Imperfectly perfect - this drama gave me all the right feels
This drama took me on a journey with its main characters - a hard working anesthesiologist just grinding it out every single day so she can finally find happiness at the end of it all, and a happy-go-lucky plastic surgeon who is naturally inclined to seeing the silver lining in everything, both find themselves in a deep slump. As the story progresses, they start with the quintessential question “why me?”, but eventually learn to accept their situation, to lean onto each other and to find comfort in the smaller things… and in each other and others who love and support them.The story was full of warmth, laughs, tears, healing and comfort. I thoroughly enjoyed how the characters expressed themselves and interacted with each other. It was like watching your friends struggle, but they also learn to balance themselves. There is individuality in how they deal with emotions and respond to a situation, but there are also moments when they learn to put themselves in others’ shoes and understand their perspectives. And this only helps them heal, grow, and find themselves beyond their circumstances in life.
Ultimately, this is a K-drama, so yes, there are tropes. But the honesty of the characters and their commitment to getting better (overcoming their depression/trauma) and being there for each other, makes this drama relatable and wholesome. I only wish I could see more of their journey… it’s left me wanting more, in the best way possible.
The story, the acting, the direction, screenplay and chemistry between the characters (not just the lead couple, but the second leads, the family, everyone was great!) makes this a solid 10/10 drama for me overall. Kudos to the cast and crew! :)
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From a neutral point the least you can give this show is 7 ie if you like romcom
You see it was not like other dramas… it was a rom com in the literal sense. And I admire it for itIt had a good blend of suspense, romance and understanding. Though the suspense was ended slightly earlier to incorporate romance it still was nicely played out.
The story for me was more like an anime rom com than a kdrama and for those who like suspense and problems other than sweet romance it may seem like a let down. But that’s okay Park Hyung Sik’s cuteness is enough to watch the show till the end.
One main thing that I liked most about this show is how their mental state was not ignored like Ha Nuel was depressed and it was visible in her actions. Some forget to take it into consideration while writing the story, but they didn’t. People may be annoyed when Ha Neul didn’t open up about her past but understand she had Depression… as someone who has went through it I guess I admire it more.
The acting and music are great and so is story, for me the pacing was nice but some might find it slow or weird so if you watch it the least you will give is 7 that is if you like a romance where their are no relationship problems just a couple with overflowing sweetness.
I would say it is a must watch
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Doctor Slump: Gets you out of the slump you've been in!!!
To all the future viewers, this drama has been an incredibly heartwarming experience for me, akin to the warmth of the sun on winter days. It has served as a healing journey for both the characters and myself.Rest assured, you will find a little bit of everything you desire in this drama, be it the intense reactions of Park Hyung Sik or the exceptional acting skills of Park Shin Hye. Throughout this entire journey, you will experience a range of emotions, including happiness, sadness, anger, and laughter, as you form a deep connection with these characters.
The OSTs are truly remarkable, and it's not just the main leads who deliver outstanding performances, but also the supporting cast. The story not only revolves around the main characters but also explores the lives of those around them.
While the plot does contain elements of mystery and hardship, it may be somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, this drama has been an extraordinary experience for me, surpassing all expectations.
I am deeply saddened by the thought of bidding farewell to these characters. The absence of a new episode next weekend will undoubtedly leave a profound impact on me, and I anticipate being an emotional wreck.
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Good wholesome drama
Very relatable and wholesome drama. It was full of love, family and healing. I absolutely love Park Hyung-Sik ♥️♥️ I love a good drama with a happy ending. I cried and laughed with this one. Having someone you care about experiencing all the ups and downs together is truly amazing. Love how supportive her family was towards them which made up for the lack of his parents. I can’t see how some viewers didn’t like this drama. Nothing about this drama was toxic. It was nothing but love and healing. I’m all for it.Was this review helpful to you?
A Boring RomCom That Glorifies The Medical Profession
If you know any doctors, or know anyone in the medical profession in Korea, than you'd know that this show is completely unrealistic. The majority of doctors in korea are elites or well off, and what awaits them is a life thats far better than the majority of the population after the first few years of training.Back to the show, this show is a romcom that uses the hope that doctors sacrifices themselves to do the best for their patients and creates 2 characters that have some kind of trauma., and have them bond through the trauma.
The show has it's moments with the romance, but the majority of the show is a slump and it's very slow. Many of the highlights of the show are emotional as you're emotionally blackmailed to feel like you can understand what the MC is going through.
The drama is a really slow burn and nothing can really make it better unless you really like the genre, and sadly most of the korean drama watchers adore the melodrama.
