Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) is taking some time off from the hospital when "The Good Doctor" returns from winter break on Jan. 8.
According to the plot synopsis of episode 11, "Islands: Part One," Shaun will take an impromptu trip with his friend Lea (Paige Spara) and leave everything behind.
That is after an argument between him and Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff) turned physical in the previous episode, titled "Sacrifice," which saw Dr. Glassman introducing Shaun to a therapist, hoping this will help the latter have a better personal life.
Shaun agreed to the idea at first, in exchange for a bribe -- Glassman offered to buy the genius doctor a surround sound system if he agrees to meet with the therapist at least three times. And Shaun almost did, until his athlete patient, Bobby (Manny Jacinto), left him a few words of wisdom: "Don't ever let anyone tell you what you can and can't do."
That was enough to get Shaun packing, taking the photo of him and his brother with him. To Dr. Glassman, this signifies that Shaun is out for good. But is he?
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly last December, executive producer David Shore revealed that Shaun will just go on a "little journey."
"He is gone and hasn't just rented another apartment. He is gone and not sure what he wants to do. He has to find those answers," Shore told Entertainment Weekly.
While Shaun is out soul-searching, Shore added that Dr. Glassman will also learn that he needs to lay off a little when it comes to Shaun's personal life. "How effective he will be in that, is another question," he added.
Back at the hospital, Dr. Marcus Andrews (Hill Harper) and Dr. Neil Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) will be working on a sensitive case -- a kidney transplant between a pair of twins "whose lives intersect in more ways than one." That is bound to be complicated. With Shaun gone and with the recent firing of Dr. Jared Kalu (Chuku Modu), St. Bonaventure Hospital is two great surgeons short.
"The Good Doctor" airs Mondays, 10 p.m. EDT, on ABC.
