This one took a lot to get me interested
Let me start by saying that I have to have at least ONE character that I really like to enjoy a show. The two male leads were extremely unlikeable for quite a few episodes. A friend kept telling me to stick it out, it gets better, and it did, somewhat. However, I never felt fully invested in the show.LIKES: Loved Rain and Kim Bum's acting. Rain, especially, was able to wring emotions from me with his looks, his mannerisms, and, let's be honest, his crying. For me, it was worth watching just for their acting, and their bromance. This was a relationship that started out with hate/antagonism and it was a very enjoyable journey watching them come to terms with their connection with one another, and develop a deep friendship. There was a lot of humor when these two played off each other.
I also liked the other coma ghosts, especially the head guy (he was awfully funny, too).
THINGS THAT WERE DISAPPOINTING: The romance. My favorite genre is romance, so I never thought I'd say this, but they should have stuck with the bromance. The romance was just boring.
The bad guys. These bad guys seemed like caricatures to me, like they should be twirling their imaginary villain moustaches. They got away with so much for so long, and the justice served just seemed like an afterthought.
Changing rules for coma ghosts - 1) you can't go past the desk at the front lobby, yet suddenly you're out in the community. 2) WAY too much leeway to a slacker intern who has made no bones about the fact that he isn't committed to being a doctor - by all means, let him do surgeries!!!
BOTTOM LINE: Just my opinion, this is a good one to watch for excellent acting, but other than that it was ho-hum for me.
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Balanced medical drama + killer bromance => great watch => great rewatch
Only Rain and Kim Bum could pull off this bromance and make this drama shine... the main romance otherwise was kind of lackluster, but the bromance more than made up for it. Liked the concept overall of certain doctors being so dedicated that even as ghosts they cannot leave their life's work of saving people, and a passionate but jaded doctor as well as an inexperienced but idealistic newbie coming to a middlepoint to cooperate and save lives. It was also nice that the antagonist bad doctors weren't just one dimensionally evil for no reason from the beginning, rather they lost that passion over the years as they had to be realistic to keep their careers; the "bad" doctors also come around and help the younger passionate doctors when they can do it. Overall the plot didn't drag, which is amazing for a medical drama that focuses on hospital politics (by the end they usually have to play out politics that viewer's aren't interested in anymore, but in this show it really never dragged). Could've done with a little less Uee/Rain melo scenes, those were the only ones I 2xed or fast forwarded.Was this review helpful to you?
A Feel-Good Watch
This marks my first K-Drama in about two years (not counting Netflix dramas). The reason why I enjoy K-Dramas are the goofy love triangles or the angsty family rivalries. I didn't get ANY of that with this drama.Why did I rate this drama so high? Because the character development was AMAZING! There isn't a laser focus on 1-3 characters. You learn, get to know, and relate with every single character that gets at least 5 minutes of screen time.
Although I do love a good ole fashioned love triangle K-Drama, I appreciated the fact that this one wasn't oversaturated with unrequited love. It focused on the message of being a good doctor and why they all became doctors.
To keep this review short and sweet. This was a great step back into the world of K-Dramas for me. It was refreshing in both comedy and the drama storytelling. The entire cast was a perfect fit for their parts. I couldn't imagine a "x could have done it better" scenario.
I would suggest this drama to any new or old K-Drama fan. Maybe not as a binge (there are some filler episodes that are kind of mean to get through), but definitely to either fall in love with K-Dramas or find your love for them again.
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In addition to that, I was uncomfortable the way ghosts casually used (or borrowed, or whatever you want to call it) a human's body for their purposes and then, discarded it, leaving the human confused and frightened. Having consent to do so is another thing, but the way the cleaning lady's body was used, especially, gave me the chills. I found her bafflement to her environment after being returned her body scary, not funny (this reminds me a lot of !TRIGGER WARNING! drug rape after-effects !TRIGGER WARNING! so please be cautious regarding this.)
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A+ Bromance, D- Romance
This had the potential to be really good, but got bogged down by the annoying romance storyline with Dr. Cha and his ex-girlfriend (and the exact same cut scenes of their relationship ten years ago...). I adored the bromance between Dr. Cha and Seung-Tak, and the ghost storyline and medical storylines were both very good, but I couldn't make it through any more of the romance. That aside, the villains were pretty 1-D and didn't add much to the story. So, I dropped this at episode 12.TLDR:
+ bromance and acting of two male leads
- poorly done romance
- underutilized female leads
+ ghost/medical storylines
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Bromance yes. Romance no.
I loved the premise from the start. The cast works well together. Except the FL. If she’s even that. I’ve never seen a worse performance in my life. She’s supposed to be a strong doctor but she’s trembling and crying and walking about like a small child. Physically she moves like she’s timid. And her expression never changes. It’s as if she’s the one in a coma.Overall I’m enjoying this but I could gladly forget the utterly unnecessary romance plots.
The MLs are growing on me. That makes up for the poorly written and acted female characters who seem to be here only to worry and react to Dr Go.
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Enjoyable
Such a good cast who were a pleasure to watch.There were both witty and some very moving scenes, although I didn't often feel the tension that I think I should have.
It felt quite drawn out at times and became melodramatic, with some scenes being repeated (when used to reflect or for background on the story as it progressed), too often.
The plot was lacklustre and lacking somehow, although I can't quite put my finger on why.
I found myself losing concentration and interest during the overly long and repeated operating procedures and other scenes that didn't feel necessary to the plot. For a top hospital, too many of the surgeons and senior staff seemed incompetent and lacking in confidence.
I am not a fan of Uee, but this was one of her better characters, for sure.
Overall, this was not a bad watch, but neither was it memorable, or a drama I'd return to.
