Title: 닥터스 | Dakteoseu | Doctor’s Crush | Doctors
Genre: Romance | Drama
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: SBS
Broadcast Period: June 20 – August 23, 2016

Synopsis:

Yoo Hye-Jung is a neurosurgeon who had risen above the challenges of her tough childhood years. She grew up in an embroiled household wherein her father left his mother and married another woman. When she was young her mother died and was left with a stepmother who is verbally abusive to her and a father who chose to abandon her when she needed him the most. Yoo Hye-Jung became a rebel and learned how to take care of herself at a very young age. She became very cynical and ends up getting into trouble most of the time. She got expelled from one school to another and her life seems to points to becoming a disaster when she grows up until she was left under the guidance of her grandmother. Yoo Hye-Jung bloomed under her grandmother’s love. And, more so, when she got inspired to turn her life around when she witnessed her Biology professor, Hong Ji-Hong, who was also a doctor, saved someone’s life. Hong Ji-Hong at that time, was temporarily working as a professor in Yoo Hye-Jung’s school and rents a room at her grandmother’s place. He was fascinated by Yoo Hye-Jung’s intelligence yet complicated life. At that period of his life, he too needed a purpose after being disheartened of losing a patient during his residency at Gookil Hospital, owned by his adoptive father. He and Yoo Hye-Jung built a special bond until a scandal and tragedy struck again in their lives. They got separated until they met again at Gookil Hospital as colleagues in the Neurosurgical Department as they both may finally discover the real beauty of life amidst challenges.

Characters:

• Kim Rae-Won as Hong Ji-Hong
• Park Shin-Hye as Yoo Hye-Jung
• Yoon Kyun-Sang as Jung Yoon-Do
• Lee Sung-Kyung as Jin Seo-Woo
• Park Solomon as Younger Hong Ji-Hong
• Kal So-Won as young Yoo Hye-Jung
• Lee Ho-Jae as Hong Doo-Sik
• Kim Young-Ae as Kang Mal-Soon
• Jung Hae-Gyun as Yoo Min-Ho
• Park Ji-A as Lee Ga-Jin
• Han Bo-Bae as Yoo Yoo-Na
• Ji Soo as Kim Soo-Cheol
• Moon Ji-In as Cheon Soon-Hee
• Jeon Gook-Hwan as Jin Sung-Jong
• Um Hyo-Sup as Jin Myung-Hoon
• Yoon Hae-Young as Yoon Ji-Young
• Jang Hyun-Sung as Kim Tae-Ho
• Kim Kang-Hyun as Kang Kyung-Joon
• Baek Sung-Hyun as Pi Young-Gook
• Jo Hyun-Sik as Ahn Joong-Dae
• Kim Min-Seok as Choi Kang-Soo
• Jung Jin as Baek Ho-Min
• Lee Seon-Ho as Jung Pa-Ran
• Choi Sung-Jae as Hwangbo Tae-Yang
• Pyo Ye-Jin as Hyun Soo-Jin
• Ji Yi-Soo as Yoo Byul
• Park Young-Soo as Namyang Girls’ High School’s Teacher
• Kim Dae-Sung as Club DJ
• Lee Ki-Woo as Gong Byung-Doo
• Lee Joon-Hyuk as Boss’s Subordinate
• Lee Jin-Kwon as Kim Soo-Cheol’s Friend
• Son Jang-Woo as Pregnant Patient’s Son
• Jeon Ji-An as Patient Passenger on Airplane
• Jung Kyung-Soon as Oh Young-Mi
• Lim Ji-Yeon as Lee Soo-Jeong
• Nam Moon-Cheol
• Im Ji-Kyu

My Review:

There are some people who’s saying this might beat DOTS (Descendants of the Sun) in ratings or even in the critic’s reviews, but, I highly doubt it. It is not because it is not good but DOTS is just a different kind of breed altogether. Doctors is certainly a good K-Drama as far as the first 10 episodes is concerned. It was engaging and had its own charm but it didn’t give me this tingling sensation I felt with DOTS as a certified romcom gal addict. Doctors do have a much structured story line than DOTS but that’s just typical of most of good or even great K-Dramas that’s been out there. So, just the point that people are comparing this to DOTS in its success just shows that DOTS is the golden standard when it comes to successful K-Dramas are concerned. Doctors is definitely one of the best if not the best medical drama I’ve seen so far. It is not too laden with tragedy nor with office politics. It just have the right dose to make this K-Drama a jewel when it comes to medical drama is concerned.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) Finally, a medical drama that did some more research in medical practice and put more effort in presenting surgical procedures. It is not only just the words “forceps” you get to hear during surgery as instruction and the set-up is much better realistically speaking. Even the ambulance scene is much more equipped. The handling of this scene with an ambulance and how the paramedics treats a patient during emergency irks me to no end on most of the K-Dramas I’ve seen but this has done it a lot better and so it should be, considering it is a medical drama after all.

(2) I like the character of Park Shin-Hye as Yoo Hye-Jung on this K-Drama. Again, finally, Park Shin-Hye is playing a character with certain balls, excuse my pun. She normally bores me with her too goody-two shoes characters in most of her K-Dramas. Here, her character is not cardboard box two dimensional persona. It has more kick than the typical doctor literally and figuratively speaking.

(3) I am very glad I get to see again Kim Rae-Won in a K-Drama that’s not too heavy and in a character that I feel suited him the best. I loved him in characters like this and truly brings out the best in him. And, I must say, K-Dramas are starting to appreciate the importance of a good and real kiss.

(4) Like the message of the story. Sometimes the best revenge is living well. No need to further destroy your life just seek revenge no matter how difficult it maybe.

(5) I like the OST, it is very suitable to the theme of the K-Drama.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

Somewhere after 12 episodes, it became a drag. I find the manner where the issue of Yoo Hye-Jung against Jin Myung-Hoon being presented is too long and becoming uninteresting. I’m quite disappointed that the level of keeping this K-Drama relevant to me is waning as it goes further along. It is like their patient in the OR that needed resuscitation as it loses its breath of being alive. The plot got boring because there’s not much enough twist to hold it over. However, it was wrapped up nicely in the end. The characters transforms consistent with who they are and wasn’t forced especially the relationship of Yoo Hye-Jung with his father and even her conflict with Jin Myung-Hoon. I’m just sad because it could have been a great drama, unfortunately, the writers lost its momentum and didn’t find enough leverage to make it spectacular. In the end it was just okay.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? I guess so, but it depends on your interest and expectation.

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 4/5 Stars

OST:
01. Sunshower – SE O
Play Me:

02. That Love – Jung-Yup of Brown Eyed Soul
Play Me:

03. Sunflower – Younha ft. Kassy
Play Me:

04. No Way – Park Yong-In & Kwon Sun-Il of Urban Zakapa
05. Sunflower (Instrumental) – Younha ft. Kassy
06. That Love (Instrumental) – Brown Eyed Soul
07. Beautiful Lies (Instrumental) – Various Artists
08. No Way (Instrumental) – Urban Zakapa

For Lyrics in English, Romanization and Hangul, CLICK HERE