"New Beginnings" is the season premiere of Season 5 of The Good Doctor. It is the seventy-seventh episode overall and aired on September 27, 2021.
Synopsis[]
Shaun and Lea’s upcoming engagement party has everyone in a festive mood after their return from Guatemala. Meanwhile, a young single mother learns her son may have contracted his cancer from a surprising source and Mateo finds out if his previous issues in America will be resolved.
Plot[]
Lea has a nightmare where she and Shaun are having a wedding; everything seems to go well until it starts to rain; the lightning bolt strikes the tree and as it falls on Lea, she wakes up, horrified. This makes her tell Shaun that they aren't having outdoor wedding to which Shaun easily agrees to. Andrews is getting ready for work and says goodbye to a woman with whom he had a one-night stand. Glassman wakes up alone in his messy bedroom. Lim is facetiming Mateo who surprises Lim at her front door. He explains how his lawyer called and told him that he is no longer a wanted man. The two then hook up.
Shaun, Lim and Park are doing an operation. Park notes that Dr. Lim is in a good mood, and Shaun says it's because she had sex. He then says that Mateo can attend the engagement party and wedding, and mentions that Lea's making all the arrangements because she wants it to be perfect. Shaun doesn't really care for the wedding part of getting married because all that matters to him is that Lea is marrying him and any day that happens is a perfect day. Park and Lim both agree that Shaun is being sweet but tell him that he better keep checking in as planning a wedding is a big undertaking. Meanwhile, Shaun takes out a mass from the patient's tonsil, and Lim tells him to send it to pathology.
Morgan and Jordan are treating a patient who lists off her symptoms. She then asks how many exam rooms there are in the clinic to which Morgan answers three before asking the patient if there has been blood in her urine. The patient says there is a little then compliments Jordan's blouse. Jordan asks the patient about the medicine she takes for her ADHD and mentions that all the symptoms listed are side effects of her medication, Ritalin. Jordan asks if the patient would be willing to stop her medication for a couple of days. The patient appears to agree. Meanwhile, Morgan mentions to the foamy urine and how it could be a sign of kidney stones. Because of this, she wants to do scans but the patient interrupts Morgan, saying she notices they are residents from their ID badges but Morgan appears to be more in charge than Jordan. She asks if Morgan is officially in charge or if she's bossy. The room is awkwardly silent then the patient says Morgan can tell her if she's asking too many questions, which Morgan promptly does. She then informs the patient they will run labs and do a CT of her kidneys.
Shaun comes into Lea's office and asks if she is overwhelmed by the wedding planning. Lea says she's not overwhelmed and she has things handled. This relaxes Shaun who then tells Lea about the procedure he performed earlier and how he could have found something worse, which will be interesting or very boring. Lea appears distracted while Shaun is talking and when he keeps talking, she interrupts and says he should let her know when the case is definitely interesting. Shaun nods and he reluctantly leaves the office while Lea gets back to planning the wedding.
Morgan and Jordan's patient walks into Glassman's office and tells him that his office is very small. He tells her the office is a lot larger when he's the only person in it then asks who she is. She says her name is Salen then asks Glassman if he really the president of the hospital and if he is then he has a small office for someone with a big title. Glassman calls his assistant while Salen keeps talking. She asks if he identifies more with being a doctor or an executive. Glassman doesn't answer and Jordan walks into the room, apologizing for both her and Salen's interruption. She informs Salen that she can't walk off randomly and they're ready for her CT scan. Salen smiles and leaves Glassman's office, acting oblivious to her actions and how they've been perceived.
While getting her scan, Salen appears upbeat as she hums to music. Jordan asks that she holds still and Salen claims it was Jordan who wanted her off her meds. Jordan is accompanied by Asher and together they note that Salen's renal pelvis is clean. Asher notices Jordan's disappointment and Jordan admits that she made a deal with Morgan. Jordan does all the scut work but if Salen needs anything surgical, Morgan puts in a good word with the attending. Asher says surgergy is unlikely with a kidney stone but Morgan notices something on the scans and believes Salen needs a kidney biopsy. Jordan gets excited and starts dancing as the procedure is all hers, per her deal with Morgan.
