Loved Season 2.
This was nice! I love Kim Min Jae (Yoo Se Poong) I loved how he became persistent in clearing his character's name. I didn't realize how tall he was until I saw him standing next to Kim Hyang Gi (Seo Eun Woo) who did very well playing the widow. You will have to watch Season 1 to find out why she was a widow. Kim Sang Kyung (Kye Ji Han) who played the father and leader of the medical crew, was very delighted by him. I loved how became a protector at night ninja style. lol, I cried, I laughed, and even threw my shoe at the TV... Finally, an ending that was solemnly good and at peace.Was this review helpful to you?
Light-hearted
You don't have to watch the first season as they do recap it in the first episode but it's better to watch it as you understand the background of how the male lead got his name 'Poong' and the situation of the female lead. Also the circumstances in which he started working in the clinic. Also the last episode will make more sense if you've seen the first season.The second season was quite enjoyable for me. There was more focus on psychiatry in the second season which was one of my biggest complaints with the first season. I personally enjoyed this season more. Though there was some good mystery in the previous season as well. Don't be turned off by the SFL as her part is not much. But the SML can be annoying. The thing that bothered me is why Man Bok's character was not properly used. It didn't make sense.
There is more romance in this season but don't expect too much. Most of the time it is just awkwardness and spending time with each other.
If not for the finale, I would rate it as 8.5 because I was entertained. The final episode was underwhelming. Missed opportunity of cashing in on the couple that everyone wanted to see more of. It was overall sweet. Just missing some bang or maybe that's how I usually expect finales to go.
I actually didn't think I would even watch the second season after the first but I'm glad I did.
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Not Good Enough
Korean Drama " Poong: The Joseon Psychiatrist Season Two " is the sequel and continuation of the story of Poong and his team.The drama is more romance focus this time, though there were quite the cheesy moments when it came to the couple.
The comedy was, on the other hand, more enjoyable. Especially the princess was a pretty entertaining character.
As for the mystery, it was okay at first, and offered a few action and suspenseful things, but it got boring.
The performances were, still, great by everyone in the cast.
So, overall, four out of ten.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not as Expected but Enjoyable Nonetheless
On the heels of series 1 I was really looking forward to this 2nd series of Poong!I'd like to say that I loved it as much as I did the first series...but alas, I did not.
That isn't to say that it wasn't fun and had a lot of good (or even great) parts to it, only that it just didn't outdo the 1st series. (Note: You don't absolutely have to watch the 1st series to get this one but I think you'll lose a lot if you don't!)
Do I think it's worth watching?
Yes! (Although why I think so may vary from other's opinions)
What I want to say overall-- The "ensemble" characters really stole the show this time around.
Yes, yes, we all know that Poong and Eun Woo are going through that whole forbidden romance thing and it takes of the majority of the show but to be brutally honest I was more interested in Man Bok, Lady Namhae, Ip Bun and of course, Physician Gye and what they got up to (and how some of them grew) than what was going on with Eun & Poong. I'm sorry to say it but the ensemble were the most entertaining parts of the show this time around and I really wouldn't have minded at all if more time had been spent on them and less on Poong and Eun mooning around and will-he/will she/ won't they back and forth.
I understand that the neo-confucian mores for the period were also a big part of the awkwardness/waiting/being stuck in neutral gear but it was still hard to stay interested. Especially when Poong kept saying basically "Yea, I know it's a problem, I know my reputation is in trouble but I'll defend it and myself later." :P Uh, not being proactive much, are you Poong? >_<
I think some of my irritation with Poong & Eun Woo's story arc could have been solved with tighter editing of the script and shooting. I was more interested in the potential arc for Ip Bun with the Magistrate/Family connections, and Mank Bok's "secret" in Hanyang...and I'll admit it--all through this series I kept hoping (yes, shipping a ManHae!) for some romance to spring up between him and lady Namhae but sadly...none of that :( Heck, I was even hoping Physician Gye would get something going for a bit but that just didn't pan out...and of course, Granny and her final scenes was so bittersweet and timely.
The Medical Mysteries aspect of it were good.
Especially the one with the bullying. The reveal on that was excellent.
The only the exception of the one with the concubine/wife towards the end (that felt so rushed and inconsequential that I think it could have been nixed without losing anything substantial. I think it was only there so Poong/Eun could realize that they were suffering the same issue?)
Over all it was a good watch.
It didn't drive me to keep watching the next one (like the first series did) but it was still entertaining.
I'd recommend giving it a go.
For what it's worth I'd LOVE to see:
Kim Sang Kyung, Ahn Chang Hwan, Kim Soo An, Jang Sun, and Yeon Bo Ra in more sageuks/ fusion sageuks! Please!
