This review may contain spoilers
A Must-See Taiwanese Drama of 2025
The story plot, the diverse set of actors, and the production got me interested in watching this drama, and correct me if I am wrong, but I think I havent seen any Taiwanese dramas that has a Southeast Asian actor as the main (and maybe titular) character other than this drama.Medical dramas might not be everyone's cup of tea (including myself), and so as dramas with social themes, but in my own honest opinion, The Outlaw Doctor is not your ordinary medical drama. It's a medical crime drama touching the very complicated issues that Taiwan is facing like the welfare of the migrant workers in the said country who have no status, illegal medical practice, human trafficking, organ trade (implied), etc.
But most importantly, this drama shows us about embracing empathy towards one another, esp. migrant workers, and looking at the other side of the story.
Fan Wen-Ning represents every foreign worker trying to make a living in Taiwan for their families (while saving his fellow foreign workers' lives even if it's in illegal practice). Cheng Wan-Ping represents every mother who wants the best for her son's condition without realising the consequences of those decisions. Every character, including the two main characters, is flawed, but later accepted and embraced empathy and compassion towards themselves, towards every person, and towards every situation cos not everyone's lives go out smoothly.
As what Fan Wen-Ning said, "No matter how the world treats us, we need to be kind."
This drama honestly hits me closer to home, and it's a masterpiece for me.
(PS: TW - more and more blood scenes that are not black and white in the first two episodes, so better prepare yourself)
(PPS: I wouldve given the Acting part a perfect 10, but tbh, the way the actress who portrayed Prosecutor Chou delivered her lines ruined it for me, so I jave to give it like a bit lower.)
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