Doctor Slump (2024)

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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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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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.

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Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Doctor Slump '' is a slice of life melodrama with some medical drama hints.

The drama has a healing story, with the romance being well paced and starting from academic rivals, to friends, to lovers, which shifted the story from the love story to the difficulties the characters had to face and overcome. Hence, the slow pace helped the mood of the drama a lot.

Unfortunately, the second half of the drama felt more like a filler. There were only a few things left to be resolved and a few new things to be added to the story. At this point, the side couple was the one who kept things interesting and offered a lot of adorable moments.

Finally, the performances were all enjoyable by everyone in the cast.

So, overall, six out of ten.

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Feel good romcom with more fun elements than trauma - watch it

Executive Summary
Lots of fun. Watch it!

There are some pretty bad reviews out there and obviously this is not everyone’s cup of tea. But I don’t get how this could be rated so low even if you prefer something different.

There is trauma that is needed to set up the whole story, but unlike in some Asian dramas it is, IMHO, just a setup, and the bulk of the story is the growing relationship and romance between the leads.

The main couple was so much fun, and despite their past traumas were actually pretty darn positive in their interactions and lives. Even when they were not getting along (in the beginning) it was more funny than mean-spirited.

I also like the secondary characters who all did a great job. The second couple was just as adorable as the main couple. Loved them, too!

I was tempted to give it a 10 since there was basically nothing that I did not like about this series, but I’ll try to hold back 10s for series that truly blow me away :-).

The Good
@ Very cute lead couple that played the parts well and had great chemistry and expressions, IMHO
@ Great secondary characters that also nailed their roles
@ More than the usual 10 minutes of happiness that all comes at the end. We have lots of nice happy wrap-up in the last couple of episodes
@ The male lead was fun, not just an unsocial, sullen guy, unlike lots of Asian dramas. Yay!
@ Interesting story setup
@ Very positive message and encouragement to wrap things up. Some might think it is a tad over the top, but hey, we need more positivity in our lives!

The Sub-Optimal
@ Really not much
@ Yeah, in some ways the bad stuff that was important setup was a bit over the top, but it didn’t really detract from the show

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Doctor slump: Overcoming a Slump Together

The finale is finally here and the Kdrama has given us the ending that is most suitable for the Jeong-Ha couple that remains playful and therapeutic right until the end. The show has given us some beautiful and motivating scenes along with a couple that brought us this vibe in the best way possible.

Finally, we have all found our perfect landing after this rollercoaster and all we know now is the happiness experienced through this show.


Last episode

This episode showed some more sides of the couple along with an unexpected romance for Tae-seon, but it also brought in the growth that every character is still going through, reminding us that there is no end to one’s growth. With this, the neverending story of the Jeong-Ha couple and those around them continues while telling us that this is not the end but a new beginning.

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Almost

The series had moments of brilliance, largely due to its stellar cast that effortlessly captured the essence of playful banter, heartfelt connections, and the charm of found family dynamics. Initially, I found myself fully immersed, intrigued by the characters and invested in the well-balanced blend of suspense and drama.

However, as the story progressed, the lighthearted tone occasionally veered into awkward and exaggerated territory, reminiscent of scenes that missed the mark from other similar shows. Despite my attempts to overlook these moments, they gradually became more distracting, leaving me somewhat unsettled.

While I appreciate the attempt to tackle mental health issues within the narrative, I was disappointed by the conventional resolution presented. The reliance on medication as the primary solution felt cliché and overly simplistic. Mental health is a complex issue requiring a multifaceted approach encompassing therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and robust support networks, aspects that were touched upon but not fully explored. Furthermore, the swift resolution of the characters' traumas seemed unrealistic given their experiences.

By predominantly portraying medication as the answer, the series missed an opportunity to delve into the intricacies of mental health care and treatment. It's crucial for media representations to reflect the diverse and personalised approaches often necessary for genuine healing. While I applaud the effort to shed light on mental health, I would prefer a more nuanced and realistic portrayals in future storytelling.

Despite my initial high hopes for the series, the flaws became increasingly apparent, and I reluctantly accepted that it wouldn't reach the pinnacle I had envisioned. Ultimately, I had to surrender the notion of it being a standout for me.

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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

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um amor para recordar

Ah que drama maravilho!
É sempre incrível mergulhar no mundo dos kdramas e . se deixar envolver por tramas emocionantes e personagens cativantes. Os atores Park Hyung Sik e Parque Shin Hye trazem novas histórias e experiências, capaz de nos transportar para universos fascinantes e nos fazer refletir sobre a complexidade da vida. O drama, com toda a sua intensidade e emoção, nos convida a sentir empatia, a explorar diferentes perspectivas e a nos conectar com as profundezas da alma humana. Que privilégio é poder apreciar mais esse titulo.
Ele humaniza os médicos, retirando-os da bolha retratada em muitos dramas, onde parece que não enfrentam dificuldades ao lado deles. Ele traz o frescor da juventude de dois estudantes esforçados e inteligentes que eram ex-rivais no ensino médio. Nam Ha-neul e Yeo Jeong-woo se reencontram na fase adulta, após seguirem carreiras como médicos, um alcançando sucesso e o outro enfrentando frustrações em suas trajetórias na medicina. Uma história cheia de altos e baixos no percurso da vida. Revelou suas opções por um estilo de vida saudável e equilibrado, com objetivos realistas, distante do glamour inatingível de celebridades médicas fantásticas.
A atuação do elenco foi tão suave e tão intensa que, nas cenas emocionantes, as lágrimas fluem de forma incondicional.

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