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Loved it!
I absolutely loved this drama. It was simply excellent! Everything was pure entertainment from the cast to the sceneries, the music, the costumes, and the script. I really liked the innocence and the focus on family, mental health, and good old fashion love. They even included some good lessons too, while touching on social issues of equality and good economic management. It's not heavy but very light-hearted and memorable. I comfortably recommend both parts 1 and 2, you won't regret watching.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Still mad about the need for a second season but not mad at the second season itself.
I will start out by saying that I did not think this was as good as the first season. This felt more like a really long epilogue to the first season. If they had just dumped the conflict, this could have been nothing more than a couple more episodes added to the end of the first season (as in skipped all the inspection and Princess drama, brought Seo Eun Woo to the royal palace as a female Royal Physician so she could save the Queen’s life and get awarded her annulment).However, as second seasons go it was not truly disappointing, either. I do like that they gave Seo Eun Woo and Yoo Se Yeop their happy ending (btw: why all the complaints in the comments about their lack of chemistry? I thought they were adorable. Chemistry doesn’t have to be all smoldering, passionate looks. Their chemistry was the chemistry of two compatible minds and souls).
I cried for Granny especially since she’d been done so wrong by her own family (seriously, wtf blame victims/survivors for the horror that befell them!?). I did like that the Royal Physician decided to be a good guy in the end (seriously, how tall is that actor?). I liked that the clinic got to go on with its happy workers away from the drama of the royal court.
If you watched S1, watch S2. Or at least the last episode of S2 to get everything wrapped up nicely. ?
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Poong, the Joseon Virgin
The earlier episodes of the first season were decent and promising but there was a clear and undeniable pattern slowly starting to emerge after a few episodes. The drama was heading in a downward spiral throughout its both seasons. There was no clear direction to its story, I wanted it to remain as a slice of life but even that was not attractive on its own. Each passing episode felt like a downgrade of the previous episode. By the end of 2nd season, my interest had plummeted and it lost any remaining appeal. The only plausible reason for this drama to get a season 3 is if the studio wanted to commit some kind of money laundering/tax fraud scheme. It's never a good sign to adapt something and have its serialization based on public perception. This will most likely result in incomplete stories and padded semi-soft endings unless its creators were to pull through and be the exception. In more than one way, the Anime sphere shifted mostly towards this scheme in the past 6-7 years and it turned into a survival of the fittest type of race. The Kdrama is slowly heading in the exact same direction.Was this review helpful to you?
I wished they'd tightened up the writing and made it one season
I was frustrated with the way season one ended and I think that may have somewhat colored my response to this season. Sadly, it felt like more of the same, with nothing new. The village "family" was pretty much the same, but granny redeemed herself for me in episode 10. The rest of the time she was overacting.WHAT I LIKED:
The main couple were so cute together! I got extremely tired of the 10 minutes of being together and then the rest of the episode being apart. It seemed like they took turns being noble. "I'll leave to save you." "No, I'll leave to save YOU!" It got to the point where I was just thinking, here we go again.
But the scenes where they were together were wonderful. A couple of excellent kisses, some hand holding, and an absolute plethora of longing looks. The chemistry was wonderful. Let's be honest, Kim Min Jae is gorgeous and he's got that wide-eyed, stunned look down to a science. He also cries beautifully. There was one scene where he came back to the village by himself, someone tried to talk to him, and he looked devastated. A couple of tears coursed down his cheeks and he just walked away without a single word. That was so powerful.
The last episode was cohesive and very enjoyable. I think that's the main reason my score is as high as it is (I realize I'm in the minority on this one. Remember, this is just my personal opinion.)
Cameo appearance by Woo Do Hwan. I loved him in Tempted and was thrilled so see him here, even if his scene was so brief.
WHAT I DIDN'T CARE FOR:
The gay storyline.
The princess - poorly written and cast. She looked SO young and she was just so immature, all I could think of was a teenager trying to get her own way. Thankfully, she didn't hang around long.
The 2ML. I know, I wasn't supposed to like him, but I felt that the writers waited until too late in day to explain his motivations.
I'm glad I watched this show, if only to get closure from the open ended first season. It seems like the newest trend is having multiple seasons, which makes no sense to me, because so many of the shows are draggy in just ONE season, so now they are just extending that feeling of watching paint dry.
