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Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist Season 2 korean drama review
Completed
Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist Season 2
4 people found this review helpful
by iheartsageuks
Feb 12, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
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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