ABC confirmed that The Good Doctor would wrap up with Season 7, ending a journey that began in 2017 and turned Freddie Highmore’s Dr. Shaun Murphy into one of television’s most beloved medical characters. The news disappointed fans worldwide, but the decision was not sudden—it was the result of multiple factors that combined creative closure with business realities. Over time, the series faced declining live ratings.
Season 5 averaged around seven million viewers, but by Season 6 the number had dropped to just over six million. While still strong compared to many shows, these dips matter in a television landscape where ad revenue depends heavily on audience size. At the same time, the costs of producing a medical drama grew higher each year. Salaries, complex sets, and technical requirements made the series expensive to maintain, and because ABC did not fully own the show, profits were thinner compared to in-house productions.
Industry disruptions also played a role. The writers’ and actors’ strikes in 2023 forced shorter seasons and reshaped production schedules, making long-running scripted dramas less stable investments for networks. Beyond economics, there were creative reasons. Producers pointed out that Shaun Murphy’s story had reached a natural conclusion: the character had grown from a socially awkward resident into a skilled surgeon, a husband, and a father.
The writers felt it was better to close on a high note rather than extend storylines past their peak. Finally, ABC’s broader strategy influenced the choice. The network has increasingly leaned toward reality and unscripted content, which is cheaper to produce and often delivers higher returns in a fragmented media environment.
In the end, The Good Doctor was cancelled not because of failure but because of a convergence of falling ratings, rising costs, industry strikes, and the desire to end with narrative integrity. The show departs as one of ABC’s standout dramas of the past decade, remembered for its emotional depth, strong performances, and groundbreaking portrayal of autism in mainstream television.
