Doctor Cha (2023)

Medical dramedy done right

I don't watch dramas when they're airing. The wait for the next episode is too much. But Dr. Cha makes it easier to bear, worth the wait infact. With her kind words and smiles and overall adorableness.
Contrasting her is her husband Seo In Ho who clearly does not deserve her. Competing with him (nearly) is Roy Kim who is literally The Standard (TM). There is the other woman in Sung Hee. The kids, Jung Min, I Rang, Eun Seo and the grandmothers form the main cast around whom the story revolves.
Dr. Cha has everything going for it- good music, cast, performances, plot and emotions. The themes around which it revolves are extremely well done- starting over, self discovery, midlife crisis, a tiny bit of medicine, affair and its problems that are not just jealousy, etc. The characterisation is wonderful as well. However, the screenplay is bizzare in a few segments and some directional faults are obvious.
Right from around 4th or 5th ep, there was a feeling that the show wouldn't end like I want it to; one which is solidifying as more episodes unfold. But Dr. Cha can also dole out good surprises so for now, I'll keep my hopes on that.

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Enforces the stereotypes it claims to oppose

What's the use in showing a woman fighting the oppression she faces by society if she'll eventually submit to them?

It annoys me that the portrayal of women in korean society is so accurate. the show does a painfully good job at this, you sympathize with dr Cha, who's working hard and has the brains, only for sexism to hold her back. It annoys me cause they do nothing with this! you don't get a medal for simply adressing the unfairness, the story must fight it. and it doesn't, the shitty cheater doesn't pay, neither his enabling mother. nothing changes, at the core.

About her "happy ending" I have mixed feelings. Loved that she became more confident and independent, but that wouldn't be erased if she gained a love interest. Koreans have a problem with middle aged women having a life beyond being a mother and wife. people in their 50s have sex, as they should. sometimes with younger men. as long as he treated her well, I don't see why she didn't give him a chance. you can be strong and independent while in a relationship with the right person.

Other reviews have said it better, but I'm saying it again: it's not her that had to change, it's the society!

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Misleading victim narrative

I saw the promo for this on Netflix back in late April and decided to wait till the whole series finished uploading in early June to watch it. It wasn’t worth the wait.

Dr Cha’s premise is that of an ambitious woman who gave up her dream of becoming a doctor to became a devoted housewife to an unappreciative and disrespectful husband and family. It promises a great comeuppance epic for the middle-aged woman who gets a new lease on life, a second chance at her medical dreams replete with a haircut that makes her look more youthful and a toy boy to elicit jealousy from her cheating husband. What an enticing mix! Except, we find that this narrative is all BS in Dr Cha’s case.

The premise is set up in the following manner: we get intro’d to a near middle-aged Dr Cha who questions whether having given up her medical license, and her dream of becoming a doctor, to become a housewife was worth it or not. Her mother-in-law assures her rearing children is the most worthy pursuit in life before instructing her on performing her duties and chores, which is basically as a servant of the household. The protagonist then has advanced hepatitis and we see how meaningless her selfless sacrifice has been. Her husband (In Ho), the only compatible donor for a liver transplant, is not only reluctant to save her life but is having an affair on the side. The oppressive mother-in-law puts the life of the family above hers yet guilts her into being more “considerate” of In Ho’s future as a surgeon and actively stops him from donating his liver to her. Oh, the outrage! Oh, the inhumanity! What a bunch of a-holes. Except we find that Jung Sook is anything but a victim.

In only a couple of episodes, all the poor victim housewife narrative is debunked. Firstly, Jung Sook never had a medical license so she was never a doctor. I’m not even sure how the scriptwriters figured in her residency years when she got pregnant in only her 2nd year of med school. Medical degrees are usually 5-6 years, with a year’s internship before the residency years, so she wouldn’t even have made her residency years. It’s doubtful that she even completed her degree. Plus, she never had a dream of becoming a doctor until she had her brush with death, in the present, so this part of the premise fails too.

Secondly, there was no betrayal from the “affair” since Jung Sook and In Ho didn’t get married because of love. They got married because Jung Sook seduced him in a situation that can only be described as the lamest reason to hook up I’ve ever seen—Jung Sook basically had sex with In Ho because the room they were in was very warm. *roll eyes* Laziest scriptwriting ever. And I say she seduced him because at the time, it was well known in their course that In Ho and Sung Hee (the “mistress”) were in a r/ship. They were the it couple of the program but because, and I quote verbatim from Jung Sook, Sung Hee was not there to stop them, they had sex together. Not only was love never part of the equation, the mother-in-law had never approved of Jung Sook to begin with; instead, she preferred the gf, Sung Hee. Despite this, they did marry because In Ho was man enough to take responsibility for the child and felt obligated to provide for mother and son. So it was understandable, in the present, that In Ho was reluctant to put his life and career at risk to donate his liver since there was never any love between them to begin with. And being that there was no love, his “affair” could not be construed as a betrayal. Thus, the whole unappreciated, betrayed victim housewife angle fails spectacularly. Not only that, it quickly becomes clear that Jung Sook is really an opportunistic and petty airhead.

