Deserving of the Name Review

Title: Deserving of the Name

AKA: Live Up To Your Name

Genre: Medical, History, Romance, Time Travel, Comedy

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2017-Aug to 2017-Oct

Cast: Kim Nam Gil, Kim Ah Joong, Yun Ju Sang and Yoo Min Kyu.

Heo Im (Kim Nam Gil) is an oriental doctor in 1592s Haeminseo. Due to his low status he isn't allowed in the palace, but the people of Joseon know him as a nice and unworldly. Unfortunately, Heo Im is very ambitious, and spends his nights healing rich people, in exchange for payment. The positive reputation leads him to an invitation from the King to cure a migraine. Thrilled, Heo Im prepares a new set of needles he found, but while trying to heal the king, his hand starts to shake and he is accused of treason. He manages to escape, but is met with the royal army and is shot down with arrows, and wakes up in 2017 Seoul. Bewildered he walks through the city, and bumps into Choi Yeon Kyun (Kim Ah Joong) who thinks of him as a weirdo especially after he tries to save a man passing out, by using acupuncture.

After seeing the wonders of 2017 Seoul, Heo Im decides he wants to stay, as he sees possibilities in becoming richer and more powerful. Sadly, he doesn't have a license, so he tried to find a Haeminseo. Here he meets a man, who seems to know about him, and as fate has it, he is Yeon Kyungs grandfather...

I am sorry for the weird review, but I tried hard not to spoil the drama. And to be honest, this is one drama you need to watch. I loved every part of it. I mean this drama took such a turn suddenly making me fall in love even more. Kim Nam Gil is officially one of the great actors: first Pandora and now this one. Okay, he has some we won't mention, but the 2017 dramas/movies are awesome. Kim Ah Joong is an okay actress, wasn't that into some of the older one, but this one fits her like a glove – being beautiful and smart really suits her.

I like that the drama was close to actual history, and the chemistry between the leads, as well as the pace... you'll understand once you see.

So: all in all.... recommendable.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of hearts

Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim Review

Title: Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim
AKA: Romantic Doctor Kim
Genre: Medical, Melodrama, romance
Episodes: 20 + 1 SP
Broadcast Period: Nov-2016 to Jan-2017
Cast: Han Suk Kyu, Yoo Yeon Seok, Seo Hyun Jin,  Jin Kyung, Im Won Hee, Yang Se Jong, Choi Jin Ho,

Boo Yong Joo (Han Suk Kyu) is a genius and triple-board certified surgeon, who was once at the top of his field and used to work at Seoul’s top hospital, Geodae. After a traumatic incident, he disappears and changes his name to Kim Sa Bu (Teacher Kim) to work at a small hospital named Doldam, which is located at Gangwon Province. He guides Kang Dong Joo (Yoo Yeon Seok) and Yoon Seo Jeong (Seo Hyun Jin) to become great doctors there, teaches them to fight against power and money for the sake of patients.

I think this is the best medical drama I've ever watched. The ethical issues portrayed are excellent. Well, some are not that realistic but the story line itself is daebak! I loved how real everything felt, and how all the cases were at least somehow realistic. Medical dramas are my favorite genre, so for a change I actually looked every medical term up, so i learned alot, I could be a doctor and work alongside them. I love the character developement in this drama. Every single character had something to do in the drama, and the harmony between them was so good. The main couple was no joke either, they aced it. Yoo Yeon Seok and Seo Hyun Jin should stay in the medical field, and together! To sum it up, it had a little of everything, easy drama to fall in love with.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4 ½ out of 5 hearts

A LIFE Review

Title: A Life

AKA: A Life: A Love

Genre: Medical, Romance

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2017-Jan to 2017-Mar

Cast: Kimura Takuya, Takeuchi Yuko, Matsuyama Kenichi and Kimura Fumino.

Okita Kazuaki (Kimura Takuya) is a well-known surgeon working in Seattle. He is called back to Japan to do a surgery on his old mentor and chief, who is the father of his ex-girlfriend Danjo Mifuyu (Takeuchi Yuko). Having left Japan suddenly 10 years ago, he and Mifuyu hadn’t had time to work on their relationship, so she had decided to accept a proposal from Masao (Asano Tadanobu), Kazuaki’s best friend.

After returning and finishing the surgery, Kazuaki can’t wait to go back, but is asked to stay by Masao. He is asked to stay to do a brain surgery on Mifuyu, as Masao himself believes he is unable to do surgery on a loved one. So, he asks Kazuaki to do it, since he doesn’t have feelings for Mifuyu anymore… or does he?

Okay, I had the hardest time writing this summary. After watching 10 episodes I realized that the main plot and storyline really does not look good on the screen. I don’t really understand what the purpose or where supposed growth in Kimuras character went? I thought he was a main character, but he felt like an overrated second lead. I don’t understand what the meaning of this drama is? I get that the acting was good, but I felt no evolving story. They tried to make it “interesting”, but I felt it was rather an unnecessary story to be told. Ive seen movies and dramas that work at a much slower pace, with less story, and yet I am so disappointed in this drama that not even the acting could make me recommend it.

I can’t even explain my ratings. I guess the only thing I can say is watch it, and judge for yourself.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Doctors Crush Review

Title: Doctors Crush

AKA: Doctors

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, Medical

Episodes: 20

Broadcast Period: Jun-2016 to Aug-2016

Cast: Kim Rae Won, Park Shin Hye, Yoon Kyun Sang, Lee Sung Kyung, Kim Young Ae, Jung Hae Kyun, Han Bo Bae

Yoo Hye Jung (Park Shin Hye) has had a tough childhood and difficult life. She has dealt with the life challenges by becoming emotionally guarded and acting like a tough bully at school. When Hong Ji Hong (Kim Rae Won) meets Hye Jung, he recognizes her intelligence behind her gangster facade. However revenge sets her on a path to become a doctor in a neurosurgery residency at a major hospital. Hye Jung works alongside fellow residents Jung Yoon Do (Yoon Kyun Sang) and Jin Seo Woo (Lee Sung Kyung). But when Seo Woo becomes Hye Jung’s biggest rival both professionally and personally, can Hye Jung overcome yet another major obstacle to her own personal happiness? 

