A Wasted Potential Due to Poor Direction
Doctor Slump started as a promising drama with a compelling premise and phenomenal performances from the entire cast. The actors deserve an easy 20/10 for their dedication and hard work. Unfortunately, all that talent was wasted by a director who had no grasp of time management, screen time distribution, or even the basic concept of entertainment in a drama meant to engage viewers.
One of the biggest flaws of Doctor Slump was its handling of supporting characters. The second male lead (SML) and second female lead (SFL) were practically sidelined, receiving less screen time than side characters like the female lead’s (FL) family—especially her unemployed, good-for-nothing brother, Nam Ba Da. The irony of modern South Korean values, which seem to mirror Western ideals, is glaring in this portrayal. The FL losing her job is treated as a monumental disaster, yet nobody bats an eye at her jobless brother who leeches off her earnings while lounging around in his shorts all day, talking nonsense. To add insult to injury, this character was given more screen time than Yoon Park, a genuinely talented actor who deserved better.
The male lead (ML) seemed intent on recycling his Strong Woman Do Bong Soon character (Min-Min), making his portrayal feel like a copy-paste performance rather than something fresh. Meanwhile, the FL delivered a fantastic performance, proving her skills as an actress. However, after episode 10, the drama took a nosedive into complete absurdity. The storytelling became extremely boring and unrealistic, with scenes that defied all logic.
One of the most ridiculous moments was when the ML walked into an ICU room where a critical patient (the villain) was lying, yet there was no hospital staff present. His girlfriend waited outside while he confronted the villain, talked to him, and—just from his words alone—the villain mysteriously died. What’s even more bizarre is that nobody questioned the ML. Did he kill him? Did his words have some supernatural death-inducing power? No doubts, no investigations—just terrible, lazy writing.
What started as a beautiful love story was ultimately ruined by nonsensical direction and weak execution. The director failed to balance emotional depth, humor, and pacing, turning what could have been a great drama into a frustrating experience. A complete waste of a talented cast and a promising beginning.
One of the biggest flaws of Doctor Slump was its handling of supporting characters. The second male lead (SML) and second female lead (SFL) were practically sidelined, receiving less screen time than side characters like the female lead’s (FL) family—especially her unemployed, good-for-nothing brother, Nam Ba Da. The irony of modern South Korean values, which seem to mirror Western ideals, is glaring in this portrayal. The FL losing her job is treated as a monumental disaster, yet nobody bats an eye at her jobless brother who leeches off her earnings while lounging around in his shorts all day, talking nonsense. To add insult to injury, this character was given more screen time than Yoon Park, a genuinely talented actor who deserved better.
The male lead (ML) seemed intent on recycling his Strong Woman Do Bong Soon character (Min-Min), making his portrayal feel like a copy-paste performance rather than something fresh. Meanwhile, the FL delivered a fantastic performance, proving her skills as an actress. However, after episode 10, the drama took a nosedive into complete absurdity. The storytelling became extremely boring and unrealistic, with scenes that defied all logic.
One of the most ridiculous moments was when the ML walked into an ICU room where a critical patient (the villain) was lying, yet there was no hospital staff present. His girlfriend waited outside while he confronted the villain, talked to him, and—just from his words alone—the villain mysteriously died. What’s even more bizarre is that nobody questioned the ML. Did he kill him? Did his words have some supernatural death-inducing power? No doubts, no investigations—just terrible, lazy writing.
What started as a beautiful love story was ultimately ruined by nonsensical direction and weak execution. The director failed to balance emotional depth, humor, and pacing, turning what could have been a great drama into a frustrating experience. A complete waste of a talented cast and a promising beginning.
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