The Good Doctor’s Freddie Highmore reveals why main character had to die on series finale that left fans ‘in tears’
THE Good Doctor star Freddie Highmore has revealed why Dr. Aaron Glassman had to die in the series finale.
Viewers were left “in tears” when Aaron (Richard Schiff) died offscreen from terminal brain cancer during Tuesday night’s episode of the ABC medical drama.
During the finale, Freddie‘s character Dr. Shaun Murphy tried to convince Aaron to undergo a rare treatment that could add a year to his life.
He eventually accepted his mentor’s decision not to go through with the procedure and to enjoy the last three to six months of his life with his family.
He promised Aaron he would support him in his final days and they went for one last ride on the carousel he used to go on with his late daughter Maddie.
Later, Aaron saved Shaun from losing his medical license by proceeding with the non-FDA approved treatment on Claire (Antonia Thomas).
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The Good Doctor finale ended with a flash-forward to the future in which Shaun paid tribute to Aaron in a TED talk.
He revealed he had set up a foundation in his late teacher’s honor – the Dr. Aaron Glassman Foundation for Neurodiversity in Medicine.
Reflecting on the devastating finale, Freddie said that Aaron’s death helped to teach Shaun that being emotionally there for loved ones is more important than medicine.
“Shaun has always prioritized the medicine; that has always been his goal,” he told TVLine.