I’m still not quite sure whether to like and recommend this drama, or to dislike it. I don’t wanna sugarcoat it, so i’m just going to put it out there. I loved it at some points, but hated it towards the end. I fell for it’s charm in the beginning, the cute innocent love story, the attractive characters and especially Park Shin Hye. I’m amazed by her development from the childish actress she was in Beautiful You, till the confident her in both Pinocchio and this one. It showed us a different side of Park Shin Hye. The cast was strong and the story was very promising. So what went wrong? Well, first of all they could have made Ji Soos part bigger, I mean a hot delivery guy… Why not :b On a serious note though, the storyline got dragged, every episode had it’s own mini-stories, but the overall background story went so slow, and at times you even forgot it. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but there was too much romantic stuff between the lead couple, you kind of get wearied of it. In the end I started supporting the second lead, because I felt that would be more convincing! The first few episodes were probably the best part of the drama. I kept watching till the end though, because of the character developement in the beginning. The director did a good job with hooking us on the drama till the end, but he leaves you dissapointed! Overall this drama lacks a strong plot. This is not the drama for you if you're hoping for a complex plot.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts

Bunjis verdict

As a start I have to say this: my rating might be a bit ‘nicer’ than Kamjis, but that is not because I disagree with her. It is because I can bring myself to rate harshly – it is quite hard expecially since I enjoyed a bit of it.

Okay that said, I have to almost totally agree with Kamji. Though I already at the beginning knew this would be one of those dramas: weak. This drama has the thinnest plot every, and the weakest story EVER. I mean 20 episodes of doctors crushing at each other, and a bit of bickering here and there does not make a drama. This drama actually had potential; with some of the most amazing characters written – and with some of the wittiest dialogues ever made (in Korean drama world that is). But that is where it ends. As a medical drama there was a bit too little – or at least not enough – of medicine. Patient story were too short and few if you ask me… even if they were good, there weren’t enough. Then again that is MY opinion.

I enjoyed this drama mostly because of Kim Rae Won and some of the supporting characters – other than that I was bored. Like this drama is generally boring with a few laughs (because of the clever lines) here and there.

So all in all, a drama that will very soon be forgotten, even if it was hyped and had a lot of viewers.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Beautiful Mind Review

Title: Beautiful Mind

AKA: Dr. Frankenstein

Genre: Medical, Thriller, Romance

Episodes: 14

Broadcast period: 2016-Jun to 2016-Aug

Cast: Jang Hyuk, Park So Dam, Yoon Hyun Min, Heo Joon Ho and Park Se Young.

This drama tells about Lee Young Oh (Jang Hyuk); a genius neurosurgeon with a brain injury to his frontal lobe, making him unable to show or feel sympathy and empathy. As a very young boy his father had intensively taught him how to read facial expressions, as he was afraid his son would be labeled a psychopath due to people with the same condition being known as either sociopaths or psychopaths. This results in Young Oh being able to hide his real nature even from his girlfriend Kim Min Jae (Park Se Young) and his fellow co-workers.

Everything changes when he's one day involved in a range of deaths at the hospital, with patients dying with no reasonable cause. This leads to policewoman Gye Jin Sung (Park So Dam) suspecting Young Oh after being involved with one of the patients right before they went to surgery. Soon after everything around him starts to crumble as the people he thought he had trusted, suddenly work against him...

Okay, so I am aware this drama isn't as famous as many other Korean medical dramas, but compared to all other medical drama I have watched, this is probably one of my favorite. You might find this one to serious and quite confusing, but I enjoyed it a lot. I am not a fan of Jang Hyuk, but I really didn't mind him here. Sometimes I would think his acting was off, but it didn't bother me at all. Maybe because of the storyline or the dialogues, but it was quite good to be fair. Park So Dam I am seeing for the first time, and I loved her. I think she made me a fan. There was something tomboyish yet very feminine about her – like a young and less experienced Gong Hyo Jin. And I am a huge GHJ fan :)

Besides that, I found the pace great, like it made me tune in every single week, and I was always excited for the next episode. But on the other hand I understand why people would dislike it – as the subject is something not everyone is fond of. Also the idiot who cut this 2 episode short should die. Seriously. There was WAY too much happening in the last 2 episodes - because it was cut.

To sum up: a great drama, but not for everyone's taste.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

D-day Review

Title: D-day

Genre: Medical, Political, Disaster

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period: 2015-Sep to 2015-Nov

Cast: Kim Young Kwang, Jung So Min, Ha Suk Jin and Yoon Joo Hee.

This drama is about a natural disaster striking Seoul, and we follow a group of doctors and firefighters as they are trying to help and save the citizens, but also about the social and political consequences arising due to the situation.

Lee Hae Sung (Kim Young Kwang) is an empathetic doctor doing his best for all his patients, but also a very competent one. After he loses his father in a car accident and his mother got into a coma, he accepts the ill treatment from his chief so his mother can stay inside the hospital where he works. The chief of the hospital, Mirae University Hospital, is only concerned about the reputation and economic of the hospital, which is where the two opinions collide.

Jung Ddol Mi (Jung So Min) is 3rd year resident at a university hospital in Busan, but when there was talk about moving a patient to Seoul she offered to go, on her own: wanting to meet her idol Han Woo Jin (Ha Suk Jin), who happens to be a college friend of Hae Sungs, but also someone who agrees with the chief of the hospital.

