Doctor Slump

Sometimes opposites shouldn't attract.

By episode 12 my interest had waned, by episode 14 I felt like I was slogging through the end with just the determination to want to mark it as completed.

I was quite surprised when some of the giant issues were resolved by episode 6, and I thought what now? What are they going to do now we've run out of plot. And that was the case.

They had Park Hyung Shik really lean into his cuteness, reminiscent of his character from Strong Girl. Park Shin Hye's character is so straight laced and unemotional it feels like it's wasted on her. And she rarely reciprocates, he was always chasing after her for one crumb of affection. It didn't work and felt unbelievable.
Personally I've never seen Park Shin Hye in a role that wasn't the same as all her other roles. And this was no different. Park Hyung Shik did have some very emotionally dramatic moments even an ugly cry, but a lot of it was just a compilation of roles that we've already seen him play. However he's fun to watch, I felt like he was carrying the entire drama except for some of the supporting cast members.

The actor that played her little brother was interesting, he was a little bit of a scoundrel and yet he had a lot of redeeming qualities. The doctor that ends up with her friend was so awkward in a Dad joke way. In America single parents abound, but I know it's a little bit more of an issue in Korea so I was glad they portrayed that.

This drama lost all momentum in the end. I loved the original underlying message of working through mental illness, how they took medicine and went to therapy, they got help and they worked on themselves and their issues. That was a great precedent. It feels like there's been a lot more dramas focusing on mental health, and given the high suicide rates in Korea I think that is a very good thing for them to delve into to hopefully encourage people to get help. So the message of that I liked and supported, but this as a whole was very underwhelming

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Too little depression in a show about depression

As a drama about trauma and healing there are far too little conversations with psychotherapist and far too much accidental overhearing, eavesdropping, retelling and etc. (there must be some ethical boundaries, that were crossed multiple times?). Please tell the writers that there are other ways to move the plot forward!!!

As for the Depression - it is a very ugly illness, and yes it varies from person to person, but I (personally) just feel from the writing and FL "a bit depressed" vibes and "it will pass" thinking. Bish, no it won't! Not until you'll take it seriously.
I would've loved if the writers would have digged deeper and looked into darker corners of this illness.

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Intriguing at first but boring in the the ending

I watched the first ten episodes continesely and I honestly enjoyed them the chemistry between the cast and the story was going in a kinda smooth way and I appreciate the fact that they changed the standard specialities that are repeated in other dramas and chose anesthesiology and plastic surgery and even though it's not maily a medical drama but they should've at least put some effort in the scenes that require some medical knowledge the cast didn't act well in them too especially in surgery scenes (maybe Dr. Romantic and hospital playlist brought my expectation so high but even without watching them anyone can notice that they didn't put even the slightest effort in those scenes
BUT after ep11 the fast forward botton got exhausted, I mean episode after episode it just got more boring the writer did all kinds of clichés to fill in the blank they should've at least brought up another problem not only small problems that couples got through in their normal life (they didn't even fight) especially the last 2 eps that I must've spent about 20min at most in each of them.
If this drama had 12ep only I would've given it 10 in ratings but it's still watchable
If you can resist watching those kinds of scenes then you'll like it
You'll probably find this review messy like my brain rn cuz I said what came to my miknd without putting in much effort
Hope you enjoy watching this drama tho

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Imperfectly perfect - this drama gave me all the right feels

This drama took me on a journey with its main characters - a hard working anesthesiologist just grinding it out every single day so she can finally find happiness at the end of it all, and a happy-go-lucky plastic surgeon who is naturally inclined to seeing the silver lining in everything, both find themselves in a deep slump. As the story progresses, they start with the quintessential question “why me?”, but eventually learn to accept their situation, to lean onto each other and to find comfort in the smaller things… and in each other and others who love and support them.

The story was full of warmth, laughs, tears, healing and comfort. I thoroughly enjoyed how the characters expressed themselves and interacted with each other. It was like watching your friends struggle, but they also learn to balance themselves. There is individuality in how they deal with emotions and respond to a situation, but there are also moments when they learn to put themselves in others’ shoes and understand their perspectives. And this only helps them heal, grow, and find themselves beyond their circumstances in life.

Ultimately, this is a K-drama, so yes, there are tropes. But the honesty of the characters and their commitment to getting better (overcoming their depression/trauma) and being there for each other, makes this drama relatable and wholesome. I only wish I could see more of their journey… it’s left me wanting more, in the best way possible.

The story, the acting, the direction, screenplay and chemistry between the characters (not just the lead couple, but the second leads, the family, everyone was great!) makes this a solid 10/10 drama for me overall. Kudos to the cast and crew! :)

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From a neutral point the least you can give this show is 7 ie if you like romcom

You see it was not like other dramas… it was a rom com in the literal sense. And I admire it for it

It had a good blend of suspense, romance and understanding. Though the suspense was ended slightly earlier to incorporate romance it still was nicely played out.

