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Doctor Cha korean drama review
Completed
Doctor Cha
2 people found this review helpful
by ColourMePurple
Jun 4, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

Amazing until you get to the end...

I have been let down so severely by what was a fantastic drama. Let's highlight the reasons why this drama is a 9 first.

The story is about a dedicated wife-mother-daughter-daughter-in-law who is encouraged to find more meaning to her existence beyond living for her family by once again working as a doctor. When she discovers that she needs a liver transplant, her husband of 20 years, further discouraged by his mother, is unwilling to save her life by giving her a part of his liver. Luckily she finds a donor just in time and becomes determined to live her life for herself for once.

Through the plot is quite serious, especially considering the fact that the wife is unaware that her husband is in fact cheating on her, the show managed to evoke a lot of laughter. The comedy is fantastic and I am never getting over the line, "My husband is dead".

The cast are incredible. You completely empathise with Doctor Cha and are made to root for her through each of her troubles. She has a good head on her shoulders. Her husband Doctor Seo is as pathetic as a cheating man could possibly be and the actor has not only managed to get you mad at him but is also much of the butt of the jokes in the show. His expressions add to the hilarity. Doctor Roy Kim is Doctor Cha's friend in need. He supports her exactly when she needs it. He cares for her and was the ray of light she needed during her dark times. Without him, her husband would never have realised what he was discarding. Doctor Roy is also the complete opposite of what the husband is. An upright man and a gentleman. The mistress and her daughter added the much needed drama for a proper cheating scandal and the entanglement that required Doctor Cha to wake up from what she thought was a perfect life. Doctor Cha's children had their own stories going and even though the daughter was annoying at first, both her kids were sympathetic to their mother's situation which also added to her courage.

Now coming to the let down.
Throughout the show, they teased a possibility of Doctor Cha leaving her cheating husband and moving on with Doctor Roy. If the writers wanted to show her happy on her own, this angle for this character was not at all needed. He could have just been a friend from the beginning. Yes, it's true that she never showed interest in Doctor Roy because she was still in love with her husband and reeling from the shock of his affair. Yet the writers continued to tease this love triangle that never would be. It feels like the writers are telling the audience that it is not appropriate for a woman in her 40s who is divorced with two kids and health issues to have a chance at real love. She should continue her life in service of others but this time as a doctor. At least that is what much of the audience has taken away from this decision where people are writing - "yes, she had too much BAGGAGE". Only men are allowed "baggage" even today and be considered worthy of a second, third, xth chance at love. Not women. And despite being a cheater and an incompetent partner in general, the husband gets to stay friends with his wife and his ex. It was unclear if he got back with his ex. Furthermore, they practically removed traces of Doctor Roy from her life. Thus my disappointment is in what the writers inadvertently ended up pushing.

For the finale alone, I wanted to give this show an 8.5 (it was also quite dull compared to the rest of the episodes) which otherwise was a 10 but I have decided to leave it at a 9 because at least the writers didn't force her to forgive her husband and allowed her to get divorced and live for herself for a change. Coz that would have been the absolute worst.

I wanted to remember this show fondly. It's sad this finale won't let me do that.
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