Soul Mechanic Episode 21

Four Stars

Ok, I take back what I said last episode about the noble idiocy breakup! I thought about going back and changing what I wrote, but this is meant to be an episode-by-episode reaction, and that was really my reaction, so I'm leaving it.

I thought the bit about Cha Dong Il coming back as a real cop was really really sweet. I'm so glad he made it, and I wonder whether we'll catch up with other patients in the future.

What Woo Joo wondered about whether Shi Joon would change and grow tired of dealing with her condition really resonated. I feel that often, at the beginning of a relationship, everything seems so wonderful and exciting, and you can forgive any foibles the other person has or even find them cute. But as time goes on, those foibles that seemed cute can turn into big annoyances and eventually even wedges to drive each person apart. Everyone is so full of love at the beginning that you think you'll have boundless energy and patience, but forever is a long time, and inevitably energy runs out and patience runs thin. Not that I think their relationship is doomed by any means, but just that what she said and what she fears both make sense.

Oh, also, I was super disappointed by the hospital director. I know you're not supposed to like her and that she's one of the prime antagonists on the show, but even so, in the past, since she was worrying about the hospital and its reputation and liability, I always understood where she was coming from, even if I disagreed. But to ask Doctor Park to leave the room just because he brought up the idea that the hospital should take responsibility and make adjustments so that staff don't have cause to commit suicide in the future is not what a director should do. A director should be taking all opinions and, even if they end up deciding not to follow a certain path, listen to and participate in the discourse around new ideas. Ideas in and of themselves aren't harmful and can only benefit the hospital is a good one, and shutting down discourse is a terrible idea. But beyond that, a staff member died. And not just from an accident. She committed suicide. Regardless of whether that was the hospitals fault or not, there should be at least some responsibility taken that they didn't catch her condition and get her help, or at least not enough. The fact that work conditions made her situation worse, not better, is reason enough for the hospital to take responsibility, honestly.

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