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This series is one of Life's lessons
This was more than just a series, it was one of life's lessons....those momentous times in our lives when we reach an epiphany of understanding of who we are...or who we should be...and why we are here.Watching the sequence of events unfold in this story was just as much of a growth experience...a learning experience...for me as living the actual events of the story myself.
So often we question the path that we've taken...self doubt entering our minds and overshadowing our convictions. But...if we move forward....moment by moment...day by day...following our moral compass and always doing the right thing, that inner strength within us....the strength of a warrior...wells up and resumes command. It keeps us on course.
You might be wondering why I've taken this series to heart. Why has it touched me so profoundly. I am a doctor...and so often I've questioned my life path. It's been one of dedication driven by self determination and self sacrifice. Was it...has it been...worth placing the lives of others before the needs of my own life. Each episode of this series gave me a re-affirmation of why I chose this path...and of why I continue to follow it.
For me, this series was a 10 +.
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It’s just amazing
As someone who doesn’t speak Korean, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started watching this show, but I was absolutely blown away. From the very first episode, I was hooked. The storyline, the acting, the production – everything came together so perfectly. Even though I had to rely on subtitles to understand the dialogue, it never once took away from the emotional impact or the overall experience. In fact, it made me appreciate how powerful the performances were, especially from Rain, who completely stole the show for me.Rain is truly an incredible actor and idol. His screen presence is magnetic, and he has this unique ability to convey so much emotion with just a look or gesture. It’s no wonder he’s such a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. I had heard of Rain before watching this series, mostly in relation to his music career, but I was honestly amazed at how talented he is as an actor. His performance in this show was nothing short of phenomenal. Every scene he was in felt real and powerful, and I found myself deeply invested in his character's journey.
The show itself was perfectly paced, with just the right amount of suspense and drama to keep you on the edge of your seat. There were so many moments where I thought I knew what was going to happen next, only for the story to take a completely unexpected turn. The small cliffhangers at the end of each episode were just enough to keep me pressing “next episode” over and over again. It’s one of those shows that you can’t stop watching once you start, and before you know it, hours have gone by. The suspense was perfectly balanced—not too overwhelming, but just intense enough to keep you emotionally involved.
The production quality was also top-notch. The cinematography, the soundtrack, the set design—everything worked together to create an immersive and believable world. Even the supporting cast was impressive, and each actor brought something special to the table. The relationships between the characters felt genuine, and the emotional moments hit really hard. I laughed, I cried, I gasped—this show took me on a complete rollercoaster ride, and I loved every second of it.
What really stood out to me was how universal the story felt. Even though it’s a Korean show, the themes of love, betrayal, ambition, and redemption are things that anyone can relate to, no matter where you’re from. That’s what made it so enjoyable for me as a non-Korean speaker—it reminded me that great storytelling transcends language and culture.
Overall, I would give this show a 10/10 without hesitation. It’s rare to find something that grabs your attention so completely and leaves such a lasting impression. I can’t say enough good things about it. Whether you’re a fan of Korean dramas or just looking for something new and exciting to watch, I absolutely recommend giving this show a try. You won’t regret it!
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Me surpreendeu tanto ?
Jamais imaginei que esse dorama iria mexer tanto comigo! A história é linda, mas quem diria que me ensinaria coisas importantes para a vida? Realmente me surpreendeu muito e, com certeza, vou indicar ele para minhas amigas dorameiras.A história se passa em um hospital, com dois médicos protagonistas ligados por algo, o mistério, a curiosidade de saber o que liga eles é grande, dá vontade de assistir sem parar para descobrir o motivo, além disso, as histórias de amizades verdadeiras e amor entre as personagens são do tipo que aquecem o coração
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A Beautiful Journey of healing, heartfelt moments and filled my heart every minute
A Beautiful Journey of healing, heartfelt moments, and the best bromance and filled my heart every minute.I started watching Ghost Doctor without much planning, just casually. But episode by episode, the drama drew me in more and more.
Cha Young-min — I’m not a huge fan of Rain, but every time I watch him in a drama, I can’t help but be captivated by his acting. And Ko Seung-tak — I had almost forgotten about Kim Bum since I hadn’t seen him in a drama for a while, but this role made me fall for him all over again. His cute, lively acting was so lovable and eye-catching. The other actors also did a wonderful job and added so much depth to the story.
As for the story itself — even though it’s a fantasy, it felt incredibly real. At no moment did it feel unbelievable; instead, I often thought, this could actually happen in real life, hidden from what we see.
And the OSTs — absolutely beautiful. The moment “I can fly awayyy” part of the song played, my heart raced and danced with excitement. The other songs were equally moving and matched the story perfectly.
Overall, I truly loved this drama. It was heartfelt, meaningful, and unforgettable.
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My First Ever Korean Drama to Watch and Loved . . .
"Ghost Doctor" is my first ever Korean drama to watch. It is out of curiosity that I've watched this drama because of its medical tone. And it proves me right!* Rain as Cha Young Min and Kim Bum as Ko Seung Tak are both fantastic actors. Acting as one, they both have a funny and steady teamwork as a doctors.
* The storyline and its location setup in a hospital is something else. Here you get to know more on how people in their dying days, becoming a ghost of course, longed to be with their loved ones. A typical gesture of how it is to be human.
* Uee as the main actress reminded me of how such a beautiful, charming lady could cope up with the challenging life of a dedicated doctor who spend most of her life in taking care of her patients.
* Over-all, as this is my first Korean drama and first time to know these Korean actors and actresses, I've rated it 10. The casts are perfectly matched for their roles.
** Now, I am beginning to understand why most of my associates loved to watch K-Dramas . . .
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