ltspada
This review may contain spoilers
Fairly formulaic and good but why oh why the separating for your own good trope
8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy medical drama with 16, 60 minute episodes.
First I provide a unique synopsis then review
Synopsis
Nam Ha neul (Park Shin hye) is an intern on the path to being a professor and practitioner at a major medical university. The problem is her supervisory professor steals her work which keeps her from advancing. When she complains about her professor’s unethical behavior he becomes physically and emotionally abusive. After a period of putting up with him, she finally reaches a breaking point and has a screaming argument and resigns. Not seeing what went on behind closed doors, everyone blames her for the incident sending her career into a downward spiral. The abuse and her dying career prospects put her into a state of depression and anxiety. At the same time, Yeo Jeong-woo (Park Hyung-sik) was a successful, near celebrity, plastic surgeon until a tragic medical accident causes his career and his life to fall apart. Needing to live more modestly, he moves into a roof top apartment not knowing his high school academic rival, Ha neul, lives with her family in the building which they own. Once frenemies can these two doctors, who have hit a slump, recover their careers? Can both overcome their mental issues that developed from their highly stressful careers? Will rivalry turn to friendship then something more👅?
Review
It was a feel good romantic comedy. In some of the reviews I read others felt there was no chemistry with the leads. I thought they had chemistry, it wasn’t over the top burning chemistry but, given the show is a friends turned lovers premise that level of chemistry makes sense. The plot was well developed, the characters were interesting, and the premise had some unique twists to it. It ended well and happy with all major plot points wrapped up. I might watch it again if it was on and I would recommend it to others that are fans of the actors or that like this genre.
Spoilers
The pace for me was a bit off. I have to admit I am a bit Goldilocks in my determination of when the couple should get together. If the main couple gets together too early the rest of the series can feel somewhat pointless. On the other hand, if they get together too late it feels rushed. So there is a happy medium and many are able to find that balance. In this one it felt like they got together a little early and the only thing that saved it was there was enough story about the medical accident that it kept the plot moving. They may have gotten them together to build another plot point where she breaks up with him because the guy he sees as a great friend almost brother is the same person that mentally tortured her. It completely devastated her when she found out he did all that to her, kept her from becoming a professor, only so he could build his resume to do something else. I get that would be devastating. I had research stolen from me and it basically made someone else’s career so I know, all too well, how that feels. But, her being so devastated that she breaks it off with him made no sense and was unnecessary. I know it would have been hard at that point to tell him the person he thought so much of was not the person thought he was. I get she might have been afraid if she told him he would be conflicted and she did not want to add to his burden. But breaking it off? She just broke his heart at a time when it was hard for his heart to take it. I was disappointed they developed that point as I do not view that as something someone would do to someone they really loved.
The South Korean view on depression is interesting. The way it was portrayed in this show you would think she had some horrible, terminal disease. Her brain was “broken” she said in so many words. Depression is horrible. Anxiety is even more so. But it is not a fatal disease. With the right counseling, most people can recover from depression well. At times it is looking at what is going on with the person’s life and balancing nutrition. Some of the recent findings on medication indicate that may not be the end all. But there are things that can be done. I think her slump was completely driven by very real events as was her depression. But I did like they showed her recovery. It was just an interesting way to look at depression. His Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was well portrayed and completely valid for what he went through. The way she helped him was actually perfect. They both would be dealing with forms of PTSD for the rest of their lives. Depression, anxiety and PTSD are all things that don’t go away but you can learn to manage them. Part of the battle is how you view yourself and how you view those conditions and I thought the show talked about that very well at the end. It ended on a message of hope for those suffering from those conditions. I liked that.
The second couple was so cute! I loved their story. The way they started noticing each other just by helping out with single parenthood is such a solid foundation. It also showed something I strongly believe, that kids benefit the most from having each gender influence. The little boy needed and craved a father figure and the young girl needed that female influence. I loved how it showed us pictures of the four and how they had formed a family. The personalities of the two characters were such a perfect fit for each other. He was such a nice guy. And I liked that the female character specifically mentioned that about him. The fact that he and main guy patched up their broken friendship was a super bonus. I think love and friendship are such wonderful and unique human conditions that it is heartwarming to me to see those friendships and relationships restored. And main guy needed that friend.