After saving a patient’s life, ignoring authority Lee Hae Sung is transferred to a smaller hospital, and at the same time, the earth starts to shake. Suddenly a crane falls into a sinkhole, and all hell breaks loose…

Hmm, I am not sure I am doing this drama justice with that type of summary, but it is incredibly hard not to spoil anything.

I personally am a huge fan of disaster stories; both movies and TV shows. Therefore, I was very excited about this when I found out about it. I also like the idea of it being about doctors and firefighters, as we usually don’t have that view – or at least I haven’t seen any with it – that shows us about their struggles and situations.

Kim Young Kwang is a very talented and handsome actor, whom I liked for quite a while now, ever since White Christmas I think, so seeing him in this character was amazing. I was afraid they would make him like this perfect guy/hero who saves the day, so I was more than happy when they showed his human side every so often. Jung So Min is one of those actresses that I can’t stand, not because she’s annoying or ugly, but because I didn’t understand why she would be acting as she is horrible at it. Made me confused about the casting. However, to be fair, the dramas she had acted in where quite bad: that said this actually shows a bit of improvement. Not that she is a favorite actress now, but she is decent and tolerable here.

The only thing that I didn’t enjoy in this drama was amount of politics involved and the feud between the two male actors, and the chief. Then again, it started with a bang; they can’t continue all the way like that.

So do I recommend this drama? Hell yes!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Kamji’s Verdict 

I am not sure where to start with this drama as this is an amazing drama. Probably one of the best dramas of 2015 if not the best. I could talk about how great this drama is for a long period of time, but I will try to make this review as short as I can. I really enjoyed watching this drama i'm shocked it's not popular, everything about it was fun, exciting and damn it could keep you glued to your laptop. There are some things this show has done very well, and that has largely been in the cinematography and the cast. I really appreciated the way everyone made their roles as believable as possible, and I especially loved the chemistry that came from the different characters. I really loved the relationship between the two main leads, but I wish we had seen more romance between them. In addition, like everyone else who watched this drama, I agree with the overdone enmity between the director and our reckless and skillful doctor. They could have turned it down a bit, I mean it goes on for 20 episodes! Everything else was good. Double recommended!

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars


♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Doctor-X 2 Review

Title: Doctor-X 2

AKA: Doctor-X Season 2

Genre: Medical

Episodes: 9

Broadcast period: 2013-Oct to 2013-Dec

Cast: Yonekura Ryoko, Fujiki Naohito, Uchida Yuki and Endo Kenichi.

“This is the story of a lone wolf woman doctor.  University hospitals' medical offices were losing power, and even medical care which engages in life plunged into an era where the law of jungle prevailed. To fill the critical shortage in the medical field, freelance - that is, lone wolf - doctors emerged.  For example, this woman. Averse to groups, averse to authority, averse to constraints, a medical specialist's license and her self-honed skill are her only weapons. Surgeon Daimon Michiko. Also known as Doctor X.” (Intro of the drama)

After leaving her last hospital freelancer Daimon Michiko (Yonekura Ryoko) is out of work. This all changes when she saves a horse owned by a wealthy physician Mabuchi Ichida (Mita Yoshiko) by performing surgery. Mabuchi decides to hire Daimon in order to perform surgery on a VIP patient with a condition, if left unfixed will leave the patient paralyzed.

When Daimon arrives at the hospital, she is met with the rules and system that makes doctors greedy and arrogant. So she announces that she will not do anything that hasn’t to do with a medical license, including listening to the chief. This does not lie well with the head of surgery, who wants to throw her out of the hospital and keep his position as the head…

This drama continues with Daimon Michiko from season one, and to be honest it did not change much. It is quite simply one of those dramas where you have a great doctor fight the corrupt and mean system. Even though premise is good, the general storyline kind of sucks. I don’t really like these types of characters, they are just not my type. The fact that they don’t have any flaws annoys me the most, and makes the characters unrealistic hence unlikeable. As the storyline goes, we have heard it before and it is kind of the same as season 1. The main actress is okay, and so is the rest, but I just watched it because of the medical part – and that wasn’t all that good. It’s not bad, it’s just so repetitive, so I don’t know why they did a season 2.

If you really enjoyed season 1 I would recommend season 2, but else not really.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hears

Horse Doctor Review

Title: Horse Doctor

AKA: The King’s Doctor

Genre: Period, Melodrama, Medical, Romance

Episodes: 50

Broadcast period:

Cast: Cho Seung Woo, Lee Yo Won, Son Chang Min, Yoo Sun and Lee Sang Woo.

Lee Myung Hwa (Son Chang Min) is the son of a known vet, who becomes an herbalist after a recommendation from a merchant. While studying to become a physician he meets and befriends Kang Do Jun (Jeon No Min) and a soon-to-be nurse Joo In Ok (Choi Soo Rin). The three become very close, but due to a plot by the royal queen, their lives take a drastic turn: she wants to kill the Crown Prince. In order to kill him she hires people to test a new way of killing: putting poison on needles and thereby killing the victim without leaving any evidence. This testing and the plot is noticed by a local, who in fear runs away and is saved by Kang Do Jun. Afraid something might happen, Do Jun leaves to meet the Crown Prince. At the same time the local man’s wife gives birth to a daughter. And shortly after, Myung Hwan is forced to point Do Jun out as a traitor in order to save himself.

As fate has it Do Jun’s wife is also pregnant, and due to the marking as a traitor, Do Jun’s child will be killed if he is a boy and put to slavery if it is a girl: unfortunately, it happens to become a boy. The local man then decides to switch the children and take care of the boy as his own.

