to Melendez' death as well. 

[Trini]

Oh I have absolutely dropped a show* for putting the wrong couple together, and then they killed off my eye candy too?! And Park might be leaving, after the best episode he's had for this entire season??

4 hours ago, catrice2 said:

...

Poor Claire...who in the writing room hates her?  First they ruin the relationship with Jared, then they give her an alcoholic, bi polar mother, kill her best friend, turn her into a "loose" woman, tease Melendez and then take him away..... this is too much. 

I'd would have said that the only one I'd stay for is Claire, but then I remember that they don't like her being happy, so....

Some positives though:

Melendaire 'I love you' exchange! Nick Gonzalez' abs!

Park's scenes with the dying teen. Will Yun Lee was great. I don't know why they weren't giving him material this season.

Minus Lea, Shaun's subplot with the trapped woman.

 

*(I miss you a tiny bit Blindspot, but you know what you did!)

Edited March 31, 2020 by Trini
clarity, ugh need to not type in the AM

[bros402]

That was definitely a mixed bag. I really hope Park doesn't leave - maybe his wife will find a job in San Jose and they will move out there.

I honestly do not mind Resnick potentially no longer being a surgeon - I think she could be great as like an ER doctor, or an internist, so then she could do a lot of things for the patients that a surgeon doesn't do.

As everyone else, I was wondering why they forgot about Melendez's sister - I am guessing she gets everything he owned - in a special needs trust, I imagine.

Shaun & Lea becoming a couple is just... no, that makes no sense. I mean I guess for Lea, it makes sense, she is impulsivity personified - but Shaun just went along with it?
 

2 hours ago, ECM1231 said:

Haven't read the posts yet but can someone explain what happened to Neil? Something with his small bowel? During his surgery I couldn't understand what Lim and Claire were saying. So he dies and Park is leaving? Bummer season finale! Boo to the  Leah and Shaun romantic coupling.

He had a dead section of bowel in addition to a slightly torn artery. They removed as much dead bowel as they could, but for some reason it was leaking toxins into the blood, leading to his death due to sepsis (blood poisoning)

 

25 minutes ago, Trini said:

Oh I have absolutely dropped a show* for putting the wrong couple together, and then they killed off my eye candy too?! And Park might be leaving, after the best episode he's had for this entire season??

*(I miss you a tiny bit Blindspot, but you know what you did!)

We dropped Blindspot in our househould about 10 minutes into the season 3 premiere - we were going to drop it after the end of Season 2 with the glowing tattoos - but we just had to see where they were going to take it, then 10 minutes into 3, we were done.

[Trini]

Another reason I'm upset about Melendez dying is that this is the second show I've been invested in that killed off Nick Gonzalez's character (I still miss you, Dante!).  😭😭😭
 

13 minutes ago, bros402 said:

He had a dead section of bowel in addition to a slightly torn artery. They removed as much dead bowel as they could, but for some reason it was leaking toxins into the blood, leading to his death due to sepsis (blood poisoning)

I guess I kind of appreciate that they didn't make his death overly dramatic, but on the other hand, it was kind of a let down that he dies of sepsis on this show that finds a 'miracle' solution to save lives every week.

Edited March 31, 2020 by Trini