S01.E04: Pipes

[AmandaPanda]

Quote

Legalities abound when a husband and wife have to make a life-changing decision about their unborn child; Dr. Shaun Murphy struggles to adjust to his new environment at home and takes a huge step forward with his colleagues.

[rwlevin]

Did I hear correctly? Did Dr. Arrogant actually say the residents had 36 hour shifts? That hasn’t been the case for years. It’s 24 hours + 4 hours for sign out/morning rounds. That and there’s no way in hell that doctor is, in addition to being an oncology surgeon and pediatric surgeon and cardiac surgeon, also a fetal surgeon.

 

and general surgeons wouldn’t be performing the bartholin cyst removal. That would have been done by a gynecologist.

 

poor young Shawn and that mean girl pranking him like that. That was just mean.

[Amethyst]

They really need to develop the supporting characters more.  Four episodes in and none of them really stand out to me beyond stereotypical stuff.  Claire is the only one with any real personality, and it's usually related to Shaun somehow.  It would help if people said their names more often, because I only know Claire and Melendez by name.  

I give it two more episodes before Shaun hooks up with his neighbor.

[Annber03]

7 minutes ago, rwlevin said:

.poor young Shawn and that mean girl pranking him like that. That was just mean.

I could almost feel my heart actually sinking throughout that whole scene. I just kept sitting here going, "Please, no, please don't let this go where I think it will...". Sigh. Poor Shaun, indeed.

Good episode for the characters in general this week, though-they all made some important steps forward. Shaun and Claire got some on the job praise, Melendez' investment in the situation with that woman and her unborn baby was interesting (for a brief time I wondered if we'd hear about him losing a child of his own at one point, and that explained part of why he was so involved), and I liked how Jared and Claire and Melendez and Jessica felt like proper couples in their scenes this week. I liked the whole thing of them discussing and debating these difficult situations at home, and getting a glimpse of their interactions off the job. I'd be okay with the show exploring the relationship side of things in that sort of manner, with these couples having their down time at home and sharing their thoughts about their day and such. 

And it was cool to see Jared and Claire inviting Shaun to hang out with them after work, and Shaun's neighbor helping him get back home. I'm glad he's starting to make some true friends. Liked Claire showing sympathy to that young girl, too. I'd be interested to learn more about the work she mentioned doing back in the day. The more stuff like this we get to learn about these characters, the better, so keep at it, show. 

Good tension with the lady and her unborn baby as well. I felt a little nervous during the surgery. 

[Amethyst]

23 minutes ago, rwlevin said:

poor young Shawn and that mean girl pranking him like that. That was just mean.

Oddly enough, I thought this was going in a whole different direction.  When Shaun's brother told him that Colleen was sneaking out the magazines, I wondered if she was reading them for herself, not just giving them to the boys.  I figured that would be the secret she was revealing to Shaun.

[AnimeMania]

Shaun seemed to have a lot of control issues and outbursts, the phillips screwdriver, the missed bus stop, whether he needed an aide, etc. I hope he has compartmentalized these issues so that they don't manifest during his surgeries.

[Razzberry]

Yeah, no, I would not want someone like that operating on me.  He can barely eat breakfast without becoming upset, or make it home on the bus without becoming distracted.   Too far on the spectrum, for dramatic purposes.   Not sure I can suspend disbelief enough or if the show as a whole is worth the effort.

[maryle]

I really beginning to love most of the characters they all have flaws and qualities! They all got moment to shine not one is constally the hero!

I hope that Shaun is just more anxious because of all the new stressors he has right now! A very stressful new job, new city and trying to connect to new people! Must be very hard even if you are hight funtionning like dr glassman told him. And, even if shaun think it show weakness to have someone that will help him I think it is a very good idea at least for now. So, yeah I give shaun a little more understarting about being a jerk cause he is stress, in a new place and still learning to communicate with others.

I also was touched by all the case but the most by young shaun being mocked by the others teens I love that we saw shaun being interesting in girl that humanize him I thought. My least favorite part its the obvious soon hooking up with the neighboor I just will have preffered someone or story else as love interest!