Several years later, Do Jun’s son now Baek Kwang Hyun (Ahn Do Gyu) is a boy who dreams of big city, but the local man, now referred as father, tries to keep him safe and make him a doctor like Kwang Hyuns real father.

But fate again intervenes as Kwang Hyun (Cho Seung Woo) becomes a vet instead of doctor, though his interest for treating humans seems to lie in his blood…

I started this drama long time ago because I felt like watching a medical drama, and somehow this popped up. Not that I am a fan of period dramas, but I thought I’d give it a chance: and I really don’t regret it.

The drama is quite typical in the royal/political sense, but I enjoyed the main focus being on the medical part, as I always has the idea that they weren’t “up-to-speed” with the medical part, but I guess I was wrong. It really wasn’t that horrible to be a patient in the Joseon times apparently. Heck even animals had it okay – in the veterinary sense. Or this drama may be blowing it bit out of proportion – I will never know. BUT nonetheless, this drama has charms beyond expectations.

The lead actor is really a charmer, and I don’t really remember him in other dramas/movies, but till this date I remember his face and voice, and that itself is an accomplishment if you ask me. The female actresses are not horrible, but I have to be honest I am a bit bored with these type of female character portrayals – pretty and demure. They really do nothing except ruin the overall idea of woman in general.

As for the rest; story, screen-play and everything else, I really liked it.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Yongpal Review

Title: Yongpal

AKA: The Gang Doctor

Genre: Medical, Drama, Romance

Episodes: 18

Broadcast Period: Aug-2015 to Oct-2015

Cast: Joo Won, Kim Tae Hee, Jo Hyun Jae, Chae Jung Ahn, Jung Woong In, Bae HAe Sun, Stephanie Lee, Jo Bok Rae

Kim Tae Hyun (Joo Won) who’s an unerring surgeon by day and at night he turns into the healing redeemer of everyone willing to pay as soon as it remains between them, far away from hospitals and the law. He’s better known as Yong Pal. It’s not like he woke up one day and thought of making money, he’s got his own reasons and his family is above everyone, even himself. Instead of being chased by loan sharks, he tries to pay his debt by working as Yong Pal in order to be able to keep helping his sister’s kidney dialysis. On the other side of the fence, Han Yeo Jin (Kim Tae Hee) has more money than one could ever imagine and that was the reason why she and her boyfriend found themselves in a car chase with him passing away. What is the outcome of two different people from two different worlds crossing path be?

Okay, I must be honest with you guys. I was forced to watch this drama in the beginning, not that I wasn’t going to watch it, but I would rather have waited until it was complete. Although I only had to watch the first episode and I fell too hard for it. Like unrealistically too much, I would check for new episodes everyday, even though I knew when it was scheduled till. That excitement didn’t last for long, after a while I kind of forgot about it, I only watched the last two episodes because I felt obligated to do it. Despite the high ratings and the huge success it was in the beginning, the production team kept cutting episodes and put more, first it was scheduled to 24 episodes, then cut down to 16 (freaking 8 episodes!!). But that seemed too short for them, so they prolonged to 20, and then lastly cut to 18! So the storyline after episode 10 gets so messy. Its so sad that such a great drama with a huge potential would get destroyed like that. All the actors were A-list actors, amazing. You really get sucked into their world. If not for the formidable performance and chemistry between them all I would have probably dropped it. However I will recommend this drama, despite the messy ending, because of the great first half of the drama filled with action, excitement and mystery. The love-line was okay, it was no big deal, no drama between, just… them. I want to end this review with a big applause *clap-clap* to Joo Won! Astonishing act by him! He almost got the whole show going by himself, he delivers the feelings on spot.

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Heart To Heart Review

Title: Heart to heart

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Medical

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2015-Jan to 2015-Feb

Cast: Choi Kang Hee, Chun Jung Myung, Lee Jae Yoon and Ahn So Hee.

Cha Hong Do (Choi Kang Hee) is an incredibly smart woman suffering from extreme blushing, which made her get social phobia, and eventually she became a hermit. She used to live with her grandmother who became her supporter and eyes to the outside world, but once she died so did Hong Do’s life outside of her house. The only way she’d be able to leave the house is if she wears a helmet, and even then she rarely leaves her house. One of the reasons she does leave her house is Jang Doo Soo (Lee Jae Yoon), a police officer she has a crush on, and will do almost anything in order to take a glance at, but is unable to speak to. Another problem is money: if she is unable to work how will she pay her rent? This she manages by dressing up as an old lady, and doing to housework for a rich household.

One day she reads a book written by Doctor Ko Yi Suk (Chun Jung Myung), a renowned psychologist, who owns his own office. In the book he gives hope to people, and surprisingly Hong Do, who believed that she would never be cured, goes to his office to get help from him. But the first scene Hong Do sees is Yi Suk holding a pen inside a patient’s throat. She immediately accuses him of attempted murder.

After almost losing everything, his job, office and mental state, Yi Suk tries to kill himself, but is saved by Hong Do - who has returned to get help from Hong Do. But being the arrogant and selfish man he is Yi Suk makes fun of her, and yet declares to be able to cure her... what’s it going to be?

This drama was quite enjoyable, even though I dislike Choi Kang Hee. Amazingly Chun Jung Myung is able to make her not only interesting, but also likeable - so in the long run I kind of liked seeing her. The two have one of the best chemistries of 2015, and even though the drama doesn’t have one continuing dilemma - like 99% of the Korean dramas out there, it does its job quite well. I really liked the story, and the psychological part - from all angles. I even liked the secondary couple too, even though it took them a bit to get started.

The overall drama is enjoyable, and even if I rated it 4, I would recommend it for people liking these kinds of dramas.

