67
285
11
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
3
Today's ally may be tomorrow's enemy
Jin Season 2 picked up two years after the good doctor fell into 1862 Edo. The warring factions were turning up the heat which could lead to cities and castles burning. Jin tried to convince his friend Sakamoto Ryoma to find a better way to unite Japan than all-out war. In the meantime, he had Jinyudo to run and penicillin to make. His headaches became worse and Jin feared his time in the past might well be ending one way or another.
Jin must deal with wounded soldiers, burned civilians, an injured time traveler, and beriberi sufferers. In his spare time, he travels to medical conferences to tout his penicillin and share the formula. During his journeys he treats patients from both sides of the conflict, yet is always left wondering if he has actually saved anyone. A royal trip lands him in prison with only his friends to rely upon. He and Saki help a pregnant friend and try to save the life of another. An old nemesis causes Jin and his disciples trouble that could cost them their lives and Jinyudo.
This season the oft mentioned Miki was all but forgotten. Despite their repressed---deeply repressed---feelings, Saki and Jin spent awkward time together in those old school hotel tropes, the kind with only one room. Jin slammed into history’s boundaries on a regular basis that were a pain in the old noggin’. He and his friends still ran, but this time steam boating was added as the plucky doctors traveled across the country saving lives.
Jin came across emotionally volatile and twitchy this season, something unexpected after having lived in ye olden times for 6 years and possessing the nerves of a surgeon (regardless of his health issues). Saki retreated behind her Edo smile which caused her to appear distant and enigmatic. I was truly disappointed that this pivotal character was not better written. Wanting to be a doctor and not so secretly being in love with her sensei were not true character traits. Ayase Haruka had an ethereal beauty about her, but I would like to have seen clearer growth and depth for Saki. Ryoma, as in S1, often came across as being slightly unhinged. Cunning and loyal, but unhinged.
Having watched both seasons now, I have a few unresolved issues with the drama. They struggled to answer the question of why Jin was sent back, something he questioned in every episode. Their basic time traveling rules were erratic. Instead of sympathizing with Jin and Saki’s unrequited love, it felt like the drama was baiting me by mentioning it. They were both so good at hiding their feelings that had they not reminded me, I would never have known. Jin and Ryoma had more passionate scenes than any between Jin and Saki. Trying to cover the various political factions along with the medical stories made this season feel less cohesive. Due to many of these problems, the ending didn’t hit for me, the way I’m sure the writers wanted it to.
After the previous paragraph it may sound as if I didn’t like it, but overall, I enjoyed this time traveling medical drama. Most of the characters had good hearts and were eager to help others. People desired for their country to be unified and peaceful. In this drama it wasn’t karma being a bitch, this time it was history. Speaking of history, I enjoyed this angle on the tumultuous end of the Tokugawa Shogunate era. S2 might not have been as strong as S1 but Jin is definitely worth trying if you like any of the genres or actors involved in it.
27 July 2025
7.75 upgraded to an 8.0
Triggers: Ryoma upped his nose picking. Ick. Like season 1, there were graphic surgery scenes. There were also torture scenes if you are sensitive to those.
Jin must deal with wounded soldiers, burned civilians, an injured time traveler, and beriberi sufferers. In his spare time, he travels to medical conferences to tout his penicillin and share the formula. During his journeys he treats patients from both sides of the conflict, yet is always left wondering if he has actually saved anyone. A royal trip lands him in prison with only his friends to rely upon. He and Saki help a pregnant friend and try to save the life of another. An old nemesis causes Jin and his disciples trouble that could cost them their lives and Jinyudo.
This season the oft mentioned Miki was all but forgotten. Despite their repressed---deeply repressed---feelings, Saki and Jin spent awkward time together in those old school hotel tropes, the kind with only one room. Jin slammed into history’s boundaries on a regular basis that were a pain in the old noggin’. He and his friends still ran, but this time steam boating was added as the plucky doctors traveled across the country saving lives.
Jin came across emotionally volatile and twitchy this season, something unexpected after having lived in ye olden times for 6 years and possessing the nerves of a surgeon (regardless of his health issues). Saki retreated behind her Edo smile which caused her to appear distant and enigmatic. I was truly disappointed that this pivotal character was not better written. Wanting to be a doctor and not so secretly being in love with her sensei were not true character traits. Ayase Haruka had an ethereal beauty about her, but I would like to have seen clearer growth and depth for Saki. Ryoma, as in S1, often came across as being slightly unhinged. Cunning and loyal, but unhinged.
Having watched both seasons now, I have a few unresolved issues with the drama. They struggled to answer the question of why Jin was sent back, something he questioned in every episode. Their basic time traveling rules were erratic. Instead of sympathizing with Jin and Saki’s unrequited love, it felt like the drama was baiting me by mentioning it. They were both so good at hiding their feelings that had they not reminded me, I would never have known. Jin and Ryoma had more passionate scenes than any between Jin and Saki. Trying to cover the various political factions along with the medical stories made this season feel less cohesive. Due to many of these problems, the ending didn’t hit for me, the way I’m sure the writers wanted it to.
After the previous paragraph it may sound as if I didn’t like it, but overall, I enjoyed this time traveling medical drama. Most of the characters had good hearts and were eager to help others. People desired for their country to be unified and peaceful. In this drama it wasn’t karma being a bitch, this time it was history. Speaking of history, I enjoyed this angle on the tumultuous end of the Tokugawa Shogunate era. S2 might not have been as strong as S1 but Jin is definitely worth trying if you like any of the genres or actors involved in it.
27 July 2025
7.75 upgraded to an 8.0
Triggers: Ryoma upped his nose picking. Ick. Like season 1, there were graphic surgery scenes. There were also torture scenes if you are sensitive to those.
Was this review helpful to you?
