DOCTORS Saikyou no Meii (2011)

When one watches enough medical dramas, one starts to notice increasing similarity between them as experience with the genre builds. Some common inclusions are wildly rare disorders, mercenary management and hospital politics, callous senior physicians, and the idealistic newcomer (who may or may not be a genius surgeon) ready to shake things up. So if I were to say DOCTORS checks every box on the above list, why should you watch it?

Surprisingly unique elements exist in this drama, including a twist on one of the above tropes. Sure, our hero is an idealistic newcomer (one with mad surgical skills), but his coworkers are unaware he is also a master manipulator. Beneath his smiling exterior and cheerful persona, this is a person constantly calculating how to position things to fall his way. Luckily, his "way seems to be improvement in the staff and hospital, despite the questionable methods sometimes employed.

As such, the plot revolves around the changes the manipulator (Dr. Sagara) tries to effect upon the broken hospital structure. Medical cases accompany these conflicts on an episodic basis, often with an interesting dynamic or social commentary (for example, in the fourth installment). But while the title refers to an "ultimate surgeon," and surgery is definitely an important part of any medical drama, the two aspects occasionally feel like a footnote to the workplace study.

Unfortunately, DOCTORS ends too soon. We commonly hear of dramas overstaying their welcome, but this series could have done with more time to solidify its premise and characters. This is especially true if watched as a standalone, though both a special and sequel exist.

In the role of Sagara Kosuke, then, we have Sawamura Ikki sporting an infectious smile and sharp charisma. Even as his character displays warmth toward patients and (sometimes superficially) his colleagues, Sawamura-san reserves something of himself. The effect is wonderful, allowing for Dr. Sagara to appear pleasant yet ultimately unapproachable. Another performance stands out, this one against reason: rival surgeon Moriyama Suguru, as portrayed by Takashima Masanobu. Immature and childish in every sense of the word, Moriyama actually becomes a highlight as the series continues. Takashima-san adds a quirky campiness and snappy timing which elevates his character from annoying... to hilarious.

Similar quirkiness carries over into the music as well. From the fun nostalgia of the upbeat violin, to the lumbering oddity that is Moriyama's theme, DOCTORS boasts a memorable soundtrack. However, it was not always to my taste (particularly the conflict anthem led by an electric guitar). The lone vocal felt somewhat awkward, with the usually spot-on JUJU covering the classic "Lullaby of Birdland."

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