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 stars

Kamji’s Verdict
So this is one of the hidden gemstones in dramaworld. Seriously, it has all the signs that says: “stay away, don’t look. I’m just an ordinary kdrama, meh don’t even bother”. What those signs are? First: A girl that can’t socialize with the rest of humankind. Like seriously, what kind of lame story is that gonna be?! Second: Choi Kang Hee, nope, that would never work out good. Third: It wasn’t a recognized drama in Korea (never trust those ratings, but still… it doesn’t encourage either).
Oh wait… I said this is a hidden gemstone, because IT IS! I had no idea when I started watching this drama that I would love it so much. Emotional roller coaster, one of the best stories out there, and how bluntly honest the leads were with each other, seriously astounded me. They clear the misunderstanding fast and didn't drag on, not even a second. Chun Jung Myung is one of the most natural actors. His portrayal of Yi Seok is emotional and I was completely mesmerized in his character.
I will probably rewatch this at some point.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

DOCTORS 2013 SP Review

Title: DOCTORS Special

Genre: Medical, Justice

Broadcast date: 2013-Jul-01

Cast: Sawamura Ikki, Takashima Masanobu, Higa Manami, Kurokawa Tomoka and Takizawa Saori.

It’s been 1½ years since the ‘living liver donor transplant’, and the Dogami General Hospital has gotten a reputation-boost because of it. Patients have been flowing in, and the hospital has been busy. Dr. Moriyama (Takashima Masanobu) returns after being abroad for some time: he’s been practicing laparoscopy surgery, and has become quite good at it. Due to having returned and having done the ‘living liver donor transplant’, Professor Sengoku of Saito University Hospital has black listed Moriyama because he felt offended by it. This also leads to the spread of rumors, and unfortunately decreases of patients.

Some days later, Yukimura Eriko comes to Dogami General Hospital in hopes of curing her cancer. Dr. Sagara (Sawamura Ikki) makes it his top priority to help her, which includes having Dr. Moriyama do the laparoscopy while doing his surgery. But after finding out that she was the former patient of Dr. Sengoku, Moriyama hesitates, because if he helps a patient Dr. Sengoku was unable to treat, he would offend him even more, and that would probably be the end of his career.. What is Dr. Sagara going to do?

As a continuation of the series I was a bit expectant of the special (since the Japanese are really good at these specials), I unfortunately have to announce that this was not as good as the drama. It’s not bad as in acting and screenplay, it’s just that the storyline was a bit boring compared to the drama. I felt there was too much of administration/management and too little medical. Like if you do a medical drama, or special, it is supposed to be medical, not about the fight of who can become the next director or who is on whose side. Of course there can be a bit of it, but this special has about 10% medical - in the end and in the beginning. So you can say I am a bit disappointed. But the thing I liked was how in the special we find out about everyone around Sagara, and get to know them a bit better, rather than just Sagara. All in all, an okay special, though hoping for a better season 2.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Kill Me, Heal Me Review

Title: Kill Me, Heal Me
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Medical, Mystery
Episodes: 20
Broadcast Period: Jan-2015 to Mar-2015
Cast: Ji Sung, Hwang Jung Eum, Park Seo Joon, Oh Min Suk, Kim Yoo Ri, Kim Young Ae, Shim Hye Jin, Choi Won Young

Cha Do Hyun (Ji Sung) is a wealthy businessman with a warmhearted personality who loves to help others. However, 11 years ago, after he realized that he suffers from dissociative identity disorder, he has been desperately trying to hide it from his families and friends. He has six other identities: Shin Se Gi a vehement guy with a devil-may-care demeanor who appears when Do-hyun experiences violence. He may be violent, but he never hurts children and women. Perry Park is a 40 year-old man with an aficionado for fishing and building bombs. Ahn Yo-seob a suicidal, intelligent 17 year old boy and artist. Ahn Yo-na's twin brother, she is an extrovert and mischievous 17 year old girl who loves idols. Cha Do Hyun tries to regain control over his life with the help of Oh Ri Jin, a first-year psychiatry resident who tries hard to maintain her seemingly perfect image to cover for her real personality. At first glance she looks elegant and genteel, but she is actually messy and short-tempered. Ri-jin then becomes Do Hyun's secret psychiatrist, and slowly falls in love with him. Ri Jin’s twin brother, Oh Ri Ohn, often gets mistaken for a goofy simpleton, but he is actually a famous mystery novelist under the pseudonym Omega who investigates about Seung Jin Family.

Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. I knew this would happen. I tried to prepare my heart and mind for the ending since episode 1, but then the ending came and I’m left alone with thousands feeling I don’t know what to do with. How do I go back to living my life again?  Where do I start… That couple. What kind of chemistry is that! First they overwhelmed me in their previous work Secret, and know they do it again, just stronger! Although Ji Sung did a lot of the work this time, I mean he singlehanded made me fall in love with SEVEN amazing characters with the same face! Before he was on my favorite list of actors, but now he is THE TOP ONE! No.. He need another list only for him, this man need an award already! Also Hwang Jung Eum did a pretty good job, she just nails those feels, and throw them at us so we just end up sobbing like her. Throughout the drama what I liked the most about them where that they don’t seek recognition or validation from anyone but each other, that’s all they need… That’s all I need(hahah). The storyline, the journey they go through to put back together the broken puzzle was just a delight to watch, even the message of the show, leaves us with no less than satisfication, that it’s energetic to depend on our loved ones, and to seek out the truth despite our fears.
Okay, so just to be fair I want to pin out a little detail that might have been a little too much in the drama, and that was the flashbacks! There were too many and too much, but I didn't think it would reduce from my experience as an audience. *happy face*
This dramas soundtrack is also an example of how much impact a song has on the drama, I dare to go as far to say that if not for one specific song in the drama I don’t think it would have been able to deliver everything the way it did.
After a rather-dull 2014, I must say 2015 kicked off with a loud bang. With dramas like Pinocchio and Healer concluding in the first two months, setting solid standards, it was rather difficult to surpass them. But Kill Me Heal Me did exactly that. I wouldn't say it exactly 'surpassed' them. More like it carried on their legacy.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict

Hmm, this drama was one of the few extremely popular ones of 2015, and yeah I was expectant. It is good, it just didn’t satisfy me. Actually I dislike dramas (and movies) where the lead actor/actress falls in love with a look-alike of the lead or a person reminding them of someone else (like someone falls in love with the lead that looks like his/hers first love, or like in this case: the same person but different personality). It just feels wrong, and already from episode 4 I was kind of annoyed - and that went on for another 16 episodes. And tbh I didn’t really feel the leads chemistry as I did in Secret, but I guess it’s kind of the idea - like so have her fall for both personalities. I dunno, I disliked it - Also I didn’t really fall (like most did) for the violent Se Gi like everyone else did, nor did I feel bad for him, which just shows that the director and screen writer didn’t do a good job.

Besides that the drama was okay. The psychological part was okay: quite reasonable actually, though I didn’t get why all personalities come out - only a few of them make sense, but then again it’s a drama.

I won’t spoil anymore, so a good and interesting drama - which you might like more than I did.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Iryu 4 Review

Title: Iryu 4

AKA: Dragon Medical Team 4 / Dragon Team 4

Genre: Medical

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2014-Jan to 2014-Mar

Cast: Sakaguchi Kenji, Inamori Izumi, Mizukawa Asami, Abe Sadao and Koike Teppei.

Several years have passed and the Dragon Team has split in numerous different places and occupations. Dr. Asada (Sakaguchi Kenji) has left to his usual ‘doctors without borders’ and is saving victims of war. Dr. Kato (Inamori Izumi) is working in the lab and has found ways to make surgery easier and has made different kinds of medical equipment and medicine, though she is not recognized for due to jealousy. Dr. Ijyuuin (Koike Teppei) is working as a chief in the transplant section of Meikyuu Hospital, but is still looked down upon because he tries to save people and doesn’t worry about the costs. Dr. Arase (Abe Sadao) has gotten a job in a wealthy hospital where rich people get treated. Dr. Fujiyoshi (Sasaki Kuranosuke) is working at a smaller hospital taking care of a little girl with the same illness as his deceased daughter, and at the same time working on a cure.

When Asada is called back to Japan by his former mentor of Sakurai Hospital, a smaller regional hospital, to help him take over the hospital for the time since many patients are in need of help, but since the newest hospital L&P, a fancy all tech hospital, claims patients the Sakurai Hospital is at its end.  Asada decides to call upon all his friends and make sure Sakurai Hospital stays active, but when a familiar hated face returns with a new ally Okamura Tadashi (Takahasi Katsunori), and they both have plans with the Dragon Team…

I started watching this when it aired, and finished it almost 10 months later. Why? Because of the lack of subs, and yes, I regret starting it so soon. You kind of feel each episode ends short might be because it does end at most exciting part. Though I did feel that I was bored out at the end of it as the fourth season kind of goes on and on, though it was interesting to see the story of the characters and how they grow I felt that they finally should end it. I mean I can’t get excited at the same situations all the time (by the way season 2 is best), and the annoying antagonist simply is bugging you all the way through all the freaking time, so the fact that they keep him as that character annoys me so damn much.

But is a good drama with good episode stories, so it’s not a complete bore.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Doctor-X Review

Title: Doctor-X

Genre: Medical

Episodes: 8

Broadcast period: 2012-Oct to 2012-Dec

Cast: Yonekura Ryoko, Tanaka Kei, Uchida Yuki and Katsumura Masanobu.

Japan’s hospitals have lost their values as they are dealt with as business: patients are customers, VIP patients are more important (as they pay more), and patients are always right – even if the doctor has to lie about the condition they're in. As a result many doctors have quit their jobs, in pursuit of positions that will give them not only money but also comfort. This leads to a new set type of doctors: freelancers. They work specific hours and only work part time. One of these freelancers is Daimon Michiko (Yonekura Ryoko), who doesn’t do any of the ‘business’ driven things these hospitals are doing, such as dinner parties, helping professors with their research papers and director rounds. She only does the things that require a medical license, which also includes her not having any respect for hierarchy. But due to her amazing surgical abilities she is hired, and slowly the hospital system is crumbling…

Hmm, I like medical dramas, especially Japanese ones, but this is just weird. First of all I get the problematic of the entire ‘business’ aspect and the ridiculous ‘better keep the customers happy so we won’t get sued’, but I have no idea what her point of being there has to do anything with this. Yeah she makes everyone angry, and she defies everyone. She also is amazing at her job, and she is the best blah blah blah.. Reminds me why I didn’t like Code Blue. It’s not bad, just not that good (I’m using that sentence a lot I know).  The main actress didn’t really grow, and the general hospital staff (all other actors) were just like a group of fighting bulls – if you get the idea. And it is good acted, just without really being an interesting storyline. Or to say it simply, I didn’t find it interesting. The medical part was very weak to be honest, but that might just be me.

All in all: okay to watch, but not that interesting.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

DOCTORS Review

Title: DOCTORS~ Saikyou no Meii

Genre: Medical, Justice

Episodes: 8

Broadcast period: 2011-Oct to 2011-Dec

Cast: Sawamura Ikki, Takashima Masanobu, Higa Manami, Kurokawa Tomoka and Miyaji Masako.