For one thing, Sung Hee not only stole In Ho from Sung Hee but also Sung Hee’s best friend, Mi Hee. Also, although we get told that she’s good at studies, she gets better grades than the surgeon husband, In Ho, and also a higher residency mark than her son, a surgical intern in In Ho’s department, the reality of her abilities is totally different. Of all the hospitals she could have applied to, for her residency, she applies to In Ho’s hospital. Why? Is it because it’s a good hospital? We don’t get told this so—no. Is it because it’s sentimental to her? She suggests this but even Mi Hee vetoes the idea so—no. It’s because she finds out that Sung Hee is his colleague. Yes, the gf that, when Mi Hee was recounting the past with her, she claims she doesn't remember at all. Talk about starting anew—NOT.

Then, rather than diligently focusing on her work, which is literally life and death for patients, she indulges in petty office politics by resolving to keep an eye on her son’s strict supervisor (and secret gf), doesn’t know the basic medical acronyms, sulks about being reprimanded for getting medications wrong (which could’ve killed someone!) and gets upset over not being treated with respect as an elder. What an entitled attitude. This is after having the gall to meet the woman whom she stole the bf from, asking Sung Hee if she remembers her before asking her to support her application to the hospital. Unbelievable nerve. By right Jung Sook could not have made it in at all but for the same agency that brought her a compatible liver in the first place—luck! This airhead is nothing but lucky and did not make it in anything in life on any of her efforts because they don’t exist! She gets lucky by getting knocked up by a skilled boy, whom later becomes a good surgeon, and then lucky by an applicant dropping out of the running for the residency position. How does she celebrate all this luck? By drowning her new liver with the very thing that would damage it—alcohol.

The toy boy angle was a mess in this clusterf#ck of a series. The whole American-surgeon-moving-to-Korea thing was obviously created to enhance the appeal of the toy boy, and her middle-aged "revenge", but, like her medical license that never was, the angle made not an ounce of sense at all. It’s great that toy boy went to Harvard or Stanford med school and all but being an adoptee who grew up in America, how the heck did he learn up adequate Korean to be able to be a surgeon in Korea? Why did he come back to Korea anyway when his family and life was all in America? Just because someone was born in Korea doesn’t mean they’ll be able to master Korean when they’ve grown up in a non-Korean speaking country most of their life! Not only that, conversational Korean would be vastly different to technical medical Korean, of which toy boy would have had to have mastered to be able to give the simplest instructions in a surgery. Did this obvious fact not even occur to the scriptwriter at all?! Jeezus!

I tapped out half way through episode 4 when Jung Sook was trying to guilttrip her son for not doing everything that was rightfully her job as a resident-in-training in what was meant to be her dream career. She's effing useless and I had no bond with the character nor any inclination to want to invest in her journey, which is the most important thing for a screenwriter to have to do with a character. Instead, the writer created a self-absorbed narcissist who should find somewhere else to play out her misguided victimhood fantasies so that she can stop endangering the lives of patients.

Despite this, I do plan to finish this series but only while on the treadmill where I don’t need all my brain cells but just moving images to keep me going. For those who do want to watch shows with a full brain though, I wouldn’t recommend this. The suspension of disbelief needed to watch it with full attention is asking too much of a discerning audience. It’s just insulting to the intellect to watch Jung Sook being valorised as the victim when she was the real mistress and villain to begin with and I felt sorry for Sung Hee for the villainess tag that the series was obviously trying to pin on her.

Disappointing AF.

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Managing Work and Home

Doctor Cha did not pass my 15 minute “love it or leave” test. However, this barometer does not account for dramas which have necessary set up time and/or are slow burns. Nonetheless, there was enough there to keep going with this drama. There was her husband who was a true piece of work and her mother-in-law, whose chippy son honestly fell close to tree. I found by the end of episode 1 that Doctor Cha was an undiscovered gem. Also what helped me to stick with this drama was the fact that although episode 1 only got 5 % viewership nationwide in Korea (10 % is considered a hit drama), Doctor Cha tapped out in episode 16 with a 19 % viewership in Korea. This would make it a mega hit. To be noted, Doctor Cha is one of the most melodramatic melodramas with over the top performances by most of the cast. With touches of dark humor, there is enough to entertain all in this Medical; Comedy Family drama.

