I thought season 1 could not be topped but the new characters in this are a lot less stuck up with the "I hate Doldam" energy that I felt the first season had. While that will always be a pull for the younger doctors it was refreshing to see younger doctors like Dr Yoon Ah Reum actually fall in love with the simplicity and move to Doldam. The 2 main leads have backstories that were fleshed out fairly well (okay I wish they went more into why Cha Eun Jae hates the OR).
Dr Kim has never been high up on the romance - it fleshes out the daily life of doctors in a hospital and not to mention the elaborate political schemes but the emotive eyes and the pure love that transpires among the hospital staff despite their busy life is something I love. It is really relatable especially as an adult trying to figure out love in the real world.
While the last episode had some spectacular moments, the love story felt super rushed. I wish they went more into the reality of working at the same hospital and the challenges/positives it brought to the couples.
That said, the OST IS PHENOMENAL. Dr Kim has always had a fantastic OST - I'm going to playing these songs for the next 3 years as well just like I did between the first season and this one :P
Han Suk Kyu as usual is outstanding. From satoori to his proud dad smile to his silently-supportive-Asian-dad nuances, he adds dimension to his character. Ahn Hyo Seop seems a little fresh but the love he has in his eyes had me falling for his character. With a little more practice and experience he can be a fantastic actor (and he is definitely easy on the eyes). The rest of the cast did an outstanding job as well (including the iconic Mr Gu <3). I sincerely hope there is a season 3 because I truly cannot get enough of Doldam... <3
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Season 2 is basicaly just a rerun of season 1
Season 1 was nice and interesting but Season 2 is basicaly just a rerun of season 1. The most absurb point is that President Do is now Chairman Do and then the rerun of feud between Kim and Do.... The story starts to get stale as it ran out of ideas in season 2.The ridiculousness and unprofessionalism of doctors are just too exaggerated to the point they became just unbearable to watch. Boring and I started to just fast forward to finish Season 2 ASAP. A typical problem with season 2 when audiences expect more from season 1 but dissapointed with lack on ingenuity and new ideas.
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I can't wait to binge watch it in accouple of months.
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More of the good things and a few niggles
Oh, so much I loved the Dr Romantic's drama-verse. It was a little microcosm of a perfectly crafted world where love, skills, compassion and friendship can overcome all evils. Dr Romantics 2 certainly had that in spades but there were awkward moments with the storytelling, a bit like your dog peeing on the rug while your friends were visiting. Do you ignore it or not?As an ensemble drama, this show is second to none. The old hospital was a great setting and the main/support cast were always superb. You can pretty much just watch them chat while washing dishes and it would be ok. ;) However, where DR1 was a wonderful journey as we observed how the team grew, worked and played together, DR2 had the hospital well and truly humming along (still short staffed and poorly funded) but a lot of the enjoyment was just seeing the regulars in their roles. Some of them were angrier, some were more stressed, they all got older and one had to retire. The pacing was so fast and furious that you don't have time to worry about the in between bits.
Some reviews lamented that this is not DR2 with the same cast. I understand that but I don't think there is a dire need for that. DR2 is strong enough to be judged on its own merits and the time and plot have moved on. This left us with a time shift and 3 new doctors. Two of the new doctors were very flawed and scarred individuals. It was good that they came to Doldam Hospital because Dr Kim saw their potentials and he made them whole again.
That worked but because it included the OTP we had to deal with their romantic subplot. It was true that the ML had a crush on the FL since their med school days and we were left with no doubts by the flashbacks. Her feelings towards him was a lot more ambiguous. In a way, backstory stuff was a bit redundant as they were the classic trope of opposite types being thrown together in high pressure situations. You can literally get a spark off two wet sponges. No surprise then that after lots of push backs from the FL, she fell head-over-heels for the ML. It got the job done as the plot goes but it felt heavily scripted. On the other hand, the 2OTP were cuter and felt more relatable but they didn't get enough screen time, IMHO.