I guess the rich can cry in a Ferrari and make you feel sad for them, instead of using that money to go to therapy.
Also don't forget that right now, doctors are on strike against Korea accepting more medical students, letting patients and emergency patients die or get worse as they strike.
This isn't a strike against low pay or long hours, but that they want the numbers of doctors graduating from university in Korea to not increase. This just shows how elitist the profession itself is despite the grueling first few years.
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Healing portrayal of mental health
I didn’t expect this drama to be so healing. The portrayal of mental health was incredibly realistic. I especially liked that the female lead had high functioning depression, as it gives a different view of what depression can look like. I liked how they helped each other heal as well. Thw script was great and incredibly touching. As someone who has experienced depression, I really appreciated and related to this drama. Thank you.Some criticisms I have are:
It was too long, should have been 12 episodes, you could tell at one point the story had ended and they just kept adding more and more unnecessary stuff which watered down the amazing content they had.
Some people say the acting was over the top at times - it was but I think that’s more the style the director was going for rather than the decision of the actors. It’s a stylised piece almost comic book like, not 100% realism, so whilst I think if they had kept it more realistic it would have been better, I respect the stylistic choice of the director.
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The writing isn't like a "slump" for sure!
I've seen many people saying, this show boring, the writing isn't that good or the main characters are childish. Also, the depression part wasn't handled well, not to mention the mystery plot.The ONLY thing that's actually true, is the mystery plot. It wasn't that bad, it was just basic. Other than that, my only problem with the drama is that they didn't do anything with Jeong Woo's parents. I'm actually surprised that there weren't any story about them being hating his relationship with Haneul. Thank God, it wasn't included, but honestly, I think they should've focused more on the bad parents plot.
Also, his PTSD was resolved pretty fast. I don't think anyone can recover from a PTSD that fast, not to mention, a doctor with PTSD wouldn't even be allowed to work. The same goes for Haneul with her depression. But I do think her story was well-written. Depression is not something that happens to everyone in the same way. Every patient have different symptoms.
Of course, this show isn't as good as the "Daily Dose of Sunshine" for example, but overall, this part of the plot was good.
About their romance: Yes, sometimes it was childish and cringe, like 90% of Kdrama romance, so this argument is completely ridiculous, especially, because we have two character who didn't really have a real childhood or a relationship. So, even tho it was cringe at times, it was funny, cute and both of them are lovable characters.
One thing I would say is that Hyung Sik's portrayal is basically the same as in "Strong Woman Bong-soon".
The family story was good, but nothing special. The side characters, especially Dae Young and Hong Ran were funny and entertaining. They felt more realistic, to be honest, but it was cringe at times as well.
The whole show was cringe sometimes, but I never felt I should skip a scene, so that's a positive.
The mystery plot was decent, nothing ordinary, maybe it was a bit much at times, but it wasn't irritating at all.
Overall, this is a really good show, with a meaningful message about life, so it's definitely worth watching it. I know many people love "Queen of Tears" more, but I have to say, the writing on this drama was much better.
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Could Have Been If It Was Short & Sweet
After “Welcome to Samdalri”, I had high hopes from “Doctor Slump”; not that the show didn’t meet my expectations. I just feel it frizzled out in the finale week. Focusing on mental health, we had two characters who are facing mid life crisis due to different scenarios. While Nam Ha Neul (Park Shin Hye) suffered depression because of the abuse suffered at her mentor’s hands; Yeo Jeong Woo (Park Hyung Sik) suffers from PTSD because he was falsely accused of medical malpractice. Their individual traumas bring them together; as they struggle with everyday life, being jobless and lonely. The first half of the show was fantastic as the show conceded to the main protagonist’s struggles. There was also the mystery of who caused the medical accident at Jeong Woo’s clinic. Their budding romance was another highlight; but the second half turned out to be entirely boring. This was one of those shows which should have followed the Netflix’s typical pattern of having eight or so episodes. Because beyond that, there wasn’t much substance in the storyline. Let’s review the better parts of this romcom!Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/03/19/doctor-slump-series-review/
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Watched for the second couple!
It started out good but then it fizzled out.Only watched for the second lead couple they were cute and the lead couple were just cliche and boring.
I think the show was drawn out because of the lead actors popularity would have been better if it was 10 or 12 episodes. Got kind of annoying seeing Park Hyung Sik downing the aegyo things he was famous for in other roles because it didn’t fit the narrative. But hey this is just my two cents ???
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Oh what a wonderful drama !!!