The story for me was more like an anime rom com than a kdrama and for those who like suspense and problems other than sweet romance it may seem like a let down. But that’s okay Park Hyung Sik’s cuteness is enough to watch the show till the end.

One main thing that I liked most about this show is how their mental state was not ignored like Ha Nuel was depressed and it was visible in her actions. Some forget to take it into consideration while writing the story, but they didn’t. People may be annoyed when Ha Neul didn’t open up about her past but understand she had Depression… as someone who has went through it I guess I admire it more.

The acting and music are great and so is story, for me the pacing was nice but some might find it slow or weird so if you watch it the least you will give is 7 that is if you like a romance where their are no relationship problems just a couple with overflowing sweetness.

I would say it is a must watch

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Doctor Slump: Gets you out of the slump you've been in!!!

To all the future viewers, this drama has been an incredibly heartwarming experience for me, akin to the warmth of the sun on winter days. It has served as a healing journey for both the characters and myself.

Rest assured, you will find a little bit of everything you desire in this drama, be it the intense reactions of Park Hyung Sik or the exceptional acting skills of Park Shin Hye. Throughout this entire journey, you will experience a range of emotions, including happiness, sadness, anger, and laughter, as you form a deep connection with these characters.

The OSTs are truly remarkable, and it's not just the main leads who deliver outstanding performances, but also the supporting cast. The story not only revolves around the main characters but also explores the lives of those around them.

While the plot does contain elements of mystery and hardship, it may be somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, this drama has been an extraordinary experience for me, surpassing all expectations.

I am deeply saddened by the thought of bidding farewell to these characters. The absence of a new episode next weekend will undoubtedly leave a profound impact on me, and I anticipate being an emotional wreck.

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A Boring RomCom That Glorifies The Medical Profession

If you know any doctors, or know anyone in the medical profession in Korea, than you'd know that this show is completely unrealistic. The majority of doctors in korea are elites or well off, and what awaits them is a life thats far better than the majority of the population after the first few years of training.

Back to the show, this show is a romcom that uses the hope that doctors sacrifices themselves to do the best for their patients and creates 2 characters that have some kind of trauma., and have them bond through the trauma.

The show has it's moments with the romance, but the majority of the show is a slump and it's very slow. Many of the highlights of the show are emotional as you're emotionally blackmailed to feel like you can understand what the MC is going through.

The drama is a really slow burn and nothing can really make it better unless you really like the genre, and sadly most of the korean drama watchers adore the melodrama.

I guess the rich can cry in a Ferrari and make you feel sad for them, instead of using that money to go to therapy.

Also don't forget that right now, doctors are on strike against Korea accepting more medical students, letting patients and emergency patients die or get worse as they strike.
This isn't a strike against low pay or long hours, but that they want the numbers of doctors graduating from university in Korea to not increase. This just shows how elitist the profession itself is despite the grueling first few years.

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Healing portrayal of mental health

I didn’t expect this drama to be so healing. The portrayal of mental health was incredibly realistic. I especially liked that the female lead had high functioning depression, as it gives a different view of what depression can look like. I liked how they helped each other heal as well. Thw script was great and incredibly touching. As someone who has experienced depression, I really appreciated and related to this drama. Thank you.

Some criticisms I have are:

It was too long, should have been 12 episodes, you could tell at one point the story had ended and they just kept adding more and more unnecessary stuff which watered down the amazing content they had.
Some people say the acting was over the top at times - it was but I think that’s more the style the director was going for rather than the decision of the actors. It’s a stylised piece almost comic book like, not 100% realism, so whilst I think if they had kept it more realistic it would have been better, I respect the stylistic choice of the director.

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The writing isn't like a "slump" for sure!

I've seen many people saying, this show boring, the writing isn't that good or the main characters are childish. Also, the depression part wasn't handled well, not to mention the mystery plot.

The ONLY thing that's actually true, is the mystery plot. It wasn't that bad, it was just basic. Other than that, my only problem with the drama is that they didn't do anything with Jeong Woo's parents. I'm actually surprised that there weren't any story about them being hating his relationship with Haneul. Thank God, it wasn't included, but honestly, I think they should've focused more on the bad parents plot.

Also, his PTSD was resolved pretty fast. I don't think anyone can recover from a PTSD that fast, not to mention, a doctor with PTSD wouldn't even be allowed to work. The same goes for Haneul with her depression. But I do think her story was well-written. Depression is not something that happens to everyone in the same way. Every patient have different symptoms.

