death of Michael and Amy's son. Michael is Amy's biggest ally as she strives to regain her medical license and rebuild her relationship with their now-teenage daughter.

However, as Amy makes progress, things will inherently get more complicated for Michael. Amy has grown so close with Katie that she has asked to move in with her mom in Doc episode 6. As with all of TV's best medical dramas, Doc weaves romance between coworkers. In the same episode, Amy figures out that before the accident, she was in a relationship with Jake Heller. Michael might have found it easy to be Amy’s champion when she had nothing, but as her life gets fuller, Michael may begin to feel like he is losing something.

Michael's Life Gets More Progressively Complicated As Amy Gets Better

Their Daughter Katie Moves Out & Michael Must Face The Idea Of A New Baby

Before Amy and Katie reconnected, Michael’s home was lively and full. He was living not only with Katie and his new wife, Nora, but they were also expecting a new baby. During this time, Amy was a workaholic with no relationship with Katie. In Doc episode 6, Katie asks to move in with Amy full-time, hoping it will help Amy’s recovery. Katie frames it as good for Michael too - now Nora can turn Katie’s room into a nursery. Michael would be selfish to deny Katie’s request, though he does try to talk her out of it.

Katie’s absence exposes cracks in Michael and Nora’s marriage. Over a quiet dinner, Michael snaps at Nora for making every conversation “about the baby,” and it’s clear that Michael has not fully grieved for the son that he and Amy lost. This unresolved pain is also evident in Michael's refusal to repurpose his late son’s bedroom, which he keeps as a sort of mausoleum. Amy’s accident has reawakened the painful memories of losing their son and the dissolution of their marriage. Michael only appeared to have moved on and clearly carries deep emotional wounds.

How A Renewed Conflict Between Amy & Michael Can Change Doc's Story Moving Forward

Amy’s Job Relies On Michael’s Continued Goodwill

Michael is the Chief Medical Officer at Westside Hospital in Doc, so he has the authority to shield Amy from those who doubt her ability to still practice medicine. Dr. Richard Miller, Acting Chief of Internal Medicine who has stepped into Amy’s former role, has a personal interest in keeping Amy away from medicine. Michael seems to be unraveling at home, and this could turn to resentment against Amy for taking Katie. If Michael’s unwavering falters—especially with Amy’s tendency to bend the rules—her position at work becomes significantly more precarious.

New episodes of the Doc air on Fox Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. Episodes stream the next day on Hulu. Doc returns Tuesday, February 18, 2025 with episode 7, "Secrets and Lies."

Moreover, from a lingering bottle of aftershave and Jake’s kindness to her since the accident, Amy pieces together that they had been an item, and, in Doc episode 6, she restarts their romance. Regardless of Michael’s reaction, the revelation will give Amy’s adversaries more ammunition, as it exposes that she was in a relationship with the Chief Resident, who was previously her direct subordinate. This realization may force Amy to confront just how reliant she is on Michael’s goodwill in the back half of season 1 and the potential Doc season 2.

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