Emergency Couple (2014)

rekindled romance story combined with the medical genre that is utterly brilliant

finished! haha.

i skipped parts and fast forwarded from second half onwards to see how they'll end up because i got impatient, LOL. will rewatch definitely. and i am pleased at multiple comments i am reading about people coming back to rewatch this drama for the 3rd or 4th time. what a hidden gem!

first of all, this drama truly exceeded my expectations in many ways. i usually don't watch medical genres but i do look them up if my fave actors are on it, like Doctor Stranger that i watched for LJS and PHJ. to add to that i also usually avoid rom-com. i generally want more depths in my dramas but rom-coms are usually too lighthearted and cheesy for my liking.

and i am so pleased at how well written this drama is because of the way these two genres are combined together, which makes it so warm and wholesome!

i feel like the love triangle is so fckin brilliantly written. at the end of it, Chief Gook still confessed to Jin Hee about his real feeling coolly, and that took the burden off his chest. and also when Jin Hee made his heart flutter, it made him realise that he was capable of dreaming of going to the next stages with someone (a person who is previously incapable or afraid of commitment). in a way, the writer is telling us that there could be a different version of love triangle trope where the FL is very much there as a stepping stone for the SML to heal from his childhood wounds and accept love from another person, in this case Prof. Shim when she one day returns from the US again.

ouh i remember this love triangle trope in Boys Over Flowers. the SML liked the FL so much but he can only suppress his feelings, and then finally the FL helped him heal his ailing heart by meddling and fixing his broken relationship with his grandpa. goshh, it's so beautiful.

please tell me other kdramas that end their SML love triangle story like this, i'd really love to see it. this is how you mend viewer's heart after making them invest on the SML characters, writer-nim!

one thing i didn't like though was around ep. 15-ish when i was still confused about Jin Hee's real feelings, and it seemed like she was leaving the two men who were showing interest in her, hanging on a thread. like the episode when she visited Chief Gook on her own at his place (after he was put on a probation for punching the jerkass professor), and then she spent the whole day there until night as if they were on a date. but at that time she already told Chang Min earlier that she wanted to start again, LOL. i just feel like that scene wasn't timed correctly in the show, and it made me look at her unfavourably until now.

also, the elaborate episodes leading to Chang Min father's death and therefore two important things that happened:

1. Jin Hee finally realising and acting on her real feelings towards Chang Min
2. reconciliation of his mother's character

i find it so beautifully done. and the way he was hurting from his loss, but at the same time when Jin Hee returns his kindness and wanted to care for him, and then he refused because he didn't want her pity, wow. i can respect that male pride LOL. i find that so sexc and hot, LMAO.

other than that, i wished that they have given us more in-depth flashbacks of what happened during their short marriage. how they fought, and what really led to the ultimate breakdown of their marriage because some things seemed to have been left unexplained. also a bigger flashback about how she struggled so much to rebuild her life after the divorce and pass medical school would have been so impressive and made more impact in relating to her story.

also, i am kinda disappointed to say this but i thought this drama supposedly has some hot kiss scenes LOL. b*tch, where?! they were all pretty average to me, LMAO.

this drama definitely had the richness to have had it kept going for around 3-4 more episodes, like BoF, i really wished it did, and gave more room for the FL character to shine more. then we could see fast forward of Chief Gook and Prof. Shim several years into the future, also Chang Min and Jin Hee finishing their internship into residency and then remarrying after dating for several years (since they were gonna take it slow this time and focus on their career first).

THAT, really would have been the perfect drama for me!

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This is worth watching passed the first few episodes where the female lead is the standard klutz. I find portrayals of women in this vein really boring these days, however, by episode 6 she is turning things around and from then on I really enjoyed the show. It was laugh out loud funny in many places too.

BEFORE: They got married young and cracks showed quickly. The horrible mother-in-law preyed on all the female lead's insecurities adding to what seemed like obvious depression to me, caused by her own sense of unworthiness. Both Chang Min (male lead) and Jin Hee (female lead) only think of things from their own point of view and divorce.

The bones of this part of the story take place in episode one...

NOW: They then bump into each other at a mutual friend's wedding - excrutiating (you can't help feeling for her) and very funny... (the dress! He is horrified. We only realise later how sentimental she is, which is probably a big reason why she still has the dress...) She responds Korea style (what is it with these shows portraying so many Koreans as borderline alcholics?) and drinks herself into the emergency room...

