Shaun Tells Carly He Fell Asleep Hugging Lea - The Good Doctor

Shaun (Freddie Highmore) tells Carly (Jasika Nicole) all of the things he likes about her, and makes it clear he doesn't want to break up with her. Carly says they just had a fight -- and couples fight, it's not a big deal. And in the interest of honesty, Shaun tells her that he spent the night hugging Lea in Wyoming. That's when Carly gets upset, because it took them weeks to be able to lie down together. From 'Fractured' season 3, episode 11 of The Good Doctor. Watch The Good Doctor MONDAY 10|9c on ABC, streaming, on demand, and Hulu.

[tinydancer]

the main issue here is not shaun and lea falling asleep while hugging... like carly said they struggled with lying together for weeks and shaun had no problem doing it with lea just like that. it really says a lot about how comfortable shaun is with lea compared to carly and man, that hurts...

[Justrelaxx]

People are pretending like they would be okay with their significant other not inviting them on a trip and then fine with them cuddling in bed with someone they made out with in the past. Let’s be honest, most people would have gone crazy on their significant other, even if it were after a funeral, and would never have been as calm and cool as Carly was. Carly handled that maturely.

[chrismyco]

Carly doing the right by shaun. He definitely crossed a line as a boyfriend. If she had let him off the hook, then she wouldn't be treating their relationship as real. The whole point is for shaun to learn social boundaries. Carly being a real GF here, and that shaun wants to be treated like an actual mate.

[sapphicsx]

Idk what to think but I hate to see Carly getting hurt.

[aidenrawlins]

Did she really just leave all that food there

[ILoVeTheLioNKinG]

I’m glad he told her but I wonder how long will she really still wanna be with him

[tiktokvideos]

I’m proud of Shaun! It’s important to tell the truth. I feel sorry for Carly though. I feel for both of them.

[spideyfan]

I feel like Shaun is using Carly as an escape for his frustration at Lea not wanting to be with him.

[gabrielabarros]

I dont think why people put so much hate on him. She is so calm, lovely, mature and understanding. If she didnt love him truly she wouldnt put so much effort like that in their relationship. Lea is a great friend for him and people like her, i like her too, but carly is doing so much, she deserve more reconigse.

[tiffanyfrey]

I commend Carly for being Shaun's gf and legitimately liking him. Lea has had chances to be his gf and she doesn't want to be. Carly and Shaun should be together.

[vickythao]

I honestly don't know why you some of yall prefer Lea. From what I've seen, she just seems like a party girl, and she wants to do a bunch of fun wild things. Carly on the other hand, seems more laid back, understanding, and wayy too nice for her own good. Honestly, Lea was his first actual "love interest" that's why he thinks laying with Lea felt better, because obviously, he's much closer to someone who he obviously adores. But she's like a little girl. He's hecka nervous around Carly because he thinks too much about "how to be a good boyfriend" and "relationship material" stuff. He's over thinking everything with Carly. Honestly, I feel bad for Carly. Also, those who are saying she pushed him to do things, she didn't. She literally ask Shaun if he's okay or comfortable, like, all the time! Everyone in the series is ruining their relationship, and I'm not trying to blame Shaun, but he really has to talk to her instead of getting other people's opinions, its annoying. I know, he's learning. Like I mentioned, Carly is being way too nice. She honestly deserves better.

[cherrynguyen]

Morgan was right, Carly really has the patience of saint 😂

[astoldbyaja]

I have never seen a single episode only clips of the good doctor and then i see this and go "WHATS GONNA HAPPEN FOR THEIR RELATIONSHIP!" im already hooked through clips yall

[blackpink]

Carly have a good reaction, sorry or not sorry.
Shaun clearly knows the situation about his real feelings toward Lea . He can say "yes" or "no", his handicap is not a excuse.

[christiangeraudn.b.]

She should break up with him... She's too blind to see it.

[yuchen]

He should have been nominated for the Golden Globes and he should have won a Golden Globe.

[parveenkumar-wlqm]

When you realise carly deserved so much respect for understanding Shawn. She was bullied the entire time. Sad !

