Doctor Slump

Dealing delicately and with mental health issues.

The series touches upon depression and other mental health issues which are still too often ignored, dismissed or brushed under the carpet. Dealing with this weighty topic needs a light touch, and the series has done that quite nicely with a balance of seriousness and humour. At times the dialogues and scenes are comical, and at other times serious or painful. I see this as a good way to approach these difficult topics in a way that doesn't end up making the series too heavy, serious and hard to watch.

The kid brother Ba-Da was cast as being quite irritating and excessively immature for his age, but it did not distract too much from the buildup of the main plots and the interactions between the main characters. I really liked the sweet interactions between the secondary ML/FL, that was heartwarming specially towards the last few episodes. The development of the relationship between Jeongwoo and Haneul was a pleasure to watch, though I would have loved to see deeper conversations and more depth and dimension to this relationship.

Yes, some mysteries and sub-plots were resolved early on without dragging them for the whole 16 episodes, but the series doesn't hinge entirely on those plots, rather, it's about the underlying issue of mental health during the good and bad times that pervades all the episodes. PHS's expressions and comedic timing were perfect. On the whole, I enjoyed the show and liked how it was wrapped up neatly with a positive message.

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burning desire for success

Doctor Slump is a drama about two doctors who were high school rivals, meet again at the lowest point of their lives. Yeo Jung Woo (Park Hyung Sik) is now a plastic surgeon .
When one of his surgery goes wrong and a patient dies on the table, he’s swept up in a scandal and loses credibility and money. Ha Neul (Park Shin Hye) works as an anesthesiologist at a big hospital but is constantly being taken advantage of and blamed for things that she’s not responsible for. It’s no wonder why she has depression. They bond over their struggles and learn to cheer each other up through their slump.

I like Park Hyung Shik acting was seriousness and maturity alongside childishness (they say that in every mature person, there is also a little child).
The drama deals with healing and recovery, competition for achievements and success alongside failure and disappointment.
Friendship, and support. Insights that you get after crises,a race for achievements in life where along the way you forget to enjoy the small things (sunset, going for a walk, enjoying nature from the blossoms and even eating ice cream) and the mental price that you pay because of the race for life.
The drama has a more of a mellow feel and slowly eases you into their relationship dynamic.
I totally recommend watching the drama and examining it in depth and not superficially.

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A Star Studded but regular drama

I finally watches this drama after putting it on my watch list for over a year and i was not extremely pleased this was just a regular average drama that happened to cast 2 very famous leads now here are some of the things i enjoyed

1. I loves the very realistic portrayals of burnout syndrome i feel and relate to this so much even if u do well in High school and spend ur every moment preparing for successful it is not guaranteed and u can most likely have an unsuccessful life. The leads struggle with there mental health and their journey of how they found one another in their darkest moments really touched me and is literally one of the only reasons i rated it so high. The portrayal of mental health Depression PTSD was done very well here

2. The 2nd leads were actually entertaining their story as single divirced parents navigating dealing with different gender children touched my heart as we dont get too see this common in Korean dramas

3.The leads academic rivarly and friendship,those flashbacks from high school were so funny and nice to watched it warmed my heart the way they bartered each other was truly the comedy aspect of this drama. And before tehe caught feelings for one another their friendship as Adults was surprisingly very interesting they helped each other and found happiness in one another i dont believe every single connection between men and women need to be romantic and this is an unpopular opinion i would have preferred if they were just friends not that their was anything wrong with their relationship they are several moments which they were adorable but it was just heartwarming to see them navigate becoming childhood enemies to friends

Those things are generally what i liked about the show there is nothing else that made me want to watch it everything else was just mellow and non interesting in my opinion

the leads have an okay amount of chemistry not seething and fiery just a measurable amount compare it to another of the leads famous drama Strong woman boon song i could barely frel him and Park Shin hyes chemistry it felt like a mellow plug. I mean we could imagine they together in a way that makes sense but still ache for chemistry

Her entire family dynamic was just blah i didn't care if there scenes came up or not i would still watch

The entire Case and lawsuit against him was extremely predictable i clocked it from the beginning it was obvious he was framed and i wasn't aching to find out what happened

Thats all my takeaways from the show honestly everything else isnt worth my time to type

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Cringe and Funny at the same time

Situational comedy, romance with tons of shines. The two main characters have too much patience. There is a state of contrast that marks the entire series, the good and bad moments are linked fluidly, with small hints for k-drama connoisseurs. It is not too overwhelmed even though it is about "mental illnesses", as much as it is a way of drawing attention to the fact that they are often encountered and should not be stigmatized. It's warm, the way each characters grows, accepts themselves as they are and discovers that they can be loved.

It's a series for the bad days where you laugh a lot, with the characters but also about the absurd situations.

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Good portrayal of depression.

Overall 8/10
🌟🌟🌟🌟

The drama is very captivating at first as I was really invested however I ended up dropping it towards the end for a few months before watching the last episode! Doesn't really stand out among the other dramas of 2024, however I really enjoyed the character development and relationships portrayed. Dr. Slump successfully showed how depression can seem like a blow out of nowhere for the person diagnosed. One can be so used to bottling up that it doesn't even become apparent to oneself that you are mentally unwell and tired. I appreciated how they showed her healing process and that depression is not something to be scared of. The drama can be a bit cringe at times but overall the drama was really good. Would definitely recommend watching!

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All Storms Eventually Pass

There is a blessing in hitting “rock bottom.” There is only one direction to go: up. There is also a blessing in knowing that whatever problems or troubles you are having, they will pass.

