The Good Doctor
Surgical attending Dr. Neil Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) died on the season 3 finale of The Good Doctor.
It was a death few of us were expecting and it sparked outrage among many fans.
A fictional death I will never get over @IamNickGonzalez 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/h0lCqce1df
— Lyndsey L. (@lynzlome) March 31, 2020
Legit could of picked anyone else! ANYONE!
I cried for Dr. Melendez like he was a real person in my life.
That’s how you know @IamNickGonzalez did the damn thing.
I already miss you. 😭#TheGoodDoctor
— Angela (@Morticia_Vibes) March 31, 2020
I think I speak for EVERYONE when I say we are DONE, DONE with this show! How could you do us like this!?!? #TheGoodDoctor pic.twitter.com/50VB4BEyR8
— Caitlin S. (@kikabelle) March 31, 2020
Dr. Melendez died from internal injuries sustained when a brewery collapsed during an earthquake in Part One of the season finale.
With him in hospital were his former boss Aaron Glassman, ex-girlfriend Audrey Lim and third-year resident Claire Browne.
But not Dr. Shaun Murphy. He was still at the brewery.
(Freddie Highmore was there for Nicholas Gonzalez s off-camera as he filmed his death scenes).
Nick Gonzalez teased the situation earlier in the day, suggesting he would survive.
Feeling optimistic about TONITE…
Who’s gonna be watching with us??
Join me after tonite’s episode (east coast feed) for a live IG session w/ @_ChristinaChang.
👨🏻⚕️👩🏻💼#TheGoodDoctor#LimLendez#Melendaire#TheGoodDoctorSeason3Finale pic.twitter.com/ogjNM2SXkn— Nicholas Gonzalez (@IamNickGonzalez) March 30, 2020
Which made it even more of a shock.
Executive producer Daniel Dae Kim on Gonzalez’s performance.
To you, and your amazing performance.
I salute you, @IamNickGonzalez. @GoodDoctorABC pic.twitter.com/wZ7lbECBx7— Daniel Dae Kim (@danieldaekim) March 31, 2020
When The Good Doctor returns to film season 4 in Vancouver, it will be without original cast member Nicholas Gonzalez.
And series regular Jasika Nicole, who played Shaun’s girlfriend earlier in the season but broke up with him because of his feelings for Lea.
The season 3 finale ended with Shaun & Lea sharing a passionate kiss.
Which would have been an uplifting way to wrap the season if not for the tragic death back at St. Bonaventure Hospital.
The Good Doctor showrunner David Shore spoke about the decision to have Dr. Menendez die in the season finale.
And about re-convening the writers’ room during a coronavirus pandemic.
Fellow executive producer Daniel Dae Kim was one of the earliest to go public with a positive test for Covid-19. He caught it while filming in New York City.
Back in Vancouver, The Good Doctor production office made arrangements with the BC government about which medical supplies it could provide.
#TheGoodDoctor reportedly plans to donate its prop masks, surgical gloves, surgical gowns, booties & protective head gear in Vancouver like its hospital drama brethren #TheResident & #GreysAnatomy have done in the U.S. pic.twitter.com/0i7hc9Yj2V
— Hollywood North Buzz – YVRShoots (@yvrshoots) March 20, 2020
The Good Doctor is expected to start production of season 4 this summer in Vancouver, assuming it is safe by then.