OMG... what a disastrous way to arrive for your first day of work... so disastrous you have to laugh. She is an excellent actress and does not over act, allowing you to really feel for her while also either laughing out loud or smiling broadly. Can you imagine her ex's reaction when he realises his nemesis is an intern along with him? He was always so much "better" than her, now they are on a level playing field. His expression... so funny...

The story is played out via the emergency room at a teaching hospital in Seoul, there are 4 other interns (the "perfect" girl by mother-in-law's standards, a newly married couple as the main leads' mirror, and the nice guy whose love of the "perfect" girl is unrequited), a Chief resident aka The Devil (he is tough, "capable and always right"), and the Chief's ex (a general surgeon).

For all that, I really liked the complex issues that were brought in to the story, mostly around relationships and marriage, including
♡ their own youthful "failure" to re-considering their relationship now they are older and wiser,
♡ her sister's unexpected marriage and how she and her husband are, together,
♡ his parents' relationship (why did his father give up practising medicine and separate from his wife) and the growth of his mother (so much of her behaviour is about anger, frustration, control and selfishness, until she has reason to reflect)
♡ the Chief's issues/ fears with marriage and divorce because of the impact of his parents' divorce on him.

I'm sorry we saw so little of his dad and it is clear his abilities were wasted, but as time goes on we realise he quietly took care of a few things behind the scenes. I left the show with the feeling Chang Min would emulate all his father's good traits while coupled with his mother's bold, daring side. It's what Jin Hee realises she has always loved about him.

I took one star off for the clichés - using alcohol to deal with her problems and making her so incompetent initially, plus the typical awful mother-in-law (although she is the worst I've seen in shows to date... when he picks up his mother and carries her out is an excellent scene!!).

Enjoy!

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Here's one of the best dramas that I watched recently. The co-stars were good, supporting cast also, and the storyline kept on going.

The scenes were done in a realistic setting, and the cast really seemed to know their medicine (from a layman's point of view). However, the supporting cast, especially Lee Pil Mo was my favorite. His cool demeanor and constant long face, as he tries to suppress his happiness was a constant source of hilarity to me - I really, really liked him a lot, and made me want to take him home there and then, and give him a hot supper and cuddle!

Another job well done here.

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I started watching this because I wanted to see Lee Pil Mo (who played Kook Cheon Soo) after seeing him in Pinocchio playing an excellent role as reporter Hwang Gyo Dong. He hasn't had many (any?) lead roles but he really stood out as second male lead here. I initially cared about his role, but as someone else has said this in their review, ended up caring about everyone. I found the arguments between the two leads a little hard to get into at the beginning, and so being interested in Lee Pil Mo was a very good distraction. But it always takes me a couple of episodes to get into things and the Emergency Couple's romance and the way they rediscover it, and navigate discovering changes (i.e. character changes from the time after their relationship and during their time in the ER) and with that adjusting how they see each other - and with a good amount of other things going on at the same time - was really lovely. The Mother-in-Law's acting was initially pretty extreme/exaggerated too, but it calms down over time. I felt like it was a drama that softened and matured over time, too. It felt like the right length - I wasn't bored or impatient at any point, and it didn't feel rushed or forced. I loved that it had an original storyline and carefully navigated a couple getting together in a way that really felt natural and enjoyable to watch.

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This show started off slow, but has found its rhythm. This love/hate relationship situation is built on a hospital background, is filled with misunderstandings, social class stigmas, overbearing/domineering mothers, etc.

Through an internship, the main characters reconnect. The male tries, unsuccessfully, to influence his superior to terminate the relationship with the woman--does his superior know best? The hearts of two hardened men are being touched by the humble skils and pure desires to help others--neither one knows what has hit him.

As must happen, other characters are introduced to the situation and love triangles appear all over the place.

You must watch it if for no other reason than to count the number of love triangles that exists and to learn that the heart truly knows what it wants and it will not be denied. Chalenge it if you dare!

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I instantly shipped her with the chief:-) I didn't care for the ex-husband at all!:-)

Well, they met in the hospital at circumstances that were most dramatic and funny!:-) The first episode drama peaked on THEIR first introduction. And it continued... If it was not romance, then it was fromance, I didn't care. I just ENJOYED it...:-) And so, the other parts of it, I considered those all side-characters. Her family as the sister and her guy, the ex-husband (typical korean girly face, and the character was not that likeable either), or the ex in-laws (pretty unwatchable)...

