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Not Your Usual Medical Kdrama
- Jhanya&Ria's Corner
- Aug 13, 2022
- 9 min read
"A doctor can wait for a patient, but a patient never waits for a doctor." – Go Seung Tak
Ghost Doctor
15+
Jan 3, 2022 - Feb 22, 2022
16 episodes (approx 1h 10mins / ep)
Network: tvN
Available on iQIYI, Netflix, & Viki
Directed by Boo Song-Chul
Written by Kim Sun-Soo
Starring Rain, Kim Beom, Uee, Son Na-Eun, & Sung Dong-Il
Synopsis:
Cha Young Min is a genius doctor, with excelling skills at surgery, but he is arrogant and selfish. One day, he gets involved in an accident and due to this, his spirit possesses another doctor's body, Seung Tak. These two doctors are complete opposites, with opposite personalities and medical abilities.
Young Min is arrogant and cold-blooded, only cares about his career and doesn't care about any of his patient's personal stories. Seung Tak is the luckiest and richest resident doctor whose grandfather is the founder of Myung-shin hospital and whose mother is the chairman of the hospital. Never wanting to be a good doctor, he becomes possessed by a ghost doctor. (Sourced from AsianWiki, CJ ENM)
May contain death, blood, ghosts
It's nearing the end of summer and we are back with something special一our second Kdrama review! With not-so-friendly ghosts, sketchy management, past lovers, and starring Rain and Kim Beom, Ghost Doctor is not your usual medical kdrama.
Table of Contents:
First Impressions
Ria: I only watched this because my dad was watching it and I got really interested in it. It’s also a good thing that whenever my dad is free, I’m also usually done with my school work, so I was able to watch it as a whole, instead of re-watching it again after. What got my attention the most is the premise of the kdrama. It was really interesting how “someone getting possessed” was done in the kdrama and intertwined with the story. I have not watched many kdramas with this kind of twist since I haven’t been very interested in magical realism or fantasy in kdramas (I tend to stick to contemporary). Having said that, I did enjoy the show, overall.
Jhanya: This was a KDrama that intrigued me when I read the synopsis. I actually watched it only a few weeks after it aired and it wasn’t as popular as it is these days because of Netflix. I wanted to watch Ghost Doctor because 1) it’s a medical drama, 2) they used the set of HosPlay for most of the hospital scenes, and 3) Rain is in it, and I haven’t seen him act in years hahaha For a medical KDrama, of course, I had expectations but eventually had to not bother with them because of how supernatural the story is. Like Ria, I really enjoyed Ghost Doctor and it’s nice to see a medical Kdrama on a lighter note.
Story + Pacing
Ria: As I said, I enjoyed the magical realism in the story and it was mixed into the plot very well. I would say though, that the plot of the story was your usual comedy and drama. The top plot would’ve been Young Min being a ghost and possessing Seung-tak. And it was interesting how this plot bled into character development. Therefore, the whole plot is pretty straightforward. I wouldn’t say it delved much into the medical side of the cases of patients, which I was pretty sad about. I love medical dramas that highlight medical cases *ahem ahem* Dr. Romantic and Doctor John *ahem ahem*. Disclaimer: I have no plans on becoming a doctor, I just really enjoy analyzing cases, as well!!
Jhanya: Ghost Doctor did a great job incorporating medical, comedy, and fantasy genres into one KDrama. It took the concept of coma ghosts and put it into a medical drama which actually makes a lot of sense now that I think about it. The medical parts weren’t the most accurate, but it was always pretty on point. But unlike Ria, I actually liked that it didn’t dwell too much on the medical cases because I feel like too many KDramas do that already and it’s nice to see Ghost Doctor focus more on the patients’ lives side of the conversation. The main plots and conflicts weren’t really unique, but everything together was really fun and kept me laughing at different moments. There were also a lot of parts where I just go HUH? but as I’ve mentioned earlier, this drama is a comedy and fantasy so I had to give way in order to enjoy the drama as it is full.
