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

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

God's Quiz 2 Review

Title: God’s Quiz 2

AKA: Wrath of God

Genre: Medical, Crime, Mystery

Episodes: 12

Broadcast period: 2011-Jun to 2011-Aug

Cast: Ryu Duk Hwan, Yoon Joo Hee, Choi Jung Woo, Lee Seol Hee, and Park Joon Myun.

After Thanatos death Han Jin Woo (Ryu Duk Hwan) moves to the countryside in order to deal with his illness and at the same time get peace and quiet in order to have the new invented drug work.

In Seoul on the other hand a mysterious killer has been leaving partial body all over the city, giving the police and Detective Kang (Yoon Joo Hee) a headache. Beause of the lack of evidence and the media hype, the police is not allowed to publish anything, which is blamed on both Detective Kang and the Hanguk Medical Center. Unable to reach Jin Won, they try to solve the mystery, but in vain, which is why the top of the police send a profiler Min Ji Yool (Lee Seol Hee) to assist the case.

After hearing that Detective Kang is targeted by everyone, Jin Woo returns to Seoul and announces that he will find the killer! At the same time Jin Woo’s mentor Jang Gyu tae (Choi Jung Woo) seems to be behind the new made drug, but for some reason doesn’t tell Jin Woo about it…

Since there are made so many season I am going to have to compare them, hope you don’t mind.

In my head I have always had this idea that all dramas that are in several layers of seasons (usually Asian dramas) give out season 1 in order to make us like the taste and when season 2 comes the entire meal is given - which I think is the perfect explanation for season 2. Compared to season 1, this season has much more ‘color’ and makes much more sense honestly. The couple also has evolved which is nice, and unusual for Korean dramas. But then again it’s OCN - probably one of the best channels ever on Korean TV.

I’m keeping low, but I have to say this: if you are considering it, watch season 1 first.. They are pretty connected.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

God's Quiz Review

Title: God’s Quiz

Genre: Medical, Crime, Mystery

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2010-Oct to 2010-Dec

Cast: Ryu Duk Hwan, Yoon Joo Hee, Choi Jung Woo, Ahn Yong Joon and Park Joon Myun.

“The problems that you have to solve through each case are like a quiz from God. Quizzes made so that the arrogant human won't become too proud. God made it for that purpose. But in these quizzes, God made it for that purpose. But in these quizzes, there are no hints in it. It is a question that you have to solve forever” (Intro).

Han Jin Woo (Ryu Duk Hwan) is a famous ‘genius’ doctor, known for his young age and being able to almost do any medical treatment without fail. After spending a lot of time in a hospital he finally gets his wish granted in getting to work in clinical pathology. But as it seems his boss has a different plan: he assigns him as the consulting doctor for a team of medical examiners. The team focuses on mysterious deaths, so it is a collaboration team with the police. Kang Kyung Hee (Yoon Joo Hee) is the assigned detective in this case, and is partnered up with Jin Woo, but the two are complete opposites. Together they investigate various mystery deaths…

I’m kind of surprised that I missed this one: I usually have this idea that I have watched all the good dramas. But to then again, it’s OCN - and yes they do have the best Korean crime dramas. The first thing that struck me was the visibility of the autopsies. Being a CSI fan I am kind of surprised to see these organs being cut out and split in pieces. Though it freaks you out, you get used to it, and it gives you an idea of the reality of autopsies which I by the way never saw like that. The drama generally is interesting and the cases are shocking but yet kind of heartfelt - shakes you up, which I think is the meaning of it: “Changing society” kind of feel. The couple has a pretty neat chemirty and work very well together, though I don’t know any of the actors.

All in all recommendable.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts