Poong, the Joseon Virgin
The earlier episodes of the first season were decent and promising but there was a clear and undeniable pattern slowly starting to emerge after a few episodes. The drama was heading in a downward spiral throughout its both seasons. There was no clear direction to its story, I wanted it to remain as a slice of life but even that was not attractive on its own. Each passing episode felt like a downgrade of the previous episode. By the end of 2nd season, my interest had plummeted and it lost any remaining appeal. The only plausible reason for this drama to get a season 3 is if the studio wanted to commit some kind of money laundering/tax fraud scheme. It's never a good sign to adapt something and have its serialization based on public perception. This will most likely result in incomplete stories and padded semi-soft endings unless its creators were to pull through and be the exception. In more than one way, the Anime sphere shifted mostly towards this scheme in the past 6-7 years and it turned into a survival of the fittest type of race. The Kdrama is slowly heading in the exact same direction.Was this review helpful to you?
Entertaining and enjoyable; watch back-to-back
May 2025 (S1&2 reviewed together)I really enjoyed both series, whizzing through S2 as quickly as I did S1.
Loved the cast, especially seeing Kim Min-jae in a leading role. His chemistry with Kim Hyan-gi (FL), was believable and sweet. It wasn't full-on or steamy, but I felt it was just right, given their backgrounds and being pretty naive in love. She was never weak, arrogant, nor a push-over for anyone, and very intelligent. I liked her.
In S1, both characters impact on one another at separate and critical times in their lives, and this connection then continues.
Yoo Se-Yeop, through a traumatic experience, that really was, leaves the Palace in which he served as the top Physician, skilled in acupuncture, with his trusty (but very 'familiar' servant), and ends up at a backwater clinic.
It's run by a grumpy Doctor, Kye Ji-han (so well played by Kim Sang-kyung), who is assisted by a mix of regular folk, of all ages, who have found refuge and a home there. They are a great bunch, and it's here he acquires the name Poong.
Though somewhat aloof and blunt, Poong's skills of diagnosing conditions, and recommending treatments, makes Kye Ji-han decide he can use him, so using debt as leverage, he gets him to stay, working full-time.
Once accepted into the 'family', they help the poor, the sick, and get involved in tackling various wrong-doings against good people.
S2 picks up where S1 leaves off, and various branches of the story from S1 come together.
We find out the back stories of central characters, most of which were far from happy. There are highs, lows, some very moving scenes, and plenty of light hearted, very amusing happenings and dialogue as well, throughout. Some horrible characters, as expected of the time, who look upon slaves and peasants as nothing more than vermin, and treat them accordingly. There are comeuppances, however!
It isn't historically accurate or true-to-life, but doesn't set out to be. It is, however, what it's meant to be, which is very entertaining!
I enjoyed S1 the most, but the story in it's entirety was a great watch.
Would happily do it all again.
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Not really about psychological cases
I must say that the title and the first episode deceived me as to the content of this series.I thought that this would be a more light-hearted series with interesting cases, like the one in the first episode, cases that actually could be considered psychological.
Mostly, cases in following episodes were based in familial conflicts, poisoning etc. -- they also felt samey after a while.
I did not care for the court intrigue at all, and so I needed about two months to get through the second-to-last episode.
I also wished that we got to see more of Gye's family, I think the characters could have been really interesting but they remained rather one-dimensional. Overall, I enjoyed the interaction between the family members.
One last addition: The poisonous plant ("Dansacho") shown seemed to be Cyclamen, which is native to Europe and to the east up to Iran, NOT Korea. If it is, the symptoms are not what characters experience in the series. That fact makes me question the reliability of other medical practices in the show.
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Korean History + Medicine = Quirky Fun Drama
POONG, THE JOSEON PSYCHIATRIST was definitely an interesting series and I was happy to watch it. Loving Historical dramas featuring heavy medicinal themes, I found this one to be pretty top notch.The plot itself was very intriguing and compelling. Yoo Se-Poong is a royal physician who gets wrongly expelled / banished from the royal court in a messy political conspiracy after which causes him to set out on a journey of redemption, self discovery and acceptance, all the while healing the souls of others in his new life as a physician / psychiatrist in the small, fascinating Gyesu Village. He meets new friends along the way, as he shapes his new life and finds new hope to carry on his existence.
This was a very quaint, entertaining series that I was glad to try. The whole cast was pretty great and the show features a tangled web of political intrigue, medical cases and a whole array of intriguing characters. Overall, this was a really great watch, albeit a bit slow at times. Would recommend to those with an interest in light-hearted shows about history and ancient medicine.
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This review may contain spoilers
Lots to like here
This is a review of bith seasons btw.First of all as evidenced by the relatively low rating this may not be everyone's cup of tea. It drags a little at times especially in S1. The plot shifts into an almost episodic format so at times what you feel will be a long running plot thread ends abruptly. However if you think about the main plot to be resolved, as being, the fate of the ML and FL given the many social, personal, political and legal obstacles to their love it kinda works on that level. Having said that the abrupt resolution of some story arcs was a bit questionable at times.
This drama is, however, wholly enjoyable. It has mysterious cases, adventures, royal court nonsense, intrigue, a wonderful found family, memorable and likeable characters and of course romance.
The acting is top notch and the chemistry between the leads is great. The FL is pitch perfect as the competent, brave, intelligent but shy and chaste young widow. The ML is her male equivalent equally clueless in affairs of the heart but honorable and very affectionate. Their romance is slow but their chemistry is obvious and awesome.
The angst, miscommunication and conflict between them is frequent but generally short lived and there is no dragged out noble idiocy or love triangles which is in itself refreshing. The ending is very well placed and not rushed and quite frankly leaves you feeling warm and cosy.
If you like every now and then to watch a wholesome funny low angst welll made historical with great lead this is well worth it. It may not blow your mind but it will probably put your mind at ease.
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idk
i have zero recollection of this but i know i watched itYoo Se-yeop (Kim Min-jae) is a genius physician for the royal family, but is expelled from the capital after falling victim to a conspiracy. He later meets an eccentric teacher, Gye Ji-han (Kim Sang-kyung) and a widow, Seo Eun-woo (Kim Hyang-gi) in the mysterious and beautiful Gyesu Village. He is reborn as a true doctor who aims to heal people's hearts, writing the prescription of happiness.
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It's mid
I wouldn't say that this was a bad show. The acting is fine, so is the music and the story is also good enough that I didn't feel like I was activly loosing braincells while watching.But I think what this show struggles with the most is that it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be.
The intro (looking past how ugly it is, seriously who thought this was a good idea) suggests to me a fairly lighthearted goofy show. But then the first episode has three suicide attempts and then MC has PTSD. And these are treated seriously.
But then we also have more comedic parts. More plot heavy stuff and even some detective things.
Instead of committing to one thing it seems that the show tries to be everything at once and therefore struggles to be anything at all.
That being said I can still see how some people would enjoy this drama but it's not for me and I probably won't continue it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Nice but missing the wow factor
The concept of the show is pretty good. In the Josean era, a king dies and a physician known for his talent in acupuncture is blamed for his death and banished by the crown prince. A conspiracy surrounds the death of the king. Dejected, the physician nearly kills himself but is rescued by a maiden who also has great interest in forensic medicine. The physician joins a clinic in a nearby village and starts seeing patients but is unable to use acupuncture again.The series shows different cases and each episode has it's own story while developing the story behind the king's death. However, the show focuses most of the treatment on the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine and there are not many cases involving psychiatry so the title will not make sense until you realise the series is expecting a second season.
There isn't overt romance and the drama and mystery progressed slower than I liked. There are comic moments but again, it may not be to everyone's taste. I felt like the drama had become a bit stagnant midway and finally picked up the pace in the final 2 episodes. I quite enjoyed the two episodes and feel like the show was simply delaying the inevitable for a few episodes.
If you do not like cliff hangers and open-endings, then you can wait until Jan 2023 when the second season will air and watch this season just prior to that.
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Best combo (physiatrist + joseon dynasty)
I watched this drama without any expectations but in the end I loved it..I liked this title so started it but they proved the title .. physician yoo se yeob was truly great in their time according to the description and they proved it in this drama. he was loyal to the king and kind to their patients. he may seems not cared about somethings at all but deep down he truly cared .. from the starting.. they showed us how he did not cared about other things but to save his patient. even in the time of crisis he was devoted to his patients.. I just love this thing..
about the story I truly like.. all the small details they saw us... like how uncertain events leads unexplained changes amd how they are connected with each other..
I love that how lady eun woo noticed all the samll things which are helpful them in many ways.. she was not scared and brave enough to face any situatio.. and forensic medicine part of her was best.
and specially I love the concept of old time period and physiatrist.. like in that time people also suffered from this type of mind disease and how they treat them..
and lastly I love that royal inspector(?) shin woo as he shows his loyalty to his savior and the king.. Respect for all these type of people.♡
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Better Than I Thought It Would Be
I wonder if I was going to liked this drama, and yes, I love it. I started to watch it because I love both leading actor (Kim Min Jae) and (Kim Hyang Gi) in it. They are great actors and I should have known they would not disappoint me. All the characters in this drama make the drama. Especially Kim Sang Kyung. Even the bad boy royal Inspector (Jung Won Chang). The storyline is great with each episode having a reason for the Dr. and his assistant to help in the community. The slow and quite way they both for in love with each other. Everyone in the clinic how we find out how each came to stay at the clinic and how they became a family. The mystery and twist that goes about in each episode. The cast was great with the actors giving a great performance. The story was sincere and believable. I love it and can't wait for season 2Was this review helpful to you?
Poong, The Joseon Psychiatrist
O enredo de Poong, The Joseon Psychiatrist é muito especial e trata de todas as histórias e dilemas pessoais dos personagens de uma forma bonita e sensível. Todos carregam traumas e feridas ainda abertas do passado, alguns escondem segredos e também vemos uma pitada de suspense na trama, envolvendo as conspirações contra a família real. Ao final, os personagens viram uma família e cuidam uns dos outros em momentos difíceis, superando seus traumas juntos. Ele certamente não é mais um K-dramas sobre a dinasnia Joseon, parecido com milhares... ele se destaca por ter uma história e personagens únicos, uma temática diferente abordando medicina, saúde mental e traumas e me prendeu do início ao fim por ter uma construção tão bem feita.Was this review helpful to you?
