Story:
Written by Baek Sun-woo, who previously delivered hit Romantic-Comedies like What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim and My Roommate Is A Gumiho, and directed by Oh Hyun-Jong known for his directorial Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, Doctor Slump is an enemy to lovers trope rom-com.
Yeo Jung Woo and Nam Ha Neul have aspired to join the medical fraternity since childhood. While Busan-based Nam Ha Neul shifts to Seoul to pursue her further education, she encounters Yeo Jung Woo, the top of the class, both being the best from the beginning, and they begin competing against each other to obtain better grades. After a great deal, they set out to achieve their dream of becoming a medical professional. After years, Yeo Jung Woo became a top-notch plastic surgeon, and Nam Ha Neul is witnessed as an aspiring resident anesthesiologist, still, in the wake of tragic events, both Ha-Neul and Jung Woo.
Cast:
Park Hyung-Sik, Park Shin-Hye, Yoon Park, Kong Seong-Ha, Oh Dong-Min, Jang Hye-Jin, Yoon Sang-Hyeon, Hyun Bong-Sik, Nam Gwon-A, Jung Ji-Soon, Park Won-Ho, Kang Sang-Joon, Kim Kyung-Min, Oh Ryoong, Han Da-Mi, Kim Jung-Hwan, Jang Yi-Jung, Yoon Hyo-Sik, Kim Mi-Ra, Kim Jin-Goo, Kwak Na-Yeon, Kim Jae-Bum, Lee Ha-Joo, Jeong Ye-Seo, Song Ji-Woo, Lee Seung-Joon, Lee Dong-Wook, Kwon Chan-Min, Jang In-Sub, Woo Sung-Eun, Yun Ki-Chang, Cha Yong-Hak, Jeon Su-Ji, Lee Soon-Poong, Choi Yi-Sun, Ahn Jong-Jin, Park Eun-Young, Lee Eun-Ju, Jo Young-Mi followed by many other artists.
Thoughts on Doctor Slump:
The healing drama brings forth an endearing tale of romance as Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye play the titular roles of Yeo Jung Yoo and Nam Ha-Neul.
The leads realise they are interested in each other and confess what they feel, eliminating prolonged drama and having each other’s back during their slump period. Yeo and Nam empathise and normalise opening up about their mental health. The episodes speak for the drama’s title, as the leads deal with rejections and struggle to get back to normal.
Doctor Slump proves it is a well-written drama yet again with the little details that make it easy to connect with the characters, for instance, Nam Ha Neul’s monologue, where the camera changes from the long shot to a close-up shot traces books kept on the top of the cupboard with the title Psychotic Disorders makes it shown that Ha-Neul who has always fascinated with learning and studying has read on her condition even before reaching out a professional. Moreover, the scene where she observes and quickly realises that Yeo Jung Yoo is struggling with PTSD makes it known why Nam Ha-Neul was one of the best students of her time. Likewise, Yeo Jung Woo’s encounter with the third-best student (Lee Sung Kyung-Guest Appearance) where his body language makes it appear composed, but the subtle background score and the little shiver he performs make it evident that he is tensed about Ha-Neul misinterpreting the situation.
During the third-best student’s (Lee Sung Kyung) encounter with Ha-Neul and Jung-Yoo, she doesn’t try to ask Nam Ha-Neul’s name, emphasising that she only has her eyes on Yeo Jung-Woo. Another notable scene from the drama is when Jung declines to see a psychologist, believing he would be termed weak if he sought help. As the drama progresses, Jung’s outlook towards not reaching out for professional help is justified as he reveals he has trust issues, due to the given situation.
Doctor Slump is a well-written healing drama with a tender love story that encompasses major elements, namely, mental health and green flag energy characters, namely, Ha-Neul’s mother/Kong Wol-seon(Jang Hye-Jin), Bin Dae-Yeong (Park Yoon ) and many characters are not cast just for the sake of characters existence, each character has got its own significance which makes the drama thrilling to watch.