Life is all about perspective. How you perceive something determines how you choose to experience it. If you don’t like the experience you’re having, then change your perspective. There is no one in existence who hasn’t endured hardships. Even masters have gone through everything you are going through and have gone through. So, what’s the difference? They simply changed their perception as well as used wisdom to ask the right questions. Life isn’t about having all of the answers but about asking the right questions. Why am I going through this? What is it that I’m trying to teach myself in this moment? The late and great Kobe Bryant never referred to his hardships as “problems.” He called them “challenges.” See how changing one word can change how you perceive something?

“Doctor Slump” is about two competitive doctors who suddenly find their lives turned upside down by circumstances. Remember the immortal words of Rocky Balboa, “Life isn’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” And these two loveable characters get knocked down to their knees, but ultimately, they find a way to get back on their feet. This is also why, as a viewer, I found myself cheering for them both.

Dr. Yeo Jeong Woo is a brilliant plastic surgeon with a heart of gold. It’s hard to imagine this guy hurting anyone. He finds himself set up during a botched surgery that destroys his reputation and finds himself in dire, financial straits as well as facing criminal charges. And yet, he does his best to take care of his friends. Dr. Yeo Jeong Woo has a boyish charm and a wonderful sense of humor, thanks to actor Park Hyung Sik whom I’ve seen in several series. He has a gift for charm and comedy as well as being able to effortlessly harness the pain and despair he goes through.

Dr. Nam Ha Neul is an up-and-coming anesthesiologist who finds the dissertation she’s worked on being stolen and altered for a greedy, corrupt supervisor. Her own reputation is destroyed when she confronts him, even knocking him to the ground, which was far better than he deserved. Dr. Nam Ha Neul may perceive herself as weak, but she’s far stronger than she gives herself credit. Her pain and despair comes from guilt; guilt of not being there for her father as well as allowing a previous supervisor to take advantage of her. Park Shin Hye is equally captivating in her role. She has a sweetness that is undeniable and a light and glimmer in her eyes and smile. And yet, when either of these actors has moments of despair, we feel it.

The premise of this series is that no one should be afraid to seek help when needed. An even more important premise is that you are your top priority. You must take care of yourself first. It’s a losing battle to try and take care of others without, first, taking care of yourself. Putting others first is a road lined with resentment, guilt, and anger. And perhaps the third premise is learning how to be there for someone and letting them be there for you. Most people fail to realize that quite often, the best way to help someone is to just simply be there for them. It may not seem like a lot, but ultimately, it’s one of the greatest gifts you can give them. The beauty of a rock is that it’s just there. It doesn’t have to move or do anything. And everyone can be a rock for someone in their lives.

What makes this series so enjoyable is that there aren’t any needless melodramatic twists or turns. No silly love triangles or mountainous conflicts that we know are just there to add some conflict. The series is light despite the fact that it never makes light of the trials and tribulations of others or the pain that they are going through.

The greatest obstacle to pain is suppression. It’s been stated that the quickest way out of something is through it. To avoid it or try to find a way around it is to simply bring about needless suffering. Pain in life is inevitable. Suffering, however, is always optional.

Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye have undeniable chemistry in this series which is why it works so well. I think they may be my favorite couple after “Our Beloved Summer.” I love the goofiness that Park Hyung Sik brings and the sweetness of Park Shin Hye as well as the fact that, while both characters are going through pain, they’re both fighters and are determined to come out on top. They are inspirational as well as captivating.

The only aspect of the series that didn’t quite work for me was the second romance between Bin Dae Young and Lee Hong Ran. It just didn’t feel needed, and it was as though the writers were trying to fill some empty space with a romance that just didn’t feel organic enough. Not to mention that the only romance that I cared about was between Yeo Jeong Woo and Nam Ha Neul.

So, the next time you get “knocked down” let this series serve as a reminder that every storm always passes. Don’t be afraid to experience pain. It’s still the quickest way out. Never give up. Keep fighting and keep moving forward. Don’t forget to make yourself the number one priority, and lastly, once you get yourself firmly anchored, be a rock for someone and just be there for them and let them be there for you.

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Doctor Slump Review - ZyKuu

"Two doctors hit rock bottom simultaneously" - The story highlights a positive way for parents to help care for their children whom are experiencing depression. This show does a great job at highlighting the importance of one's mental health and how you should treat it seriously. Both Ha-neul and Jeong-woo are high school rivals turned doctors. They both ended up relying on each other to climb out the gutter and eventually develop a relationship that blossoms into a romance. Personally, I was not intrigued with their romantic relationship as I feel like the second couple in lead stole the show. Hong-ran and Dae-young had a unique relationship that was heartwarming to watch. Overall I enjoyed the comedy aspects more than the romance. Ha-neul's family was entertaining and the star of the show for me was Ba-da. Ha-neul's younger brother Ba-da was funny in many ways and always lightened up the mood whenever he was on screen. Ha-neul's mother and uncle were both supportive and loving through every step of the way. The OST was great, and I believe that this show could have been reduced in episodes. Overall, this was a good watch and I would recommend this to anyone who is facing mental health issues as I believe it would guide you in the right direction while entertaining you.

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When I was planning to watch the series when it was first coming out, a lot of people were bored by it and no one recommended it to me. I honestly understand them, because I was bored with the first few episodes, but because of Hyungsik and the second couple, I survived until the end. There were moments when I really laughed or had tears in my eyes, but there was nothing special going on. But I liked a lot of the treatment of how the two in medicine tried to be better than the other until it ended in love, without one of them expecting it. I also really liked that they put psychological problems into the series and showed that not only teenagers, but also adults, like doctors, face them. They show how important it is to have the right people around you, even if some of them doubt us or are not on our side, or how important family is (although I think that is shown in almost all series). I also have to mention the wonderful ost. It's really really nice and because of it I'm saving the whole ending with the previews for the end. As for the whole plot, I'd say it only started to get interesting at the very end, maybe around episode 10, otherwise it's a great series for beating boredom.

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