Why ABC canceled the good doctor after 7 seasons

As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. However, in the world of television, few goodbyes are surprising. CBS canceled “Blue Bloods” in 2024 after deciding to revamp its programming, though the police procedural still garnered respectable ratings for the network. ABC also pulled the plug on “The Good Doctor” after seven successful seasons, with the network seemingly abandoning renegotiations of some key contracts.

According to DeadlineSony Pictures Television reportedly did not talk to the series' showrunners and its lead star, Freddie Highmore, about extending their deals beyond their expiration date. The report claims that the powers that be are believed to be limited to an eighth season, but ultimately made a strong call to end the popular medical drama. Highmore was reportedly open to returning for another season, but it seems ABC wanted to cut costs.

The good news, though, is that The Good Doctor got a satisfying ending, unlike countless others great shows that were canceled too soon. Although Highmore was reportedly ready to return for the eighth installment, the actor is satisfied with the conclusion of the show.

Freddie Highmore hosted The Good Doctor for seven years as Dr. Sean Murphy, so it's understandable why he was emotional after the show was canceled. Talking to Diversitythe actor compared the transition from the series to graduating from high school, as it was a bittersweet and exciting experience. In his own words:

“I think the general feeling I've had is that of a graduation. You're nostalgic because you know how special these last few years have been with this group of people, and you know you've never been there. I'll say that another time, sure, it's touching and emotional, but at the same time, like graduation, you're excited to do other things and move on.

For now, The Good Doctor is over, but fans of medical stories have other shows to enjoy and look forward to. As of this writing, “Grey's Anatomy” is still going strong, and Bill Lawrence's long-awaited revival of Scrubs officially moving forward. With that in mind, it's entirely possible that “The Good Doctor” will be revived, but in the meantime, St. Residents at Bonaventure Hospital will move on to other things.