[luna1122]

8 hours ago, Amethyst said:

They really need to develop the supporting characters more.  Four episodes in and none of them really stand out to me beyond stereotypical stuff.  Claire is the only one with any real personality, and it's usually related to Shaun somehow.  It would help if people said their names more often, because I only know Claire and Melendez by name.  

I give it two more episodes before Shaun hooks up with his neighbor.

I do NOT want to see Shaun hook up with anyone. While I'm sure many on the spectrum have satisfying relationships, seeing Shaun have sex would feel like child abuse at this point. And I've no idea why the neighbor would want to. Also, no matter his difficulties, if he came pounding on my door in the middle of the night, I'd smack his little face.

The supporting cast is...nothing. I don't care about them at all. I like Beau Garrett a lot, but she's given nothing to do except sleep with Dr. Douchebag.

[greekmom]

9 hours ago, rwlevin said:

poor young Shawn and that mean girl pranking him like that. That was just mean.

I wanted to smack that beyotch and her bubblegum lip gloss. 

I hope she comes into the hospital with something serious and Shaun operates on her and saves her life.

I really want to see more of what happened to Shaun after his brother passed on. Where did he live? 

[DearEvette]

2 hours ago, maryle said:

I really beginning to love most of the characters they all have flaws and qualities! They all got moment to shine not one is constally the hero!

It is nice to see that they are fleshing out the rest of the cast from their mostly broad and horrible outlines introduced in the pilot.

Claire and Glassman obviously have the most development and I like their respective relationships with Shaun.

I liked that they showed Dr. Andrews teaching Shaun and Claire and actually seems to being showing a glimmer of a sense of humor in his banter with Shaun.  I thought there had been a glimpse in the second ep that his character wasn't just the villain he was shown to be in the pilot and this seems to be the case.

Jared came through with a good idea to prove that he isn't just handsome and dim (like he was appearing to be).  But rather worthy of his inclusion in Melendez's team.  Nice touch there.

And Melendez, while still kind of a jerk, I like that the last two eps have shown that he  treads a line where he does want to advocate for the patient but he  isn't up in his feels about the person but is still perfectionist enough about the surgery to want to do well by them. 

On a funny (not really) note, for one horrified second I thuoght the tumor they took out of the mother was actually the baby's head.  The angle of the camera made it look like they had lopped off the head of the baby.  I was like, OMG!!  And then I realized what I was seeing.  LOL.  I think I was just anxious for that family.

[Pop Tart]

Quote

I liked that they showed Dr. Andrews teaching Shaun and Claire and actually seems to being showing a glimmer of a sense of humor in his banter with Shaun.  I thought there had been a glimpse in the second ep that his character wasn't just the villain he was shown to be in the pilot and this seems to be the case.

In terms of educating the residents, Andrews is doing a far better job then Melendez. It was Shaun and Claire's ideas that prompted him to decide to do the surgery on the mom and yet he shunted them off to the ER once again, basically leaving them to educate themselves about whatever they discovered. But during the surgery on the young porn star, Andrews actually showed Shaun and Claire things and allowed Shaun to test out the nerve connection since it had been his idea. He is also treating Shaun like a human being, something that Melendez hasn't yet managed to do.

I do cry foul on how Shaun seems to be so poorly socialized in his personal life. He goes to the building manager's apartment past midnight (which I'd think he'd already know was probably not socially correct), so okay, the manager lets him have it about how late it is and how he is not to do that again. The next morning his mentor (can't remember his name) reiterates that Shaun should not have done that. But that night when he gets home and discover the faucet is no longer leaking, he goes and does the same again. I get that he's very upset that he won't hear the dripping, but he is not an idiot. This and the idea that he is still so thrown by everything that is different (the bus stop, etc) doesn't ring true to me. His mentor makes mention of how he's not in Laramie anymore where everyone knew him and I think we're supposed to take that as the reason he's so challenged by new things. But between growing up in Laramie and  now he will have attended 4 years of undergraduate college (perhaps in Laramie, don't know if they have a University there or not) and also 4 years of medical school (not in Laramie I'm sure), so this fresh from the small city vibe is dumb.

