Learn to take care of “me”.
What does your mental health look like?Quote: “All of us are standing on the border between normal and abnormal”. Female Lead from A Daily Dose of Sunshine.
Quote: “Psychiatry is for those whose mental immunity has been weaken. Anyone of us can find ourselves in a weakened mental state”. A Daily Dose of Sunshine
The Story
A Daily Dose of Sunshine is about a psychiatric ward nurse with a different approach to psychiatric therapy, being kind and showing empathy. I am just now getting back to finish this drama, which debut at the end of 2023. For my taste, A Daily Dose of Sunshine was stellar. The story centers around the life of a nurse in a Hospital psych ward and the many story arcs of the many patients who pass through its halls. This drama is the closest drama to another stellar Korean Drama, Chocolate (2020). A Daily Dose of Sunshine asks you to take a good look at your mental health. Before it is to late, give “Me” a little attention.
One of the most poignant scenes in the whole drama for me was when and overworked overstressed mom was admitted to the psych ward, because of pseudo-dementia caused by being overworked and over stressed. The head nurse of the psych ward is also overworked and overstressed and is facing a failure as a mom and wife. It was not until the overworked nurse had to sit down and listen to the evaluation of the overworked and overstressed out patient and the overworked and overstressed patient observed the overworked and overstressed nurse at her work that they both got it. They both finally understood their problem. When you view this part, look at the faces of each woman. Priceless. The camera shots in this scene has the patient’s face darkened out at times, so as to allow the viewer to put their face in that image. (Episode five, A Daily Dose of Sunshine).
Every story arc of A Daily Dose of Sunshine was written with great emotions and contained well researched information. The script is stellar and the acting was too. Each arc will touch your heart deeply. A Daily Dose of Sunshine get a high recommendation from me.
Quote: “Mom, why were you late?” Little daughter. “I had so many sick people at the hospital.” Mom. “But mom, I am sick too, and you are a nurse. Why wouldn’t you nurse me too?” Little daughter on A Daily Dose of Sunshine.
Quote: “That person who was always smiling . . . His smile was pitiful to me. And so my heart ached. Hurting words have a way of hurting you, no matter the occasion”. Lead Female tries to calm her heart. A Daily Dose of Sunshine
Quote: “Life’s problems are like a public train, the longer the time of travel the more passengers you take on”. Me
Actors Corner
Yeon Woo Jin (Good Doctor), Park Bo Young (Strong Girl Bong Soon), and Jang Dong-Yoon (Flowers in the Sand). All gave great performances.
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The most complete mental health kdrama
The most complete mental health kdrama to date as it covers mental illnesses in great detail using multiple case studies. The storyline is well designed to portray the complications of each kind of mental illness in different situations, there's even plenty of visual representations for a better understanding of the symptoms. The pacing of the drama though is quite slow for a Netflix's originals, some of the parts did feel deliberately extended to serve its longer runtime, causing the impact on its storytelling to vary. Still, this drama holds a very important role for mental health awareness just when this society is so demanding and full of expectations, our mental stability could also be swinging at the borderline too without even knowing.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It was a wind of fresh air. What a comforting K-Drama!
It started out intriguing, and I became addicted to it easily. I cried while watching some episodes.Episode 6 was sad, it was hard to watch. It showed us how lonely someone can be.
I had another episode that left me torn, episode 7 was just a masterpiece! I do not have any complaints about this series.
This drama is a must-watch for those who have a lot of prejudice about mental health. It is okay not to be okay, it's okay to look for help. Remember, everything will be better.
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This review may contain spoilers
As a nurse this showed the harsh reality of healthcare, but also shed light on how big of a role nurses play. The scene where the charge nurse stands of for the FL and reminds the family members that shunning her and considering her mental disorder taboo will only put back mental health advocacy and in turn hurt their own family members that are in the hospital. The FLs dissociation and desensitization was so relatable, and also some of the stories of the patients. Loved how they didn't overdo the romance and take away from the bigger story. Was this review helpful to you?
Healing and Understanding
I absolutely admired this drama, especially Park Bo Young's acting. She's not only beautiful but also a fantastic actress. The drama tells the stories of various patients, each filled with meaningful experiences. Park Bo Young's character faces many stressful situations, but she handles them wonderfully. While watching this drama, you gain a deep understanding of the patients' perspectives. The series emphasizes the importance of psychology and mental health.Was this review helpful to you?