Riley, the patient that Shaun operated on, is seen relaxing on his hospital bed while his mom, Sarah, approaches Shaun and Lim. She tells them that Riley's throat is still bothering him. Lim informs Sarah that they additional tissue was removed because Riley's tonsils showed signs of cancerous cells. They were able to remove all the cancer but the main concern is the type of cancer they found on Riley's tonsils which Shaun reveals to have been cervical cancer. Sarah is confused and Shaun explains that Riley got the cancer from Sarah's birth canal which was likely inhaled and Jackson, Sarah's other son, may have also been exposed during birth. Shaun begins to explain that they need to test Jackson and Sarah but Sarah walks away when a man walks into Riley's hospital room. Jackson and Riley greet him as Uncle Nick while Sarah aggressively asks why he is here. Jackson admits that he texted Rick that Riley was sick. Sarah tells Rick that everything is fine, thanks him for the gift, and asks if he could leave. Rick says he is better and wants to help but Sarah tells him he needs to leave. Before leaving, Rick gets a hug from Jackson while Riley doesn't say goodbye. Sarah talks to Jackson and says the doctors need to talk to him.
In Salen's room, Marcus Andrews tries to explain to Salen her medical problem but Salen is more interested in the hospital room and its equipment. He says they need to biopsy the mass, which finally gets Salen's attention as she asks who will do the procedure. Morgan says Jordan will be doing the procedure, much to the surprise of Andrews who still backs Jordan's skills up.
Shaun is with Sarah and he asks why she lied to her brother. To Sarah, Nick never grew up. He was great with her kids but drank a lot like their dad, even drinking when he took Jackson and Riley to the beach. His attention was diverted by some girl and the boys disappeared but were found by the cops a far distance from Nick. Shaun says that's a good answer.
Andrews walks into an elevator that Glassman is already in. Glassman expresses his sympathy for Andrews regarding his situation about Isabel. While appreciated by Andrews, Andrews says they don't need a heart to heart. Glassman claims he has been there though not recently, as expressed by Andrews, who then claims he is doing great. He tells Glassman he is taking a woman to Lea and Shaun's party but he has three options (Marie, Annabelle, and Lydia) and is unsure of who to take. Andrews then asks how Glassman is doing before getting off the elevator.
Lea is walking down the hall when Jordan approaches her and asks what dress she should wear. Lea says to wear whatever she wants as she doesn't care and has to get back to work. Jordan isn't buying it and says Lea does care then proceeds to ask who she's on the phone with as she assumes it to be related to the wedding. However, the phone call is not related to the wedding and, rather, the cloud backup people who have her on hold. She's then put off hold and orders bruschetta, proving Jordan right. Jordan asks again what dress she should wear and Lea says to choose the non-green one as Morgan is already wearing green. The two then go their separate ways.
Mateo visits Lim for lunch who already ate an hour ago. Mateo informs Lim that he applied for a provisional California medical license and was approved. He also has a friend that is a surgeon at San Francisco General who has offered him a job. Lim is speechless as she had no idea that Mateo was considering leaving Guatemala. Mateo admits things are moving fast but neither seem to mind. They also realize that they can do a long distance relationship as San Francisco is a lot closer than Guatemala and they managed to make it work when Mateo was in Guatemala. They then kiss only for Shaun to interrupt them. He says he is glad that Mateo is no longer a fugitive before informing Lim about the PET scans that show both Sarah and Jackson have cancer.
Asher is walking with Jordan who is excited about doing her biopsy, and continuously asks Asher if he is doing a biopsy. Every time Asher answers no. However, when they arrive at Salen's hospital room, she is gone. Asher can't help remarking on it and asking Jordan if she's doing a biopsy today.
