This review may contain spoilers
This is one of the drama second seasons that I've waited and rooted for. And they didn't disappoint me! I'm not going to throw in any spoilers, but I must say, even if I was a bit concerned about the road the drama would follow after the end of the first season, the ending was both(un)expected (depending on the viewer, here) and truly heartbreaking ... in a good way. I must say I am still obsessed with the story - not so much the manga because I don't really like the style of drawing they used. I weep every time I hear the main theme and Itoshiki hibi yo...All in all, maybe a doctor would be a bit suspicious of the medical part of the drama, but the story itself is beautiful and it's worth watching. Not to say that Osawa Takao, Ayase Haruka and the whole cast do a wonderful job!
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Setting that aside though, I still enjoyed Jin 2 in all it's glorious details about the Tokugawa-Shogunate era in Edo. I loved the cinematography and the actors. These actors by the way aren't like the average newbies or jpop idols who could only pose on screen and look good. These actors are veterans who has a couple outstanding dramas and movies under their belts to boast of.
My favorite character would be Tachibana Saki acted by Ayase Haruka. What's so interesting about her character is the fact that she's the only female doctor who has chosen her own path, away from a samurai clan. This being said, women with strong aspirations in life gives lasting impressions.
Music wise, the drama had a good OST. The ballad on every dramatic scene was in perfect sync and feel. I also like the theme song Itoshiki Hibiyo by Hirai Ken, it felt like every time I would hear it, I would feel Minakata Jin's internal turmoil.
I may not watch this again, but I would highly recommend it to people who like Japanese History and is into sci-fi-medical drama and all the likes.
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This review may contain spoilers
I wish I could un-watch this so I could watch it again, but after crossing out some of my to-be-watched doramas in my list. I don't think I have ever or will ever seen a more wonderful dorama as this one. Everything was perfect (the cast -my, that cast!-, the story, the setting, the soundtrack).**POSSBILE SPOILERS BELOW**
I don't feel like this was a 2nd season. It was pretty much like an extension of the 1st season, so it is kind of hard to rate them separately. Maybe the only and biggest difference is that in 2nd season, Jin-sensei is not struggling so much with medicine and it repercussions in history. Since the photography has vanished, and his actions don't affect Miki's life anymore, he doesn't have any worry about the "what will happen if...". He is happy living in Edo period, he is happy with the Jindo-you (?), he is happy being friends with Ryoma-san. If he can save Ryoma-san from his assassination, he will do it, without a doubt, no matter the consequences.
Only in that aspect I prefer the 1st season to the 2nd. JIN has more medical cases, there were more surgeries and wow, awesome scenes that looked, if not entirely realistic, very good to the point of make me feel boneless. I love how Jin-sensei was so much aware of every one of his actions and what would happen if he did XX thing. 2nd season is more about political issues than medical ones. While 1st season is about penicillin, 2nd season is about battles and revolutions.
There is also a stronger bromance between Jin-sensei and Ryoma-san. Talk about bromance! Because Ryoma-san's assassination is around the corner, Jin-sensei is thinking about his welfare almost all the time. The love triangle between Jin-sensei, Nokaze and Saki-san is almost non-existent. Nokaze finds out the truth about Jin-sensei and Miki, she meets a foreign guy and is married in an episode (out of nowhere). Nokaze encourages the love between Jin-sensei and Saki-san, despite loving him as well.
I've read some reviews where people complained about Saki-san rejecting him. To me it made sense. She did not know when or if he would disappear to go back to the future. She decided to be a good doctor first, which was her dream. On the other hand, I've never felt that Jin-sensei truly loved Saki-san. Cared for her, yes. Loved her as a friend, yes. Loved her as a lover, no. I wouldn't want Saki-san to have Jin-sensei' heart half-arsed. And in a way, it is good, because Jin loved Miki, but he also loved Saki.
Which leads to... isn't their love story almost the same as Inuyasha and Kagome? The love triangle Jin/Miki/Saki = Inuyasha/Kagome/Kikyo. Jin/Inuyasha cannot forget their first love (Miki/Kikyo) which I admire because that is what loyalty is about, but at the same time, I pity Saki/Kagome for loving this fool guy so much and for never been able to have their hearts at 100%.
I don't know yet how to feel about the final chapter. The romantic in me is screaming internally in despair. I have to admit I got a bit tearful (who wouldn't?). It was a touching scene, that part where Jin is reading the letter from the past. And also when he was reading these books and found the photographs of the doctors in Jindo-you. I also wanted to say "minna..." with tears in my eyes...
On the other hand, the practical me says that it couldn't have ended in any other way. It was good, it was convenient (the thing about Miki). It was a bittersweet ending (more bitter than sweet).
About the acting. Ayase Haruka is truly a wonderful actress. She has "the vein" that only exceptional actresses have (like Angie). When she is struggling with her feelings, or when she is suffering, "the vein" (on her forehead) appears. She can cry so nicely, and she can smile so angelically as well. It is impossible not to feel empathy with her.
While in season 1 the acting of Miki (Nokaze) impressed me, her role in 2nd season is less prominent and she pales somewhat with her previous acting. Although I admit that she was superb when her baby was born. I don't think in real life anyone would have endured such a painful experience but her tears and determination to have her baby made me remember the Nokaze I fell in love with in Season 1.
