Felicity Huffman’s upcoming role inDocpromises to spice up her character in one particular way thatDesperate Housewivesnever quite did.Docis one of few shows to have actually increased its ratings since its premiere, but many viewers remain on the fence. With its apparent new shift towardHousewives-style mystery and intrigue,Docseason 2can change that.
Despite her sizable body of work, many fans know Huffman primarily for her role as one ofDesperate Housewives’ best characters.Lynette was arguably the most hard-working and relatable mother in the series, but a little-discussed drawback to those virtues can finally be rectified now that Huffman’s stepping in to fill a void left after theDocseason 1 finale.
It was presumed when her casting was announced that she’d be taking Richard’s position at the hospital, butFelicity Huffman’sDocseason 2 characterdescription further reveals thatDr. Joan Ridley shares a complicated history with Amy and is currently motivated by secret ambitions. Although not stated outright, it seems implied that this secret may involve her and Amy’s past.
Even without this mysterious hook,Ridley already sounds like the perfect character for Huffman. The description of Joan as an “old-school broad” comes from the doctor herself, and her deep appreciation for steak and whiskey gives her an edge that distinguishes her from otherDoccharacters. Replace her Marlboros with a cigar, and she’d be Ron Swanson with a stethoscope.
She can evidently be about as straightforward as well, albeit with enough charisma that she rarely finds volume necessary for getting her point across.Ridley’s devilish sense of humor is what truly sets her apart from the rest ofDoc’s cast, as the series’ characters rarely get a moment of levity before diving back into personal and professional melodrama.
After Richard Miller’s suspension, one of thebiggest questions left byDocseason 1was how the series would go about replacing him.Huffman’s Ridley sounds like a substantially more entertaining boss than Richard was, but it’s her slight similarities toDesperate Housewives’ Lynette that highlight why their differences are what make Joan Ridley sound even more exciting to watch.
Joan Ridley Is A Delicious Role Reversal From Desperate Housewives’ Lynette Scarvo
Huffman’s performance alone is enough to leave an impression, but Lynette’s also remarkable becauseher character was essentially designed to give a voice to hard-working mothers who sometimes resent the role. She pulls few punches, openly stating to anybody who will listen that she never wanted kids and often feels angry about the chaotic effects they’ve had on her lifestyle.
But she can also be one of the most relatable characters in the show because she demonstrates layers that make sense for her character. Perhaps motherhood wasn’t her preference, butshe can go from resenting her children to crying when her kid’s imaginary friend is pancaked by a garbage truck. Her regrets, while numerous, haven’t deprived her of basic empathy.
However, while Lynette gets in some nice one-liners, her values sometimes keep her out of the fun. She’ll occasionally get shot, kick down a door, or help hide a dead body, butshe’s generally honest enough that she doesn’t get too many scandals of her own. Lynette’s largely adjacent to some of the juiciest amongDesperate Housewives’ controversial storylines.
Dr. Ridley is a bit different. Children clearly haven’t hampered her career ambitions, andHuffman gets to play a fun character who truly stands at the center of her own scandalous secrets. AfterTom and Lynette’sDesperate Housewivesfeudstaking up a great deal of her character’s screentime, Huffman’s latest return to network TV offers a nice change of pace.
Felicity Huffman’s Character Is The Refreshing Addition Doc Season 2 Needs Most
Although her relationship with Amy is described as being built on several complex layers, the references to Ridley’s ambitions and deceit suggest that she could become the newDocseason 2 villain. And, afterRichard Miller spent most ofDocseason 1 stewing in his own self-pity, a hard-edged villain with a sense of humor is precisely whatDocneeds.
Richard’s character arc is compelling on paper. He made a horrible mistake, dealt with it in the entirely wrong way, and then convinced himself that coming clean was not an option. Butwatching him feel sorry for himself while trying to end a trauma victim’s career didn’t make him easy to sympathize with. He’s lucky that he only got suspended.
On top of that, Richard’s self-pity felt heavy-handed when the other main storylines involved a traumatic brain injury, a dead child, andDoc’s adulterous love rectangle.Richard felt like yet another character whose sole job was the make the audience feel sad, whereas Ridley’s character description already promises to give viewers additional reasons to become invested in her story arc.
It’s great to see Felicity Huffman star in a network series so long afterDesperate Housewives, and hopefully her return will be strong to generate interest in adding Huffman to the reboot. But even if not, Huffman’sDocrole could be just the deliciously juicy character the show needs to pick up a few extra fans in its sophomore season.
Doc
Cast
Doc is a 2025 drama featuring Dr. Amy Larsen, who copes with a brain injury leaving her without memories of the last eight years. Relying on her estranged daughter and close friends, she confronts challenges in practicing medicine and personal life, struggling to regain lost expertise and connections.
