Episode 3 of Good Doctor's seventh season kicks off with a vibrant scene of Shaun engaging in a rigorous home workout. The couple, Shaun and Lea, have been struggling with lack of sleep, and the toll it's taking on them is becoming increasingly apparent. Lea teases Shaun, jesting that he's showing signs of aging, to which Shaun playfully reprimands her for swearing in front of their young son. They engage in a lighthearted conversation about whether their son will grow up to be a rock star, given his charming good looks.
Elsewhere, the episode shifts focus to Asher and his handsome boyfriend, Jerome, locked in a tense argument. The source of their dispute is Asher's reluctance to meet Jerome's family. Jerome, understanding Asher's apprehensions about his own family, still longs to introduce his beloved boyfriend to them. He extends an invitation to Asher to attend his niece's confirmation after-party, but Asher politely declines, citing work commitments. As the episode unfolds, Kalu steps in with sage advice, urging Asher to reconsider meeting Jerome's family, whom he describes as being genuinely nice people.
Later, the spotlight shifts to Shaun's new patient, Phipps. The young man had indulged in excessive drinking at a frat party and sustained a head injury while participating in a slap-drinking game. Shaun, along with his colleagues Kalu, Asher, and Charlie, takes charge of his case. However, Shaun finds himself increasingly agitated by Charlie's interruptions and intrusive questions, such as when she inquisitively asks Asher about his role in his relationship with Jerome.
Charlie, who is autistic, argues that she shouldn't be expected to change herself to fit professional norms. The tense exchange is abruptly interrupted when they discover what appears to be an abscess in their patient's thorax. After running a series of tests, they are unable to locate the abscess, leaving them all puzzled. Throughout this challenging case, Shaun struggles to maintain his composure amidst Charlie's unpredictable behavior.
She abruptly interrupted him, throwing out suggestions unexpectedly, and stubbornly insisted that her actions were completely justified. Shaun, exasperated, was forced to escort her out of the patient's room. Meanwhile, their patient's condition suddenly worsened, exhibiting alarming neurological symptoms, prompting them to rush through additional tests.
Later, Charlie tracked down Shaun and sternly reminded him that he had no right to raise his voice at her. She outlined her own principles for effective communication, leaving Shaun perplexed. In retaliation, he sent her to the skills lab, only to have Charlie argue that she didn't deserve such treatment as she had done nothing wrong.
Elsewhere, Parker, Jerome, and Dominick were engaged in a tense operation, treating a man whose hand had been trapped in a meat grinder. Dominick, despite his aversion to blood, valiantly refused to step aside, determined to overcome his fear and see the case through to the end. This time, he managed to stay standing, his resolve unwavering.
Thanks to Lim's ingenious suggestion, Parker and his team were able to salvage the patient's hand, but it required two intricate surgeries. In the first, they amputated the wrist and attached it to his ankle, allowing them to cleanse the damaged area and preserve the tissues. Anticipating infection, they promptly treated the patient's wounds. Days later, they performed a second surgery, successfully reattaching the wrist. It was a remarkable feat indeed.
Outside the hospital walls, Reznick met with Lea, disclosing her intention to nominate both her and Shaun as Eiden's guardians in case of any untoward events. Lea, flustered, promised to discuss it with Shaun later in the evening. Shaun, thrilled with the prospect, found himself constantly distracted by Charlie's antics. Glassman, sensing his agitation, advised him to exercise patience with the young medical student.
The next morning, Lim offered Shaun different advice. She urged him to take a proactive approach and have a candid conversation with Charlie about his expectations of her. Meanwhile, Lim and Glassman's relationship as co-presidents was fraught with tension. Lim wanted to appease the new board, while Glassman believed that catering to every little whim of the board was a waste of time. In the end, Lim conceded and asked Glassman to handle Gael, the head of the board.
Meanwhile, Lea informed Reznick that she and Shaun were content to serve as Eiden's guardians. However, Reznick clarified that even with Parker's presence, they would retain this responsibility. This revelation came as a surprise, considering the amicable state of their relationship. Lea was uncertain whether she should conceal this information from Shaun, but Reznick advised her to ponder over it.
However, after a discussion with Dominick, Reznick altered her stance. Dominick praised Parker, describing him as an exceptional man, teacher, and doctor. Reznick realized that there was no need for concern as Parker would undoubtedly treat Eiden with kindness and be a devoted father. She subsequently approached him and proposed adding him as Eiden's guardian in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
Concurrently, Shaun engaged in a conversation with Charlie, opting to adopt Lim's advice. He outlined his expectations from her, but Charlie insisted that she had done nothing wrong, merely offering suggestions. She mentioned her disability and compulsive speech, to which Shaun responded with understanding but emphasized the importance of silence and listening. He threatened to remove her from the case if she persisted.
As the team prepared to perform surgery on their patient, Charlie expressed a desire to feel the gall bladder. Asher persuaded Shaun to grant her this request. To their astonishment, Charlie discovered a sharp object lodged within the organ, revealing that their patient had metals embedded in his body. Shaun utilized a magnet to extract the remaining metal fragments. Kalu and Asher commended Charlie for her astute observation, but Shaun remained silent.
At the end of the day, Parker expressed gratitude for Dominick's assistance, whereas Shaun held a different opinion regarding Charlie. In fact, he bluntly told her that she would never become a surgeon, asserting that they were fundamentally different and that she would fare better as a pathologist. This harsh truth crushed Charlie's spirits. Lim and Glassman found her dejected in the elevators and attempted to offer comfort. Charlie lamented that no one had ever gone out of their way for her, recalling Shaun's experience of being disliked by fellow doctors when he first started. However, Lim and Glassman contradicted this, highlighting the compromises people had made to accommodate him. They urged Shaun to adapt and accommodate Charlie in the same manner. Yet, Shaun refused to heed their advice, insisting that it was his prerogative to decide how to manage his students.
Meanwhile, Asher had a heartwarming encounter with Jerome's family, who were welcoming and charming.
