Good Doctor Episode 8

Evil Aunt returns to the hospital, police officer in tow. Persisting that she will need a court order to even think about moving Eun Ok, Yoon Seo intercepts her. A minor scuffle ensues...



...but is soon interrupted by the sudden arrival of Shi On.

He repeatedly insists Evil Aunt must never be allowed to take Eun Ok. Going home and returning to this person's "care" is against the patient's own wishes.

Nurses Jo and Nam share Yoon Seo's pleasant surprise at the timely reappearance of our hero. We learn Doctor Choi called him back shortly after last episode's encounter with Vice Director Kang. Woo! 

But as details are best shared later, Yoon Seo suggests they take care of the situation at hand before resuming their chat.

At the urging of the officer, all parties agree Eun Ok should choose her own fate. They move to her room together, with Evil Aunt shouting at the poor girl to come home as though she were a runaway dog. Eun Ok trembles at her very presence, but calms and even brightens visibly once she lays eyes on Shi On.



When he sits down at her bedside, she takes and gently nuzzles his hands. Already knowing the answer, Yoon Seo asks Eun Ok if she would like to return home with Evil Aunt. The girl shakes her head violently and shrinks away. Then she is prompted as to whether she wants to remain at the hospital with Shi On.

Miraculously, Eun Ok answers positively...in speech! The entire room is stunned by her sudden verbal ability.

The police officer has seen enough. To him, it's clear that Eun Ok neither can be moved or desires it. He suggests Evil Aunt leave things as they are, and to get a lawyer if she can't handle it.

As Evil Aunt stutters, totally defeated, Shi On repeats his supportive mantra to a delighted Eun Ok. "You're very, very pretty. I love you."

Vice Director Kang presents the data from the locking system to the department heads. Doctor Ko flusters as it becomes obvious Shi On has been proven innocent. Despite this good news, the Vice Director presents the information as though the machine merely malfunctioned. No punishments for the conspirators.

Doctor Choi moves to rehire Shi On formally. No one offers objection, but both Do Han and Doctor Ko appear displeased (albeit for different reasons).

Do Han stays behind to speak with his mentor. He expresses unhappiness that Shi On remains the measure of Doctor Choi's fate. "I should taken the chance to have him leave. After kicking him out, it would have been easier for me to find a way to shield you."

Disappointed but understanding, Choi offers an apology. Do Han merely continues, tired eyes downcast. "From now on, I'll find it on my own. The wisest way."

Hot on Kang's heels, Doctor Ko demands to know why he intervened. If the Vice Director had let the matter go, the whole conspiracy would have wrapped neatly. Kang replies, cool as ice, he cannot ignore security matters...especially as "The Director received the report too."

Unable to bully here, Doctor Ko moves in on Woo Il Kyu for a walloping. We get a good close up of the Resident Jerk's crocs as Dr. Acula delivers the obligatory punitive shin kick.

He demands to know what happened. Didn't he say to unlock the door? Il Kyu swears he couldn't because of all of the eyes on the room. He then failed to mention the proceedings because the door just happened to open anyway.

As they watch our hero interact with Eun Ok, Yoon Seo gushes about his return to Do Han. He tells her not to be too happy, since he believes the only thing that came back was trouble.

Because his prickliness is almost playful today, Yoon Seo pushes a mite further and asks whether Shi On can return to work. Do Han responds positively, turning her initial surprise into a bout of bright smiles. It seems her joy is contagious; as Do Han inquires whether it really makes her that happy, the glimmer of a smile touches the corners of his own lips. Yoon Seo affirms, citing her feelings toward Shi On. The sisterly ones. Ouch.



Do Han gazes at her in a contemplative hush, reminiscent of the famous "look of love" so often encountered in romance dramas. His expression is intense enough for Yoon Seo to ask why.

He answers honestly: "In the ten years I've known you, you've never looked happier."

Yoon Seo takes to scratching her neck, refuting that statement abashedly. Not one to miss a beat, Do Han teases that she should take care of her younger brother. He turns to go, but his smile dissolves as he steals a final glance at Eun Ok and Shi On.

Now alone, Yoon Seo is free to enter the room. She asks our hero to come along, but embraces him tightly once he stands. As she gently admonishes and coddles him, Shi On contracts the hiccups yet again.



A gossip session between the residents reveals only Han Jin Wook happily accepts the return of their controversial colleague. Woo Il Kyu expresses his displeasure only seconds before Yoon Seo enters with Shi On. 

These varied sentiments, along with the lukewarm ones of the others, are reaffirmed in the way they greet him. Our heroine ends up chiding the Resident Jerk for his poor attitude.

Do Han emerges from his office to formally reintroduce Shi On to his former workload. When prompted, he even allows him continued supervision over Eun Ok. Not one to linger, he starts to leave only to be stopped by Yoon Seo. 

She suggests throwing Shi On an official welcome party as his was so long belated. Do Han sighs, but doesn't oppose. No one other than Yoon Seo and Han Jin Wook seems particularly enthused by the prospect, though.



In a scene marked by dramatic camera angles and music, Doctor Choi freaks out in his office. Whatever plan is contained in those documents must be pretty bad; with Vice Director Kang involved, it's hard to tell.

Do Han meets Chae Kyung to discuss his next move. During the chat, she suggests he need only marry her to avoid struggling. After she obtains her stepmother's position, of course.

The prospect amuses him; Do Han laughs that she might lift away all his worries in that case. Chae Kyung joins in...



...yet her expression grows cold when he isn't looking.

Shi On and Yoon Seo discuss how he was able to reawaken speech in Eun Ok. Our hero explains that he gave her the mother's love she so desperately missed, posing the questions she might have asked. When the two were alone, Shi On told Eun Ok how beautiful and loved she was.




The subject turns to memories, which he says helped the healing process along. Shi On then mentions how jealous he is of Eun Ok. She can at least remember the faces of her parents.



This conversation leads Yoon Seo to meet with Mother. We learn she is planning to help them reconnect soon.

Patient In Hye ambushes a passing Shi On. She latches onto his torso with all four limbs, disallowing him freedom until he professes how much he missed her. After complying, he takes aside his "one and only" friend for advice.



In Hye easily diagnoses the hiccups along with all Shi On's other symptoms. The sickness? First love! But to her annoyance, he never tells her just where he caught it.

As he ponders this revelation, our hero catches the faint impression of an aria.



The Troublemaker Quartet enjoys the talent of a young choral singer on television. They buzz about his accomplishments, especially impressed since he is only slightly older. One of the more boastful boys goes to display his own skill, but is interrupted by Shi On singing along loudly.

Not to worry. The kid gets his chance at pediatric ward fame moments later...



...though the resulting cacophony sees a shocked Nurse Jo run in just to check whether something died. As the boy pouts, everyone shares a good laugh.

Our hero must have been very impressed by the prodigy's voice; he introduces the aria to Eun Ok. As they listen to the cloying sound, both think on their mothers.

Do Han refuses to join the party as he has a "prior engagement." He does hand over his credit card (!) telling Yoon Seo to buy drinks until everyone blacks out. Perhaps bolstered by this more generous version of her boss, she presses for a bit more. Yoon Seo reticently asks whether he might consider allowing Shi On to experience a true residency.

Unfortunately, Do Han isn't willing to give that much. His policy on our hero stands firm.

That "prior engagement" sees Do Han meeting Vice Director Kang for drinks. He is promised that, with his assistance, a bountiful new pediatric ward will be brought about. Reasonably skeptical, Do Han wonders why Kang might do something seemingly without benefit for his "side." The vice director merely spins a tale about how it was all a selection process. He is now on Do Han's "side," complete with an investor lined up with which to back him.





Of the residents invited, only Han Jin Wook and Yoon Seo attend the welcoming party. Nurses Jo and Nam add bulk to the event. 



Despite a few cute moments, Bartender Ajusshi sadly notes the diminished state of the pediatric surgery department. The group isn't easily brought down and are confident, though few in number, they have the best doctors possible.

Do Han, still agonized over the decision hanging over him, stops by the bash after all. But he finds, after arriving, that they've all moved on to another location.

If you guessed the next stop was noraebang, you were right. It's always noraebang.

Han Jin Wook rocks out with the nurses. Yoon Seo screeches and prances around in costume. Even Shi On gets his song and dance on. It's amazing.



As our hero has the time of his life, Do Han watches...lingering just outside. His gentle expression soon melts into pained sighs. He sees the shade of his brother in Shi On again, doesn't he?

Ultimately unwilling to crash the party, Do Han starts to leave...



...only to be spotted by Yoon Seo. She rushes to greet him, still clad in that glittery jacket.

They go outside to the benches for vending machine drinks and a private chat. Despite his best efforts to appear indifferent, Do Han seems cheered. The atmosphere is light between them as he insists he only came out to see how much he's spending. When she swears she hit the card limit, he laughs.

A moment later, he turns to her and calls out: "Yoon Seo."



This flusters her (and me). She wonders aloud why he suddenly used her name. He answers by posing another question. "Do I appear wise to you?"

Yoon Seo thinks so, almost to the point of annoyance. Just a tiny bit though. This seems to please Do Han...since he wanted the opinion of the person he deems closest to him. 

Oh my. Who will tell Chae Kyung?

Do Han goes on: "It's okay to talk back. It's okay to make trouble. Just keep trusting me as you do now."

Yoon Seo never hears why he's suddenly being so intimate with her. Do Han adopts his rare playful tone again, demanding a cessation to her formal address of him. "If I tell you to change it, just change!"

Apparently it just makes him uncomfortable to hear an old hoobae speak that way. Uh-huh.

Once the banter gets going, it seems to flow out effortlessly.  She feigns offense at being called old, reminding him which one of them is closer to 40.



As the camera pans out, Do Han says: "Change it," to which Yoon Seo replies with bowed head and a sharp "Yes!" They both laugh in earnest.

We join Kyu Hyun, that famous vocal prodigy from before, practicing "Lascia ch'io pianga." He soon displays vocal problems, which he is forced to sing through. As you might have seen coming, the squawks transform into a violent coughing fit.

Yoon Seo goes home with Shi On after the party. She falls asleep on his bed, having sent him on a beer run. Our hero returns to watch his crush sleep, telling Big Brother in heaven he finally understands how it feels to like someone.



Do Han finds himself perusing a list of pediatric surgeons. Vice Director Kang suggested doing so for the purposes of scouting. Come on, Do Han. Don't fall for his tricks.

Yoon Seo treats her unsurprisingly horrid hangover. In hilarious contrast, Shi On suffers absolutely no side effects.

Shi On notices his crush applying perfume to cover the scent of soju. You know, the perfume Do Han gave her a few episodes back. Our hero notes the mixture of both aromas remind him of lemon soju. His desire to drink suddenly rises again.

Evil Aunt has stopped paying the hospital bills, whether she wants to force the issue of Eun Ok or just doesn't have the cash. The nurses and Yoon Seo discuss possible alternatives, including disability benefits.

We learn from an encounter with In Young that In Hye needs a liver transplant. She'll be staying at the hospital until that time comes.

When her sister goes, In Hye chides Han Jin Wook for not pursuing her actively. Nurse Jo overhears and tries to offer pick up lines, but In Hye drops a pearl of her own: "Recognize what a girl needs most."

But it isn't Han Jin Wook who takes the advice, it's Nurse Jo. He brings Nurse Nam a jar of facial cream, accidentally offering an insult along with the gift. She tells him off, much to his oblivious surprise.



Do Han examines Kyu Hyun, surrounded by his residents. Manager Mother complains he looks too young for his famous reputation. Without looking away from the patient, Do Han retorts: "I can refer you to an older doctor if you wish."



He finds a spot on the throat which obviously causes Kyu Hyun pain. Apparently, an infection has caused an internal abscess. Because Manager Mom is already shaping up to be a terrible parent, she affirms that these symptoms are nothing new. It's fine to just treat with antibiotics as long as the boy go on singing.

Do Han orders further antibiotics and tests, asking for the results ASAP. Manager Mom manages to surprise him with a different entreaty of haste -- hurry, because there's practice tomorrow. You can almost see Do Han swallow harsh words.

Oh! By the way, he asks Shi On attend Kyu Hyun's diagnosis. Everyone is surprised.

At the diagnosis, everyone agrees there is indeed an abscess. Yoon Seo adds the possibility of infection around the thyroid. Do Han concurs that while it looks that way, it's something even he has never seen before.

So he asks Shi On for his thoughts.



Our hero lists symptoms and, with a simple affirmation of their presence, finds the answer. He says it is pyriform sinus fistula. Only Yoon Seo and Do Han understand what he's referring to; none of the others have even heard of it.

Do Han nods, elaborating a specific anomaly in the bronchial cleft. Shi On goes on, saying the condition mimics an upper respiratory infection. If it is treated as such, the symptoms will reoccur and eventually lead to thyroiditis.

As you may have already guessed, the problem can only be corrected through tough surgery. Unfortunately, the procedure carries the risk of collateral damage. Depending on various factors, Kyu Hyun may never be able to reach high notes again.

Do Han admonishes the residents for being a step behind Shi On. They need to ramp it up and remain alert. Did his little speech contain a speck of praise for our hero? Quick, get into the bunker. The sky must be falling.

The importance of the operation is impressed onto Kyu Hyun's parents. Unfortunately, all Manager Mom cares about is whether her son can fulfill her -- err...his dreams. She rages that they will just take Kyu Hyun to another hospital, since things won't go her way.