They seemed to like the “we need to separate” trope because first they did the unnecessary separation early in the series and then they were threatening another one later when she was going to take the overseas assignment. I guess they wanted us to be happy that her assignment was cancelled and they were able to stay together. I would have preferred that she chose not to go. Careers are important but I do not think anything like that is more important than the person you love. Life is too short and precious to waste a second doing something that is not essential. Doing that tour was something nice to do and may have helped her career minimally but you can never get those six months back. If something happened to the person you love or even at the end are you really going to look back and think man I am so glad I spent that six months away. Nope. Very few people would think that way. I want to see the best romance and to me the best is where those in love realize how precious that is. They protect it and they do not do unnecessary things like separating just to build their career. Especially when the relationship is new. That initial period when they are first in love and you are presenting the very best of yourself to the other person is fleeting. That period of newness and romance does not last, for many people, beyond the first year.
I loved main girl’s family. They were just eccentric enough to keep it interesting. I loved the way they embraced him and treated him like a son. He needed a real families’ support and they provided it.
So often they either show someone wronged either being completely vengeful or totally forgiving. In this one they struck a balance. And that was the advice mom gave him. You don’t owe anyone forgiveness and you don’t have to forgive now. If not forgiving helps to heal you, then be angry about it. If forgiving is what you need to heal then do that. Maybe you forgive some things someone did but not others, that is something that can be done as well. The show did a good way of depicting that forgiving or not forgiving is up to the individual and there is no right way or right mix of forgiveness and anger or resentment.
I was worried when it was approaching the ending, that it would be one of those endings where they were together but hadn’t actually did a solid commitment. In their case that would not have been a satisfying ending because she had a tendency to be on a solid path and then just break up or change course. So I was happy when it said they had the wedding shoot and the epilogue showed wedding shoot photos. I wanted to know with them that their relationship was solid after all they went through. That made it a happy ending for me. If they ended it with them just going out that would not have been very satisfying.
#DrSlump
#ParkShinHye
I’m #ParkHyungSik
First I provide a unique synopsis then review
Synopsis
Nam Ha neul (Park Shin hye) is an intern on the path to being a professor and practitioner at a major medical university. The problem is her supervisory professor steals her work which keeps her from advancing. When she complains about her professor’s unethical behavior he becomes physically and emotionally abusive. After a period of putting up with him, she finally reaches a breaking point and has a screaming argument and resigns. Not seeing what went on behind closed doors, everyone blames her for the incident sending her career into a downward spiral. The abuse and her dying career prospects put her into a state of depression and anxiety. At the same time, Yeo Jeong-woo (Park Hyung-sik) was a successful, near celebrity, plastic surgeon until a tragic medical accident causes his career and his life to fall apart. Needing to live more modestly, he moves into a roof top apartment not knowing his high school academic rival, Ha neul, lives with her family in the building which they own. Once frenemies can these two doctors, who have hit a slump, recover their careers? Can both overcome their mental issues that developed from their highly stressful careers? Will rivalry turn to friendship then something more👅?
Review
It was a feel good romantic comedy. In some of the reviews I read others felt there was no chemistry with the leads. I thought they had chemistry, it wasn’t over the top burning chemistry but, given the show is a friends turned lovers premise that level of chemistry makes sense. The plot was well developed, the characters were interesting, and the premise had some unique twists to it. It ended well and happy with all major plot points wrapped up. I might watch it again if it was on and I would recommend it to others that are fans of the actors or that like this genre.
