The Good Doctor's Jasika Nicole on Carly and Shaun's Breakup and Ending 'Awful Stereotypes' About Autism
The Good Doctor broke down so many barriers in its first two seasons on the air, depicting a successful doctor who happens to be autistic as he tackles communication and socialization issues (like bedside manner). And this past season was no different as Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) embarked on his first romantic relationship—a milestone that is uncomfortable for all, but especially for Shaun. Luckily, his love interest, Dr. Carly Lever, is a neuro-typical colleague well-aware and accepting of Shaun's many quirks. She is able to help him overcome his fears about being intimate for the first time, and together they gently overcome the many challenges that most of us face when it comes to new love and romance. Carly is played by Jasika Nicole, who was determined to get this relationship right.
As Nicole understands from personal experience with her 22-year-old sister who has autism, many adults with autism who are beginning to explore the difficult, yet universal, issues of trust, intimacy and love can find it difficult. It was important for Nicole, and the show, to convey to viewers “these universal truths that we are trying to portray in this relationship,” Nicole told Parade.com in a recent interview. “Although Shaun and Carly are dealing with certain obstacles that people in neuro-typical relationships might not necessarily be navigating, the seeds of it are still about communicating, being thoughtful and being self-aware."
Part of depicting this relationship accurately meant giving them a realistic breakup, too. When Carly sees Shaun still has feelings for his former roommate, Lea, (Paige Spara), Carly tells Shaun that she needs to break up with him, saying she refuses to take second place in his heart.
Jasika Nicole and Freddie Highmore star in The Good Doctor
"I believe we have a responsibility to portray this relationship in a realistic way, but also in a positive one. I think there are so many assumptions about people who are on the spectrum, about being incapable of having any kind of emotional intelligence or being affectionate," Nicole said. "Those are obviously just awful stereotypes that we’re working to fight against and show that the spectrum is a spectrum for a reason—there are lots of different people on it who behave in different ways and look in different ways, so we wanted to show that in portraying this relationship and I hope that people really felt it."
This is something that did not go unnoticed by the disability rights community. "Issues surrounding dating, relationships and sex for people with autism historically have not been shown on primetime television—reflecting the real-life issue that students with developmental and intellectual disabilities often are excluded from their schools’ sexual education classes," said Lauren Appelbaum, vice president of communications for RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization that fights against stigmas and advances opportunities for people with disabilities. "But, as this story arc on The Good Doctor shows, people with disabilities are interested in dating, marriage and everything else related to relationships."
With Autism Awareness Month drawing near in April and The Good Doctor season finale upon us, it's never been more important to Nicole that the show continues to have a major positive effect on our social consciousness when it comes to autism. “The biggest impact a show like this could have is for people to take it into their real lives and make sure that they are moving through the world with love and compassion, as opposed to judgment,” she said. "I hope through our show that people continue to feel some real effects in their own lives. I hope that they see it and go out into the world and have a little bit more compassion for people who look, or seem, or act differently than they do."
Related: Exclusive: The Good Doctor Makes a Tough Call in This Deleted Scene
Nicole, who says she will remain passionate about helping the autism community spread its positive message, is also known for her leading role on the FOX series Fringe, as well as major roles in the hit TV drama's Scandal and Underground, and guest roles on Station 19 and Major Crimes. She also portrayed the role of Wendy in the DreamWorks series She's Out of My League.
The two-part Season 3 finale of The Good Doctor began Monday, March 23, and will conclude Monday, March 30.
Here is Nicole’s very personal look at how these fictional characters have ignited interest in the autistic community and what we can learn from The Good Doctor about how every “disenfranchised community” needs to be heard.
What do you think that viewers can learn from Carly and Shaun’s relationship as it has evolved?
I would hope that they look at it like any other relationship. Going into it, there are obviously a lot of stereotypes that we’re trying to work against. We didn’t want Carly’s character to come off as super maternal or for her to be infantilizing Shaun’s character in any way, which is a little bit tricky. I think that in any relationship, both the people who are involved in it are going to wear a lot of different hats and take on many different roles.
I think that because this relationship is being portrayed on a major network, autism is being introduced to a lot of neuro-typical people for the first time. There are some viewers who haven’t had any experiences working, understanding or loving people who are on the autism spectrum, at least that they know of.
I am excited to continue to be part of the representation of somebody who is autistic, has a support network to help him through life and is doing so well.
The Good Doctor's Jasika Nicole as Dr. Carly Lever.
What kind of feedback have you gotten from the community about the show?
Ours is not a perfect show and I don’t think that a perfect show exists for any marginalized community. The feedback we get from people from the autism community who watch the show say how powerful it is to see themselves represented in some way, even if they’re not exactly like Shaun. It’s not just about seeing ourselves on screen, but seeing ourselves being capable, as well as struggling, succeeding, and failing. It’s about showing someone having a full life.
Fans were bummed about the breakup between Carly and Shaun. How did you guys feel about it?
I have to be honest, I was upset, too. When I found out there was a breakup coming, I immediately went into a kind of mild depression. It was almost like I was experiencing the emotional turmoil of Carly going through a breakup. Which is bizarre because we all know that this is a fictional world that we are portraying.
I think that Carly recognized that he had deeper feelings for somebody else and she knew that she deserved to be with somebody who felt like she was the best person in the world. Although she felt that way about Shaun, she wanted him to be able to have that experience with somebody else even if it’s not her.
Related: 10 Important Life Lessons That I Learned From My Son With Autism
What do you think the future holds for Carly and Shaun as a couple?
The best thing I can hope for is that they stay in each other’s lives and continue to support each other. I just don’t see the friendship that they’ve built going away. I’m hoping that they will continue to show up for each other. I would imagine that Carly needs a little time to process the breakup and fully get through grieving the end of a relationship, but I think that she cares too much about Shaun not to be a part of his life.
There is clearly a Team Carly and Team Lea. Have you gotten used to that?
Actually, [it 's been] challenging for me having access to the fans’ opinions of me, which is just weird. Normally, it’s not that big of a deal, but I think because this love triangle that has been portrayed on the show between Shaun’s character, and Lea and Carly, it’s been divisive.
Clearly, representation is very important to you. As a member of the LGBTQ community, what does that mean to you to be part of representing it?
It means that first and foremost, I’m involved. There was a transitional period of time for me where I was kind of re-learning who I was to the rest of the world. But once I recognized that I had this new identity and that I was so excited to have it, and it felt really powerful, I think that’s when I was able to start celebrating it in myself and celebrating it with other people.