Lea is in the hospital's server room when someone calls. They inform her that they can't get the flowers to the location by five which upsets Lea who asks why they committed to that time two weeks ago. Lea says she will have to talk to her fiance and lies that he's a lawyer. This works as the person says they can get the flowers to the location on time and Lea hangs up. She's then surprised by Salen who asks if any of that was true but congratulates Lea regardless. She asks what kind of flowers they're getting and doesn't provide an answer when Lea shows concern that a patient is in the server room. Salen is informed she shouldn't be in the room but Salen shows little care and opens a bag that has a sandwich. Before she can eat it, Jordan comes into the room and demands she puts the sandwich down as she's not supposed to eat. Salen blames her forgetfulness on the fact she's off her meds and admits she has eaten half a sandwich already.
Lim, along with Shaun, inform Sarah of her cancer and that she will need a radical hysterectomy. She may also need chemotherapy if the cancer spreads to her lymph nodes. Sarah asks about Jackson but Shaun asks her when the last time she had a pap smear was because the cancer is advanced but should've been caught if Sarah was getting regular pap smears. Sarah says she didn't have the time and asks about Jackson again. Jackson has a tumor in his trachea but there's only one lesion so surgery should be curative. Sarah wants Jackson's surgery done soon but Lim tells her there is no rush for him but there is a rush for her. If they wait, she is put in more risk but Sarah doesn't care about the risk and asks how long it will take her to recover. Her recovery shouldn't be more than a month and Sarah rejects, saying she has no one to look after the boys. Because of this, Jackson's surgery will have to go first then they can do Sarah's. However, Jackson's surgery won't have a quick recovery time either as he will have to be intubated while he recovers and won't be able to eat so a feeding tube will have to be put in. Sarah tells them to help her in a month because right now they have to help her son. Shaun and Lim leave the room while Sarah holds back her tears.
Early in the morning, Lea suffers another nightmare, waking Shaun up. He asks if she's ok and she says the engagement party is off. She believes the dreams are a reminder that chaos follows her everywhere. Shaun worries that the wedding might be called off but Lea says they're still having a wedding. Reassured, Shaun goes back to sleep.
Park, Lim, and Shaun discuss Sarah and Jackson's case. They agree they will have to do Jackson's surgery first and hope for the best for Sarah until they can do her surgery. Shaun comes up with a different procedure they can do that will allow Jackson to recover in days instead of weeks. Lim tells them to talk to Sarah.
Asher tells Salen that they rescheduled her biopsy and she can't eat or drink. Salen is doing yoga while they talk and Jordan asks that she stops but Salen claims it helps her relax. Jordan, however, doesn't care about the relaxing as she is frustrated that Salen never appears to be listening, has a problem with wandering, and ate. Salen repeats what Asher told her then asks about Jordan and Asher's relationship. The two disagree on whether their relationship is cooperative or competitive. Salen continues her yoga and Jordan asks if her ankles were always fat, if no she may be showing another symptom.
Shaun discusses the new procedure with Sarah and Jackson. Sarah worries that it's not safe but Shaun says it's more dangerous for Jackson but safer for Sarah. Sarah rejects the surgery and Jackson apologizes for his past actions. He acknowledges everything that Sarah does for them and says he wants to help to her. This gets Sarah to agree to the surgery.
Andrews discusses the ankle with Jordan and Asher and Jordan realizes that if they do the biopsy, they risk infection. She's disappointed by this but learns that she wouldn't have been allowed to do the biopsy. According to Andrews, rescheduling because they let their patient wander off and eat sandwiches doesn't let the person in charge call dibs.
Shaun, Lim, and Park operate on Jackson. Because of the mass' large base, Shaun realizes he can't easily get his snare on the mass while Park notices the mass appears to be pulsating. Removing the mass from this angle will risk a massive bleed so Lim tells them to stop the surgery.
