Doctor Slump (2024)

A drama to be seen without biases or high expectations

This was a nice drama to watch, a plot that merges comedy and more serious parts. I found a lot of food for thought but the funny scenes made the drama enjoyable and not too heavy or boring.
By the way, talking about the balance between funny and serious parts, PHS acting reminds me a lot of Jim Carrey and his versatile talent.
What bothered me were the too many drinking scenes (I don't think that drinking so much alchool is suggested when dealing with depression and taking drugs) and the fact that a lot of subjects where brought up without really focusing on one or the other remaining on a shallow level.
Lastly...the sub-plot of the friend betrayal was really unecessary.

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A healing drama ruined by too many clichés

I was excited to see PSH and PHS act together in a medical drama too about burnout, but I was dissatisfied, disappointed, and unentertained. Overall, the drama had a slow story and pace that matched the MC's wish to take a break and refresh and her unsteady mental health. But it got boring often and was a bit of a chore to finish this. Side couple was a bit more interesting than the main couple though, shoutout to the single parents. The romance-couple moments were very cliché which was sad to see in a progressive story about directly confronting burnout and depression. I just feel like the cliché events could have taken a different and more realistic route. Comedy was a bit forced. It was a fine story but rather uneventful and unmemorable besides the two top-actor leads. ML's story wasn't spotlighted equally either so it felt rushed. It was kinda weird to see some of the guys in the drama wearing high school uniforms too.

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A consistent drama

Doctor Slump has a good start focusing on what hustle culture and burnout does to the mental health of a professional who is used to be outstanding and has found a wall they can't pass by. I found this storyline, regarding Park Shin Hye's character, the most engaging and I think she delivered a really solid portrayal of a person living with a depression diagnosis and going totally under the radar. We usually wonder how people get to a certain point in life and if her character hadn't been able to ask for help, one would have to wonder if her story might have been different.

On the other hand, Park Hyun Shik's character takes a more conventional arc that we are used to see in this kind of dramas: the hot shot doctor who finds himself abandoned by everyone, except this story finds way to give us glimpses at this life and how utterly lonely it has been. Almost alienated and finding a difficult time to make real connections. His downfall, I think, it's a blessing in disguise because he finds himself with the possibility of exploring other ways to form lasting relationships.

The two main characters are the perfect fold of each other and their arc together it's very endearing to watch. Going from childhood rivals, to comrades in sadness, friends and finally falling in love with each other. They have seen themselves and the other in their worst and find a way to hold up each other, only like a true friend can. And that's why they are so darn cute to watch.

There are other characters dealing with certain social status and mental health issues but theirs are never properly developed until the last minute, which is a shame because it would have given one particular character a much more nuanced story.

This is when I have to admit the story fizzles a little when it moves away from its original premise and goes into other genres that, sure, made for an interesting watch but ultimately fell flat.

Nevertheless, Doctor Slump manages to maintain the viewer entertained for its entire run thanks to the great chemistry between all the characters.

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A captivating drama with resilience and hope.

I started watching this drama hoping to break out of a slump I was going through. While it was interesting, it didn’t fully meet my expectations. Having already seen many of Park Hyung-sik’s works and Park Shin-hye in The Heirs, I was drawn to this show. The story starts off well, with humor and engaging moments, but takes a strange turn around the 8th episode, which made it drag for me. I even debated whether to continue or drop it and ended up putting it on hold for three days. It was a YouTube reel from an upcoming episode that convinced me to keep going, and thankfully, things picked up significantly from episode 12 onward.

The portrayal of the doctors' struggles was, ironically, a bit of a slump to watch. However, the initial episodes were enjoyable, especially with the school rivalry and relatable workplace dynamics through Ha Neul’s character. Up to episode 7, the storyline felt solid with its focus on the leads’ careers, school flashbacks, and the family dynamic of the female lead. Ha Neul’s mom, portrayed with exceptional skill, was a standout. Her reaction to her daughter’s resignation was realistic and relatable, echoing a situation from Eomma Chingu Adil, where Bae Seok Ryu’s mother reacts similarly when her daughter leaves a prestigious job to follow her passion. The way Ha Neul’s mom evolved after understanding her daughter’s struggles was beautifully done. Her character captured the essence of a mother’s unconditional love and concern, especially during moments when she could do little but offer support in her own way—like googling ways to help her daughter recover after an accident. This scene perfectly encapsulated a mother’s innocent and sincere love.

Ha Neul’s brother added a refreshing touch to the show. His humorous presence and subtle character development, especially after his sister’s accident, were commendable. His growth and commitment to supporting her were heartwarming.

