The Good Doctor: [Spoiler] Returning for Season 4 Premiere (and Beyond?)
St. Bonaventure’s former in-house attorney is making a comeback.
Beau Garrett, a series regular on Season 1 of ABC‘s The Good Doctor, is set to reprise her role as Jessica Preston in the medical drama’s two-part Season 4 premiere (airing Monday, Nov. 2 at 10/9c).
It remains unclear if Garrett’s return will extend beyond next month’s opener. Her encore comes more than two years after her abrupt departure; her last episode aired in March 2018.
Garrett’s exit came as something of a surprise when it was first announced back in September 2018. Jessica was best friends with Glassman’s deceased daughter Maddie. She stood by Glassman’s side when he first discovered he had brain cancer in Season 1, but was not present (or even mentioned) when the former hospital head underwent multiple surgeries and chemotherapy throughout Season 2.
Glassman was Jessica’s only connection to The Good Doctor‘s core group of characters. She ended her long-term relationship with Dr. Neil Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) midway through Season 1, after he made clear his desire to start a family, which she did not share. Her return comes in the immediate aftermath of Melendez’s shocking death in the Season 3 finale.
While we wait to see how Jessica factors into the COVID-themed premiere, read on for the official synopsis for “Frontline,” which also teases Shaun and Lea’s socially distanced relationship, Park’s potential move and Morgan’s new role within the hospital:
Dr. Shaun Murphy treats a patient with an illness that is not only unpredictable in nature, but also unlike anything he or the team at San Jose St. Bonaventure has ever seen before. As safety protocols and quarantines increase due to the global pandemic, Lea and Shaun’s new relationship will become tested; and Dr. Alex Park gets ready to move back to Phoenix, Arizona, to be closer to his family. Meanwhile, Dr. Morgan Reznick navigates her way around the clinic following her departure from the surgery team and unknowingly puts herself and several members of the staff in danger. Finally, Dr. Claire Brown continues to work through her grief, still reeling from the sudden death of Dr. Neil Melendez.
Are you surprised by Garrett’s return to The Good Doctor? And how do you think Jessica will factor into the premiere?
Loved Jessica so this is a welcome surprise. Can’t wait!
I was terrified it was going to be Dr. Whiny-boring they fired in season 1
She should have been in season 2. When Glassman was sick Shaun and Jessica could have developed a sibling dynamic while both trying to support him. I get wanting her out of the way so Shaun could be Glassman’s main lifeline, but damn it is a missed opportunity. I really hope if she sticks around they have her spend time with Shaun and get into a makeshift family with Glassman and his wife (cannot remember her name.)
Interesting! Good to have her back, even if it does wind up being for a brief time. Curious to hear about what she’s been up to since she left, and how everyone will handle her return.
I have no idea who the character is so her return is of no import to me.
Melendez fiancé from season 1. Blonde lawyer lady who was friends with Glassman’s dead daughter and had Glassman’s back when he hired Shaun.
Really wish they didn’t kill off Melendez!
I am with you there, when I saw him last night I was so hopeful that maybe a mistake was made and he was coming back to be with Claire
Her character was boring. I’m not watching without Dr. Melendez anyway. What a waste of a good character. The writing was going downhill last season and this concluded the ending of me watching it. I really enjoyed season 1 and 2. Too bad…
I can only believe Nicholas Gonzalez wanted out or they wanted him out for some reason unrelated to his character. If Melendez died just for the sake of the storyline, it was a huge mistake since his loss lacks even the tiniest hint that anything positive can come from it.
If it’s not Melendez I’m not interested. (& Yes I’m aware they killed him off but hey ho, a girl can wish!)
Neither the actress nor the character were anything much. Very insignificant, IMO. I will really miss Nicholas Gonzalez as Melendez, however.
I stopped caring after they killed off Melendez and also read that he didn’t want to leave so this writer based decision ended interest in the show for me and many other people I’ve talked to. Also Shaun being with Lea is the 2nd stupidest thing they’ve done. I doubt the show will make it past this season with this group of writers
I totally love The Good Doctor. It’s like I’m there.
I am so upset about the good doctor killing off dr Melendez !!!!!
Bad decision he needed to get together with Clare
Love this show!! So glad to see it returning. Look forward to tonight and all the others.
Still so upset about Melendez being killed off! Won’t be the same without him. Loved his character and still makes no sense why he’s gone, except he wanted out. Not happy!
Killing off Melendez ruined this show for me!
Love this show
I really did not like the narrative that was done on this show.
There really should have been a spoiler alert warning for how season 3 ends….