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This review may contain spoilers
Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist Season 2 is a nice sequel to Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist that deals more with Poong’s ability to bring healing by treating patient’s emotional wounds, his journey dealing with scheming characters until he’s able to clear his name, and his beautiful rendition of a man that remains steadfast to his friends and his love one. Kim Min Jae's acting is again flawless and makes up for the lack of romantic chemistry from Kim Hyang Gi as Seo Eun Woo. Although she was always there to help him and truly cared for him, and despite the fact that they had some nice tender interactions and one heartwarming kiss, for most of their romantic scenes, she was not showing much emotions but her surprised or cold demeanor for a character that truly shined when she was smiling. The rest of the cast was as fantastic as Season 1 as a united front and delivering very good comedic scenes. The antagonists on this season were a bit too farcical and somewhat disrupted the flow of the plot making it a bit choppy but still not bad enough to damage the drama. The second season has its luster but it needed one or two more episodes to show more about the other great characters in the clinic; also, although the drama ended happily with the leading couple getting married, there are no romantic vibes but plain and simple comedy and, (SPOILER ALERT), one super unnecessary character’s death at the end. Was this review helpful to you?
Just As Good As The First One
At first I wonder if it would be as good as the first one. The story is different but I love all the characters. As the drama went on I was really enjoying it. I love all the characters in this drama and the leads are my favorites. They make the story sincere and very creditable. As the story goes on and the twist and turn all you wish is to see the romance of the leads become real. The ending was my favorite and gave us a finality for both seasons. Great story and the actors performance was great.Was this review helpful to you?
Worst second season ever made
Dull, boring, slow, and uselesswhat to say more,, first season was okay somewhat intriguing and funny at times
this season is pointless,, nothing new, villains are just either stupid or envious not real villains
the romantic story didn't develop it got stuck in some repeated scenes,, really a waste of time
and above all they added lesbians in one of their cases
as if at that time lesbians actually existed
they are forcing the gayness on us like shit and I'm fed up with this forced propaganda
Overall huge waste of time
very very very disappointed
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Maybe I need a session with Poong after watching this
Oh, woe is me. Part of my brain that is shipping the OTP and cheering on the gang of Gyesoo Clinic is swooning over the fan service. The ordinary viewer part is saying "meh" (with a Gallic shrug). The cynical reviewer in me is facepalming and asking, "why was this made?".Let’s take a step back, Poong 2 is watchable and more enjoyable if you are a fan of S1 but at the same time a fan might feel cheated as well. Why is that so? I'm not sure I have a simple answer but let's have a look-see.
As I recall, S1 was cut to 12 episodes. The story progression slowed down towards the end and the development of the love line was arrested, possibly in view of the upcoming S2. After watching S2, my conclusion is that it is not up to the standard of S1. At best, it is a dubious sequel. At worse, a cynical exercise to milk the popularity of Poong 1.
Please let me explain. In Poong 2, the bulk of the side plots are superfluous to the main OTP plot. They padded out the runtime but contributed little. The ghost of Jo Tae-hak was largely a storm in a teacup which ends abruptly. The royal inspector plot was just a power trip of a vindictive and twisted man. The Princess subplot is probably the pick of the bunch, and it is cute in the end but even so, it is largely about an entitled person lording over others (many doors were harmed in making of this show). The plot involving the new governor Ahn is just bad. The man is a blundering fool with a sadist streak and too much power for his beeches. He is a horrible human being, period.
That is lazy writing in my book. Want more angst? Just add an antagonist who love to abuse their powers for little gain other than to make our protagonists’ life difficult. Not once, not twice but three painful times! After each round of maltreatment, the clinic just regroups and carries on. It is a zero-sum game.
Furthermore, the medical practice side seems to have been further simplified to a few cure-all acupuncture points and a bunch of extras milling around the clinic. The so called psychiatry side is very vague, more fanciful than realistic. It is dramatised to be sure but it also makes the palace intrigue and power trip storylines even more egregious.
To be fair, I do like how each member of the found family is given their moments in the sun. However, that can be integrated into S1 if they choose to. If we look at both seasons combined, I'd have to say that they padded it out to 22 episodes with filler subplots. If they had made Poong 1 tighter and have a normal 16 episodes run (instead of the 12 we got), we won’t need a S2. The decent S2 contents can easily fit inside 4 episodes including all the key developments in S2/E10. There is even room for extra skinship. ;)
BTW, airdropping Woo Do-hwan into the show to plug his upcoming Joseon Lawyer drama is either cute or cringey. Take your pick.
Acting from the regular cast is good as expected. The ML carries the show with able supports. I'd still question the chemistry between the leads though. They are cute together but not exactly pulse raising. The new support cast is mostly par for the course. I'd say the last episode is the only one worth a rewatch.
Like I said in the beginning, part of me wants to give this a higher score but the rational side realises that to do so would be sending the wrong signal. Peace out.
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