As for the leads, their relationship had a certain disconnect that’s hard to pinpoint. Their chemistry was fine but occasionally became frustrating, which thankfully improved by the end. The growth of their relationship from episode 7 or 8 to episode 16 showed significant progress, becoming healthier and more supportive.

The drama addresses workplace issues such as stress and bullying quite well, though I wish Ha Neul’s depression had been resolved sooner. The male lead’s career storyline introduced a crime-thriller aspect, which extended over much of the show but was executed effectively.

Overall, it’s a good drama that may have moments where you feel the urge to fast-forward, especially during scenes that overly emphasize mental health discussions. Despite this, it’s a story with charming leads from contrasting backgrounds who face career challenges and personal lows, only to find hope and resilience. It teaches that endings can be new beginnings and reminds us that life’s toughest moments are temporary.

I'd like to end this review with this meaningful quote I read somewhere : “One year from now, this won’t even matter.” No matter what you’re facing, remember that this too shall pass. This drama is a comforting watch, especially if you’re going through a tough patch.

Hwaiting!!

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A serious drama turns light and fluffy in a blink

To be honest, this show does tick a lot of boxes if you are looking for a sweet rom com/healing drama. It also have a nice looking OTP that can work magic when the condition is right. However, this is also where things can get a little awkward.

Let's backtrack a bit. Both leads have suffer major setbacks in their career and their lives are spiralling ever downwards. It is into this maelstrom that they rediscovered each other and supported each other through thick and thin. Once a bit of historical misunderstanding is cleared up, they realised that they are each other's first love in high school. Yes, very tropey.

Nevertheless, these are solid foundations so let's roll with it. I do appreciate that the show put some mental conditions front and centre. Bullying, overwork and PTSD are just some of the challenges our leads have to face. They are serious conditions but the show doesn't do a deep dive into them. It is a little light on diagnosis and treatment. Cough, the self assessment questionnaire is ... interesting. I suppose we should be thankful that at least those conditions are acknowledged rather than just sweep under the carpet.

This light touch extends to the main plot as well. While the initial set up and execution was very impactful, once the major hurdle has been cleared, the plot took the easy way out. The main plot literally died. What is left is your standard rom com trope.

There is nothing wrong with a good rom com. The problem here is the interaction between the leads. On paper, they are well matched and look lovely together. While the FL has a mature/straight-laced demeanor, the ML is prone to exaggeration once he is in love. He goes full aegyo to get her attention. It is cute and sweet but it can feel like a noona romance at times. This is awkward because they are the same age and both are doctors.

How much you'll enjoy this show will depend on how well you can handle sugar hits. It gets sweeter and sweeter as the show progress until it is pretty much sugar overload by the end of the show.

Acting is fine from the ensemble. There is a fair amount of overacting from the support cast. There are heartfelt and emotional scenes which showcase our leads' talent.

The series ran through a number of serious societal issues but none of them are given in-depth treatments. It is better than nothing but you can sense that nothing is going to get in the way of a HEA ending. Once you get past the confronting plot, it is angst lite and sweet but it can also give you a toothache.

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Yay!, OK, Meh, and Boo

My theory, based on doctors I have known: medical students spend so much time in school and internships that they miss normal adult social interactions, and consequently suffer from arrested emotional development. I submit "Doctor Slump" as a case study. The maturity of the main characters wasn't what one would expect of people their age.

This series suffers from trying to be too many things: drama, romance, and comedy; the first two worked well, if inconsistently, but the third came off as juvenile and misplaced. Whether the attempted comedy was a script choice or a directing choice, it was so off pitch and over-acted that it made me want to throw things at my TV, and is primarily why I didn't rate the show higher.

A couple of things I found baffling:
1) Ha Neul's wardrobe seemed chosen to have her fade into the wallpaper - neutral on neutral. For a while I thought it was a visual reflection of the character and would perk up as her personality evolved, but nope, stayed boring and unflattering throughout.
2) How did these characters last 16 episodes without dying of cirrhosis? I'm honestly worried about the health of the script writer if she thinks this level of consumption is normal or healthy.

On the pro side: based on my personal experience, the script's treatment of depression, its manifestations, effects, and recovery hit all the right notes, particularly in presenting Ha Neul's unresolved anger from the violence and mistreatment at work as manifesting as helplessness, defeat, and demoralization. The development of her character and behavioral responses during treatment was also realistic and well handled. The development and clarity of Yeo Jeong Woo's character was a little more murky to me, but I did like that solving his business problem didn't magically solve his personal problems.