First, I thought her past was just something she needed to get... well, past. I didn't realize the scriptwriters intended some kind of getting back story. But it's true she's got her ex and he's got his ex, there in the hospital every day. So, instead of the two people I liked getting together, they were both supposed to get back to their respective exes?

I never watched the opening credits till when I was 10 episodes in... Then I finally realized that the leading role seemed really to be the ex-husband. So, the whole time I shipped different couple than was intended!:-) At epi 9-10, I could see the script TRIED to look romantic for the two leads, but why was I only looking forward when the chief would show up? Epi 12, the ex-husband started to act real creepy. NOT what I wished to watch here... I really don't like Choi Jin Hyuk and his type of face (even after a decade of watching korean dramas, I'm still having trouble to accept how their MEN look like).

Epi 18, I had to smirk when the lead girl ran several floors upstairs and then let the ex husband listen to her heart thumping as a romantic "proof". That way I am in love with my aerobic trainer, LOL. But the chief... he admitted to his ex there is someone new to his heart! Aw... So cute!:-) And episode 14, there is him interacting with a little boy with no parents, which could be so annoying or soppy but instead, it was touching in a brilliant funny way. So, was I really shipping the wrong guy? I don't think so!:-)

But, I admit my viewing enjoyment rather dropped... When I was occasionally having a good time during an episode that has a lot of scenes with the chief (he was SO cute and funny at the same time:) then still the ex-husband got in the middle of it and spoilt the party for me. I really didn't get what his "drama" was. That story of their past marriage was so dead from the start. Why didn't they just let the new drama flow? The new surroundings, chief was clearly dominating the scene. I might not just as much as NOTICE the ex-husband if not for the constant inserted flashbacks. But then, even the chief had to split his endearing scenes in between the main heroine and the ex-girlfriend of his own. It's really like the opening credits. We just GOT TO have her and her ex. Him and his ex. Not just her & him. *Sigh*.....

I grew more and more bored and disengaged with the main story (I found even the hospital cases more interesting)... By episode 19 out of 21, I was still rooting for the chief. And it was not just him, also her. She repeatedly showed more than common interest in him. I do know many k-dramas suffer with the "second lead syndrome". Still, this seems rather extreme case. Right from the start to almost end of this drama, I mostly ignored the supposedly main guy and the drama did not suffer for it.

But seriously, I just don't see the point of having a second guy for the main heroine there untill the LAST EPISODE, watching wistfully as she kisses somebody else. Even if I imagined that he's NOT more likeable than the lead, why keep having him there? Why for TWENTY ONE episodes, he must keep hanging? Is this called drama writing? Forgive me, but I consider this incompetent scriptwriting, morelike. GOOD romance doesn't need a third person. Having additional one to keep the story going proves there's not much good about the story to begin with. Also, there will always be some viewers liking the other guy more and I don't see any reason to undermine the main romance like that. Even in less extreme cases as this. Anyway, the final was as draggy and uneventful more than anything else, lol. The most emotional moment was when a SECONDARY character received a POSTCARD. Now, read the previous sentence again, as it speaks best about this drama on the whole.

I liked the main actress, also her character. She knew how to be humble, not just feisty:-)

NOTE: I don't like the poster. The main girl has different hair colour, her face is unrecognizable, plus she's there with the wrong guy.

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Emergency Couple stands out from the Kdrama crowd by making its main couple begin as divorcees. An unlikely starting place for a romance but this comedy was ready to take on the challenge. Rise above and surpass the challenge they did and with a grace that makes it look easy.

This drama is adorable. It's light, fresh, unique, and oh so funny. It manages to balance the seriousness of Jin Hee and Changmin's past with the ridiculous coincidence of their present. My favorite part of Emergency Couple was how it didn't shy away from the more serious issues that can arise in a relationship. Though it remains at its core a comedy there are so many refreshingly real moments between our leads as they begin the slow and arduous process of learning to trust and love each other again. The pay off for the audience is so worth the wait. Episode to episode we wait with bated breath hoping they will be able to overcome their past, his family, and her misgivings; it all finally culminates in an explosion of romance, passion, and love that they are so tentatively grasping and at risk of losing forever at any second. The tension doesn't break until the very end and the audience is left with a sense of euphoric relief.

