Fox's medical drama Doc wrapped its sophomore fall finale with a poignant flashback to March 2020, centering on the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the origins of Jake and Amy's professional bond. In the present timeline, Jake's grief over his father's death pushes him and Amy toward romance amid emerging complications. Executive producer Hank Steinberg discussed the episode's narrative choices in a post-episode interview.
Episode Overview
The fall finale of Doc's second season aired on Fox, flashing back to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota. At that time, resident Jake was planning a move to Maryland with his wife Rachel for a job at Johns Hopkins, intending to seek a recommendation from his boss, Amy. Their collaboration on diagnosing the hospital's first COVID case—despite skepticism from higher-ups—led Jake to reconsider his plans, deciding to stay at Westside Hospital as the crisis loomed.
In the present day, following a memorial for Jake's late father, he and Amy share tender moments that culminate in a kiss, committing to a romantic relationship. However, tensions arise: colleague Michael admits lingering feelings for Amy, prompting her to establish boundaries; Rachel uncovers Jake and Amy's past entanglement and suspects it influenced his decision to remain in Minnesota; and siblings Charlie and Hannah Clark advance a scheme to undermine Amy by manipulating her files, exploiting her memory loss from a prior accident.
Insights from Executive Producer Hank Steinberg
Steinberg explained that the COVID focus emerged organically while crafting a story around Jake's grief clarifying his priorities toward Amy. 'We wanted to contrast [the present] with the beginning of their relationship as colleagues,' he told TVLine. 'It timed out that that would have been at the beginning of COVID... a perfect counterpoint.' He clarified Jake's choice to stay stemmed from newfound respect for Amy's leadership and the hospital's demands during the pandemic, not immediate romance, which developed years later after Rachel's infidelity.
Looking ahead, Steinberg teased Amy feeling 'untethered' due to her memory vulnerability, with upcoming episodes exploring its dramatic impact. He also hinted at Scott Wolf's return in an arc tied to the Clark siblings' plot, emphasizing ongoing worry for Amy across the 22-episode season.