Doc Season 2 bosses break down Joan’s schemes, Amy’s marriage drama, and the future of the Fox series

Desperate Housewives alum Felicity Huffman made her Doc Season 2 debut in Episode 2 as Dr. Joan Ridley, Amy's old friend and mentor. This familiar face appeared to be a complicated character who might create problems for her student in the sophomore season.

Joan's presence at Westside Hospital triggered one of Amy's memories, where she realized that her mentor had encouraged her to break her marriage with Michael in the past. While viewers cannot believe Amy's fragmented memories at face value, it is evident that Joan is trouble.

Fox's medical drama recently made its impressive debut on Netflix US and entered the platform's Top 10 Global charts in the first six days of its release. This promising debut hints that the show's future is bright.

Here's what co-showrunners Barbie Kligman and Hank Steinberg revealed to Deadline about Doc Season 2.

---

Doc Season 2: Breaking down Joan's Enigma

Huffman's Joan quietly made her way to Westside Hospital for a random visit with her students, but ended Doc Season 2 Episode 2 as Westside's new Chief of Internal Medicine. Kligman and Steinberg revealed Joan was cunning about this new job and was actually eyeing it throughout the episode. This subtle detail, paired with Amy's recent memory flash about Joan, suggests that Huffman's character could be a trouble-maker in the sophomore season.

Through Amy's memory, we know Michael requested Joan to speak to Amy on his behalf about their failing marriage. While Amy's mentor promised to do everything in her power, she eventually convinced Amy to leave Michael, telling her that she had no choice left.

This particular incident, paired with Joan's recent scheme to get the job in Doc Season 2 Episode 2, suggests that she is a complicated character. Here's what Kligman and Steinberg teased about Joan to Deadline:

''Amy had one foot out the door. She was never going to forgive Michael. And so, from one perspective, suggesting Amy leave him — was really in Amy’s best interest.''

They added:

''Joan is a HUGE CHAMPION of Amy. That is legit and true. She loves her and thinks she’s the kind of doctor who comes along once in a lifetime. And she is committed to Amy’s success. But, she’s also human.''

These comments suggest that Joan will be a grey character in Season 2 and her manipulative nature will add even more confusion for Amy.

---

Amy's chaotic love triangle

Joan's introduction spells trouble in Doc Season 2 but Amy is already torn between Michael and Jake. In the recent episode, she had a run-in with Michael and her boy, following which he reassured his wife, Nora, that he loves her. Elsewhere, Amy confronted Jake in a tense moment, confessing that she longs to regain their memories together. Frustated with being Amy's 'security blanket', Jake blurts to Sonya that they are not together, following which they go out for a drink.

While Amy is at a crossroads where both her relationships with Michael and Jake are fizzling out, Kligman and Steinberg teased that Doc Season 2's love triangle will thrive in the upcoming episodes:

''The love triangle is alive and well. Amy and Michael will be inextricably linked forever. They have a history. They have a daughter. And Amy and Jake have an undeniable chemistry. So while things seem to be cooling for the moment — they won’t be for long.''

---

Changing dynamics and the future of Doc

Amidst all this chaos, Amy got the 'You don't belong here' speech from Sonya in Doc Season 2 Episode 2. While the women shared a complicated dynamic, they worked through their differences until that heated argument in the Season 1 finale. Amy's harsh words, paired with the hostage crisis in the Doc Season 2 premiere, led to a second falling out and Sonya called her return to Westside a “narcissistic and misguided experiment”.

However, Amy will soon realize Sonya's intentions with Jake, as Kligman and Steinberg revealed:

''While it’s jarring for Amy to hear those words — and a part of her will wonder if Sonya is right — it doesn’t take long for Amy to realize that Sonya has ulterior motives.''

Catch Doc Season 2 on Fox.

---

For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.