Happiness isn’t complicated. Being free to do what you like, that’s happiness
Alright, gather 'round, lovely folks! Daily Dose of Sunshine is a mental health adventure. Picture this: we're breaking down mental health barriers and having heart-to-heart chats in a society that sometimes sees mental health as a grumpy neighbor.So, this show is like a rollercoaster of emotions, but it's not all rainbows and unicorns, despite what the poster might whisper in your ear. It tackles some real tough stuff—like, "Hey, let's talk about it" kind of tough. Think self-discovery, dance routines born out of pure joy (thanks to a touch of mania), and maybe a bit of sweet romance to sprinkle on top.
As the story unfolds, the gloomy clouds of misunderstanding about mental health start to clear. You'll follow these characters through their daily rollercoaster, some hitting the happiness jackpot, others navigating the twists and turns.
Now, what makes this show a unicorn in the K-drama kingdom is how it talks about mental health. It's not just symptoms and medical jargon. We're diving into the deep end of feelings—from paranoia parties to dance-offs with mania. It's like your best friend sharing their wildest dreams and darkest fears. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll nod like, "Yeah, I've been there too!"
Meet Jung Da Eun, the heart and soul of the show. She's like that friend who's just too darn kind for her own good, especially in the chaos of healthcare. This series isn't about ticking off symptoms on a checklist; it's about real people with real feelings. Da Eun's our guide, reminding us that personal connections matter, especially when you're in the healthcare hustle.
Oh, and let's not forget the comic relief maestro, Go Yoon, played by the charming Yeon Woo Jin. He pops in with humor right when you need it, like a friend cracking jokes at a gloomy party. And Park Bo Young as Jung Da Eun? You'll feel like you've known her forever. She's your buddy in this wild ride.
Now, there might be a slight snooze fest in the second half, but fear not! The overall feel-good vibes and caring for these characters stay strong until the credits roll. It's like having a favorite song with a brief instrumental break—you'll still hum along.
Daily Dose of Sunshine isn't just a drama; it's a ray of hope in the psychiatric realm. It's like a warm hug, reminding us that we're all in this human journey together. So, grab your popcorn, cue the emotions, and let's ride this K-drama rollercoaster of feels!
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My comforting drama
I don't understand why this drama is so underrated. It was such a great experience watching this.The cast, acting, storyline was great.
Park Boyoung was so great, she's a versatile actress, amazing acting.
It was the first show I watched of Yeon Woojin and he was so great too. Each and every cast member were so great at expressing all of the disorders too.
The storyline was great, the ending was perfect too. This has become my comfort drama and it feels like a big hug for me. It's very short and quick, not a single boring episode.
Kudos to all the staff working on and off screen ❤
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This review may contain spoilers
Daily dose of sunshine
Park Bo Young is one of my favourite actresses, her acting is out of this world, it is impossible to not smile when she is smiling or not to cry when she is crying, she was perfect for this role.Important thing is that this drama is not probably for everyone, it explains many hard topics as depression so for some people it can be perfect healing drama while for others too hard to watch, but in my opinion it is totally worth watching.
Spoiler or not - I was team Jang Dong Yoon.
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A glimpse of the mental world
This isn't your average medical kdrama. This drama addresses and delves deeper into mental health issues and disorders. It captures and sheds light on the diverse ways mental illnesses occur. Each episode tackled a different kind of disorder. What is even more rewarding is the fact that the drama portrays medical practitioners being prone to mental illnesses as well.The drama is educative, enlightening, heartbreaking, heartwarming and comforting.
It's a solid 10/10 for me.
Hats off to the actors and the entire team for bringing the characters to life. It was worth watching and I highly recommend it
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Are they releasing all the good dramas at the end of the year?
After releasing so many bad dramas, 2023 is finally looking up at the year-end.My over-all opinion for this drama is it is basic in a good way. There were a lot of different things they could have done with this drama but didn’t. But then again, the fact that something like mental health is being discussed in a drama is a lot. I guess we are taking small steps.
Also, can I just say - why are all these characters saying the most generic stuffs about mental health. Like they would bring up something like panic disorder but they will talk about the most basic stuffs. I mean, these characters are medical professionals. Even I know the things you're saying. What they should have done is take examples from real life cases. Extraordinary Attorney Woo did that splendidly!
