Doctor drama

Warning: spoilers ahead!!

I'm no medical drama or 'human drama' fan as my taste is far more frivolous. Hence, I was never into ER, I've never watched Grey's Anatomy and I don't really like Healing Hands (all 3 installments). So, I've surprised myself by getting hooked on Surgeon Bong Dal-Hee, currently about halfway through on Channel 55.

Now, that very... err... 'creative' title provided no attraction whatsoever but it just happened that there was nothing to watch at a particular time and I turned to Channel 55...

The serial is far superior to Healing Hands because there are many more hospital scenes and lots more about patients, and the doctors at work. Of course, if you just have the hospital stuff, you might as well produce a 'medical staff training video' or something, so there are the doctors' personal lives as well. I like how this aspect is integrated into the whole hospital theme, unlike how the personal lives take centrestage in Healing Hands.

The titular lead BDH is inspiring. She herself has a weak heart but her determination, desire to learn and sunny disposition move even the glummest of doctors. The actress somehow reminds me of Lee Da Hae in My Girl but she's much more natural (thought LDH over-acted).

The obligatory romance, thankfully, is suitably understated so far. Also, it is a slight departure from the usual convoluted love quadrangles because BDH does not have to choose between the two guys, Dr Tall (above) and Dr Short (below). She ends her relationship with one before she seriously considers going out with the other. So, it's not like the 2 guys are fighting over the girl. What's more, it was surprising, to me anyway, that the one who ends up with her is not the tall, 'dashing' (don't actually find him dashing) one but the shortest doctor in the show.

I kind of like how the focus is moving subtly towards Dr Short at this point. He is played by this actor Lee Beom-soo who, from my time-wasting activities on the Internet, I found out is actually more known as a comedy guy. I guess this makes him an impressively versatile actor because his role here is far from comic. Also while wasting time surfing the net, I read that he didn't win the 'best actor' award for this role. Too bad.

Dr Short is a talented surgeon with major social shortcomings. He shouts at the first-year doctors, is highly impatient with their 'stupidity' and mistakes and is seen as arrogant. Furthermore, he is such an uncle, I tell you. For some odd reason, he sometimes reminds me of my father. Nothing wrong with my father but Dr Short is, like, less than half my father's age. Maybe they want to show the generation gap between the specialists and the rookies but, really, Drs Tall and Short are only in their mid-30s. I don't know if this is his usual hairstyle or they purposely gave it to him for the show. And his dressing is the geekiest and most old-fashioned.

A glimpse of him here, shouting at BDH...

The other guy who deserves mention is this Dr Park. He is so hilarious that he also deserves to have his picture here.

Anyway, I'm glad I wasted time checking up on this show because I learnt about the gut-wrenching middle episodes before I watched them. Emotionally charged episodes with BDH's heart almost torn to shreds by a couple of patient deaths. This boy's was especially unexpected and, therefore, sad. Someone said that it was one of those 'having the rug pulled from under your feet' things.
Good thing I knew beforehand or I might have collapsed in a heap myself.

So... there's a bit more 'drama' to go but things will be looking up for BDH and Dr Short, separately and together.

Oh, the sub-plot about Dr Tall and his ex-wife is totally boring. I couldn't care less if they got back together or re-married five times each.

Pictures from here and here.