Women, we all know Doctor Cha. She is that woman who unselfishly sacrifices her career and life to stay at home with the kids and slave for a thankless mother-in-law and a two-timing husband. Well, after a near death experience, now she realizes that the kids are grown and nothing is stopping her from realizing her dreams. You go girl! Fighting! I invite all to cheer on Doctor Cha, as she learns how to be empowered. It is a go for me.

Quote from Doctor Cha

Mistress of two-timing husband, upon hearing the his wife was in the emergency room with acute liver problems, which is about to cancel their secret get-a-way, “If you are that worried then just go to the hospital”.

Two-timing husband, “It’s not like she is a kid. I have a sense of decency, you know. How could I just leave you here and go (to her)?”

Actors Corner

Uhm Jung-hwa as Doctor Cha Jeong-suk—One of the founding K-pop Artist, she has been an Actress since 1990, appeared in Our Blues. Uhm Jung-hwa is a nine time Baeksang Arts Awards (plus Grand Bell) winner. She would be our Meryl Streep.

Kim Byung-chul as Doctor Seo In-ho (Baeksang Arts Award Winner for Best Supporting Actor for Skycastle)

Min Woo-hyuk as Doctor Roy Kim is a Singer, Actor, and Model (If You Wish Upon Me).

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Legend of Doctor Cha

This was an average drama with saccharine acting and dialog; two reasons why I have stayed away from K-Dramas for many years. The plot had potential as a drama about infidelity and character growth. What we saw, was compromise, mistrust and miscommunication within the family unit, and narrow-mindedness.

Parent and child communication is flawed. Yes, the ingrates, Seo In Ho and Mother Kwak, did confide in each other, but they had an ulterior motive; to use and denigrate the passive FL. The two most ethical characters, Dr Cha and Mother Oh also kept secrets and sweet-talked each other, instead of trusting each other with their problems. In fact, the Seo family was deliberately undermining the mother, and enabling the father, by keeping Dr Seo’s illicit affair from Cha. Ms Oh thought her son-in-law was a saint and paragon of virtue for twenty-five years. The moral of the plot was that one should turn a blind eye, and obey the husband and mother-in-law.

Thank God, Cha rejected Seo's last ditch attempts to lure her back to the family. The husband, daughter and son, and MIL needed to appreciate the good life they had with the servile wife, mother and daughter-in-law at their beck and call.

I can't imagine the females' attraction to Seo in Ho. Why did two women with some higher education, cling to him? He had no charm or good looks. Did he throw all his money at the Mistress and Lovechild? He certainly treated the legitimate wife as a servant. He stopped having sex with the wife for ten years. After Eunsoo’s birth, did he travel to USA frequently, to be with his second family? They only returned to Korea three years ago.

Most of the characters were pathetic, with the exception of Dr Roy Kim. A shame that he did not wait for the three years’ time jump, and romance Doctor Cha. I understand Cha’s reluctance because of her illness that could end her life at any time, but Kim and she had a connection. He was the only one who was looking out for her wellbeing and happiness.

Uhm Jung Hwa was credible as Doctor Cha, the passive wife and mother and daughter-in-law, who would not challenge the manipulative, ungrateful husband and MIL, and the pampered children. One wonders if they will turn eventually into carbon copies of the father and grandmother. Cha found her identity and self-worth when she resumed her medical profession.

Kim Byung Chu as Seo in Ho; a brilliant surgeon and lying, cheating husband! Seo’s slapstick comedy act was overdone and tedious. The facial quirks, pratfalls and outbursts diminished Seo's professionalism as a topnotch surgeon and department head. He should have been in showbiz. Seo was duplicitous, verbally abusive, manipulative, and belligerent. In the end, he was promoted to Hospital Director. WTF! It would not surprise me if he preyed on another woman after his divorce.

Myung Se Bin as Choi Seung Hee; an entitled mistress! I finally understood her behavior when it was revealed that she was from a rich family, and inherited half of the father’s estate. No wonder, Ms Kwak was bitter that her son had not married Choi.

Min Woo Hyuk as Roy Kim; a knight in shining armor! It is disappointing that he did not end up with Dr Cha.

This drama had too much filler and comedic moments. The drunk sequences were excessive. It should have been trimmed to twelve episodes. The final episode was boring. Dr Kim should have waited for the three years' time jump, and wooed Dr Cha. That was enough time for Cha to find her identity and purpose in life. Most of the final episode was filler.