I also wanted them to explore the character min deul-le. For me, she had more main-character energy then bo-young's character. Because the latter character has been done a lot in k-dramas. I need a character like deul-re as the fl. And I wanted to see her journey with mental health issues and poverty.
But I would say the slice-of-life vibe of the series was really good. It was overall really heart-warming and left me feeling like i want to wake up tomorrow and do something special for myself. I even started keeping a complimentary diary by the way!!!
If you are thinking about watching it, then you definitely should. And might I add the acting - *chef's kiss*. Those looking for similar dramas should check out Hospital Playlist and Our Blues - both are my all-time favorites.
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Why are people so unkind?
Writing this review is difficult. It is not because this is a bad show, far from it. However, it does deal with some serious mental health issues. Hence, we must deal with two sides of the same coin. How well does it do as a drama vs how does it handle the portrayal of mental disorders, their manifestations and ramifications.Let’s tackle the easier objective stuff first. In terms of acting, the show is great. This is particularly true of the cadre of nurses and some of the patients under their care. Their characters are well nuanced, and has depth. I’m “happy” that all the nurses are shown to have RL challenges beyond their professional ones. They are human after all. Of course, there are some cliché characters, but they are on the periphery. Surprisingly, most of the doctors are quite bland and one dimensional.
Production quality is high. We are told that the show created the set based on a real hospital ward. The attention to detail is unmistakeable. However, I am perplexed by the use of glossy and slippery tiles in some public areas and thoroughfares. The FL slipped and hurt her wrist in ep.1 because of them. How could that pass a hospital’s OH&S guidelines?
Let’s move on to the tricky part. Mental health related show is always going to be a challenge to make. Is it drama or reality? This show walks a fine line. I do find it a challenging watch at times, but I’m totally invested. This is largely due to the acting of the key ensemble actors and the rollercoaster storylines. I’m not going to lie, some of the subplots are tropey and can be like a smorgasbord of chapter headings from a textbook. For me, they didn’t appear to have over trivialised the conditions for our entertainment. If anything, the show focused on several serious disorders which resulted in actual suicide, self-harm, deep depression plus other life altering indications. Some scenes are gut wrenching and very impactful. The show is not shy of triggers. Please be aware and exercise caution.
Needless to say, those of us who have not experienced such disorders either directly or indirectly can truly appreciate what the patients are going through and how it impacts on their friends and loved ones. I think the show made an earnest attempt. However, it is still a dramatisation. At some point, the sun must come out and illuminate the way out of the darkest pit of despair so that we can have a decent ending (yes, I know, there have been shows that have gone completely rogue). There is even 2 low key romances that helps to bring the mood to a more even keel. There is little to no skinship though which was a bit disappointing. Don't be fooled by the Netflix promotion. This is not a rom com.
As I mentioned before, I like this show and appreciate its core message. Not all cases will have a positive outcome. A daily dose of sunshine and unwavering support will help a great deal in the treatment and recovery process. There is no panacea. It will be a long and bruising journey. This is a very subjective subject so your personal experience and view will weight far more heavily than my words. Peace out.
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Literally Daily Dose of Sunshine
As someone with anxiety disorder which is accompanied by depression, i am glad i watched this drama, I had been putting this of thinking it would trigger me, but I can't be thankful enough to my friends for recommending this.This drama did have some minor flaws according to me, like it showed taking medicines would simply help with the disorders, but they forgot about the side effects of medicines, the added issues that come with medicines. It did not focus much on the solutions, though they dealt with the stigma of depression and that how difficult it becomes for a person to return to the outside world after spending months or years in a psychiatric hospital.
I love the visual representation of the disorders, the imagery provided in the drama is so relatable for many of us here. Especially as someone who suffers from psychological issues I loved how they put forward each and every episode focussing on the everyday struggles and the stigmas associated with mental disorders. How it is fine until it happens to you and how once your loved ones are affected by it, you realise the difficulty of the others already dealing with it.
Not to mention the acting, ofcourse Park Bo Young is great but every actor played their roles perfectly, every episode I was amazed with the acting of the actors playing the patients, they portrayed with so much precision. It shows how it is different for everyone.
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