Jordan walks into Lea's office in a dress. Lea says she looks great but the party was cancelled, however, Jordan doesn't accept that because she looks amazing and people need to see that she looks amazing. She tries to get Lea excited for the party but Lea's not and Jordan worries she caught Shaun cheating. Lea expresses she wants the wedding to be perfect and the party wasn't going to be perfect. Jordan agrees but it not being perfect doesn't mean it was going to be a disaster. Lea talks about the first time she got married and how it was a disaster and the marriage was a disaster as well. She really needs this marriage to go right. Jordan tells her that sometimes the little things have to go wrong so the big things can go right. Lea is told to put the party back on and Jordan will do her hair.
Park and Shaun discuss Jackson's case and what procedures they can do. Jordan interrupts and says they have to get changed because of the party. Shaun is hesitant as they are working on a case but Jordan doesn't care. She leaves Park to convince Shaun who will go to the party after they have solved the problem of Jackson's case. He believes they will get it done quick as they both are smart.
At the party, Lea looks stressed but Jordan calms her down, saying nothing has gone bad yet. Everything is where it should be except for the DJ but they are playing smooth jazz over the speakers. Lea thanks Jordan before being congratulated by Andrews and his date. When asked where Shaun is, Lea doesn't have an answer but Jordan calms her down again by saying Shaun is getting ready. This is a lie though as Shaun is still with Park and he's pacing as he tries to solve Jackson's case. Park says he has a solution but he will have to find journal articles and put everything together. It may take time so he recommends Shaun leave without him. Shaun believes Park is lying and Park asks if the case if more important than his future with Lea. It's not to Shaun so Park doesn't answer.
Lim talks to Lea and asks where Shaun is as she wants to toast the two of them. Jordan approaches them as Lim calls out Shaun's name. Shaun then arrives, asking for her to stop yelling. He stands by Lea as Lim toasts the two of them. As she's giving a toast, Park is seen struggling with Jackson's case while Morgan tries to convince him to come to the party. She doubts he can solve it, especially if Shaun couldn't solve it. Morgan doubts Sarah will agree to a new procedure. This sparks an idea and Park leaves the room.
People appear to be enjoying the party and Lea says the party is perfect, to which Shaun agrees.
Park brings Nick into the boys' hospital room. Nick says he has something for Sarah and gives her a 90-day sober chip, claiming he hasn't had a drink in over 100 days. He wants to be someone she can rely on and be her brother again. Sarah takes the chip when offered and Nick expresses his desire to be there for Sarah along with his nephews. While glad for Nick, Sarah is unsure ifs he can trust her brother. While Sarah doesn't have to trust Nick, he believes she has to trust someone.
The party continues in a bright mood and Glassman approaches Andrews. Andrews has two dates and says he accidentally invited both girls. They girls appear to be getting along great but Andrews says they might continue the night without him, to which the bartender agrees. The bartender refills Glassman and Andrews' drinks. Mateo finds Lim and says he is too big of an insurance risk for the hospital to take on. Lim suggests another hospital in the bay area to which Mateo agrees. They're interrupted when Glassman taps on a drink and announces he'd like to make a toast. He talks about his past with Shaun and how happy Shaun appears with Lea, although their relationship has had its ups and downs. He is admired at how well they've managed their relationship, a lot better than he has. This makes some of the guests laugh and confused Glassman as he asks if that's funny. Colleagues of Glassman look on in worry as Glassman continues talking, his drunkenness now more prominent. He hopes to many years of happiness, at least two or three which discourages many, but Glassman claims it was funny because he's divorced. Andrews interrupts and tries to bring the attention back to Shaun and Lea but Glassman continues. He reveals that Debbie had left him two months ago, to the shock of many. He tries to continue his toast but decides to leave abruptly.