Story: 7.0: The drama plot was average, but it portrayed the bias against females in the family unit, except for the female hierarch.
Acting: 7.5: The actors are seasoned drama performers.
Makeup Rating 6.5: The actresses wore whiter than white foundation that made them look ghostly and ghastly. Isn't cosmetology a big industry in Korea?
Costume Rating 6.5: Some of Cha's outfits were dowdy, and Ms Kwak shopped at the Fugly Fashion House. Kwak's outfits were ugly.
Writing Rating 6: Too much filler and inane dialog
Directing and Editing Rating 7: Too much filler scenes stretching the drama.
Music Rating: 6.5
Rewatch Value: 1: Husband and MIL killed the vibes.
Overall Rating 6.5

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Fell flat but is okay

June 9, 2023

I started watching Doctor Cha when it first aired as I was captivated by the pilot episode. I have consistently was keeping up with this show until it started feeling draggy around ep 10.

I genuinely love how the ending occured but I feel like some scenes were just unnecessary. I know many people shipped her with Dr. Roy but regardless, the ending was still pretty decent in my opinion. A bit flat in terms of the plot progression.

I do wish the ex husband deserved a better punishment per se for how he treated Dr. Cha. Like her life was so pitiful during the time of their marriage. I could not even imagine the pain and suffering she had to go through for that.

I genuinely only finished this show for the sake of finishing it as I was so invested. There were definitely good moments and comedic relief that this show gave me. As a result, I would still recommend this show for people who want a funny somehow deep? Is this even considered a deep story.... Uh.... I lost my train of thoughts hopefully I edit this review when I gain my brain cells.

Anyhow, ADIOS ?

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Definitely worth a watch, don't understand the bad reviews though?

I started watching this drama on a whim but as the story progressed it was already my favorite drama to wait for on the weekends. I really liked the characters and how the drama had the right amount of comedy, romance, and drama in it. I think the actors did a splendid job portraying their characters making us mad and cry at the same time. Coming to the part viewers were complaining about, I don't think it was ever about Dr. Cha ending up with who at all. It was her story to find out about her own self, learn about her own potential, and most importantly give herself the love she deserved. Since her young age when it was time for her to explore and learn about things on her own, she was already busy taking care of her family while her priority should've been her own self. Dr Roy's character was just like a guide for her to find herself once again amidst all the chaos she had been through, sure Dr. Roy was the greenest walking flag and she obviously deserved someone like him after all she went through but considering she never had been on her own, it was her choice to walk alone on this journey.

I think the writers did a good job with the endings of In Ho and Seung Hee too, they were definitely too toxic for each other, I'm glad the writers didn't make them end up together and rather gave them proper redemption arcs. I think the main three characters of this drama all needed to be on their own to understand themselves better, poor children had been through a lot since their college days just because of In Ho's indecisiveness since the beginning.

I am glad they didn't force the relationship arc of the main leads to end them up with their significant others, it was definitely not some teen love drama where you need to find a significant other to be called a happy ending drama. In terms of romance, I think we got plenty of cute and relatable moments from Jeong Min and So Ra's characters. I think it was a good watch for sure, would've loved to see Dr Cha and Dr Roy ending up together but it wasn't just the case where she needs to have someone by her side to feel like she is loved, there were enough people around Jung Sook to love and cheer for her at the end.

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Story was strong and captivating until it wasn’t

The show starts off so strong with the cheating husband and it was exciting watch every episode as they released. When Jeong Suk gets sick I was hoping she would divorce the man as he treated her terribly but that comes later. The delay of the divorce even after she finds out he cheated on her was so painful to watch. The side plots like Roy being adopted and finding his family, JS son and his girlfriend, and JS mother being in pain was honestly so unreasonable for the drama. It was like filler drama, this drama really dropped the ball. I wouldn’t recommend a watch at all to be honest, I enjoyed it because it was light and funny but the storytelling skills are 0/10 for me.

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BINGE WORTHY PERFORMANCES

I’m early into this romantic comedy, so I’ll keep it brief. This is the funniest show I’ve seen in a while. The comedic timing is simply fantastic! Although the comedy is great, Doctor Cha takes you through a range of emotions, as there are more serious scenes and issues of concern. The writing is excellent and the storyline is logical. The actors do a marvelous job with each character and make them believable. I’m loving this show! Can’t wait for the next airing! Will write more later.

Completed all shows and it did not disappoint! It remained a great show, becoming more serious in last few episodes, although occasionally funny throughout. I’ve read some of the comments—cannot relate to the negativity! Doctor Cha is well-done and a fabulous show! We’ve wandered away from enjoying just the art itself! There doesn’t have to be messaging in every show, curtailed to resolve the social and political ills in a society!

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