It's always amazing to dive into the world of kdramas and get involved in exciting plots and captivating characters. Actors Park Hyung Sik and Parque Shin Hye bring new stories and experiences, capable of transporting us to fascinating universes and making us reflect on the complexity of life. The kdrama, with all its intensity and emotion, invites us to feel empathy, explore different perspectives and connect with the depths of the human soul. What a privilege it is to be able to appreciate this title more. It humanizes doctors, removing them from the bubble portrayed in many dramas, where it seems like they don't face difficulties alongside them. It brings the fresh youth of two hard-working and intelligent students who were former rivals in high school. Nam Ha-neul and Yeo Jeong-woo meet again in adulthood, after pursuing careers as doctors, one achieving success and the other facing frustrations in their careers in medicine. A story full of ups and downs on the path of life. He revealed his options for a healthy and balanced lifestyle, with realistic goals, far from the unattainable glamor of fantastic medical celebrities. The cast's performance was so smooth and so intense that, in the emotional scenes, tears flow unconditionally.Was this review helpful to you?
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Alcohol + love = cure for mental health problems?
How do you rate a drama which you just binge watched while perfectly aware of many of its flaws? It was well acted and filmed, smoothly written though the story is often wrong and senseless. My title says it all! I wish depression can be solved by being drunk on a daily basis with a friend/boyfriend you love!The story follows two doctors struggling with mental health: the first one is depressed due to a burn out while the other one suffers from PTSD after an operation room death. Suddenly they find themselves living in the same building. They used to be high achievers in high school, top grades and popular. They lost touch after school and only now, 15years later they renew their acquaintance.
What I liked:
- the actors all had good chemistry and were surprisingly very convincing as teenagers in spite of advanced age. Were there any special filming procedures/SFX used for those scenes, I wonder?
- funny but supportive side characters
- the FL's ideas for a fun date (I thought she was pulling his leg!)
- the second couple who saved the second half of this drama
What was wrong:
- mental health issues were treated poorly: neither of them, as they were written, seemed really ill but tired, overworked, disappointed. Most of the time, which they spent together, they looked happy and content, because they finally got to rest!
- causes of the mental distress were not treated well: the peer pressure, the cut-throat competition and the horrible gossiping judgemental society were just mentioned without criticism since the things are as they are and apparently cannot be changed!
- the cure for mental health issues, according to the writer of this drama is: rare consultations with a shrink, a lot of pills, enormous quantities of alcohol and love which turned out to be the main ingredient (she solved his PTSD problem just by being there.... Really?!?
- immature adult main characters: 30yr old virgins, being shy, using baby voice etc. The ML , as a teen, was presented as someone who enjoys life, has a lot of friends, goes out and still has the best grades. The FL on the other hand is the opposite: a loner, without friends or life for that matter, constantly studying in order to have the best grades. Basically, they are saying that he is smarter and more competent than she is since she has to study all the time. Even during her unemployment period, she is seen studying while he is only seen studying with his tutor a little bit in high school but never as an adult professional. At one point, after dating for about a year, they sleep together(I think!Or maybe just a lot of kissing...) and a couple of days later when mentioning that night, they become shy and self-conscious. They are over thirty: behave like adults!They are adults at work. But they are actually rarely that in private: they become the 15yr old versions of themselves, which is cute for about 10 seconds!
- the ML's horrible parents: he is definitely someone extremely intelligent, if he managed to make abstraction of his parents and be successful. But even that is only mentioned and not dealt with as it should have been. Or maybe they decided that nothing is to be done, "leopard never changes his spots" so the parents were a lost cause. They should not have left this hanging because those parents caused a lot of misery which they were never called out on.
- drinking practically non stop: the characters spent the most of their time drowning their sorrows. The question arises here: why? They are in treatment, taking medication and yet still drinking heavily. Nobody thinks, the doctors included, that antidepressants and alcohol maybe should not be mixed?
- pacing: the causes of their mental health issues were resolved rapidly and by ep 12, everything was sorted out and they were in love. The last three episodes are just the fluff and dealing with the minor issues of scheduling! I have to give it to them though, they managed to make these empty of the plot episodes, run smoothly. I was never bored and I fail to comprehend why?
- the voiceover: every character gets to do their part of narration which is a kind of cop out instead of showing us their sufferings. Sometimes it was difficult to understand which character does the narration and I stopped worrying about it after a few episodes and just went with the flow not really paying attention to the narration!
I did not drop this drama, I was hooked from the beginning, and I think it is because of the actors only. And even though there is so much wrong with this drama, I somehow enjoyed it and finished it quickly. Maybe it was that I needed some brainless, unrealistic but convincing fun.
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