At Dogami Hospital the rules are very simple: the doctors have the say, everyone else is just less important. The main surgeons are incredibly self-centered and selfish. This kind of pride-driven hospital has lost many patients and a lot of the rest of the medical staff are not only fed up but also close to quitting. This all changes when Sagara Kosuke (Sawamura Ikki) is hired as a new surgeon. At first he seems humble, quiet and respecting of his fellow workers, but that changes when he decides to go behind everyone’s backs and performs a surgery. As he is about to get fired, the director of the hospital gets a hold of a video that was filmed during the operation, and she desperately begs him to stay after watching it, giving him a crazily high raise. Now his true colors seem to shine, he slowly but surely tries to change the hospital. This doesn’t go well with the other surgeons especially the ace surgeon Moriyama Suguru (Takashima Masanobu) who feels that the newcomer is butting too much...

I wasn’t really expectant of this drama for numerous of reasons: 1 I didn’t like the idea of Ikki in a drama (have this dislike for him after I watched Black President) and 2 because it’s 8 episodes. Which is kind of funny: since I made up my mind to watch it so I could change my perspective about Ikki, and I liked the fact that I could watch this drama in one day. Also I really felt like a medical drama, and this one did its job by giving me the things I wanted: medical, short and a change in perspective (a little bit). I don’t know the actor Takashima Masanobu acting as Moriyama, but he is weird. I don’t know if he was supposed to be funny (I laughed A LOT), but he had disturbing facials and he shook too much for an actor.

Anyways, the drama is interesting and pretty charming, though I kind of felt it was a shame that the idea was “too idealistic”, meaning Dr. Sagara is too focused on helping his patients that he didn’t really realize what it did to his co-workers (even though the drama showed it became better, it kind of is a lie if you ask me).

So all in all: a great medical drama with good acting.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

God's Quiz 4 Review

Title: God’s Quiz 4

AKA: God’s Quiz Season 4

Genre: Medical, Crime, Mystery

Episodes: 12

Broadcast period: 2014-May to 2014-??

Cast: Ryu Duk Hwan, Yoon Joo Hee, Lee Dong Hae and Kim Jae Kyung.

“Korean University Hospital's Forensics Office is authorized to and responsible for conducting independent investigations of rare diseases and related events.”

After passing out on the street, Han Jin Woo (Ryu Duk Hwan) has been in a comatose state for almost a year. Kang Kyung Hee (Yoon Joo Hee)  barely managed to save him by pulling strings everywhere, and has taken care of him ever since. Stressing out because of her job, and worrying about Jin Woo, her current case is driving her up the wall. The Forensic office has had a cut down and now only has very few doctors working there. When Jin Woo wakes up everyone is ecstatic, and he immediately wants to work again, but is still confused about why Kyung Hee refuses to tell him who the surgeon for his operation was.

Back as the perfect duo, Kyung Hee and Jin Woo work cases again, but for some reason people are following Kyung Hee, and her sunbae from her past seems to have to do something with it..

Compared to the other seasons this one was the most normal one, and yet most likable. For the first time, we have a good ending to the miserable lives of these people, and we have a happy everyday happening, even though the world is completely crazy and freakish. We can actually see these people have a normal life instead of being too focused on the murderers and their victims - not that they forget them though.

I also like that their pasts come into play, as we meet some people we completely forgot existed in the first place. And another love story... Kyaah!

Okay, I won’t spoil, but this is one good season and I really EXPECT another one.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Kamji's Verdict
One thing that I have noticed, and it could just be me, is that there was a general lack of chemistry in the team dynamics. That is just what I felt. It didn’t seem like this team was really as close as in previous seasons. Even though there was some great cases touching on some really important and dark and scary subject matters, even though the people involved in most of the cases touched me in some way, I really do think this season was the flattest yet and that’s really sad. But because I’ve watched all the other 3 seasons right after each other, and I gotta say the previous seasons were awesome, so maybe my expectations was a little too high. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it, and of course watching the familiar characters was joy and happiness enough for me. Looking forward to season 5 (C’mon OCN).

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Doctor Stranger Review

Title: Doctor Stranger

AKA: Doctor Foreigner / Dr. Stranger

Genre: Medical, Melodrama, Romance, Action, Thriller

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period: 2014-May to 2014-Jul

Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Jin Se Yun, Park Hae Jin and Kang So Ra.

When the war between the North and the South in 1994 was at it eruption, Park Hoon and his father, a brilliant cardiologist, are sent out to the North in order to save the North Korean president. After successfully preventing the war, both Hoon and his father are betrayed by the South and are made North Koreans. Years later Hoon (Lee Jong Suk) is a med student about to get married to his girlfriend Song Jae Hee (Jin Se Yun), but his life is turned upside down when she is imprisoned for treachery. Things run out of hand and Hoon loses not only Jae Hee but also his father.

Later he defects to South Korea, but is unable to stay in business due to his background. Though he saves a patient at Myung Woo Hospital and is offered a job, the moment it is found out that he is from the North he is discriminated by the thoracic unit, led by Han Jae Joon (Park Hae Jin) and Oh Soo Hyun (Kang So Ra), and unwanted even if his skills are marvelous. After hearing rumors that Jae Hee is alive he decides to scramble money in order to get her back from the north. But after seeing someone who looks exactly like Jae Hee at Myung Woo Hospital he is determined to stay there, even with the everyone against him…

Hmm… First of all: Oh my God!! Second of all: What the hell!? And lastly: No why?! That pretty summed up my entire reaction pool. Or rather those were words on repeat. I don’t even know where to start. Like this is a train wreck of emotions, and they really shake you up and spit you out. Okay, weird way of putting it, but North vs. South dramas really drain me out, and adding life and death, and lovestories in it makes it more drainy. Also they HAD to add a revenge story, and a story about bastard children (sorry for my use of words). Like mixing all that gives you a good story, but emotionally destroyed audience. Or at least my emotions were so ridiculous I had to take breaks from watching this.