[kpaxian]

I think both Carly and Lea are working hard with Shaun, and Shaun is working hard at improving his relationships too. I also feel like one reason why he might be less anxious overall around Lea is precisely because she pulled back when he it came to having a romantic relationship with him, as odd as that sounds. Shaun grew up with an abusive father, lost his brother and is not simply autistic...but has major trust and attachment issues based on how he was raised and his early experiences. I do not doubt that he likes Carly. I think with Lea...he has met someone that definitely made it clear that she was okay just keeping their relationship platonic and also is somewhat childlike and playful. He does not have to worry about Lea rejecting him because she has made it clear that she is totally fine just being his friend and is pretty laid back in general. She also has shown irritation and even anger with him...but it is a snarky, normal sort of anger - so he has seen Lea get angry with him and treat him like anyone else. And still move on. I think he has seen more about how Lea can get irked with him but still keeps him in her friendship circle and does not seem to dwell on their misunderstandings. She has shown that she cares about Shaun as a friend with nothing else required. This undoubtedly takes a lot of stress off of him and he has seen her when angry...and knows she still is safe and will not attack him or make him feel badly about things he cannot control. At this time...I think Shaun needs to worry less about having a girlfriend and more about feeling safe and secure in his friendships. He has major fears of being rejected or abandoned but also issues with physical space and even gestures like hand holding. He is running into the romantic world more for...what feels like meeting some societal goal but he is really timid and overwhelmed. I do not think Carly is the issue. I think the issue is that he has a lot of fears and the anxiety about making Carly feel worse is just adding to his stress. He needs to be able to very slowly work towards a romantic relationship with a person he feels secure with as a forever friend first. Otherwise, Carly may get hurt too and it is not about anything she is doing wrong. It is about Shaun's own fears of abandonment. To me...that is such a big part of the issue...possibly as much if not more than being autistic. We have seen how his recent rejection by his father also renewed his fears that even Dr. Glassman would reject him. While being autistic might make his anxiety stronger as he knows he cannot read people as well...the acute fear that he is not lovable and that people will all abandon him seems to come up in little expressions throughout the entire show. Even when he found a foster parent who liked him...he lost her to cancer. When he reconnected with his father and thought his father was going to try to apologize for the past...so many hurtful, nasty words were said - shaking his sense of being worthy yet again. Nevermind the bullying, or general issues with understanding neurotypical people...Shaun has experienced far more emotional trauma than many on the spectrum and I think even if he was not on the spectrum he would likely be anxious. Part of me wonders if he is refusing to hold hands or do with Carly what he seems to do much more easily with Lea....because Lea has already established that she has no expectations. That Shaun is welcome in her life without anything required. He does not have to hug her. He does not have to be her boyfriend. She does not let him use his autism to avoid responsibilities but also is sensitive to the fact that some things are harder and just wants to encourage him to try, without pushing. So she sort of reduces his sense of impending abandonment. Heck...she even left and came back which probably - as hard as it was at the time for him - helped him feel more grounded around her...as no one else really left him for an extended time then re-entered his life again and resumed their friendship. And she also does not seem so serious. Carly is very compassionate...but serious and often looks quite sad when discussing her relationship with Shaun. Lea seems more "whatever happens, happens" with a sort of laid back attitude that probably makes Shaun feel less awkward because he does not have to worry offer offending her or saying the right thing... Lea just seems to put him at greater ease.

[denisejones]

This was so heart breaking to watch. Both of them you can see in their eyes that both of them. Didnt really know what to do. Lea told him not to tell that she stayed in his room because she knew what would happen if carly found out or what others would think. Clearly Lea would have taking it the same way as carly did if it was her. I could see shaun melt down coming because he knew he hurt her especially after he saw her cry for the first time. Shaun saw that he hurt her and it made him feel like shit. Thats why he had that melt down. Carly understands that he has a hard time with communication and that he is trying but on top of the he didnt return any of her text messages or phone calls which hurt as well but hearing that come from him and knowing that this was a level she has been trying to reach made things worse for them. Im not even mad at carly for asking him not to live with lea anymore. We dont know if shaun has told her anything about what has happen with him and Lea but she clearly sees that something went on with them thats why she was emotional upon hearing he was laying in bed hugging her. She has a fear that ok so they hugged but what will happen the next time. She doesnt want her heart broken. Maybe its me but I think carly has been cheated on before thats why she feels so strongly about being hurt by him.

[jclau]

Shaun made the hardest decisions a man can make in a relationship. That's telling the truth, no matter how painful it is, no matter how hard it is to tell you're significant other about what happened he was able to tell Carly the truth and I give him my respects for that. Not many boyfriends are able to tell their girlfriend the truth about if they cheated on her or any secrets he does not want her to know. The will to keep going forward even in the face of overwhelming pain or insecurity? That's what makes you a man. That is what makes you a better person.


Imagine if Shaun didn't tell her the truth and she finds out about this month ahead? She'll be more devastated. Not just because Shaun did that but because he kept it a secret and didn't trust her at all about that information. Trust is the biggest thing you need in a relationship. Without it? Is it even a relationship? I'm proud of Shaun for telling her the truth. It takes a lot to do that especially since he is autistic.