The Good Doctor

 I don't watch much TV, but the quarantine resulting from the pandemic prompted me to start binging series that had received reviews that intrigued me. Most of the series have been developed by cable TV, but there are a couple of network series that I will continue to follow even when all requirements for quarantine have been lifted. 

One of the shows is the series "Blue Bloods" starring Tom Selleck, whose character is the patriarch (despite having a father he lives with) of a family clan who are active in various areas of law enforcement. One series review described how the show is distinguished by the interaction that goes on at the weekly family dinners. For most part, no subject is taboo, and all family members are required to answer honestly when a controversial question is posed. Despite the verbal skirmishes that occur, they're all still family first. This appeals to me as I now realize this is a goal of the weekly dinners I've been doing for over a decade; to get people to come, break bread together and experience the equivalent of a (relatively functional) family meal together. I now realize that this subtopic deserves its own post, and I need to move back to the originally intended topic of this post.

The other network show I've now adopted into my list of TV series that I follow is "The Good Doctor" which is actually an adaption of a South Korean TV show with the same name about a doctor who is a high functioning autistic with savant syndrome as well. Even though the main character's mix of autism and savant syndrome does not necessarily represent the range of behaviors and symptoms of high functioning autists, the depiction of the character has influenced how I interact with my autistic students and has helped me connect with them effectively; last month the center director told me relayed to me comments from the mother of one of my autistic students about he apparently talks about me all the time at home. That same student gave me Chick-Fil-A gift card for Xmas. In the interests of full disclosure, that same student began to initiate physical contact by reaching out and poking me and touching my arm, etc. and I had to set some boundaries about what constituted appropriate behavior and it seems like he's interpreted that as a rebuff of sorts, so I'm still learning and negotiating connecting appropriately and I clearly have a ways to go.

I'm also enjoying how the main character has explored his emotional side and his struggles putting rational expectations on emotional responses only to discover that those expectations turn out to be unrealistic, and despite his intellect, his major decisions are driven by emotional responses. I suspect that the mixed reviews of the series are a response from who rationalize their emotions, particularly those who want to impose their emotionally driven world views onto others (which seems to be a primary motivation for those in that media). Interestingly, I find myself in agreement with some reviews which suggest that the show is advancing the idea that autists have value only when they are savants which would be an injustice, even though these same reviewers would see no cognitive disconnect in using quality/value of life arguments to justify abortion. But I would be derelict if I didn't acknowledge how observing some of his struggles have helped me look back at some of my own struggles with a more appropriate perspective. 

I would also be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that some of the attraction for the show involves the number of asian characters that have been on the show (though many have been written out), and a asian male character who begins a 'friends with benefits' relationship with a caucasian co-worker. That ends when the male's desire for a romantic relationship is not reciprocated. In time, it's the caucasian female who realizes that she's also drawn to him romantically as well and the relationship resumes but at a romantic level. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised about the inclusion of this story line since Daniel Dae Kim is an executive producer who actually purchased the rights to the show.

There are more thoughts on this, but I've save those for another post.