Doctor Slump Review - ZyKuu
"Two doctors hit rock bottom simultaneously" - The story highlights a positive way for parents to help care for their children whom are experiencing depression. This show does a great job at highlighting the importance of one's mental health and how you should treat it seriously. Both Ha-neul and Jeong-woo are high school rivals turned doctors. They both ended up relying on each other to climb out the gutter and eventually develop a relationship that blossoms into a romance. Personally, I was not intrigued with their romantic relationship as I feel like the second couple in lead stole the show. Hong-ran and Dae-young had a unique relationship that was heartwarming to watch. Overall I enjoyed the comedy aspects more than the romance. Ha-neul's family was entertaining and the star of the show for me was Ba-da. Ha-neul's younger brother Ba-da was funny in many ways and always lightened up the mood whenever he was on screen. Ha-neul's mother and uncle were both supportive and loving through every step of the way. The OST was great, and I believe that this show could have been reduced in episodes. Overall, this was a good watch and I would recommend this to anyone who is facing mental health issues as I believe it would guide you in the right direction while entertaining you.Was this review helpful to you?
Light hearted feel good drama
I enjoyed this light hearted drama with family dynamics. It's very refreshing to see romcom with very good plot but one thing is that it don't need 16 episodes. They would have just ended it with 12 to 14 episodes. I really felt like they dragged the story for 2 more episodes. Otherthan that everything was nice to watch and feel good. I started this because of park hyun sik and fell for him again.. too much of green flag in drama's.Drama talks about mental health in a good very and you take many lessons along with you after finishing this drama. If you're looking for a light weight drama with family relations portraying in a good and supportive way, then go for it!!!
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Classic RomCom with nice moments
The story sounded good : 2 rivals in school meeting each other again several years later. Both having bad days (depression, work issue, burnout, bankrupt, …), supporting each other and falling in love and then finally getting better.A good start but quickly turned into a classic and predictable RomCom (with all tricks and clichés of this kind of drama). Nice moments sometimes but no surprise after all…
So nothing special to say, not a bad or good drama, just a classic one…
Great casting but usual overacting (that I don’t like).
It was my first drama with Park Shin Hye as FL, I’ve liked her. And my second drama with Park Hyung Sik, I’ve prefered his acting in Soundtrack #1.
Actors of support roles were good too (interesting « support couple », too bad their love story hasn’t been not more developped).
Production and direction were good.
I didn’t really pay attention to OST.
No rewatch value for me
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Cliche but Execution saves the Plot
When Park Hyun-sik is in a drama, it’s almost always the FL is a strong & independent woman. I like that many Kdramas he’s in has some feministic vibe. It may not be perfect, but it does tackle serious problems people in their adult life are facing. It’s just a bit disappointing that this drama seems to hold back on saying or showing more, as if it was censored or scared to cause controversy. Hence, it gets lost in the basket full of RomCom dramas with not much uniqueness.P.S. Finally a drama with Filipino cameo that does not put them as an "escape" country or something huhu
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So Much Potential, So Little Payoff
From the get-go, I was hooked by the promise of reunited rivals turned potential lovebirds. Picture this: two brilliant doctors, Yeo Jeong Woo and Nam Ha Neul, whose paths cross again after years of academic rivalry. Intriguing, right? The setup was golden—two professionals navigating life’s curveballs, all while sparks fly and awkwardness ensues. Cue the laughs and sighs of nostalgia!The drama kicks off with some solid comedic moments, which had me chuckling into my popcorn. But hold up, here comes the plot twist: the romantic journey between our leads, Jeong Woo and Ha Neul, takes a detour into Teen Romance Land. I’m talking about cheesy antics and aegyo that would make even the most die-hard K-drama fans blush. Seriously, these are grown adults, folks! Let’s tone down the leg kicks and embrace some mature romance, please!
Speaking of which, Jeong Woo and Ha Neul's love story is a mixed bag of emotions. The chemistry was on and off. And there are lots of confusing with dark mysteries and awkward mental health discussions thrown into the mix. The drama attempts to balance these elements, but occasionally stumbles in maintaining a consistent tone.
On the bright side, the supporting cast adds depth and warmth to the story. Park Hyung Sik impresses with his charm, though his character occasionally treads the line between endearing and over-the-top. Moments of familial bonds and career challenges resonate well, grounding the drama amidst its more fantastical elements.
Now, let's talk about the real stars of the show—the second lead couples. Their storyline steals the spotlight, offering a refreshing take on romance and family dynamics. As they navigate the complexities of single parenthood and budding relationships within the chaotic world of medicine, their chemistry lights up the screen. It's a breath of fresh air amidst the main couple’s rollercoaster romance.