Following the events of the party, Lea is at her apartment staring at the bulletin board she has been using to plan her wedding. She appears unenthusiastic, a look that is shared by Shaun who sits in the living room. Glassman lies down on his bed, surrounded by dirty dishes and empty pizza boxes.
The following morning, Andrews is seen lying in bed when the bartender from the party walks out of his bathroom. She says she had fun last night and he asks if she wants breakfast. She decides to leave. Lim is dressing for the day when Mateo asks what's on her mind. She talks of the surgeries she has to do that day and Mateo offers an opinion on the surgery. When Lim still appears distracted, she admits she isn't just thinking about the surgeries.
Jordan, Asher, and Andrews examine Salen's leg which is now swollen and red. Andrews believes they should do an endovascular biopsy. The biopsy is given to Asher and Salen asks who the chief of surgery is. She's glad the chief is a woman and expresses her desire to meet Lim.
In surgery, Lim asks Shaun to salvage the arteries, much like Mateo suggested to do earlier. Shaun says the idea is clever. The surgery is interrupted by Salen who has wandered off once again so she can talk to the chief of surgery. Lim is surprised by her presence and Salen asks for her opinion on the biopsy Andrews wants to do. Lim agrees with the biopsy and asks for Andrews to get Salen. Before they can page Andrews, Salen appears faint.
Salen is returned to hospital room and outside Andrews, Asher, Jordan, and Morgan discuss her case. Asher and Jordan are shown to be getting annoyed of Salen's actions and how she constantly seems to be messing with them, especially when they are about to do a procedure on her. Andrews says she can't fake her symptoms but Morgan tells him to look at her chart. Her chart shows that her Ritalin level has doubled even though Salen has said to have stopped taking her meds. Because of this, the symptoms they have seem make sense and Morgan agrees that Salen is messing with them.
Sarah wakes from her surgery with Nick and Riley by her side. Nick reassures her that Jackson is doing fine and Shaun walks in informing Sarah she will need chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Sarah thanks Park. Shaun believes that everyone needs someone who isn't perfect sometimes, just like Nick.
Salen is confronted about her actions and she claims she forgot. Jordan isn't buying that and Salen laughs it off, saying that patients must screw up all the time. She asks if they're accused of being liars. Asher denies accusing her of being a liar and accuses her of being insane because she refuses to let them find out what is wrong with her. Andrews believes Salen already knows or knows enough to hide certain symptoms. Andrews wipes Salen's hands which she has been putting makeup on and reveals that she has Raynaud's syndrome. Salen admits she was diagnosed seven years ago and went off her meds weeks ago to see if all doctors were the same. Asher asks why and Salen says she was curious.
At Lim's, Mateo says he is going to return to his hotel but Lim asks him to stay. Good or bad night, she wants him to be at the apartment when she gets home. She then proposes the idea of hiring Mateo as an attending if she gets the money. Even without the money, she intends to offer him a position.
Lea returns home to find Shaun sitting on the couch. He claims that the party was a disaster and Lea agrees. He apologizes and says Lea screwed up because the party was her responsibility. He admits that's a problem because when something goes wrong for one person, it should go wrong for both of them. He intends to plan the wedding with her so when it goes wrong, they are both at fault. Lea likes the idea and says when everything goes right, it will be both of their faults as well.
Lim waits for her turn to give her presentation but the board members leave. She tells Glassman that she hasn't gotten the chance to give her presentation but Glassman says they only had one thing to discuss. The hospital is being purchased and Lim asks who is buying it. At that moment, Salen walks out and expresses her excitement at working with the Lim and Glassman, implying that she bought the hospital.
Cast[]
Starring[]
|
Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
|
LexTrivia[]
- Noah Galvin, who plays Asher Wolke, was reunited with his Dear Evan Hansen co-star Rachel Bay Jones, who played his character Evan's mother, Heidi Hansen.
Multimedia[]
Promotional Images[]
BTS Images[]
Episode Stills[]
Go to the following page: New Beginnings/Gallery
Videos[]
