It looks like Doc is about to bid farewell to a major character with a special exit!
A major addition to Doc’s second season has been Dr. Joan Ridley, played by Emmy Award winner Felicity Huffman. A former mentor to Amy (Molly Parker), Joan came to Westside to take charge. While doing a good job, it soon became clear to the audience and, eventually, to other doctors that Joan was hiding a medical condition.
Joan confessed to Amy that she had myelodysplastic syndrome, claiming she had been diagnosed just before she came to Westside. However, Amy had memory flashes to a few years earlier when she saw the same signs in Joan, meaning she was already sick and it could become full-fledged leukemia. Joan insisted on working even though the medication she was taking for her illness impaired her judgement and skills.
Finally, in the March 10 episode, Joan faced the truth, making a big speech to the staff, confessing to her illness and that she would be stepping down. This sets up the Tuesday, March 31 episode, with Fox confirming the episode will bring Joan's sendoff.
“On her last day at Westside, Joan chooses an unlikely successor, crowns a Chief Resident and imparts some final wisdom to the next generation. Gina steps in to help TJ’s patient, a foster child suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Amy and Jake’s tension intensifies while treating a pregnant teen caught between her divorced parents.”
That sounds like a good sendoff that will impact not just Joan but the rest of the hospital staff!
A major question is who Joan will pick as her successor. It’s unlikely to be Amy, as the woman is still struggling with her memory loss of the last decade, so she wouldn’t be considered for a high-ranking job like this. A possibility could be Dr. Richard Miller (Scott Wolf), who returned to the hospital. Obviously, there would be friction between him and Amy, considering Richard tried to blame Amy for the death of a patient he was responsible for.
There’s also a chance of it being Dr. Ben Grant, played by Blair Underwood, who’s set to debut in the two-part season finale. Perhaps Joan wants to bring in this outsider earlier to take over her job or pick someone else from the staff. As Doc has already been renewed for a third season, introducing Grant as the new boss fits the storyline.
It’s not too surprising Joan is leaving, as Huffman was always intended to have joined the show in a limited capacity rather than as a regular cast member. It was also clear that Joan was on a time clock, given her medical condition, while bringing new drama to Amy’s life. At least the character gets a good sendoff, reuniting with her estranged son and making her health a priority.
As Doc heads into its second season finale, saying goodbye to one of the best parts of the year will be emotional, yet also deliver the drama fans have come to love about this show.