Doctor John (2019)

Only For Medical Drama Lovers

I watched this Drama right after Ji Sung's heart pounding "Secret", so I guess I was looking forward to Doctor John for the continuity of that excitement, even though I am not a great fan of medical dramas.

Fortunately, I managed to finish 16 episodes watching and trying to understand treatment to 'Pain'. Something different, but Doctor John's dysfunction reminded me of Jang Hyuk in Beautiful Mind where disabilities turned them into genius with sharpened skills. The medical cases in Doctor John were interesting enough, and does bring about the thought of how one chooses when in pain, to live or die. And some have no choices at all.

However, Jang Hyuk's performance was so captivating and powerful in Beautiful Mind. He kept us so focused mainly on him and his medical cases that we did not care much for romance in his drama.

With this in mind, for Doctor John, the character did not exude the same tenacity. So to balance out, and to keep the grip of this story line, the drama needed to have a mind-blowing romance and chemistry going on for the main leads. However, this turned out to be a great disappointment. The first two episodes did pretty well, then it was downhill all the way. The romance between an eager young female resident doctor versus a mature, cool, emotionally distant Specialist role was not utilized to it's maximum nor played out as a memorable couple. They kept me hoping to experience something more, even until the last episode.

So watch this if you are more interested to learn about "pain" management. Cheers!

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Nice medical drama with interesting main character

I was thinking a lot what to write about this drama. I've found the first 3-4 episodes very interesting, I even thought: wow, this is the best drama I have seen in the past few months. But then... Somehow it just turned out to be a bit weird, unrealistic and very rushed.
Even though I've liked the whole story and I gave good ratings (overall 8), I have the below comments about what I did not like at all:
- main female character: she cried a LOT! Also she fell for Dr Cha way too fast and then she tarted to chase and even stalk him which was very annoying. Also her hair was very weird (half short & half long?!)


SPOILER!!!
- crazy nurse: how come that she could be the nurse of her child's murderer? Very unrealistic.
- some story lines are just simply unfinished and had better potential: Dr Kang's guilt after her father's accident, her sister's and the other's doctor's love story, the secret organisation etc.
- some characters were poorly written
- last few episodes: what happened with Dr Cha's illness? He almost dies then suddenly he is fine. Also it's simply crazy for me that he has not contacted the girl for more than 3 years!! I mean seriously?! He supposed to be in love with her and he doesn't even text her for several years then she simply just forgives him.

Anyhow, as I said, I liked to drama because of Ji Sung being so charismatic. I've also liked to prosecutor. I liked the fact that it was about a sensitive topic such as euthanasia, but even that part was very confusing.

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I have been seeing this kdrama on Viu for many months but never thought of watching it. However, I gave it a shot since my friend, whose currently focused on medical kdrama, told me that it was a really great drama. She gave me a little info about the drama, and so I was convinced to add it on my watch list. ?

Though I'm currently not in the mood for medical kdrama, I gave it a shot last week, and I was really amazed! I never thought that even just the first episode will be so satisfying. I even thought of watching the first two episodes over and over again. I really liked the scenes there.

Ji Sung (Dr. Cha) is so charismatic. His role suited him. His aura is very gentle and yet striking. I loved the way he smiled and how he expressed his thoughts about something. I liked how composed he was. His acting is so great that even in small gestures I can really understand his intentions. I also loved how he looked at Si Young, especially on the last episodes -- he is so trusting.

When I first saw Lee Se Young (Kang Si Young) during the first episode, I said "isn't she the zombie in Hwayugi? -- nice!" ? I already notice her good acting im Hwayugi, and she's so great in this drama too. Her eyes are full of emotions. I can clearly remember how I almost cried with her in one of her scenes, then I suddenly noticed that she's not shedding a tear ? I mean, I got carried away by even just her voice ?? I can really feel her. She was also able to impart to me her emotions for Dr. Cha.

Min Ah Jeong is also noticeable. She's really a great one. I can feel her every emotions. Her eyes are so expressive. When she's pissed, she's really pissed. When she's sad, she can also make me sad. I love her character here, and I loved how she greatly played it. I hope to see more of her drama, and I'll be excited if she'll have a drama of her own.

My friend really made a true feedback about this drama. This is really great. No boring episodes, and all the cases they have are very interesting. I have learned a lot from this drama. Also, it is a heart warming kind of drama, but thankfully, it was not so heavy drama??


#drjohn
#jisung
#leeseyoung
#minahjeong
#kdrama
#medicalkdrama
#worthwatchingkdrama
#kdramahookedbylady28

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This drama was really something i really needed

I never taught that i will ever watch a drama like that but this drama is amazing, i prefer school love or thriller and other dramas especially about doctors was like not my thing and i said no they arent even that good, but now im here writing my review and telling how much i loved this drama!!! Such a wonderful drama cast was amazing too i really loved how they all cared for eachother and how much love they showed for eachother, even tho male lead acted really cold he still had a warm heart, and because of that this drama was more interesting to watch because he didnt tried to show his real as fast. Real masterpiece♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

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Wanted to watch while it was airing, but i am a binge watcher so waited for it to complete. I finished first episode staring at ji sung only, and got hooked up in the second episode after the tale of Euthansia (mercy killing )which is not much talked just popped up. EUTHANSIA sensitive topic wich is recurring theough the series showing the views of how it differ from person to person
Ji sung is ace actor. His countenance makes you just fall in love with the character of Cha Yo Han. I actually believe the character he is played. Well i came here after watching kill me heal me and he is just so ace. Loved his character to the core.

