Abhiroop Das
Developed by Barbie Kligman, Fox’s ‘Doc’ tells the story of Doctor Amy Larsen, who loses a full eight years’ worth of memory following a car accident. The reset shakes up her very understanding of personhood, as all the relationships she has known and cultivated appear different than before. This, in turn, also compels her to look at medicine in a new light, as a number of cases from her past return, putting her in one extreme situation after another. Whether her contorted sense of memory also contributes to her personality and her ideas of right and wrong remains at the heart of the show, where a second chance at life doesn’t necessarily lead to the best outcomes. In season two of this medical procedural series, both the personal and professional ends of Amy’s life move up a gear, as a string of seemingly inexplicable cases double as a vessel for her psychological inquiry. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Michael and Nora Have a Baby Boy in Season 2 of Doc
Michael and Nora’s rocky married life is complicated further by the fact that she is pregnant. While that means good news for the family, Michael’s lingering feelings for Amy create more disturbances, which are visible all throughout the first season. In the season two premiere, Nora gives birth to her child amidst an intense hijacking crisis, and in the follow-up episode, titled ‘Delusions of Grandeur’, we finally learn that it’s a baby boy. The moment of ecstasy, however, is cut short when reality settles in once again, and Michael realizes that his position as the Chief Medicine Officer is in jeopardy in light of his latest stunt. Having lied to the UNOS during the heart-transplant fiasco, he realizes that it is best to stay low, and the board advises him to take paternity leave as cover. From the very beginning, Michael’s dynamic with his newly reformed family is far from healthy, but that does not change his love for his son.
Michael’s relationship with his son has another layer of meaning attached to it, as it directly connects to his traumatic past. While joy is the reigning emotion in the present, he cannot help but remember his first son with Amy, Danny. Danny had a rare heart condition that worsened over time before eventually taking his life. Given that Michael was there at the time of his son’s death, he feels especially burdened by the fact, and Amy’s past reaction of blaming him for it only adds fuel to the fire well into the present. As such, he feels a similar level of pressure regarding his youngest son. As the Chief of Medicine sits down with Nora, the duo decides on a name, and Simon clicks. This marks a new step in their life, with Michael having a chance to wipe the slate clean and redeem himself. However, this is not without its challenges, which are not just material but also psychological.
Michael is Profoundly Affected by the Idea of Having Another Son
Things get more awkward between Michael and Amy when she runs into him while he has the baby in his arms. Given that the two shared a moment of intimacy not so long ago, it is evident that Amy still has feelings for him on some level. But those emotions take the backseat when she lays her eyes on the child. A mix of both happiness and longing can be perceived on the protagonist’s face, as a similar set of feelings as her ex-husband likely washes over her. These complex thoughts come to the surface later that day, when she returns home to find her daughter asleep, and social media uploads of Michael and Nora on her computer screen. As the couple shows immense joy due to the newest arrival in their family, Amy maintains a mixed expression that belies the true extent of her feelings. However, the fact that she gets a flashback to her past, specifically one of a discussion about her deceased child, shows the true state of her mind.
While Amy deals with her tumultuous emotions, Michael has it no easier, as he is directly confronted by Nora about whether he still loves his ex-wife. Notably, he replies by asserting his love for Nora, while cleverly avoiding the actual question at hand. This move is paired with him kissing his son on the forehead, which can be interpreted as a way of showing the connection between the two actions. Although his son with Nora is a person in their own right, Michael can’t help but project how he feels about the past onto his present. This mindset is exemplified in the scene where the family returns home, as he takes his son straight to Danny’s room, where everything has been carefully placed to maintain the image of timelessness. By placing his son there, Michael actively wishes to fill in the gaps left in his heart, and that is bound to build up more psychological strife in the family over time.
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