In contrast to other viewers, I thought the story was sluggish in the beginning but really picked up in the last eight episodes. The plot lines and character arcs set up in the first half of the series began playing out and resolving and that was a lot more satisfying for me than the build up. I also liked that we finally got to see a more holistic picture of Nam Ha Neul after eight episodes of more than I ever wanted to know about Yeo Jeong Woo.

I loved the gradual reveal of the family dynamics and IMO the characters were perfectly cast. Park Shin Hye is compelling in everything she does, Jang Hye Jin was the perfect Mom for this story, Yoon Sang Hyeon really grew on me as the series progressed, and I want Hyun Bong Sik's Tae Seon as my real life uncle and Kong Seong Ha's Lee Hong Ran as my real life best friend.

I won't rewatch it, but I mostly enjoyed it the first time around.

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Enjoyable

Park Shin-Hye's return to the screen in this captivating Kdrama is nothing short of a triumphant comeback. Paired alongside the esteemed Park Hyun-sik, the chemistry between the two actors is palpable, adding depth and authenticity to the storyline. With just two episodes in, it's evident that this series has the potential to etch its name in the annals of Kdrama history as one of the finest. For those on the fence about giving it a chance, fear not; the magnetic performances and engrossing plot make it a must-watch. So, without further hesitation, dive into this mesmerizing tale and witness the magic unfold!

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A warm hug. My comfort couple.

where to start? I have been watching kdramas for a long long time. so, now, the people who just started watching kdramas during pandemic don’t come at me. I have watched these two from the heirs, I watched them grow, oh it was lovely. Fans like me knew what these two used to be. PHS? he was always like this. charming, funny. Though I wasn’t his huge fan, I watched his dramas. He was this cute since he was in ZE:A band. He is sweet to his all leading ladies. Lots of people complained that he lost weight, he looked better when he gained weight. it’s annoying yk. I mean can’t we let them do whatever they want? I am used to seeing him like how he is now, slim. but I liked him when he gained some weight too. Since he joined the industry, he has been always like this. now let’s talk about PSH? Hands down. She is a queen. she was the first one who made me love kdramas. She was cute in he is beautiful and then the heirs, she made me fall in love with LMH. It’s funny these actors get hates these days. Seriously kids these days don’t know them properly. Literally these people took kdramas to the international level. -,- anyways back to the drama, I won’t say that it has the best plot. but the dialogues? you will love it. it calms your heart. few years back, even when the story wasn’t good, the actors’ acting was something that hooked the audiences like me. this one is literally like that to me. even if they just bicker and do nothing, it will excite me. this is how Rom-com used to be in kdramas. If you are not looking for something too serious, I swear you will love it. life doesn’t go as planned. it gets messed up when you least expected it to. this drama isn’t perfect and that’s what it makes it perfect to me. you will notice little details such as I watched today that Ha neul has her charger charging her phone while talking to Jeong Woo. I immediately got flashbacks of those days. I mean, we shouldn’t do it but we still do it, right? It’s so relatable and so funny at the same time. And I said this before too that if this drama has anything that’s top notch it’s their chemistry. I seriously never thought that Myungsoo (PHS’s character in the heirs) and she will be in romcom and they will have so much chemistry that will made giggle like a mad. Anyways, I have been here for a while, I mean in Mdl. It’s really sad to see people hating others for no reasons. My humble request is that, if you can’t say something good, don’t say something bad either. Your opinion matters, of course give opinions but stop with the unnecessary hate.

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A Healing Journey

I loved the main point that this drama sends to its viewers...

It’s okay to fall down, it’s okay to take time and heal, it’s okay not to be okay, but it’s also important to know when it’s time to start again and to accept that starting again means starting slow and starting from within.

The romance was a great added bonus to the storyline, especially because the leads have great chemistry. But even without the added romance, they were able to portray and send the message properly- it was still a win.

I would say that everything about this drama was well executed. The support system of fmc is just top notch. I think that the mother and uncles role in this drama should also be given a proper salute. The way they tried is enough to help a person. It’s enough to let the fmc know she’s not alone and she has her family to help her through.

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Good beginning but then...

I wonder if there had been another female protagonist if the series would have been different and better.
I don't particularly like the actress Park Shin Hye because in every series I've seen (for example The Heirs or Memories of Alhambra), in which she stars, she weighs down the story. Monothematic in her sadness, with this idiotic look with his mouth ajar, in the long run she makes me nervous.
On the other hand, I liked Park Hyung Sik. Always elegant and gentleman, I especially like to remember the scene in which he looks in the mirror.
While the scenes in which they pretend to be drunk I found them not very credible.
But I was a super fan of the couple of their friends. So cute.

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