[Pink-n-Green]

12 hours ago, rwlevin said:

Did I hear correctly? Did Dr. Arrogant actually say the residents had 36 hour shifts? That hasn’t been the case for years. It’s 24 hours + 4 hours for sign out/morning rounds. That and there’s no way in hell that doctor is, in addition to being an oncology surgeon and pediatric surgeon and cardiac surgeon, also a fetal surgeon. 

general surgeons wouldn’t be performing the bartholin cyst removal. That would have been done by a gynecologist.

And don't forget the malrotation in that young girl last week.  And he would have done the liver transplant if it had come to fruition.  Who knows, maybe that's why the hospital hired Dr. Mole; he's like five surgeons in one!

Oh and the bartholin cyst removal was performed by the guy who wants the President of the hospital's job and who is evidently the Chief of surgery.  Remember what Dr. Mole told Pretty, young African American doctor about how a plastic surgeon CAN drain an abscess but the Chief of surgery DOESN'T drain abscesses?  But I guess bartholin cyst removals are so rare in San Jose that he just couldn't help but take the case.

[vibeology]

20 minutes ago, Pop Tart said:

I do cry foul on how Shaun seems to be so poorly socialized in his personal life. He goes to the building manager's apartment past midnight (which I'd think he'd already know was probably not socially correct), so okay, the manager lets him have it about how late it is and how he is not to do that again. The next morning his mentor (can't remember his name) reiterates that Shaun should not have done that. But that night when he gets home and discover the faucet is no longer leaking, he goes and does the same again. I get that he's very upset that he won't hear the dripping, but he is not an idiot. This and the idea that he is still so thrown by everything that is different (the bus stop, etc) doesn't ring true to me. His mentor makes mention of how he's not in Laramie anymore where everyone knew him and I think we're supposed to take that as the reason he's so challenged by new things. But between growing up in Laramie and  now he will have attended 4 years of undergraduate college (perhaps in Laramie, don't know if they have a University there or not) and also 4 years of medical school (not in Laramie I'm sure), so this fresh from the small city vibe is dumb.

This is the one think about the show that is killing me. I get that Shaun is in a new situation and that's challenging but this isn't his first go at a new situation. Based on what we've seen of his life so far, he's been in several different houses, would have been in two different schools after high school and would have had to have moved for at least one of them, probably two. He should have coping strategies that he leans on otherwise it's impossible to believe that he's made it this far. Glassman was spot on when he pointed out that Shaun is smart and should be able to analyze a situation and make smart decisions. I don't expect Shaun to be able to read the super, but I do expect someone who has done year and years of university/med school to understand the concept of office hours and stick to them. I need to see a Shaun that could have succeeded in Med School because right now that doesn't make sense.

[Pink-n-Green]

36 minutes ago, vibeology said:

I don't expect Shaun to be able to read the super, but I do expect someone who has done year and years of university/med school to understand the concept of office hours and stick to them.

In all fairness to Shaun, the older doctor told him that he could contact the super "24 hours a day" and there are apartments that do have 24 hour service so it wouldn't be unheard of(although Shaun's place looks decidedly low rent so I doubt that would be a place with 24 hour services, but Shaun wouldn't know that).

[Ms Lark]

41 minutes ago, Pink-n-Green said:

In all fairness to Shaun, the older doctor told him that he could contact the super "24 hours a day" and there are apartments that do have 24 hour service so it wouldn't be unheard of(although Shaun's place looks decidedly low rent so I doubt that would be a place with 24 hour services, but Shaun wouldn't know that).

Shoulda told him "In case of emergency!" 24 hr supers are usually for critical things like gas leaks, broken pipes flooding your apt., electrical fires, etc. Although, in Shaun's mind, I'm sure the non-dripping faucet was right up there. *Sigh* I'm having trouble connecting with this show, as much as I love Freddie!

[vibeology]

1 hour ago, Pink-n-Green said:

In all fairness to Shaun, the older doctor told him that he could contact the super "24 hours a day" and there are apartments that do have 24 hour service so it wouldn't be unheard of(although Shaun's place looks decidedly low rent so I doubt that would be a place with 24 hour services, but Shaun wouldn't know that).

And the first time, I was less bothered but the second time after the Super explained the few times it's okay to come to him after hours, I just don't believe Shaun couldn't have understood that. Besides, that sort of info is typically in a lease or rental package somewhere. Shaun strikes me as the type to diligently read every page.

I just think the show needs to pull back a bit on Shaun being unable to function in society. There has to be a bridge between someone capable of getting through an undergrad and medical school and someone who doesn't understand "Don't knock on my door after 5 unless there's a fire."

[Madding crowd]

I love Freddie but i'm having trouble connecting with him on this show. On most medical dramas (I watch Grey's Anatomy and watched ER and others), the show is about the residents and other doctors, their friendships and romances and their connection to the patients. Sean seems unable to have or do any of those things. Even his friendship with Dr. Glassman seems more like he is a parent instructing a child. And I don't believe any hospital would allow a resident to blurt out experimental treatments and diagnosis in front of the patient without consultation. Most insurance companies will not fund experiemental treatments and there would have to be a lot of planning before these types of procedures take place. 

I'm not sure I believe Sean got through college and medical school with the severe impairment he has. He could still be an autistic character but have a bit more in the way of social skills. As it is, only the flashbacks show a kid with typical (but different of course) emotions. I could believe the kid Sean could grow up to be a surgeon, but not so much the adult Sean. So we are left to bond with the remaining non-autistic doctors which is not the point of the show. 

[Virtual]

As much as I like Shaun on the show, I shake my head when he does things like ask his neighbor for his batteries back in 1x03 (cut her a break and let her keep them for their full use) or knock on that guy's door at midnight like he did in this episode. I'd think he'd have crossed bridges on how to handle these situations at least as a college student, if not in late High School.

As for Andrews making more actual progress with Shaun and Claire than Melendez has, I think the people at the hospital will remember that if Melendez slips up too much. At the beginning, Melendez decided to go forward with Shaun and Claire's idea, but decided to just put Shaun on scut work because he was late and sent Claire with him because "she knows how to communicate with him and I don't trust him alone with a patient". In fact, I think that alone should show the lack of communication or progress that Melendez has made with the people below him.

[maryle]

 Agree with the fact that they should not making him so far in the autism spectrum cause he dosent seem high fonctionning right now but since they did talk on screen about his problem I for now believe the show want us to accept that shaun is regressing cause of all his stress. I will wait for final judgment of this arc about his capacity to addapt and cope with new stress. But, if he is just like that in show and evryone just accept him as surgeon going foward it will be becoming too unrealistic. But, for now the fact that even that his mentor know the situation has to be corrected for shaun futur demonstrated the show want to address its as a temporal stress indulge situation they just going to far with shaun. Still the character still likeable for me for now but the writers should be knowing that pushing shaun symtoms to far just risk too become to absurd to hold the premise of the story. A young high functionning autistic doctor and the challenge he face.

[thuganomics85]

Yeah, Shaun's outbursts and continuing to not listen to what people are telling him is actually quite troubling now.  Still think Melendez is a dick for not even trying, but there is a case now that he could cause serious damage if it goes unchecked.  In particular, the stuff with the landlord was too much because the first time could simply be a "OK, Shaun doesn't know the boundaries" thing, but then he confronts him a second time after hours just makes him come off inconsiderate, and makes me wonder what would happen if something similar happens when he's at the operating table.  I'm glad they are letting Grossman actually confront him about this, and hopefully Shaun will grow (although, I do wonder how he got through medical school.)

Hey, some of the side characters are actually being decent!  Jared actually comes up with a good idea on his own and even invites Shaun for drinks, which is nice.  And, hell, Andrews of all people is actually being a better teacher to Shaun then Melendez, even if I do think a lot it goes back to Andrews claim about playing both sides (if Shaun succeeds, Andrews looks good.  If not, then Grossman is out and Andrews is in.)