Another niggle is that after many episodes of trials and tribulations showing us the M/FL's personal issues, it all got resolved too easily so that it lost a lot of the impact. The main antagonist (Prof. Park) was a bit grey, neither truly evil nor chaotic. Deus ex machina was in full force at the end of the show where most of the evil plots and scheming were largely resolved in one stroke. It was a most satisfying conclusion but I couldn't help but felt like I was the only one left out of a prank.
Don't get me wrong, when this show gets it right (and that was most of the time), it was a masterful piece of medical drama. So many heart warming as well as gut wrenching moments. I still felt a bit choked up when I recall certain scenes (no spoilers!). But I do feel that the writer-nim succumbed to the demand of a romantic plotline and the desire to give us a happy ending at all costs.
The OST was great. Rewatch value is high.
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NOT JUST A MEDICAL DRAMA BUT ABOUT PRINCIPLE IN LIFE
The first season implies the same, standing on your principle in life in the path or work that you have chosen, I did not realized and understood that on the first season of this drama, but it has made clear to me in this season, Dr. Kim is just a Doctor who is driven by his passion to save a patient no matter what happens and that is his principle while some other people with different views and principle in life coincidentally cross path with him, and chaos, change and learning grows. Choosing what is right or choosing money and power, this really happens in real life, and just like how this drama portrays, so many people in real life is being affected by peoples greed and power and money and I am one of them, This drama left a question to me, will I choose to do what is right and fair for everyone or will I choose to choose myself my ambition, money and power ? And my Answer is off course I wilL choose myself power and money, why ? coz most people are ! and will do the same ! coz there is no such as Master Kim and Doldam Hospital in reality , but they are an eye opener that somehow perhaps we can be different in the world full our greed.The Acting storyline, progression is all two thumbs up ! I can have nothing to say against it, but Ahn Yeo Seop look too soft for me , I don't know why , I miss Dr. Kang and Dr Yeo and so happy to see again some of the original characters here, like Nurse Park, Nurse Oh, Nurse Gu !! he was so funny.
All in all a very sense-ful drama to watch ! definitely a recommended one ! in some ways I wanna be a part of Doldam hospital too even not just a Doctor but as a staff of Mr. Jang
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Writing this just after i wrote a review for season 1
Once again, i have delayed my review... have loved the whole series! Both seasons are awesome you might think that the story might be the same but when characters are different you definitely have a different story. I really hope for a season 3, because ( it might just be me imagining) but i feel that ive gotten a few hints while watching season 2 that there will be a continuation of the series. If it really does, I hope cast from season 1 will all be back!! YYS, SHJ and YSJ i definitely missed their chemi! So i was damn happy when YSJ had cameo in this season.I feel that the romance in this series was a little "cuter" not as intense as the first season. I just have to emphasise the right amount of romance, lessons, politics and medical parts in the drama. The balance was great, the flow was great; keeps you coming back for more (the reason for my eye circles, re watching the series is worth it)
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Better than Season 1
The second season of Dr Romantic was a welcome surprise. I'm not used to Kdrama shows that have more than one season but the nature of this show meant that you could justify extending the show's existence for another year. As it happens, Dr Romantic came back with a better story and arguably more interesting cast of characters. As ever, Doctor Kim remains the heart pulse of the show as he shapes a new crop of doctors, each with their own inner demons. I enjoyed the new cast, particularly their competitive friendship that slowly blossomed, rather predictably, into a relationship. This was overall a really good show, and the second season was better than the first.Was this review helpful to you?
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I would say I liked the second season a little bit better than the first one. Really really love the casting. I don't know why but every time I see Lee Sungkyung, I always imagine her perfect role as a rich snobbish girl or a doctor. Those roles really suit her. She and Ahn Hyo Seob have really good chemistry!!! However, I might say that the romance side of this drama was weaker than the first season. I was hoping it would've been highlighted a bit more.
