Good Doctor EP Previews Shaun And Lea's 'Wet Cement Year,' #Parnick Divide And Introduction Of New Interns

A year of monumental change awaits Dr. Shaun Murphy.

When The Good Doctor resumes Season 6 on Monday (ABC, 10/9c), Shaun's not only navigating his first year as an attending physician, but his first year as a married man.

"Shaun and Lea are a terrific couple. They really love each other, and they're committed to making it work," co-showrunner Liz Friedman tells TVLine. "But as those of us who are in marriages know, it is appropriately named work. Marriage is not bliss; it is a commitment to adjusting to dealing with another person.

"What we love about Shaun and Lea is that they're very particular [people], and they have very particular issues," Friedman says. "Hopefully our audience will look at [what they're dealing with at home] and go, 'Oh yeah, my wife does that, too.'"

One early storyline, inspired by Friedman's home life, involves Shaun and Lea's solution to a daily chore. Asked if she can elaborate, Friedman teases: "My wife and I have a new approach to washing the dishes...."

Keep scrolling for additional teasers about newlyweds Shaun and Lea, the consciously uncoupled Morgan and Park, and the introduction of St. Bonaventure's newest interns. 

As indicated above, Season 6 will see Shaun and Lea "sort out their household roles and figure out what is important to them," Friedman says. "At one point, Shaun will become very intrigued with the notion of what apparently is known as the 'wet cement year of marriage,' because the first year of marriage is when you're setting your habits. Those can be either good habits... or bad habits."

In the Oct. 3 season opener, Park broke up with Morgan for choosing her career over him — even after she decided to turn down the job in New York. But why?

"Park's decision comes from someone whose personal life has not worked out exactly the way he thought it would," Friedman posits, alluding to his previous marriage to Mia and the strain his career change (and subsequent move to San Jose) put on his relationship with teenage son Kellan. "It's not necessarily something we discuss explicitly, but... that absolutely informs his decision."

In the immediate aftermath of Park and Morgan's breakup, "there's a real divide between these two... a real animosity," Friedman acknowledges. As for Morgan, "she's got to find a way to turn staying at St. Bonaventure into a plus. It's going to give her an opportunity to reassess what really matters in her life."

As attendings, Shaun and Park will no longer have to answer to Drs. Glassman, Andrews and Lim on a daily basis. They'll be expected to supervise residents and oversee cases of their own.

"Shaun is going to thrive in that role in ways you don't expect," co-showrunner Liz Friedman tells TVLine, while Park "has a maturity and a steadfastness that comes from having been a cop."

Moving forward, Glassman, Andrews and Lim will "watch as these 'younglings' that they've raised come to the next step in their careers, and realize that they've got to let them do their own thing," Friedman says. But that doesn't mean they'll have a passive presence in Season 6. "They'll offer guidance or discipline [as needed]."

Shaun and Park will watch over new interns Danny Perez (played by Brandon Larracuente, of Freeform's Party of Five reboot) and Danni Powell (aka Titans' Barbara Gordon).

"Perez is a soulful guy," Friedman previews. "He grew up on a farm, and he has a calm and holistic approach to medicine. But he is more complicated than he initially appears. He's got some secrets in his past."

Powell, meanwhile, "has a strong sense of convictions," the EP notes. "She is former military, and she's seen combat, so things that happen in this hospital that would alarm, upset or scare other people [do not upset her]. And she's going to have some real, complex [issues] with Shaun."

The Good Doctor airs Mondays at 10 pm on ABC.