Great seeing Niall Matter (as the husband to the pregnant woman.)

I guess the flashbacks are showing why Shaun seems so stunted around women.  Of course, I so think the little thing that is going on with his neighbor is going to change that!

I do hope they start doing more with Beau Garrett and Tamlyn Tomita, instead of just showing up in board meetings to be soundboards for Melendez and/or Grossman.

As usual, Freddie Highmore continues to be the best and why I'll keep watching despite the weaker aspects of the show.

[slasherboy]

I'm out.  This the dumbest and most poorly acted show I've seen in a long time.  I had such high hopes for it and wanted it to be an amazing drama that I could get totally lost in, but it's so unbelievable and amateur-ish that after 3 episodes, it's not worth my time.

[Fable]

I thought they were building up a story to the young sex worker, i.e. an underage runaway and/or a molestation case.  Nice character moments for Claire, Shaun and Dr. Anderson, but otherwise it fell flat.  When Dr. Anderson said his door was always open, I was half expecting Shaun to show up at his door to find it shut and have a meltdown though. 

I agree the show needs to pull back on Shaun’s outbursts.  It’s a lot of hand waving to believe someone with pretty much no social boundaries would be allowed to practice medicine.  I suppose he could be a diagnostician and consult on cases from afar, but realistically, there is no way he should be allowed anywhere near a patient, let alone at an OR table. 

That being said, I still find Shaun an enjoyable character, and I plan to continue watching.  This is a nice feel-good show, and I need some feel-goods right now. 

[Annber03]

2 minutes ago, Fable said:

I thought they were building up a story to the young sex worker, i.e. an underage runaway and/or a molestation case. 

I thought they were going to go there, too. Could've been an interesting route if they had. Maybe they felt having that alongside a story where a woman's in danger of losing her baby and potentially dying herself would've been too dark and depressing, though. 

[MakeMeLaugh]

I think we are seeing "realistic" vs "Hollywood" autism in Shaun and Show is developing his character nicely toward this, imo.. That his mentor has suggested to him (and was shown actively researching it) that Shaun should consider an aide is telling. 

Please, Show, when you have back to back intimate bedroom scenes (separately) with the two committed couples, maybe one of the women might just have the sheet pulled up and not be wearing a visible bra? Or wear a night gown or tee shirt that she mightba tually sleep in? Or put a tee shirt on the guys? I know, it's just me, but TV bras in bed before/during/after sex just make me laugh--woman doc at least apparently has been on duty for 24? 36? hours--and she's keeping that bra on? Sure, why not. Maybe that's a thing now.

Edited October 18, 2017 by MakeMeLaugh

[mookster]

 Deleted

Edited October 20, 2017 by mookster
deleted

[Brookside]

12 hours ago, MakeMeLaugh said:

 

Please, Show, when you have back to back intimate bedroom scenes (separately) with the two committed couples, maybe one of the women might just have the sheet pulled up and not be wearing a visible bra? Or wear a night gown or tee shirt that she mightba tually sleep in? Or put a tee shirt on the guys? I know, it's just me, but TV bras in bed before/during/after sex just make me laugh--woman doc at least apparently has been on duty for 24? 36? hours--and she's keeping that bra on? Sure, why not. Maybe that's a thing now.

 

And under-wire, push-up bras are so comfortable that you keep them on 24/7.  Oh, and obviously you set your alarm so you can put your flawless eye makeup on so you look perfect when you "wake up."

[vibeology]

4 hours ago, mookster said:

Also, having read about some Weinstein-esque behavior from Richard Schiff, I just can't anymore. 

What? I don't doubt you but I haven't seen anything about this. Do you have a link? I'm going to be a little gutted because he is one of my favourite all time actors.

[mookster]

1 hour ago, vibeology said:

What? I don't doubt you but I haven't seen anything about this. Do you have a link? I'm going to be a little gutted because he is one of my favourite all time actors.

I was a little gutted too. It was linked in a private forum with co-former colleagues in entertainment biz. I'll try to find.

[NeverLate]

I love this show. A high functioning autistic, who is able to focus on one thing that makes him special, and yet if his schedule is upset, like the bus, it throws him into turmoil.