The only thing I think was a problem for this season was they were trying to fit a lot of stories and plots into one season: The trauma of Cha Eun Jae, Back story of Seo Woojin, Park Gyumin's backstory, the illness of Master Kim, the evil plots of Chairman Do - to name a few. I think if they could've extended it to at least 2 more episodes almost everything, if not everything, would've been addressed better. The phasing was a bit too fast for the important parts. Especially the last episode, it seems like they just tried to put as much as they can to close the book.
Also, I wished they could've done more crossovers with the characters from the first season.
But still, really interesting and worth the watch!!!
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So here I am, to give a thumbs up perfect rating for RDTK season 1 and 2. The visual effects, medical terms and on hand acting of the actors and actresses were so good to be true that at times you tend to forget they are not even real doctors. Additional contribution to the production was the on screen love chemistry between main leads, I am selective when it comes to being fanatic but this one nailed it. Not just in love but all casts were in good harmony.
Another catch, is the philosophies in life of Kim Sabu, he is an eccentric doctor but when it comes to humanism he is very deep.Kim Sabu can be mind blowing with his lessons in all walks of life. That's why it captured and won the hearts of the viewers.
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And the LEGACY continues with new lead faces
Well !! After finishing Season 1, it was hard not to miss the original cast...like seriously ... While Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Sung Kyung are my absolute favourites , it was natural to feel nostalgic for the previous crew. However, if you watch Season 2 with some time gap between, you’ll love this season just as much as the first.The side cast largely remains the same providing continuity and despite the change in leads, the team dynamic is still strong. The interactions and relationships among the characters remain compelling, with Teacher Kim once again at the center, mentoring and guiding the new doctors with his usual brilliance.
Just like in the first season, the medical cases are accurate and informative. The terminology and procedures are correct, which adds authenticity to the show. However, I felt like there were fewer medical cases this time around compared to Seas
The chemistry between the new leads is wonderful And Their shared history as classmates gave their love story a cutesy feel to it . The male lead though talented has a troubled past involving his family and a senior doctor who lost his license over illegal surgeries. While our the female lead struggles with OR phobia and can't perform surgeries.
Teacher Kim’s role as a wise mentor is still intact he helps both leads with their respective issues thus nurturing them into brilliant medical practitioners
What sets this season apart:
1. The previous season was more or less about cases involving common people but this time it was given A political edge, particularly with a major case involving the Minister of Defense.
2. The number of medical cases is lower with the focus gradually shifting towards a trauma center setup from the previous hospital setup.
3. The leads have more complex and morally grey backstories compared to the previous ones.
Definitely worth watching ??
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This series is so good!!!
First I would like to clarify I got into season 2 without watching s1 and because ahn hyo seop was playing….I was hooked from episode 1 and invested throughout the series, the end even left me wanting for more which I can’t believe my luck since s3 just started airing (As of writing this)
The writing was surprisingly better than I expected, the drama aspect outside of one/two moments was well balanced, which was also surprising~ I expected it as a medical drama to be even more over the top.
Characters were definitely the highlight of the series for me
Woojin (Ahn Hyo seop‘s character) I instantly liked from minute one and Eunjae was also likeable.
((Insert rant here: I saw way too many comments about her being annoying which I honestly do not understand??? I feel like there are way more actual annoying main female characters out there but of course hating on the female character for being weak or having a mental problem is quite common.))
Moving on Master Kim was also good! Loved him as the mentor character especially with woojin.
The other side characters were also good and I did not find boring for once, from the main nurse and manager to the other doctors and the cute side couple.
The bad characters although extremely annoying didn’t seem unreasonable or too cartoonish (at least to me). Some even had their development by the end like park for example.
I understand if romance was the only reason someone watched the series they could come out disappointed as it was not that much the focus. Personally I did not feel the series missed anything in the romance department and that is because I liked the mains dynamic and found their interactions enjoyable. Sometimes a simple romance works better than a drama filled and complicated one which was the case here!!
Overall this is definitely worth a watch!!
I also recommend starting with season 2 and if you are invested enough go back for season 1 as I did myself,,, since in my opinion s2 is much better than s1
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