Note: This story contains spoilers from “Doc” Episode 10.
“Doc” wrapped up its first season with confidence and chaos, leaving fans with a big cliffhanger for the future of the Amy, Michael and Jake love triangle.
Episode 10 of the Fox medical drama followed the aftermath of Amy (Molly Parker) and Michael’s (Omar Metwally) big kiss, as a train derailment also brought an avalanche of new patients into the ER. Amy also uncovered how Richard (Scott Wolf) lied about her being involved in the death of a patient, when she learned it was actually Richard who made a mistake during a code blue and ended up killing someone. The truth leads to Richard getting fired as chief and the hospital settling with the patient’s wife, but not before Amy cleared her name with the board and promised to consider taking the chief job again “in a few years.”
The kicker comes at the end of the episode, when an insecure Jake (Jon-Michael Ecker) returns to the hospital looking for Amy and looks on in horror as he walks into the former spouses canoodling in Michael’s office.
“We wanted it to be messy. The show is messy and that’s what’s great about it,” showrunner Barbie Kligman told TheWrap. “You want to leave people wanting to come back for more. Also, we felt it was good that Fox was OK with a cliffhanger … they never asked for an alternate ending.”
Fox’s faith in the medical drama paid off in spades. The show’s premiere episode, which premiered Jan. 7, secured more than 16 million views across platforms by the end of February. This marked the best premiere for the broadcast network since “9-1-1: Lone Star” — which ended its run earlier this year. The impressive debut scored “Doc” a Season 2 renewal consisting of 22 episodes, a rare order even on broadcast these days — as platforms now favor series orders as low as six episodes. (The hit Netflix series “Adolescence” was only four episodes.)
Another big question left by the Season 1 finale is Richard’s fate, who viewers last see leaving the hospital in disgrace after being exposed to the board by Amy. Kligman and executive producer Hank Steinberg teased there will be more to come in Season 2 for the ousted doctor.
“When we originally conceived the role it was a one-season role, but I’m hopeful that we will see Dr. Miller again. I can’t tell you more than that,” Kligman told TheWrap. She said the 22-episode order means the show will likely be back for Season 2 sometime this fall.
Other than the turbulent times to come romantically, Amy seemed to be on good footing professionally by the end of Season 1. After regressing to old — and toxic — patterns early in the episode, Amy’s win with Richard and the board means she can focus on being a doctor as she continues to recover from the brain injury that led to her losing eight years worth of memories. There might also be tension to resolve between Amy and Gina (Amirah Vann), who had their own charged exchange before the end of the episode.
“There’s a lot of places we want to go [in Season 2] — not just with Amy, we have great characters and there will be new people we are adding too,” Steinberg told TheWrap. “Having all these additional episodes gives us more chances to play.”
“Doc” Season 1 is now streaming on Hulu.
The post ‘Doc’ Bosses Explain That Massive Love Triangle Finale Cliffhanger: ‘We Wanted It to Be Messy’ appeared first on TheWrap.