My girlfriend son ,who is now in University is very much the same. I love how he takes everything literally, as in the super can be there all hours, because in Shaun's world, that's how he operates, no pun intended. Lies aren't part of his world. Excellent show.

[aemom]

When autistic people are in a routine, they tend to function well.  All of this is very new for Shaun, and as a result, he is going to "lose it" a little quicker than usual when things happen outside of what he's used to or expecting.  He will also be slower to pick up on things for the same reason.

In my opinion, if they do the show well, as Shaun gets used to the new city, new apartment, new job, new colleagues, and new neighbors, then he should be able to dial back the outbursts.

[jhlipton]

On 10/17/2017 at 10:37 PM, Fable said:

I thought they were building up a story to the young sex worker, i.e. an underage runaway and/or a molestation case.

I, for one, am glad they didn't.  They pushed the "Porn is a Very Bad Thing" and came close to "You are being punished by God".  There are a lot of women who love sex, like being paid for it, and like that a porn set is safer (in terms of violence and STDs) than pretty much anywhere else.  One porn star said "We get tested every 14 days (not 30) -- how often do you get tested?"

[luna1122]

9 minutes ago, jhlipton said:

I, for one, am glad they didn't.  They pushed the "Porn is a Very Bad Thing" and came close to "You are being punished by God".  There are a lot of women who love sex, like being paid for it, and like that a porn set is safer (in terms of violence and STDs) than pretty much anywhere else.  One porn star said "We get tested every 14 days (not 30) -- how often do you get tested?"

I agree. Look, I have my doubts that most of the people who do porn actually love the job, and it's certainly possible that many of them have sad back stories, or are drugged up to the gills to get thru it all, etc, but there are those, I believe, who do it cuz they want to, not cuz they're forced or desperate. They most definitely pushed the sex worker shaming, with whatsherface telling the girl "You just made a mistake"...which the girl never really said she believed her job was, or that she wasn't going back to. She just didn't want her parents to know, which seems understandable. Or maybe she did say she wanted to stop, I wasn't watching that closely.

[jhlipton]

3 minutes ago, luna1122 said:

it's certainly possible that many of them have sad back stories, or are drugged up to the gills to get thru it all, etc

I'm sure about the "sad back stories" for some, although quite a few have said "Nope".  As for "drugged to the gills", much (if not most) of porn was fueled by cocaine in the 60s and 70s (but then again, so was pretty much everything else!), but these days, the sets s are drug-free.  Some of the stars like to do a little "420" after a session, but that's as extreme as it gets.

[Fable]

4 hours ago, jhlipton said:

I, for one, am glad they didn't.  They pushed the "Porn is a Very Bad Thing" and came close to "You are being punished by God".  There are a lot of women who love sex, like being paid for it, and like that a porn set is safer (in terms of violence and STDs) than pretty much anywhere else.  One porn star said "We get tested every 14 days (not 30) -- how often do you get tested?"

I don’t disagree.  I just thought the story was leading somewhere else.  I actually thought she was lying about being a porn worker and using it as a coverup for what was really going on with her. 

[slasherboy]

On 10/18/2017 at 9:14 AM, mookster said:

Also, having read about some Weinstein-esque behavior from Richard Schiff, I just can't anymore. 

 

On 10/18/2017 at 1:43 PM, vibeology said:

What? I don't doubt you but I haven't seen anything about this. Do you have a link? I'm going to be a little gutted because he is one of my favourite all time actors.

I'd also like to read about this please.  I hope the OP will share it with us.  And I'll be devastated.

[Ohmo]

On 10/17/2017 at 8:14 AM, luna1122 said:

I do NOT want to see Shaun hook up with anyone.

Agreed.  Not right now, and especially not right after this episode.  I'd be afraid that Shaun would be getting pranked/made fun of in a similar way to what Colleen did, only worse.  I would like Shaun to find someone, but not right now.  He's got enough to deal with.