Dad cares about whether his son is in pain, at least. He reiterates the dangers of waiting and suggests hospitalizing him. But Manager Mom won't listen, because she sacrificed so much! Please.

Do Han and Yoon Seo discuss the case at hand. He prescribes antibiotics for now, hoping to bide time until he can press the surgery.

Yoon Seo stops mid-way to thank him for letting Shi On participate.

You can all come out of the bunker now because the sky is just fine. Do Han rejects her graciousness, because he was just giving Shi On one final check. He isn't accepting him, he's sending him away to work at a diagnostic center.



While I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree this might be best for our hero, he should at least be able to decide for himself.

Yoon Seo tries to tell Do Han that, but he won't be swayed. He asks her to try to convince Shi On instead.




Yoon Seo brings up the matter over sandwiches.When Shi On understands her motive, his anger explodes. He rants on about how dreams are more important than what we're talented at; for instance, he's best at drawing, but he wishes to be a surgeon.

He storms out and she follows, stunned at his outburst. When she can't reach him, Yoon Seo blurts out that he can take charge of Kyu Hyun. Do Han shouldn't mind too much, right? What he said at noraebang will probably cause him untold headaches in the future.

Shi On checks on Kyu Hyun. However, the prodigy prefers his MP3 player to human contact. It seems Manager Mom encourages this behavior, limiting hospital staff to interaction with her child through checkups and treatment only.

Our hero ponders whether Kyu Hyun only knows how to sing; perhaps he never learned to talk? He worries that the other kids will call him "idiot," much to Manager Mom's surprise.

Nurse Jo runs into Nam whilst complaining about the ridiculous mother and son. They bandy as usual, but he soon notices a spot of cream on her face. Overjoyed, he realizes she's been using his gift -- despite her protestations of the opposite.



Doctor Choi confronts Vice Director Kang. If we needed any confirmation that Do Han would be doing wrong to ally with him, this is it. Choi outs the papers as ridiculous, throwing down an ultimatum. Kang must leave his position quietly or suffer the board motion for his immediate dismissal.

Doctor Ko meets with his brother-in-law. Since they're almost out of options, Ko learns he will become a momentary sacrifice to preserve their ambitions.

The Troublemaker Quartet drops in on Kyu Hyun. They talk incessantly at him and, while he looks at them, they receive the cold shoulder. Manager Mom appears just in time to hurry the children away.

Our hero notices and suggests Kyu Hyun needs friends to get well. His ensuing story seems to get the prodigy's attention; his eyelashes tremble slightly when he looks away. What a lonely kid.



Yoon Seo confronts Shi On regarding Eun Ok's hospital bills. He wrings his hands nervously as she explains that once he starts doing this, he'll never want to stop.  But he insists his money is better spent on helping people; he doesn't need much after all.

Impressed, Yoon Seo claims that our hero is "a true adult."



Kyu Hyun sleeps outside his room in order to gain distance from Manager Mom. When Shi On stumbles across him, he takes a curious gander at the prodigy's ever-present MP3 player. It saddens him to find nothing added to its library; he's been faking this whole time.



Doctor Choi is called into an emergency board meeting. Remember that hushed up Heta Vizen scandal? The reveal of that will be the big sacrifice Doctor Ko was asked to make.

Do Han and Yoon Seo arrive at the nurse's station as agents from the Food and Drug Administration search for evidence. Moments later, Shi On calls them to Kyu Hyun's room; the antibiotics aren't working, so his condition exacerbated. The prodigy is now in immense pain, feverish, and swollen.

During the crisis, it's notable that Shi On calms himself where he would not have been able to in previous episodes. He's acclimating to stressful situations. Finally!

Manager Mom still insists there's no room for surgery. Because of the prognosis, she mentions she wouldn't allow Sung Won University to do it anyway. She politely asks for a different antibiotic and, as it's all they're allowed to do, Do Han must agree.

Shi On initially disobeys the order, comparing Manager Mom to Evil Aunt. Ouch.



The Residents goof off, planning to hit the club scene if the weekend looks clear. Hong Gil Nam starts to get down just as ear buds fall inexplicably from the sky. He jokingly declares the occurrence a heavenly sign. This is not a sageuk, sir.  But Resident Jerk suddenly wonders where they must have come from.



The three stooges here look up slowly... to where Kyu Hyun teeters on the edge of the roof!

Do Han leads the upward charge, accompanied by Manager Mom and his residents. Unfortunately, when they reach Kyu Hyun, he warns them back. His balance is precarious, but he seems ready to jump if anyone comes near.