Doutor John (2019)

Doctor John is an emotionally charged and captivating Korean drama that flawlessly blends the medical genre with intriguing mysteries and complex characters. Ji Sung delivers a brilliant performance as Cha Yo-han, a gifted anesthesiologist with the unique ability to read his patients’ pain. Teaming up with Lee Se-young, who portrays the intelligent and determined resident Kang Shi-young, they navigate through challenging medical cases and unravel the truth behind each patient’s ailment.

One of the standout qualities of Doctor John is its engrossing storytelling. The writing explores not only medical ethics but also delves into the depths of the human psyche, making each episode thought-provoking and enthralling. The medical cases brilliantly capture the emotional and psychological aspects of the patients, presenting a multi-dimensional portrayal of healthcare professionals and their intricate connection with their patients.

Moreover, the chemistry between Ji Sung and Lee Se-young is palpable, adding an extra layer of depth to the narrative. Their characters form a captivating duo on-screen, grappling with personal dilemmas and unearthing past traumas. The exceptional performances of both actors breathe life into their characters, amplifying the intensity and making their journey all the more compelling.

Doctor John also fearlessly addresses important societal issues such as addiction, mental health, and the shortcomings of the healthcare system. By shedding light on the challenges faced by both doctors and patients, the drama emphasizes the significance of empathy and understanding in delivering proper medical care.

Visually, Doctor John is a treat for the eyes, featuring aesthetically pleasing cinematography and realistic portrayals of medical procedures. The medical setting is convincingly depicted, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the world of the characters and enhancing the engagement with the medical cases.

In conclusion, Doctor John is a must-watch drama for enthusiasts of the medical genre and those seeking complex characters and intricate storylines. It strikes a perfect balance between medical mysteries and emotional depth, leaving audiences both entertained and enlightened. With its impressive performances, skillful storytelling, and thought-provoking themes, Doctor John stands out as a Korean drama that should not be missed.

Leia Mais

High promises, dire results

I hate to leave bad reviews....so let's start positively.

First, I love the two main leads. Seen them both in several dramas, and have always enjoyed the performances, particularly Ji Sung's. His performance in 'Kill Me, Heal Me' was truly spectacular. They are just as good here and the chemistry between them is great. The supporting cast is also good.

The story covers a sensitive subject quite thoroughly and lots of philosophical questions, issues and viewpoints are raised and discussed. I love that too.

However. Oh dear. However, having watched well over 150 dramas in the past year, this is one of the very few (less than 10) that I have given up on before the end. I'm a real fan of kdramas. I like their quirkiness, their corniness, their fun, their cleverness. I really admire the ability that actors, directors, scriptwriters and producers of kdramas have to consistently give us high-quality entertaining, thought-provoking dramas which charm us into full forgiveness for their cliches. I am frequently charmed into forgiving those horribly-done trip-ups so the lead lady can fall into the lead guy's arms, and all that cheese. I'm frequently brought to tears by the more real and emotional dramas, and I frequently laugh loudly at the comedy. I honestly love kdramas. But not this one. I have watched up to Episode 6 and I feel so completely dispirited that I have to stop. Not even these two great leads nor their potential as a possible future couple can keep me here. Why?

The series thus far has had a number of medical life-or-death "emergency" situations. What happens during those situations in this drama? One or other of the main leads is needed but not around, there follows a ridiculous amount of running by one lead to go find the missing lead...then the two leads have a nice calm little philosophical discussion. The "eureka" moments at these times were more like "hm, okay" moments. They are followed by some very painfully extended meaningful gazes and a totally unrealistic 180-degree change of mood and motivation once the right thing has been said. Only then can our two leads 'rush' to go and successfully help the patient when all the other doctors (who have now spent the last 'critical' 6 or 7 minutes at the patient's bedside) have failed to do. And if that isn't stretching reality enough, there is one point in the drama where a hospital VIP has a resus emergency....where no less than 22 doctors (that's twenty-two, and yes, I counted them) are stood spectating outside the patient's room while five more are carrying out the resus attempt. And our lovely leading lady arrives AFTER all those other white coats because she's been philosophising elsewhere. I know, I know, it's a kdrama. But really??

Just four minutes into Episode 1 it really had me hooked. The setting and basic character intro was just oozing potential. I really thought this was going to be amazing. Fast forward to the end of Episode 2. A couple of slow-moving situations didn't bother me at this point - those I can forgive. But honestly, from there.....most of that grand promise just dribbled away like the scriptwriter's sleepdrool. When Episode 3 finished, my interest was really fading but sometimes that happens with kdramas and things pick up.....so I still watched on. By the end of Ep 4 I found myself wondering how many Episodes there were - always a bad sign - and (key point) before I checked, found myself hoping it would be only 12. Not 16. I found out there are 20 episodes.

I did try. I managed to push through two more episodes hoping something might improve and keep me here, but absolutely nothing improved. Nothing. Really.

Sadly, the horribly random script-writing, patchy direction and the ridiculously long periods between the moments of emergency and their required actions is (to Ep 6 at least) an ongoing formula for the show.

I think this high-quality cast was badly let down by this drama. Ironically, it's almost painful to watch. For me this is a DNR.

Leia Mais

Good characters and writing

Somebody stop Kang Si Young from crying!!! It's also annoying that she's always running after Dr Cha like a lost puppy and seeking to find somebody she can relate with since they both committed the same act/crime. She's very nosy. Too many characters that are after or against Dr Cha seem to be doing so for personal reasons that are somewhat unknown. They believe in the same things he does but still feel better about themselves for villanising him because they dont have the courage to do what he did. Or they are willing to keep him around because then they can have someone to blame for the personal "issues" they are fighting. It's a good drama and I love Dr Cha's commitment to fighting for his patients.

Leia Mais

Only 4 episodes in and I am hooked and do not understand why I have to wait a whole week to watch more ... Ji Sung is my all time favorite actor and I am sooooooooooooooo happy to see him back on the screen. Love it -- amazing story line, acting, directly, music -- cast, just all around looking to be a really good show. “Doctor John” Korean drama story revolves around doctor Cha Yo Han’s (Ji Sung) journey towards discovering the reason behind patients mysterious pain. He is also popular by the name “10 seconds” because he can render a diagnosis in 10 seconds. Kang Shi-young (Lee Se Young) is an Anesthesia doctor. She was a top student at medical school which is often credited to her mother who is also a doctor, had a traumatic event happen to her to kept her away from practicing until she meets Cha Yo Han.

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