Edited October 20, 2017 by Ohmo

[beadgirl]

This is still not a great show, but Highmore continues to be compelling.  I hope, as others mentioned, we see his character stabilize and calm down as he adjusts to his new circumstances.  I'm pro him having a romance at some point, but not now, and not with the neighbor who at the moment I find annoying.  Wait until he's more settled and confident.

I felt so bad for the 18-year-old, and I'm glad she came out ok. But it was kind of an odd story, and didn't seem to have much of a point.

The pregnancy storyline pushed all my buttons. I get that husbands generally are more attached to their wives than the unborn babies that they have not seen or touched yet, but I'm pro-life so I hated his initial attempt to overrule her surgery so she would be forced to have the abortion.  And I hated the way the doctors acted as if she was acting irrationally.

On the other hand, I like that it was a biracial couple, and that it wasn't done for plot reasons.  That's one good thing about this show -- the racial/ethnic diversity.

[mookster]

20 hours ago, slasherboy said:

 

I'd also like to read about this please.  I hope the OP will share it with us.  And I'll be devastated.

I have deleted my post, as it was a personal story shared in a private forum, not reported in the media. That said, I do I believe my friend.

[statsgirl]

Nice to see Zack from Eureka again.

Stop trying to force Shaun into a romantic relationship, show.  While I'm sure many people on the spectrum have good relationships (interestingly especially with partners who are also on the spectrum), many do not.  I have a friend who is on a forum for partners of people on the autism spectrum disorder and she was amazed at how many people had the same negative experiences she had.  She says it was a relief to realize that there is nothing that she could have done that would have changed things or made her happy in her marriage.

Maybe at some time Shaun will be ready to have a relationship but absolutely not now.

[possibilities]

Neurotypical people have terrible relationships with other neurotypicals, as well. Sometimes people are just not compatible.

[sinkwriter]

Quote

When Dr. Anderson said his door was always open, I was half expecting Shaun to show up at his door to find it shut and have a meltdown though. 

I was waiting for Shaun to follow up with a question to clarify exactly what hours Dr. Anderson's door is open, to show he had learned from his experience with the super and that he can't trust "always open" and "24/7" to be true. I was surprised when he didn't ask.

[TwirlyGirly]

12 hours ago, statsgirl said:

Nice to see Zack from Eureka again.

Stop trying to force Shaun into a romantic relationship, show.  While I'm sure many people on the spectrum have good relationships (interestingly especially with partners who are also on the spectrum), many do not.  I have a friend who is on a forum for partners of people on the autism spectrum disorder and she was amazed at how many people had the same negative experiences she had.  She says it was a relief to realize that there is nothing that she could have done that would have changed things or made her happy in her marriage.

Maybe at some time Shaun will be ready to have a relationship but absolutely not now.

It's possible people who are partners of those on the spectrum who have negative relationship experiences are more likely to take the time to seek out and participate in those types of forums, though.

As a matter of fact, there's a name for that - Negativity Bias: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negativity_bias

Negativity Bias affects many things. I remember when I was in training for a position at a major commercial airline many moons ago, and one of the instructors told us passengers were ten times more likely to write a letter of complaint about something that had gone wrong with their experience with us than write a letter praising us for successfully resolving an issue. (Something to keep in mind when reading reviews of products or services).

Likewise, I'll bet all of us have been in a situation in which we're part of an informal group, in which the conversation turns to a discussion of our relationship with our partners. Do most of those conversations revolve around how great those relationships are, or is the discussion primarily about the problems we're having with our partner?

[needschocolate]

One thing that is starting to bug me about this show is how strangers (the bus driver, the Super, the patients) don't seem to realize that Shawn is on the spectrum, or at least that he is different from non-spectrum people. 

[AriAu]

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And it was cool to see Jared and Claire inviting Shaun to hang out with them after work, and Shaun's neighbor helping him get back home. I'm glad he's starting to make some true friends.

They were being friendly, not friends. They were polite and appropriate, but they did not try and understand or truly befriend him.

 

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One thing that is starting to bug me about this show is how strangers (the bus driver, the Super, the patients) don't seem to realize that Shawn is on the spectrum, or at least that he is different from non-spectrum people. 