Spoilers
The pace for me was a bit off. I have to admit I am a bit Goldilocks in my determination of when the couple should get together. If the main couple gets together too early the rest of the series can feel somewhat pointless. On the other hand, if they get together too late it feels rushed. So there is a happy medium and many are able to find that balance. In this one it felt like they got together a little early and the only thing that saved it was there was enough story about the medical accident that it kept the plot moving. They may have gotten them together to build another plot point where she breaks up with him because the guy he sees as a great friend almost brother is the same person that mentally tortured her. It completely devastated her when she found out he did all that to her, kept her from becoming a professor, only so he could build his resume to do something else. I get that would be devastating. I had research stolen from me and it basically made someone else’s career so I know, all too well, how that feels. But, her being so devastated that she breaks it off with him made no sense and was unnecessary. I know it would have been hard at that point to tell him the person he thought so much of was not the person thought he was. I get she might have been afraid if she told him he would be conflicted and she did not want to add to his burden. But breaking it off? She just broke his heart at a time when it was hard for his heart to take it. I was disappointed they developed that point as I do not view that as something someone would do to someone they really loved.
The South Korean view on depression is interesting. The way it was portrayed in this show you would think she had some horrible, terminal disease. Her brain was “broken” she said in so many words. Depression is horrible. Anxiety is even more so. But it is not a fatal disease. With the right counseling, most people can recover from depression well. At times it is looking at what is going on with the person’s life and balancing nutrition. Some of the recent findings on medication indicate that may not be the end all. But there are things that can be done. I think her slump was completely driven by very real events as was her depression. But I did like they showed her recovery. It was just an interesting way to look at depression. His Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was well portrayed and completely valid for what he went through. The way she helped him was actually perfect. They both would be dealing with forms of PTSD for the rest of their lives. Depression, anxiety and PTSD are all things that don’t go away but you can learn to manage them. Part of the battle is how you view yourself and how you view those conditions and I thought the show talked about that very well at the end. It ended on a message of hope for those suffering from those conditions. I liked that.
The second couple was so cute! I loved their story. The way they started noticing each other just by helping out with single parenthood is such a solid foundation. It also showed something I strongly believe, that kids benefit the most from having each gender influence. The little boy needed and craved a father figure and the young girl needed that female influence. I loved how it showed us pictures of the four and how they had formed a family. The personalities of the two characters were such a perfect fit for each other. He was such a nice guy. And I liked that the female character specifically mentioned that about him. The fact that he and main guy patched up their broken friendship was a super bonus. I think love and friendship are such wonderful and unique human conditions that it is heartwarming to me to see those friendships and relationships restored. And main guy needed that friend.
They seemed to like the “we need to separate” trope because first they did the unnecessary separation early in the series and then they were threatening another one later when she was going to take the overseas assignment. I guess they wanted us to be happy that her assignment was cancelled and they were able to stay together. I would have preferred that she chose not to go. Careers are important but I do not think anything like that is more important than the person you love. Life is too short and precious to waste a second doing something that is not essential. Doing that tour was something nice to do and may have helped her career minimally but you can never get those six months back. If something happened to the person you love or even at the end are you really going to look back and think man I am so glad I spent that six months away. Nope. Very few people would think that way. I want to see the best romance and to me the best is where those in love realize how precious that is. They protect it and they do not do unnecessary things like separating just to build their career. Especially when the relationship is new. That initial period when they are first in love and you are presenting the very best of yourself to the other person is fleeting. That period of newness and romance does not last, for many people, beyond the first year.
I loved main girl’s family. They were just eccentric enough to keep it interesting. I loved the way they embraced him and treated him like a son. He needed a real families’ support and they provided it.
So often they either show someone wronged either being completely vengeful or totally forgiving. In this one they struck a balance. And that was the advice mom gave him. You don’t owe anyone forgiveness and you don’t have to forgive now. If not forgiving helps to heal you, then be angry about it. If forgiving is what you need to heal then do that. Maybe you forgive some things someone did but not others, that is something that can be done as well. The show did a good way of depicting that forgiving or not forgiving is up to the individual and there is no right way or right mix of forgiveness and anger or resentment.
I was worried when it was approaching the ending, that it would be one of those endings where they were together but hadn’t actually did a solid commitment. In their case that would not have been a satisfying ending because she had a tendency to be on a solid path and then just break up or change course. So I was happy when it said they had the wedding shoot and the epilogue showed wedding shoot photos. I wanted to know with them that their relationship was solid after all they went through. That made it a happy ending for me. If they ended it with them just going out that would not have been very satisfying.
#DrSlump
#ParkShinHye
I’m #ParkHyungSik
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