In regards to the pacing though, it was too slow for me. To a point that I had an almost 2-week break before I continued to watch past episode 5. The fact that the plot is pretty predictable didn’t help either. It took a while for the drama to find its footing and keep the excitement going at times too. This is pretty evident with the romance part between the couples as it kept dragging until the end. The romance with body sharing also had me cringing most of the time.
Direction + Cinematography
Ria: There’s nothing much to say here. The direction was done okay, but it wasn't anything spectacular. The visual effects were done enchantingly which worked with the plotline but it was pretty general and common. Unfortunately, nothing much stood out for me.
Jhanya: Before I get to the technical side, can I just say, that Ghost Doctor’s intro has to be one of the most fun KDrama intros I’ve seen in a while xD Idk it really just hypes me up at the start of the drama. If Dr. Romantic gave off Sherlock intro vibes, Ghost Doctor’s was straight up just like anime or cartoon intro type of feel and it made me smile every time I start a new episode.
Now, moving on to the technical parts. The CGI of this drama was actually done very smoothly. I expected it to have a pretty meh CGI because it’s a KDrama but it turned out clean and I commend the actors for going well with the whole thing (I often see actors struggling to interact with CGI elements so this was nice to see). The overall direction and cinematography of the drama aren’t really notable, but I liked how the scenes filled with tension can drag the audience in. The majority of it may have to do with the splendid cast, but the camera direction greatly helped to up the tension, especially at the end of the episodes.
Characters
Ria: I'd say that some characters were not given too much depth. They mostly had a specific character trait that was prominent although other character traits were also slightly shown but only in passing. This was mainly applicable to the supporting characters, but I was still a bit sad about that. More character development for these characters would’ve made for a much more interesting plot. However, the main characters were done quite well. Out of all, Kim Bum showed the greatest versatility and I love his acting in this Kdrama.
Jhanya: As Ria said, the characters didn’t have much depth which was a shame. But the cast was super fun to watch. Their portrayals of their characters really kept me watching until the end. They always had me laughing during their jokes and pretty wacky acting, especially with Rain being a drama queen the whole show.
Main Characters
Rain as Cha Young Min
Ria: I’ve heard that Rain was a great actor and I know that he starred in several dramas, but I haven’t watched any of them before. So I was very curious to find out for myself if I’d like his acting. And it is safe to say that he is a pretty great actor (not my favorite, but I cannot deny he’s a good actor). He had pretty great versatility, being able to play comedic scenes and serious scenes great. I did not cry at any of his crying scenes though, so maybe the emotional ones, are not as great yet. But overall he was able to execute his role as an arrogant genius doctor well and the character development seen in his character. The gradual shift was done very well.
Jhanya: Would you believe it if I tell you that Rain is the first KDrama actor I’ve watched? Specifically, I first saw him in Full House with Song Hye Kyo. Yes, they had a drama together if you aren’t aware hahaha #AgeExposedt xD I was so excited to watch this drama because of Rain as well. Anyway, Dr. Cha was a very fun character. He was such a drama queen when it comes to his material things, but when it came to saving his patients he was professional. Though he lacked affection at the beginning, he slowly learned to consider not only his patients’ physical conditions but their overall wellness as well. I especially loved his struggles as a ghost at the beginning though. It was very funny and had me laughing A LOT.
Kim Beom as Ko Seung Tak
Ria: Kim Beom! I love him! I like both his acting and character the most out of all. I think Kim Beom acted so well because he was able to transition as Seung-tak and then possessed by Youngmin really well. There was an obvious change in the character and I was really amazed at how he had done it so seamlessly. I also do love the character development of Seung-tak and how he found his passion and drive.
Jhanya: As much as I loved Kim Beom and his portrayal of Seung-tak, there were times I got confused with his character. He was described to be a by-the-book genius but there were moments when he would be waiting to be told about different medical conditions by Dr. Cha. Overall though, I really liked his character. He was the most developed for me and seeing him grow throughout the story was pretty inspiring.
