8 Shows to Watch If You Like ‘The Good Doctor’

The impact of the now-resolved writers’ strike and the ongoing actors’ strike on Hollywood’s output is now starting to be felt. While most streaming platforms have so far been able to bank their content enough to avoid a shortage, networks have less flexibility in their scheduling, and The Good Doctor is one of the first and biggest shows to be affected. The hit ABC series stars Freddie Highmore as a brilliant young doctor whose autism spectrum disorder is both a gift and a hindrance to him during his medical training. The show’s seventh season was originally due to premiere in the fall of 2023, but its release has now been delayed for an unspecified length of time, as has all of the network’s scripted content for the season.

To help tide you over through this indefinite hiatus, here are eight shows that offer some of the same pleasures as The Good Doctor.

Related: What We Know About 'The Good Doctor' Season 7 So Far

8 shows to watch if you like ‘The Good Doctor’

1. House

This long-running and acclaimed medical drama was created by The Good Doctor showrunner David Shore, so it should be your first port of call if you’re craving a similar vibe. Conceived as a modern medical take on Sherlock Holmes, the show stars Hugh Laurie in a bravura performance as the misanthropic and anarchic Dr. Gregory House, who specializes in solving puzzling medical cases alongside a rotating team of young trainee physicians. Though each episode centers on a compelling self-contained mystery, it’s the nuanced and smart character development across eight seasons that makes House truly addictive.

House is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, or you can buy episodes individually via Apple TV.

2. Atypical

While its depiction of the condition has drawn controversy at times, The Good Doctor stands out as a rare example of a network show centered on a character with autism. If you’re seeking more neurodivergent representation, this witty and touching Netflix coming-of-age series is a must-watch. The teen dramedy focuses on Sam (Keir Gilchrist), an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum who sets out to try and date for the first time.

All four seasons are available to stream on Netflix.

3. Nurse Jackie

Edie Falco followed up her multi-Emmy winning performance in The Sopranos with an equally acclaimed lead turn in this pitch black comedy. Falco plays the eponymous ER nurse, who leans on prescription medication as a coping mechanism amidst a punishing work schedule and complicated personal life. With its acerbic, sharp writing, the show is irresistible despite how dark it often gets, and Falco is surrounded by a stellar supporting cast including Betty Gilpin, Merritt Wever and Peter Facinelli.

Nurse Jackie is available to stream on demand via the Showtime Anytime platform, or you can also add the Showtime channel to various subscriptions including Hulu and Paramount+.

Related: 50 Best 'Sopranos' Quotes

4. Good Doctor

Many fans of The Good Doctor may be unaware that the show is actually based on a South Korean TV drama of (almost) the same name. The original series starred Joo Won as a genius-level savant with autism spectrum disorder working as a pediatric resident, whose condition causes conflict with colleagues and patients alike as he strives to prove himself. While the American remake followed the same broad strokes as its source material early on, there are cultural and emotional nuances to the original which make it a fascinating companion piece—not to mention the fact that it wrapped up its run after just 20 episodes, in contrast to The Good Doctor’s six seasons (and counting).

Good Doctor is available to watch on Kocowa, the best streaming platform for all of your K-drama needs.

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5. Bates Motel

Before he became known across America for The Good Doctor, Freddie Highmore made his debut as a TV leading man in a very, very different (but equally memorable) role. A prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic psychological thriller Psycho, Highmore plays a young Norman Bates, who slowly descends into increasingly dangerous mental illness while running a coastal motel with his beloved mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga), who does her best to protect him. It’s probably not a spoiler to say that things go poorly in the end (the final season is essentially a broad strokes remake of Psycho) but the show finds real emotion in the Bates’s doomed journey nonetheless.

Bates Motel isn’t currently streaming on any subscription platforms, but you can rent or buy episodes via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play, among others.

6. This Is Going To Hurt

It’s no surprise that this British medical dramedy feels distinctly grounded in reality, since it’s based on a bestselling memoir by Adam Kay chronicling his years of training as a junior doctor. Set at an OBGYN unit in London, the show sees Kay (played by Ben Whishaw) navigating the daily chaos of life on the ward, a series of eye-watering medical emergencies and systemic issues within the UK’s overstretched National Health Service that can leave staff burned out and disillusioned. Despite the often grim realities it depicts, the show is a delight.

This Is Going To Hurt is a limited series, and all seven episodes are available to stream on AMC+ and Amazon Prime Video.

7. Suits

Though it’s neither a medical drama nor a show about the neurodivergent experience, this USA Network procedural (which has enjoyed a huge boost in streaming viewers this year) is an underdog story that shares some tonal and thematic DNA with The Good Doctor. The legal drama follows a smart slacker with a photographic memory (Patrick J. Adams) who talks his way into a job working for the best closer in New York City despite having no legal qualifications. Between its snappy dialogue and fast-paced but undemanding storytelling, it’s ideal escapist viewing. You may have heard it stars Meghan Markle.

Suits is currently streaming on Netflix and Peacock.

8. ER

The definitive medical drama, ER began its multi-award-winning run in 1994 and laid the groundwork for an entire TV sub-genre. Set in a frenetic emergency room in central Chicago, the show told edge-of-your-seat medical stories through the lens of a likable ensemble that encompassed jaded senior doctors, wide-eyed residents and beleaguered nurses. Cast members came and went throughout the show’s 15-season run, but the original group included George Clooney, Noah Wyle, Julianna Margulies and Anthony Edwards in breakout roles.

All 15 seasons of ER are available to stream on Hulu.

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