In conclusion, 'Doctor Slump' is a delightful yet imperfect drama. It blends humor with heart, introduces compelling second lead couples, and keeps viewers guessing with its mix of romance and mystery. While it may not always hit the mark, its ambition and charm make it a worthwhile watch for those seeking a blend of laughter and heartfelt moments.
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Refreshing
very cute cozy kdrama with also a lot of angst and melodrama. I loved how they discussed mental health and so many other important themes such as burnout, friendship, single parents, grief, absent parents and so on. Great chemistry, great delivery by all actors and great plot. I don't really have nothing to say to this drama and maybe that's why I stop at a 8.0 grade. It was great, meaningful, cute but nothing incredibly memorable. I had lost interest at one particular episode (I think after episode 9) but thankfully after a two weeks break decided to try it again and I was very pleased with the ending.Was this review helpful to you?
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Self-aware drama
Story: Two rivals from high school met again on their lowest moment. The story is about how they will overcome their burnout and traumas from work. It’s nothing very deep but it will make you be aware of yourself, of what you are doing in life, if what you are now, is what you want to be.Acting: I believe they did great in serving their roles however, the main couple just don’t have the chemistry despite acting really well. Their kissing scenes were great too but I just couldn’t feel the chemistry.
Music: most songs are appropriate for each scene, whether it’s emotional or happy moment.
Rewatch Value: I could rewatch most of Park Hyung Sik’s hysterics, although he had a few scenes that could be quite ‘too much / fake’, he was still cute & fun.
Overall: it’s been a long time since I finished this drama but I do remember that I recommended it to some friends ‘cos it’s a feel-good drama and perfect for binge-watching. It’s refreshing with some thought-provoking realizations as an adult.
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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.Was this review helpful to you?
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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Great Heartwarming and Healing Rom-Com
The premise of this show is annoyingly relates to me: someone who has been pressured all their live to achieve all of the expectations set by others. Then when they fail, everyone just run and leave them without any shoulder to lean. After we fail we may become hesitant: "if I choose this next, will I become happy?" But life is all about choices. We are bound to go through sadness and happiness. If you can't take it no more, just quit, does not matter what other people think. Thanks to this show to again raising mental health awareness. The story is not just good, but also heartwarming and healing-some. It shows that even you are a successful person, doesn't always mean that you will be happy. We should know that the "perfect life" that we picture in other people may not be really perfect, or we maybe will not fit in that kind of life! Yes there is a lot of misunderstandings in the relationship, but thanks to the writer that the characters always trying to resolve everything rather than putting everything into more convoluted tensions. The sudden breakup is not neccessary, but I think this can be forgiven since the both are not in a good mental state. Comedies seem to be in the right place. I also really like the narrative style. It somewhat shows that everyone has overcome their pains already.Park Shin-Hye again does an excellent job. However, I really feel bad to the character of Jeong-Woo. His personality is too childish to his age, and he mostly overreacts at everything. Annoyingly, his appearance also looks somewhat much younger than other lead characters, even though they are all should be nearly in the same age. He looks as young as Ba-Da. On the other hand, Nam Ba-Da character is a bit cringe. At first I thought he just jealous with his more successful sister's job, but he is a total asshole. He is heartless and keeps trash talking even when he knows that everyone around him is hurting and in a depression. I always thought that the background for killing someone as "I want them to feel the same pain" is a dumb reason. Especially in this show when Kyu-Min is a doctor with such knowledge, power and money, it will be more reasonable for him to try killing Jeong-Woo in more vicious ways. Even "making him feel worse pain than me" will seems better and more reasonable.
This show most likely has already prepared to end at 12. The premises after their reconciliation are most likely a filler. The pace is slow and the level of importance does not similar with first half of the show. The second lead couple does not get a fair treatment. They get less screentime during the first half, and suddenly increase just when the writer needs some fillers. It neither bad nor destroying though, but it is quite noticable that they intent to add something to fulfill the episode number requirements. They should instead write about Ha-Neul backstory. She was a cheerful person prior to her father's death, but the writer never shows the turning point or why she chose to live an ambitious-autonomous studying life. I was going to mad when they want to send Ha-Neul abroad in the last episode but thankfully it is a twist.
To me, this is a good healing rom-com. I don't really understand why people rarely mention this show when it comes to best K-Dramas of 2024, it's better than some of the shows that they usually mention! You will learn a lot through this show, especially about giving your shoulder to someone struggling and most importantly, FIGHTING!!
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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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