There is NO WAY the bus driver or the Super had a chance to even realize something was up, especially not the super at whatever late hour it was. The patients maybe, but total strangers, no way. I am not sure the neighbor even truly gets it ("unlike other guys, you speak your mind")....although I think she was starting to.

This show is a very accurate depiction of how someone on the spectrum would act, but I cant imagine that there would not have been a better support system in place before he was allowed to live on his own in this new city, altho based on his support system in Casper, not sure who would have helped him do it....other than Dr. Toby (as a wingnut, he will always be Toby to me).

All that being said, this show is a tough watch. It is all very heavy and painful, which, while accurate, is not something I look forward to watching. The side stories and characters do not really add much "lightness" to it. They don't seem to enjoy their relationships all that much, other than the sex, which they don't seem all that fired up about either. Maybe just me, but I watch it with my wife who handles many kids with special needs, but, like I said, I tough watch.

[DearEvette]

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They were being friendly, not friends. They were polite and appropriate, but they did not try and understand or truly befriend him.

But isn't that how becoming friends start?  Opening the door to interacting with someone somewhere socially to start get to know them on a personal level? 

I thought it was at least a  step toward getting to know him.

[LisaM]

I find myself wondering how did Shaun rent the apartment? Arrange for furniture? Did Dr. Glassman help him? I can't see him navigating it on his own. Who set out the bus route for him? 

[Phoebe70]

I really, really hope they don't turn the annoying neighbor into a romantic relationship....I cannot for the life of me imagine Shaun having a girlfriend right now in his life. 

Regarding the landlord, when Shaun rented the apartment, why wouldn't Dr. Glassman at least give the landlord a heads-up about his autism?  I would think it would be a wise move to let the landlord know, even if it was just to kinda keep an eye out for him.  I agree with Glassman, Shaun does need an aide. 

I hope Shaun keeps the cat :)

Edited October 24, 2017 by Phoebe70

[Barb1959]

"Holding a grudge is a stone in your heart!"  Love that!

[MsNewsradio]

38 minutes ago, Phoebe70 said:

I really, really hope they don't turn the annoying neighbor into a romantic relationship....I cannot for the life of me imagine Shaun having a girlfriend right now in his life. 

Regarding the landlord, when Shaun rented the apartment, why wouldn't Dr. Glassman at least give the landlord a heads-up about his autism?  I would think it would be a wise move to let the landlord know, even if it was just to kinda keep an eye out for him.  I agree with Glassman, Shaun does need an aide. 

I hope Shaun keeps the cat :)

It isn't the landlord's responsibility to be keeping an eye out for Shaun - and honestly, Dr. Glassman has no right to disclose his autism to the landlord or anyone else. Shaun is an adult - if he wants someone to be aware he is autistic, he should absolutely disclose that to his landlord or whomever else he wants, but that should be his decision, and no one else's. I don't keep my autism a secret, but I also don't bring it up if it isn't necessary - my workplace is unaware, my landlords over the years certainly weren't informed, and I would be incredibly angry if some well meaning person in my life told my boss or my landlord without my consent. 

Unfortunately, far too many of us experience a shift in how people interact with us once that news is shared, and often not for the better, so disclosure or "coming out" is a very fraught topic. Sometimes it can't be helped, such as when accommodations are needed at school or in the workplace, but even then some of us find it is better to muddle through on our own rather than deal with others prejudices and preconceptions.

The problem is what we are seeing on screen is not matching up with his character background. The show treats him at times as though he's never had interaction with other people before. Shaun was able to get through college and med school. He's able to live on his own, likely for some time. He would have developed a number of coping strategies to help him through everyday life by this point (something that was actually depicted very well with the episode showing the many alarms set on his phone to make sure he got all his morning tasks done). I'd like to chalk everything in these first few episodes up to him being stressed at his new environment and getting used to new routines, but I think that may be giving too much credit to the writers at this point.  I think the show still has a lot of potential though - holding out hope over here. 

I also hope Shaun keeps the cat. Cats are awesome. :)