Watching your favorite character die unexpectedly on TV shows is the worst a fan can experience. Their departure severely impacts viewers and can even shake the ongoing storylines since one of the main characters is written off.
Similarly, fans and viewers were in great shock after The Good Doctor suddenly wrote off Nicholas Gonzalez' Neil Melendez. His departure was highly unexpected, as his new love story had just begun in season three.
Dr. Melendez was a skilled cardiothoracic surgeon at St. Bonaventure Hospital, introduced in The Good Doctor in the first season. Initially, Neil Melendez had doubts about Shaun Murphy working as a surgeon at the hospital due to his autism.
He didn't seem to have understood Dr. Shaun's talent and excellence in the field. But as Dr Melendez observed Dr. Shaun's work and determination, he became his biggest advocate.
Neil Melendez became a central figure in the ABC show, and the character earned Nicholas Gonzalez a dedicated fanbase. However, in season three, when an earthquake sent shockwaves in the city of San Jose, it took away Dr. Melendez's life, after he sustained critical internal injuries.
Fans and viewers expressed that his character was mishandled, as nobody expected the sudden demise of Neil Melendez. Many believed that the writers wrote off the character because he might outshine the titular character.
The Good Doctor concluded with seven seasons and lower ratings compared to how it started. The show could have survived with more seasons, if they had preserved the story arcs of characters like Neil Melendez and Jessica Preston till the very end.
Why did Dr. Melendez leave The Good Doctor?
The Good Doctor is a highly successful medical dramas, which intrigued fans with a new take on this genre. Featuring Freddie Highmore in the leading role of Shaun Murphy, a resilient surgeon who's navigating through the challenges of autism.
The drama also revolved around other main characters, one of whom was Neil Melendez. As the show continued, Dr. Melendez's character development attracted many viewers, making him a beloved figure in the ABC drama.
From his healthy camaraderie with Dr. Shaun to experiencing romantic relationships in the city, Dr. Melendez's story garnered immense attention. In season three, he was about to explore a new love relationship with Dr. Claire Brown, when a sudden earthquake shook their lives.
Viewers were relaxed as nothing bad happened to the central figures in The Good Doctor, until Dr, Melendez woke up in a hospital bed and sustained internal injuries. In his final scenes, Neil Melendez expressed his sentiments to Claire Brown, as they had just begun their love relationship, and waved a final goodbye to his close ones including Shaun Murphy.
However, fans didn't shy away from expressing their opinions on the sudden exit of Nicholas Gonzalez, as many posted on X (formerly Twitter):
Another user also posted that Dr. Melendez's death wasn't necessary for the show, as viewers regularly miss him:
Another user @janakilany1 wrote:
"when Dr Melendez died in 'The Good Doctor' ,, death was out of no where and unjustified and the other dr was developing feelings for him and he was just awsome"
User @IAmMisiZ tagged actor Nicholas Gonzalez in the post and shared:
"Dr. Neil Melendez, from the good doctor. The most heart broken death I have ever seen. And after 4 months, I am still picking up those broken pieces that been smash by that night, in the finale."
In season 3, episode 20, titled, I Love You, fans had to bid farewell to Neil Melendez, as his death was the most unexpected and emotional event in the history of The Good Doctor.
What did Nicholas Gonzalez say about his exit from The Good Doctor?
Actor Nicholas Gonzalez talked about his exit from the medical drama in an interview with Entertainment Weekly and said:
"Part of me is sad to see a character I respected a lot go, someone I felt that still had a lot more to say but there wasn't always that opportunity..."
While Gonzalez agreed that his character had more to express in the show, he also mentioned that they "built a beautiful world around that character" and is proud of how medical drama handled Neil Melendez's arc. Neil Melendez died in season 3, but he appeared in season 4, in Claire's hallucinations as she was stuck in the past.
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You can catch up with Dr. Melendez in The Good Doctor streaming on Netflix.
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