Of course, this show isn't as good as the "Daily Dose of Sunshine" for example, but overall, this part of the plot was good.

About their romance: Yes, sometimes it was childish and cringe, like 90% of Kdrama romance, so this argument is completely ridiculous, especially, because we have two character who didn't really have a real childhood or a relationship. So, even tho it was cringe at times, it was funny, cute and both of them are lovable characters.

One thing I would say is that Hyung Sik's portrayal is basically the same as in "Strong Woman Bong-soon".

The family story was good, but nothing special. The side characters, especially Dae Young and Hong Ran were funny and entertaining. They felt more realistic, to be honest, but it was cringe at times as well.

The whole show was cringe sometimes, but I never felt I should skip a scene, so that's a positive.

The mystery plot was decent, nothing ordinary, maybe it was a bit much at times, but it wasn't irritating at all.


Overall, this is a really good show, with a meaningful message about life, so it's definitely worth watching it. I know many people love "Queen of Tears" more, but I have to say, the writing on this drama was much better.

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Could Have Been If It Was Short & Sweet

After “Welcome to Samdalri”, I had high hopes from “Doctor Slump”; not that the show didn’t meet my expectations. I just feel it frizzled out in the finale week. Focusing on mental health, we had two characters who are facing mid life crisis due to different scenarios. While Nam Ha Neul (Park Shin Hye) suffered depression because of the abuse suffered at her mentor’s hands; Yeo Jeong Woo (Park Hyung Sik) suffers from PTSD because he was falsely accused of medical malpractice. Their individual traumas bring them together; as they struggle with everyday life, being jobless and lonely. The first half of the show was fantastic as the show conceded to the main protagonist’s struggles. There was also the mystery of who caused the medical accident at Jeong Woo’s clinic. Their budding romance was another highlight; but the second half turned out to be entirely boring. This was one of those shows which should have followed the Netflix’s typical pattern of having eight or so episodes. Because beyond that, there wasn’t much substance in the storyline. Let’s review the better parts of this romcom!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/03/19/doctor-slump-series-review/

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A textbook example for future K-dramas on what NOT to do with popular cast members

This one was rough. I absolutely love the male lead, and I'm fully aware of how popular the female lead actress is, too. I haven't watched The Heirs yet, but it's on my list. So, to put it short, I do understand why some people had such high hopes for this drama. Good-looking cast members with impressive resumes, what could go wrong? Here? Absolutely everything went wrong.

I'll keep it short, everything about the drama was dull. The story made very little sense in reality. Two characters with boring lives. They had very few human interactions. Few friends. Few dating, if any. They then reconnect at 33 or around there, and yet they still act like adolescents. For a show about two doctors, I never once felt they were full-fledged doctors. It uses hack writing to gloss over the real-world aspects of the medical field. In fact, there's less than 35 minutes in total where they use medical terminology or extensive hospital etiquette we're used to in television. Now, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. The problem is how they're portrayed in their personal lives. They don't act like mature adults. The horrible flashbacks put an already large strain on the list of problems the show has. They don't even bother to change their hairstyles, the leads, or even the secondary characters. It's kinda insulting, and even the lowest budget dramas do a better job of flashbacks. But the biggest blunder about the show is the half-hearted effort everyone seems to bring. There is zero chemistry among the characters. The closest thing I can think of is the second leads; they have a somewhat more mature relationship, but even they barely show up. It's so hard to describe. It doesn't feel like they showed up just for a paycheck, it's not THAT bad. But it feels like everyone is just half-assing it. You'll understand what I mean by the first few episodes.

The next biggest thing is how absolutely useless and annoying the female leads family are. The overbearing mother who puts her daughter in a blind date without telling her. She doesn't act like a mom, more like a sister. She's not as bad as the mother from "Something in the Rain," but holy hell is she close. Then there's the brother, who openly admits to stealing from every family member. Jobless, but still somehow dating here and there. All while stealing 50k won often from his uncle or his sister. The show and the characters just gloss over this like it's normal or something. The entire drama would have benefited from removing all of them, but sadly, they are in almost all of the most important scenes. It's infuriating.

The cherry on top? No kiss scenes until 10 episodes later. Maybe more, I couldn't care to remember anymore, honestly. And for leads that have such big fan bases, this is not how you want your viewers to feel. I forced myself to finish this because of the male lead. None of the charm he possesses and uses in Strong Girl Bong-soon is used here. The leads weren't saving this mess. So why did I give it a higher score than a 2? For what it's worth, the show is very predictable, and if you want a show that you KNOW where it's going to go, this is probably meant for you. A comfort show, with almost zero effort, is perhaps better than an even worse show. Unless you like the leads, avoid like the plague.

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