Uee as Jang Se Jin
Ria: Yes, we love girl power 🫶 I think out of all characters, she cried the most, but I wasn't that emotional. I think I lacked emotional attachment to the whole series, in general. But I think her acting there was quite phenomenal. She was able to express either sadness, grief, or anger, based on the situation. I also love the character’s personality. It’s the sort of quiet, seething rage that slowly builds up and then explodes. Jang Se Jin was able to portray that and still stay in character.
Jhanya: Uee did good as usual, but I think the drama wasn’t able to really utilize her full potential which is just sad because I’ve seen her slay her role in Marriage Contract. In this drama, she was supposed to be one of the main characters but it never really feel like it? Her role isn’t as big as expected, other than being Dr. Cha’s love interest.
Son Na Eun as Oh Soo Jung
Ria: I wanted more from her. I’m not particularly sure what, but I feel like there was something that lacked from her. I’m not even sure if it was the acting or the character itself, but I wanted more!! I did like her character. I think she compliments Seung-tak well and I love the support that she gives. But, again, I don’t have much attachment to her. It’s a shame because she’s another character that exudes girl power and confidence, as well.
Jhanya: Everything that Ria said above hahaha Out of all the characters, I really wanted more from her. She was such a badass and kept Seung-tak on his toes that I kept looking forward to more of her scenes, but unfortunately, I was disappointed. The actress isn’t really at fault because Son Na-eun did a great job, it just came down to the writing like the rest.
Supporting Characters
Ria: The supporting characters were definitely a wonderful addition to the kdrama! They brought a good balance of comedy and drama and, well, support, to the main characters and plotline. However, I’ve said this earlier, and I’ll just say it again. I would've loved more in-depth stories or in-depth reveals of the personalities of the supporting characters. I love the minor sun plots they brought and I would’ve loved for their stories to be revealed more. I loved learning more about their backstories, but I'd love to learn more. They would’ve brought more color to the plot line of the series
Jhanya: As I’ve mentioned, the cast is great and it’s what eventually made me give this drama an 8/10. The supporting characters were really just there for support and weren’t given much attention unless convenient for the plot. They really added to the dynamics of the main cast though and helped make the drama even more enjoyable to watch. Also, shout out to Tess for being the best ghost I’ve seen in KDrama ahahaha
Favorite Moments
Jhanya: My favorite moment, in general, was the bromance scenes between Seung-tak and Young-min. Rain and Kim Beon have such great chemistry together that they really lifted the mood when they’re on screen together. How they also developed their characters together throughout the drama is an additional plus for me because of how heartwarming it was.
Ria: I don’t particularly have a specific favorite moment, but I love the banter between Seungtak and Youngmin the most. I think they have such funny banters and I always loved seeing them just play around and opening up their playful sides.
Final Thoughts
Ria: Overall, I'd say this was a pretty good Kdrama. The most unique thing about it was the premise itself and I thoroughly enjoyed them delving into it more. I also really like the character development of Young-min and Seung-tao and the friendship that blossomed between them. I wouldn't say that this was your regular medical drama because it really isn’t. Definitely still recommend it if you’re up for a light-hearted, comedy with a bit of drama :>
Jhanya: Ghost Doctor is a very fun KDrama to watch when you want to watch a light, heartwarming, yet also a bit dramatic medical KDrama. You’ll also for sure laugh a lot because of the very playful cast that has great chemistry. The highlight for me though, was how they gave emphasis on the importance of patients’ lives and show how each decision made by a doctor, no matter, how big or small, is crucial. Not only for the patient as a living human being but also for their life as a whole. I really recommend this drama if you want a light and exciting watch.
Rating
Criteria | Jhanya | Ria |
|---|---|---|
Screenwrite/Plot/Flow (1.5) | 1.25 | 1.25 |
Cinematography (1.5) | 1.25 | 1.25 |
Visual Effects/Realism (1.5) | 1 | 1.25 |
Casting/Acting (1.5) | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Soundtrack (1) | 0.75 | 0.5 |
Morale (1) | 1 | 1 |
Originality (1) | 0.75 | 1 |
Rewatch Value (1) | 0.5 | 0.5 |
TOTAL | 8 | 8.25 |
Final Score | 81.25 | |
FINAL RATING:
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