How ‘The Good Doctor’ Double Cliffhanger Sets up Series Finale, According to Showrunners

That wasn’t even the biggest cliffhanger of the episode. Glassman (Richard Schiff) shared a touching moment with Shaun (Freddie Highmore) at the bar during the reception that ended with a heartbreaking, shocking reveal: Glassman’s cancer is back, and it’s progressed to a terminal glioblastoma. “I’m dying,” Glassman told Shaun.

As previously announced, Thomas will return again as Claire in the series finale. The episode description for The Good Doctor‘s last episode, titled “Goodbye,” says, “As the doctors consider their futures, they work together to solve one of the most important cases of their careers.” Friedman and Shore elaborate on that logline.

“You are going to watch Shaun and all the characters at St. Bon’s deal with two of the most emotionally important patients they’ve ever handled before, and at the same time,” she says. As Shore warns of the impending end, “Bring your Kleenex, but it won’t just be about crying.”

Claire and Glassman’s cases are the “set up” for the series finale, Shore says. He says to expect the medical and emotional intrigue you’re used to seeing in The Good Doctor, but with an added punch for the last hoorah.

“These episodes are what you think they will be,” Shore explains. “That doesn’t mean you won’t be surprised and you won’t be moved and you won’t have twists and turns, but the episodes are about what you think they’re about. It’s about striving to take care of Claire and Glassman, and then taking it further. It is a finale. It is absolutely a finale, and you will learn a lot about the characters.”

Obviously, Shore and Friedman have to keep their final cards close to their chests. But they clearly want The Good Doctor fans to be prepared for an emotional last ride. What they could open up about was Thomas’ return as Claire and why it was important for Shaun’s journey, which Friedman says they “could have kept telling the story for Shaun and for Freddie Highmore for as long as he wanted to do the show. It was a character that always had a unique point of view and was going to face interesting challenges.”

Bringing Claire back for the final season “was an idea that that came into play relatively late,” but “when it really landed and started to take shape, it was very clear that it was right,” says Friedman. Because of Thomas’ schedule, Shore says they filmed “pretty much all of her stuff right away.” Diving into Claire’s story all at once, it was clear to Friedman that they made the perfect call bringing her back.

“It was that thing of the second I was on set and we did the first rehearsal and reading through, it was that moment you love as a writer and a showrunner where you go, ‘Oh, this was exactly the right choice. This was exactly the right thing to have done.'”

“It did feel like seeing an old friend,” Shore adds. “That’s what it was.”

Brace yourselves for an intense final installment as Shaun and the doctors at St. Bon’s rally together to save the lives of two of their own in The Good Doctor‘s final episode.

The Good Doctor, Series Finale, Tuesday, May 21, 10/9c, ABC