Actingwise, as Jenji told me, Jong Suk is at his best. The rest are good too, but he delivers what we want, and that is him and cuteness. Lol.

Okay, in order to calm down and to give you my verdict, I say that the drama is a good watch, but be prepared for crying and headaches.

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Resident Review

Title: Resident

AKA:  5-nin no Keishui

Genre: Medical

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2012-Oct to 2012-Dec

Cast: Naka Riisa, Hayashi Kento, Masuda Takahisa, Oomasa Aya and Ishibashi Anna.

This story is about residents becoming doctors, at their very first practice after passing the exams, and their 3 months in Emergency medicine. It follows 5 residents: Miyama Shizuku (Naka Riisa) a strong headed and opinionated lead that believes doctors should do more than just save their patients. Yazakawa Kei (Hayashi Kento) is top of the bunch with an arrogant attitude, but is most like a doctor. Manaka Junichi (Masuda Takahisa) son of a doctor family that owns a hospital, but different than his family he is over caring and lacks confidence. Koiwa Hinako (Oomasa Aya) who is focused on her looks and prefers not to work too much as it can affect her skin, and is rather selfish. Lastly Shinjo Sachi (Ishibashi Anna) a strict and straightforward girl, who doesn’t like halfhearted or lazy people.

Together they learn, what it is like to be a doctor and what it takes, but also what the limits are of being a resident, as well as a doctor…

I had been waiting for this drama for so long, mainly because of the subbers, not that I blame them for taking so long, but I have wanted to watch it and I finally did. I could not keep my eyes off it as I finished all 10 episodes in one go. The story is good, and yes Masuda is here (my main reason for starting this), but I was head over heels for the love story for the two side characters Shinjo and Yazakawa. Besides it being a serious drama with actual realistic stories, I loved that we saw the real world of the residency. I mean I know residents and interns have it hard, but I was kind of surprised of how small they were and how easy they get blamed for, of course not being deemed responsible, but someone expecting to know how to do things without having any experience is really mean and though.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I am going to say this: a great drama with a realistic view of residency.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Team Batista 4 Review

Title: Team Batista 4

AKA: Raden Meikyu

Genre: Medical, Mystery

Episodes: 11

Broadcast period: 2014-Jan to 2014-Mar

Cast: Ito Atsushi, Nakamura Toru, Yanagiba Toshiro, Aitsuki Akiko and Kuriyama Chiaki.

Dr. Taguchi (Ito Atsushi) and Shiratori (Nakamura Toru) are back again, this time at a family hospital “Hekisuiin” owned by the doctor family Sakuramiya. After being demoted to another hospital, Taguchi is sent to Hekisuiin Hospital, which serves like a hospice for patients without a possible cure for their illness. There he is meets the family owning the hospital, consisting two doctor daughters and the father as the director. While getting accustoms to the place, he meets a familiar face: “Dr.” Shiratori, who is posing as dermatologist.

Still undercover, Shiratori meets the another hospitals radiologist who tells Shiratori that he has some ‘evidence’ about bad thing happening at Hekisuiin hospital, and arranges a meeting with Shiratori. Having received a message directly from an anonymous source about the hospital, Shiratori waits for the radiologist, but he never shows.

After receiving Ai images of a dead body from the radiologist, Shiratori informs Taguchi about it, and the two are once again teaming up to find out the truth behind the letter and Ai…

I really like this franchise, and I really enjoy these two on screen together. I have to say I was a tiny bit annoyed when I started watching this since I didn’t like the overall theme, but different than the other 3 seasons this one freaked my completely out. I was actually scared of this family, and also what they did/do to these people. I mean yeah I get they want to be of help to each other and others as well, but that is just too extreme.

The duo was even more fun this time around and I like that they both influence each other, though they have different ways of doing so. I also like that they are dependent of one another, which really makes them a team - I am thinking back on seasons 1 where Shiratori kept pushing Taguchi around, and Taguchi being incredibly displeased and over trusting towards everyone.

That said it is a good drama and great season, and I can’t wait for the final movie.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Iryu 3 Review

Title: Iryu 3

AKA: Dragon Medical Team 3 / Dragon Team 3

Genre: Medical

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2010-Oct to 2010-Dec

Cast: Sakaguchi Kenji, Inamori Izumi, Abe Sadao, Koike Teppei and Endo Kenichi.

When Meishii University Hospital once again is on the verge of ruin with a lack of good doctors and bright interns, a new president is announced. The new president is the former Professor Kitou (Natsuki Mari) who decides to reformate the hospital with good doctors and a better management plan. She calls upon the best doctors in order to recover the reputation of the hospital, and those are no other than the previous Team Dragon members Dr. Asada (Sakaguchi Kenjji), Dr. Kato (Inamori Izumi) and Dr. Fujiyoshi (Sasaki Kuranosuke). Trying to revive Team Dragon she reinstates Dr. Noguchi (Kishibe Ittoku) much to others displease, especially since he brings another doctor Dr. Kuroki (Endo Kenichi) to the hospital who introduces the new catheters which threatens the cardiology surgeons in losing their work - making heart surgery less popular amongst patients..

I sort of feel these seasons are like a repeat of one another with the difference of it being newer in terms of medical equipment. I have to admit what they are trying to do in every season by portraying the team dragon as a ‘super’ team has affected me, where I honestly root for them and want them be together as a team again, seems to be working on me, and I found myself thinking several times that “if the team dragon had gotten this patient…” etc. The drama is good, and it is getting better by the years, because you have this group of people focusing on the patients and doing their best, and greatly enough they like being together. So this is about them trying their best with their patients… Simply put.

I really good watch, and I love medical dramas, which must be why I am so biased.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts