Freddie Highmore on ‘The Good Doctor’ Series Finale

After seven seasons, “The Good Physician” got here to a heart-rending conclusion, emotionally devastating the devoted followers who signed on to say so lengthy to Dr. Shaun Murphy and the remainder of the forged and crew who populated San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.

Selection talked with collection star Freddie Highmore (Dr. Shaun Murphy) about saying farewell to the creators and actors he’s shared laborious science monologues and anxiety-inducing surgical scenes with for seven years.

What was the final scene that you simply shot as Dr. Shaun Murphy?

The final scene that I filmed was the one the place, in the end, Leah sits down subsequent to Shaun after which talks him into going to changing into conscious, I assume, of the state of affairs dealing with each Claire and Dr. Glassman. That motivates him within the quick time period to go and converse to Claire [Antonia Thomas] after which come to phrases with the truth that Glassman is not going to be with them for for much longer. That felt like the proper final theme to movie.

There’s clearly the larger, splashier speech, however in the end, the present has all the time lived in these tiny little nuances and small moments and small beats between characters. And that final scene with Paige [Spara] actually felt like that. It was again on the studio. We retreated into one final stage. The remainder of the levels and units had been being dismantled. The residence lounge was the final one standing for the previous couple of days of filming.

How did it really feel after they stated that’s a wrap on Freddie?

It’s laborious to explain. I believe the final feeling that I’ve felt is it’s a bit like commencement. You’re nostalgic since you’re conscious of how particular these previous few years have been with this group of individuals, and you’re conscious you’re by no means going to duplicate that once more at one other level. After all, it’s shifting and emotional in that means, however on the identical time, like commencement, you’re excited to do different issues and to maneuver on. You already know that it’s wholesome and good and that you may’t keep at college eternally. So I’m additionally excited for all the pieces that’s to come back sooner or later.

I believe in some methods, there’s a sure peace that it brings on the final day when you’re trying round in any respect of those folks that you simply love and care about so deeply, and figuring out that we bought to finish the present with the data that it was ending on our personal phrases and inform the story all through to its finish. I believe provides a sure peace and satisfaction and wonderful to have that chance to say goodbye to everybody.

Was Shaun’s finish sport all the time going to complete as the daddy of two, main a neurodivergent program throughout the medical trade? When did you find out about how his story would finish?

I believe [series showrunner David Shore] can be higher positioned to reply this, however from what he has stated when I’ve been round him, there was an authentic finish aim of Shaun changing into a father. That felt like a pure finish to the present. After all, we went previous that. And I believe that speaks to how a lot Shaun has been in a position to develop and alter and evolve during the last seven years in time that I’ve bought to play him.

I believe an inclination maybe amongst exhibits that do have a case of the week, procedural ingredient, is that there’s a want for characters to remain the identical week after week. However actually on this present, it’s been a tremendous problem and an thrilling one to play a personality who is consistently evolving and continuously altering and rising. After we take a look at the finale and look again to the place Shaun has began, that journey has been a giant one.

We noticed that development within the penultimate episode when Shaun shares that second with Richard Schiff on the steps, and you set your arm round him. Discuss to me slightly bit about that scene and what it was like getting to try this.

It’s a delicate one. It’s not too heavy-handed, however it speaks lots to how far they’ve include Shaun. I believe part of him, in that second, is conscious that placing his arm round Dr. Glassman is the factor that you need to do so as to show that you simply care about somebody and that you simply need to assist them. It comes from a spot of him realizing that, on this second, he does must be the individual to handle Dr. Glassman in the way in which that Dr Glassman has all the time taken care of him. That’s Shaun’s journey as nicely within the final episode: accepting Dr. Glassman’s needs and accepting that he has to assist him slightly than Dr. Glassman being the one who has all the time supported Shaun in no matter he has needed and strived for.

What’s it like saying these final scenes with Richard Schiff? Was it laborious to say goodbye?

Sure! It’s odd. I believe, in some methods, it’ll most likely daybreak on me possibly additional down the road that we gained’t be doing scenes collectively anymore, each with Richard and in addition different folks on the present. If you find yourself used to a routine of spending 20 episodes with the identical group of individuals, leaving for just a few months, after which coming again once more and returning and doing it once more, possibly the odd feeling will come just a few months from now when you’re not returning to see these folks once more, and your form of pure routine is shaken up not directly. However it was truthfully only a actually pretty previous few episodes to movie. Having Antonia again and attending to have these significant goodbyes with all the characters and giving each character their very own send-off. It felt celebratory slightly than overly unhappy by way of what we’ve been in a position to accomplish on the present and what we’ve all accomplished collectively as a bunch.

What was the forged’s response to having Antonia Thomas again, however then additionally giving her most cancers, a virus after which in the end amputating her arm? That was brutal.

Sure. It’s humorous, just a few folks have stated, “Do you’re feeling unhealthy for Claire as a result of she misplaced her arm?” Whereas actually, in a second when filming it and looking out on the episode, I felt like this was an enormous success as a result of she’s nonetheless alive. She misplaced an arm, however it may have been a lot worse. However sure, I’m undecided that Antonia knew fairly what she was signing up for by way of Claire’s development into sickness, however it was so pretty for everybody to have her again. It felt prefer it introduced it full circle to the start, reminding us of the place all the characters began and the way far they’ve all come.

What’s the legacy of “The Good Physician” and the way has it modified the dialog round neurodivergent folks within the office and in relationships?

It’s not likely for me to say whether or not we’ve been profitable or not, but when in some small little means, this present has been in a position to problem stereotypes and misconceptions and convey consciousness to autism, then that might be the factor that I’m actually most happy with and can be essentially the most significant conclusion from this present.

I believe a type of misconceptions is that individuals with autism can’t change and evolve in the identical means neurotypical folks can, which clearly isn’t true. Hopefully, we’ve been in a position to present that by telling Shaun’s particular person story. However I’m additionally conscious that Shaun is and by no means ought to characterize everybody who’s on the spectrum, and we’ve all the time centered on telling his one, particular person journey and story, and hopeful that that might be a beginning place for individuals who maybe didn’t have as a lot consciousness of autism earlier than coming to the present.

What’s subsequent for you? Would you bounce into one other procedural?

That’s not the factor that I’m essentially searching for, however I’ve by no means searched issues out. I really feel I’ve all the time been shocked by alternatives which have come alongside. After “Bates Motel” ended, I actually wasn’t seeking to do one other tv present immediately, after which “The Good Physician” got here alongside three days later, so that you by no means fairly know what’s going to occur. I’m going to be doing this British miniseries over the summer time that I can’t actually speak about, however that I’m very enthusiastic about. That might be enjoyable to be again in Europe and do one thing that I’ve by no means accomplished earlier than by way of this mission after which see what’s subsequent after that.

I’ve loved, on this present, being part of the broader course of. I’d like to proceed to supply and develop exhibits and write and direct as nicely. I’ve loved doing all of these issues. That’s actually a aim as nicely.

This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.