The slow and steady romantic track is pleasent in between the stress and struggle of this medical jungle. Many say that Cha yo han looked older than kang shi young, but for me it was perfect. Its not a romanctic story its a story were time binds you with the love and comforts you even if you are in long distance relationship.

The hallabaloo in medical center with day to day struggle with patients and diseases is very well potrayed. Fabary disease, Mysthenia gravis, CRPS, CIPA, nipah virus,phantom pain, meliodiasis and many other were shown pretty good.

Medical genre are my most fav so this drama gave me many of the quotations and perpective to the life, Specially towards the medicine "diagnosing is not a a competion".
Lesson learnt.

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Asian Medical Drama done right w/a healthy dose of intrigue, hospital drama and romance.

Complex but not convoluted. The production did good with the progression of the story. Plus, they provided a bit backstory for our main characters.

From the prison which provided mystery and intrigue to our ML's character. ML meeting FL there while she was coping with her guilt over her fathers accident.

From being merely acquaintances/colleagues, to being friends/confidant and then finally falling in love. From almost an unrequited love to a selfless true love.

This show is really entertaining, even secondary characters looks good just like our ML and FL's on screen chemistry.

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I usually hate hospital dramas and the only reason I watched this show was because I saw a clip on Facebook of the prison scene where Cha Yo Han teaches Kang Shi Young how to treat a patient. The whole premise of a prison inmate as a doctor was interesting (not exactly unique) so I was extremely disappointed that they shifted over to a hospital so quickly.

If you are watching just because you want to see an inmate performing surgery on other prisoners, you won't have to watch far before dropping it. But if you stick around, the show does get interesting.

The medical portions of this drama are not overly unrealistic apart from the usual exceedingly rare medical conditions that somehow always pop up around the lead doctor.

My main gripe is how the show handles romance but I'll try to leave it spoiler-free. You will be irritated at how one of the main leads handles his love life and how unjustly the partner is treated.

Overall, one of the better medical dramas I have seen. Ji Sung's acting has improved since the Kill Me Heal Me days, or maybe it's because he only needs to act as one character this time.

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Slow romance, definitely there but slow.

I have watched Ji Sung's show from Secret Love onwards and I can say that, ALL shows that I have watched thus far are amazing. Even for a simple drama "Entertainment", it was a light and great one. Shows that would teach people about certain things in life. Just like this one.

Doctor John taught us to look at things in another perspective. The person might be doing this but he's actually doing it for another purpose. Some people suffer throughout their whole life without showing people much and they still carry on living their life. Life is important no matter what illness/condition/disease you have. Being alive is a gift.

I love how the story slowly builds up for the mentor and mentee. They were a GREAT team even though ALL of them had their doubts against Dr Cha that he did what he did. But he had proved himself and he deserves the best. <3

Great OST that's totally in the scene. I love it, most shows I don't really remember much about the OST but this one did a great job too.

Casts were all great. Crazy nurse was a nuisance but she did whatever she could (as a human being), we all knows human are selfish by nature (don't lie). Prosecutor was more sensible and it was all good.

Those mini stories between the patients and all the casts members were good. I love the inmate patient, CIPA actor and the phantom limb patient, they were great too~ Hope they would have better casting opportunity in the future!

I am sure everyone just wasn't satisfied with the ending as it seems a little ridiculous but at least, they did show us what happened to EVERYONE at the end :3

I don't usually watch medical show or have any FAV medical show. This will probably be the number one as compared to the rest that I've watched as I love how they showed us the struggles they had and solving them together, etc.

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Lovable drama

Doctors are just so amazing for saving their patients without giving up.
After knowing about cipa i realized that life with pain is hell but life without pain is also hell. Kang mirae and dr.lee playing with the cat, matong matong cheering,hanse wish club, and many other things were just so adorable. Cha yohan hiding for a year and seeing si young without her knowledge was so cute.
That kiss in the airport was unexpected but finally they did that :') omg
The ending was so beautiful
That hospital near a forest area. It looked more like a park than a hospital :)
Dr.cha's last prescrption for pain~
"Having someone next to you to share your pain with reduces your pain and gives you the courage to embrace your pain."

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If its any good.