The thing that made this drama not just good but exceptional for me was its character development. Jin Hee and Changmin begin the drama as fundamentally broken individuals. Jin Hee has come a long way from the version of herself we see in flashbacks to the time she was married to Changmin, but she has yet to heal or move past her self doubts. She is putting on a mask for herself and everyone else but her confidence is only skin deep. Changmin on the other hand feels defeated and empty. He has lost the woman he loved mostly because his family refused to accept her, and now that she's gone they welcomed him back with open arms. He's conflicted and feels lost but he's pretending that everything is better without her when in reality he just misses his wife. She learns to see her own self worth both with and without Changmin through her growing confidence in her abilities as a doctor. He learns to reorganize his priorities to reflect what he wants and needs in his life to be truly happy. They needed their time apart to grow and mature as people and when they come together again it's as fully realized versions of themselves who can lift the other up through love and mutual support.

If you're looking for a more mature take on a comedy I can't recommend this drama highly enough.

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outstanding drama ,,,,,beautiful casting,,,,so funny,,,absolutely romantic....very useful on so many levels ...interesting dramatic events ...amazing music ......also very realistic in every thing ,,,,,,and about the ending was just amazing and different from any Korean drama i have ever seen and that's why this drama is very goooood ,,,,,,also i hope it will be another part and have more than season like any medical drama all over the world .......it will be a hit drama always,,,,,,,,... really was sooo different an i enjoyed it soo much ,,,,,,, you must watch it ,,,,,,, and regarding to the all the characters ....really WELL DONE !!!! hoping for the squeal soon :)

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Multiple- watch value stuff

This drama is not my fav let's take it from here but I have watched it more times than any of my fav dramas. If my my fav drama is my boyfriend than this one has to be my bestie I might not give it a ten star rating yet I can not get enough of it .. and moreover it was one of the very first korean shows I watched so there is a feeling of nostalgia attached to it ...

Now let's discuss the story a divorce woman becoming a doctor and the behaviour of her ex husband and in laws around her was very realistic .. there was this old spark thing .. jealousy that the ex wife is getting attention from other man ...
But the main thing that I felt was quite heart warming is he still fell for his ex wife though he had an option to marry a girl so young and more beautiful .. This is the type of love that our society has forgotten long ago ... Very heart touching

I loved the character of senior lady surgeon as well she was one of my favs ...the entire show, the story the cast evrything was so well put together ..I don't know what else can you ask for ..the trauma cases were interesting as well ...

PS ... I liked Dr romantic(only season 1) as well it has little similarities to this one

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There's always a 2nd Chance in LOVE~!!

This drama gave me that emotions I longed to for quite a while now. I've always appreciate drama pieces which tackles Couple misunderstandings such as divorce and break-ups because seeing the characters growing and maturing always satisfies my crave.

I love how the Main Lead handle theirselves up after they experienced hurdles and misjudgement with their marriage. It was a new feeling seeing the characters trying to start over after their marriage failed. The hesitations, worries and guilt they felt made it emotional but the appreciation, time and love they used to have kept on becoming the greatest tool for them to start all over again.

Learning to appreciate your spouse; not just his good qualities but also his flaws and mishaps requires so much emotion and this drama delivers all that. I saw various emotions and maturity on both sides that it move me to tears several times. Some of it were painful but realizing, rebuilding and rekindling their once passionate love is the sweetest.

Story - 10, Story like this just where couples try to rekindle their love always moves me. This story is the best! I love how they handle the situations rationally and didn't ended up hurting each more while expressing their love to each other.

Acting/Cast - 10, They're all good. What can I say? Song Jihyo and Choi Jinhyuk did an amazing job expressing their characters and i received it greatly. The 2nd leads and the other couples are good too.

Music - 10, When it comes to K-drama OSTs, You can always trust! I was crying while Choi Jinhyuk was seeing that Ballad song ughh. T.T

Rewatch Value - 10, One of my favorite among all dramas I have watched! It's definitely on TOP of my list and will watch whenever I needed some good advices when it comes to making huge marriage decisions.

Overall - 10, Well deserved. I love how it is mature enough to handle great decisions and for that I must say that I was sold! This piece do have some flaws but it was overshadowed by how good the plot and dialogues are.

IF you find my reviews helpful please let me know.

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