oldman123

yes, that's the sad thing about such script writers - can be spotted a mile away. too little creativity and imagination. They always seek to have this together-split-together stuff when they can really have a great female-centred script.

This started well, and surprised me (I have no expectations of this drama when I started) with light comedic moments and a great female who knows what she wants. Sadly and predictably, it meanders onto a path where the male lead is typically one-eyed and macho and cannot handle real support from a woman (just like his dead comrade), and so 'disappears' from her life, creating angst. Surely, Chinese novelists and script writers can come up with better stories than just repeating trite story lines of yes, no and yes as a redemptive theme. And really, what is YSSand the third wheeler (the other male 'playboy' friend) doing; the latter is just fluff and adds nothing substantive to the drama. A little disappointing but I hope to be proven wrong.

don't forget she has been reminded a number of times to take her meds and have a checkout and she has forgotten to do that. The meds and checkout are critical early after the transplant and that she has a relapse after 3 months (one rotation) is not surprising. Stress, anger and anxiety makes the problem worse.

Too right. These are KOREAN dramas - many commentators want their own dramas, and stories from their own perspectives. Many fail to grapple and understand that women (re)starting their careers have many issues to consider and to overcome. One commentator said it's should be about medical rivalries and many want to see post-divorce Dr. Cha. If you read the tags, the tags does not suggest that, and if the commentators can't stand what is being unveiled as the series progresses, they should just stop watching and commenting. I think and believe the writer was probably trying to do too much - so many sub-plots - sickness, careers, cheating partners, children, adoption and really, many possible gripes are there

That's probably true for many married couples (in both east and the west. Some religions do not support divorce - many stayed married for the children, for financial stability and a host of other reasons.

Thank you. It reminds me of another series where people relentlessly criticised the woman, a mother - The Good Bad Mother. The mother was depicted as an authoritarian mother and denying her son many things. Is this real at all? I think many Tiger Mums are just like that but it does not mean there is no motherly love. It's like what many in the west would regard as tough love. This is really all about cultural lens and if we think about discipline and how different communities view them, maybe we can appreciate that more. This is not defending cultural norms and traditions as some of them are just so oppressive - e.g. suttee is still practised and revenge rape and murders are also common (not only in the East but also in the West) and should not be acceptable. Until equality is realised, many would still suffer from male abuse of power. I actually wondered if those who are so vocal and critical of Dr Seo would be so if they are caught in such situations?

The writer seems to be copping a lot of flak. That is so sad and pathetic. I think the writer (she) captures the culture and social mores in Korea well. First, divorce in Korea is a problem. Divorce is not a topic that Koreans talk about casually for many; it is seen as a failure and blame is attributed to the women. This is because of Korea's deep-seated neo-Confucianist, feudal and patriarchal values (and the last elections saw this used to great effect by conservatives). Misogyny and male dominance is a reality facing many women. Secondly, divorce in Korea is unlike many societies and countries - there is no provision for a no-fault divorce (except for a divorce by agreement between the parties, which was the norm in many western countries until the 70s and even then...). The Korean judicial divorce process is a fault-based contest between a wrongdoer and the wronged. The courts reason that a guiltless spouse should not be forced into an unwanted divorce, and the aggrieved spouse is required to establish one of the following grounds: adultery, desertion (similar in the west until the 1970s), and more recently domestic abuse and personality conflict. Even those two latter reasons are hard to effect save for those who have the money and indeed, the writer captured this very well through Dr, Seo's belligerence and attitude towards divorce. He even said in a trailer that he would used every penny he has to contest the divorce and it'll be interesting if infidelity and adultery would then be used to expose him. Thirdly, the writer is sensitive in portraying the pain, the angst and travails of a 50+ Korean women caught in this shifting cultural clash. She has to mediate family issues, including that of her mother, guilt, shame and her own sense of growing independence and freedom.. For many women who have been homemakers for 30 years or thereabouts, this is such a brave move but also fearful and full of anxiety. These are real issues and not a fantasy (although kdramas are) and some commentators live in their own worlds.

Yes, I think there will be no divorce, and in real life, many will not divorce - it's not only in kdrama. Mothers will be mothers and act for security and their children. That's why men have been able to get away with it in all societies. Until and unless there is true equality, security and financial independence for women, many will stay on. It's sad and rather tragic but the real world is such,

yes, finish what was started is a good motto.

yes, the writer reflects society and there might be a high probability that she stays for the family to save them. But maybe, she could still do that by being an independent woman. that's why it's interesting to see how the present writer (a woman) deals with it. Korea is highly feudal and patriarchal and this is evident in k-dramas and even in real life - the recent elections showed an outpouring of misogyny and the election of such politicians.

I agree with your comments about not using the kids as an excuse but in patriarchal societies, it's often the case. this is true in both western and eastern societies. Just look at why women stay in the west - divorce rates are higher for those in their 50s and 60 and typically after the kids have grown up. It may not be right but if women do not have financial independence and emotional strength and support, it's very hard.

would it not be interesting if Dr. Kim turns out to be the son of Dr. Cha's mother-in-law?

Many have been critical of Dr. Cha. But is there not a context? Korea like China and Japan are Confucianist. People still hold patriarchal and feudal views, still very much of a dominant male view. Most k-dramas emphasised that, and that's a reflection of the society. Just look at the last elections where a male backlash was underway and anti-'women' views were articulated enabling a conservative government to be elected. That is reality. K-dramas can subvert that but most don't. I only hope the current series and the writer does. Will Dr. Cha stay with her cheating husband or become independent and seek a divorce? Many would root for the latter, including me but that sadly may not happen - she may stay to rescue the family from the fraudster (conning her mother-in-law), conformity and 'feudal' values.