I will watch anything that features Ji Sung.
To me he is one of the best Korean actors by far. He never ages and still has the looks
to give you heart flutters.. Devil Judge.. Heal me kill me were a joy to watch but in this Series he was still fab but the annoying
part of the series was it focused to much on
Kang Shi Young and her fragilitys. Not that she was a bad actress.. she wasn't but he was a fully fledged doctor and she was a novice but seemed to think she could give him advice when clearly she was the one needing his experience. Her weepy eyes
sad expressions totally got me down.
As for the other cast they were all very professional .. The storyline was great but There should have been more emphasis on ji Sung.. He was the draw.. without a woman popping up every 5 minutes. Maybe I was jealous.. 😂 rewatch. Value.. 2/5

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Medical drama di qualità e con un cast di alto livello

Serie ambientata in campo medico e che si sviluppa su più livelli: c'è il susseguirsi di casi clinici, sui quali i personaggi principali si confrontano valutando i sintomi, ipotizzando diagnosi e valutando metodi e approcci possibili e differente; c'è il delicatissimo tema dell'eutanasia, che forse incontro per la prima volta in un k-drama, e che viene affrontato a 360 gradi da ogni punto di vista e mettendo a nudo le tante sfaccettature, sia a livello teorico e di principi, etico e morale, sia nella concretezza dei fatti e delle conseguenze; c'è il tema della famiglia, la ripresa del rapporto rovinato con la sorella, il particolare rapporto con la madre e quello, più difficile e doloroso, con il padre in condizioni disperate; c'è la storia d'amore, che s'insinua lentamente ed evolve nei giusti tempi, ma che avrei voluto un po' meno platonica in dirittura di arrivo; trova spazio il tema dell'amicizia, tra i vari colleghi medici, e il tema del rispetto che si instaura tra iniziali nemici, tra il protagonista e il procuratore, oltre al tema della vendetta, vista come sia capacità di rovinare la vita altrui ma al contempo come unica valvola di sfogo al proprio dolore. Temi complessi, mai trattati con superficialità e leggerezza. E' tuttavia una serie che non risulta eccessivamente noiosa o pesante, benché il ritmo non sia di quelli incalzanti: le tematiche più impegnative vengono spezzate da momenti più leggeri, riconducibili all'ordinario (altrimenti sarebbe stato davvero un macigno difficile da digerire, al pari di un trattato medico sul tema dell'eutanasia, cosa che non è l'obiettivo di una serie televisiva). E poi c'è lui, Ji Sung, attore spettacolare e versatile, dove l'abilità recitativa comprovata dalla sua brillante carriera si arricchisce di un timbro di voce e una cadenza intriganti e uno sguardo in grado di bucare lo schermo, dotato di un magnetismo davvero unico e caratteristico. Un attore di altissimo livello che, come anche in altre occasioni, veste i panni di personaggi di altrettanto rilievo, già che il protagonista di questo drama non può non definirsi interessante, non solo per via della sua particolare condizione patologica ma anche per via di tutte le conseguenze che ne derivano, compreso il suo passato (periodo di detenzione incluso) e il suo modo di pensare e di affrontare la propria esistenza e quella degli altri. Quando un attore di alto livello ricopre un personaggio ben strutturato, ne deriva un binomio davvero vincente, punto di forza di una serie che comunque vanta di suo una struttura solida. A voler proprio mettere sul piatto due critiche, avrei preferito un maggiore sviluppo della storia d'amore, che nasce ed evolve nei giusti tempi, ma che sul finale meritava qualcosina in più. L'altro appunto riguarda sempre il finale, al di là dell'aspetto romance, mi aspettavo una conclusione che avesse lo stesso tenore del resto della serie, mentre invece ho percepito gli ultimi due episodi un po' come l'inizio di una fase calante. Complessivamente, però, resta davvero una gran bella serie, capace di far riflettere, sognare, piangere ed emozionare. Consigliata, senza il minimo dubbio, a tutti gli amanti del genere (e oserei direi anche non).

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A decent medical drama with lukewarm romance

I liked the medical aspect of the drama involving figuring out difficult diagnoses and treating patients. It was also interesting how doctors resolved the moral dilemma between saving lives and ensuring the quality of care for terminally ill patients, and, the moral implications of voluntary euthanasia.

I didn't really care for FL and found her a bit boring. At the beginning, she had her own story and trauma, which made her interesting. Later on, her arc was forgotten and she just obsessed over Dr. Cha's diagnosis involving a lot of overacted crying on her part. This was a bit disappointing because trauma was what allowed FL and ML to form a bond. Overcoming their issues together would've been an interesting character and plot development. The romance was also a bit underwhelming. After FL confessed, the story was left at that as the plot centered around Dr. Cha's illness until the romance arc was nicely wrapped up at the end in a feel-good way. I do like happy endings.

I did like the resolution to the Dr. Cha's/prosecutor's/nurse's arc relating to the murder of their children and the resentment from Dr. Cha's mercy killing of the suspect. We had a very genuine apology, a heart-to-heart conversation, healing, and moving on. I also liked that Dr. Cha helped with the prosecutor's cancer which allowed them to actually become friends at the end. This story left me feelings really good and hopeful that even the worst of tragedies can be overcome with forgiveness, acceptance, and moving forward.

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