Other actress that impressed me was Saki's mother. This actress, Asou Yumi, has such the face of a mother who had to go through so many painful things in her life. She looked a bit tough, especially on her children but also always on the verge of tears. The episode where she was sick was excellent, and she deserved an award for her performance.
My favorite actor has to be, maybe again, Kiritani Kenta. He is so funny without being a comedy character. His accent -the way he lisps-, his bulging eyes when he is shocked. I also love his character, how much he was into medicine, as well as all the other fellows in the little clinic.
No doubt it is the best dorama I've seen so far. True, I have others I liked as much as this one (probably I love Nodame Cantabile a bit more) but in terms of quality, clothing, setting, story, acting, this is the best there is. The kind of show all people should watch. I don't think there will be one single person who wouldn't love this dorama. It has medicine, politic, good battles, a bit of romance, friendship, family matters, Japan history (not sure of the accuracy but overall I learned a lot).
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Today's ally may be tomorrow's enemy
Jin Season 2 picked up two years after the good doctor fell into 1862 Edo. The warring factions were turning up the heat which could lead to cities and castles burning. Jin tried to convince his friend Sakamoto Ryoma to find a better way to unite Japan than all-out war. In the meantime, he had Jinyudo to run and penicillin to make. His headaches became worse and Jin feared his time in the past might well be ending one way or another.Jin must deal with wounded soldiers, burned civilians, an injured time traveler, and beriberi sufferers. In his spare time, he travels to medical conferences to tout his penicillin and share the formula. During his journeys he treats patients from both sides of the conflict, yet is always left wondering if he has actually saved anyone. A royal trip lands him in prison with only his friends to rely upon. He and Saki help a pregnant friend and try to save the life of another. An old nemesis causes Jin and his disciples trouble that could cost them their lives and Jinyudo.
This season the oft mentioned Miki was all but forgotten. Despite their repressed---deeply repressed---feelings, Saki and Jin spent awkward time together in those old school hotel tropes, the kind with only one room. Jin slammed into history’s boundaries on a regular basis that were a pain in the old noggin’. He and his friends still ran, but this time steam boating was added as the plucky doctors traveled across the country saving lives.
Jin came across emotionally volatile and twitchy this season, something unexpected after having lived in ye olden times for 6 years and possessing the nerves of a surgeon (regardless of his health issues). Saki retreated behind her Edo smile which caused her to appear distant and enigmatic. I was truly disappointed that this pivotal character was not better written. Wanting to be a doctor and not so secretly being in love with her sensei were not true character traits. Ayase Haruka had an ethereal beauty about her, but I would like to have seen clearer growth and depth for Saki. Ryoma, as in S1, often came across as being slightly unhinged. Cunning and loyal, but unhinged.
Having watched both seasons now, I have a few unresolved issues with the drama. They struggled to answer the question of why Jin was sent back, something he questioned in every episode. Their basic time traveling rules were erratic. Instead of sympathizing with Jin and Saki’s unrequited love, it felt like the drama was baiting me by mentioning it. They were both so good at hiding their feelings that had they not reminded me, I would never have known. Jin and Ryoma had more passionate scenes than any between Jin and Saki. Trying to cover the various political factions along with the medical stories made this season feel less cohesive. Due to many of these problems, the ending didn’t hit for me, the way I’m sure the writers wanted it to.
After the previous paragraph it may sound as if I didn’t like it, but overall, I enjoyed this time traveling medical drama. Most of the characters had good hearts and were eager to help others. People desired for their country to be unified and peaceful. In this drama it wasn’t karma being a bitch, this time it was history. Speaking of history, I enjoyed this angle on the tumultuous end of the Tokugawa Shogunate era. S2 might not have been as strong as S1 but Jin is definitely worth trying if you like any of the genres or actors involved in it.
27 July 2025
7.75 upgraded to an 8.0
Triggers: Ryoma upped his nose picking. Ick. Like season 1, there were graphic surgery scenes. There were also torture scenes if you are sensitive to those.
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The drama that feels like a novel
This isn’t just a drama—it feels like reading a well-crafted novel, where every chapter pulls you deeper into its world. The first season? A survival story, as the main lead, a modern-day brain surgeon, struggles to adapt to a time without modern medicine. The second? A chain reaction of consequences from the changes he made.I’m not usually into medical or historical dramas, but this one was different. With every episode, I felt like I was learning something new—whether about medicine or Japanese history—without it ever feeling forced. And unlike most time-travel stories, this one took actions and consequences seriously. No convenient loopholes, no easy way out—just a brilliantly woven narrative where every decision mattered.
And then there’s the ending—sad, beautiful, and unforgettable. It lingers in your mind long after the final scene, making you feel like you’ve lived through history itself. A rare gem that’s definitely worth watching.
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superbe histoire
C'est la suite de la saison 1, qui continue l'histoire de ce médecin qui se retrouve au 19e siècle.Cette saison met l'accent un peu plus sur la politique, mais reste bien dans l'esprit de la saison 1 : comment soigner sans les outils modernes ! Les opérations sont toujours élaborées, les personnages bien développés et l'évolution suit l'histoire du Japon à la fin de l'ère Edo !
C'est une très belle production, comme la saison 1, j'ai bien aimé les superpositions de photos avant et après, de même que l'OST. Une série japonaise où on ne s'ennuie pas et en plus on apprend plein de choses !
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