Doctor Stranger: Episode 9
by gummimochi
It’s a merry go round of almost-conversations in this hour as characters tell each other that they’ll talk later, but never really get the chance to because of the one surgical competition of the century. The good news is that we finally get to know what Hoon has been thinking in these past few episodes in regards to his first love in question, but the bad news is that it leaves us with more questions than answers yet again.
There are plenty of lives hanging on the balance every day in a hospital with numerous patients to treat, but it’s only now that I realize that I should also be worrying about the doctors, too, since you can never know when you might find a gun pointed at your head.
Doctor Stranger saw an upswing in ratings again with a 13.2% as Big Man remained in the running with a 10.0%.
SONG OF THE DAY
Taeyang – “눈, 코, 입 (Eyes, Nose, Lips)” [ Download ]
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EPISODE 9 RECAP
Upon hearing that Seung-hee’s about to be killed, Hoon walks out of the scrub room. It’s Soo-hyun who wrestles him back inside, however, forcing him to look at the tiny infant on the table—nothing could be more important than saving that fragile life right now.
We cut away to the other life on the line, where Agent Cha asks the burning question on all our minds: Why the sudden change of heart to choose Jae-joon as the operating surgeon instead? The only answer we get is that Seung-hee ignored her new orders to join Jae-joon’s team by sticking with the original plan and joined Hoon’s. Why she has to join any surgical team is anyone’s guess, really.
Since that essentially voids her own mission, Seung-hee grabs the gun aimed at her heart and points it at her head. She asks if the North have consented to these changes, to which Nightshade says they do as they please regardless of what the North thinks. With Agent Cha’s help, Seung-hee turns the tables and points the gun in Nightshade’s face, resulting in guns drawn from both sides.
While everyone waits for the one-time competition to begin at the operating theater, Director Choi outlines the judging criterion, whereby whoever operates the fastest (without killing their infant) will be declares the winner. Hoon scrubs in for surgery again, and even though they’re running out of time, he firmly believes that Seung-hee will make it.
That tension-filled standoff is interrupted by Prime Minister Jang’s entrance. He claims to have changed his mind yet again now that he’s seen Seung-hee in person. Moreover, he needs to know whether she’s someone he can trust, so he asks, “Are you Song Jae-hee or Han Seung-hee?” Get in line, old man. We wanna know the answer to that, too.
Everyone lowers their guns and takes their leave until Seung-hee and Jang are alone. Outside, Nightshade has a lollipop chat with Agent Cha about how it’d be fairly easy for Seung-hee to acquire another kidney, though the existence of a surgical scar would be a telltale sign of her true identity. Agent Cha replies that he’s never seen her bare skin.
But Prime Minister Jang has, and he gives a satisfied chuckle as Seung-hee gets dressed again. “Hoon is really pathetic,” he cryptically answers. He agrees to give Hoon another chance, but he tells her to keep in mind that he only needs one surgeon.
Agent Cha stops her before she leaves to warn her that she’ll also end up dead if Hoon loses. A sputtering engine noise from the truck nearby alerts him of Chang-yi’s presence, and she panics as he marches towards her, but to her luck, Prime Minister Jang stops him for a quick chat about the competition.
Jang is largely indifferent to Agent Cha’s assertion that Hoon will win, figuring that Hoon must lest he die by Agent Cha’s hands. Plus, Seung-hee would be upset if she discovered Hoon’s corpse, and Agent Cha assures him that he doesn’t leave a body trail behind. Once Jang leaves, Agent Cha looks up towards the truck, but it’s already gone.
It’s hard to tell what Chang-yi’s earlier perplexed look meant, but she calls Hoon’s phone repeatedly. Somehow that phone ended up back in the call room, so it’s Chi-gyu who picks up (and hangs up) in annoyance before heading out to observe the surgery.
As Hoon’s team continues to wait for Seung-hee, Jae-joon’s team is given the go-ahead to begin anesthesia. Hoon and his team look up when the doors open twice, only to be disappointed by Chi-gyu’s appearance both times. The third time’s the charm, though, and Seung-hee finally arrives, to Hoon’s relief.
Soo-hyun worries that they’ll end up losing for starting so late, but Hoon tells her to abandon that mindset. This is just like any other surgery, he says—their goal here is to treat a sick child.
Even though Seung-hee administers the anesthesia later than the other team, both Hoon and Jae-joon end up making their first incisions at around the same time. Up in the observation deck, Director Choi proudly says that they’re witnessing the future best cardiothoracic surgeons at work.
Even Seung-hee’s superb skills are given a mention, as Doctor Yang says that Min-se was Myungwoo Hospital’s best anesthesiologist until Seung-hee arrived.
While Doctor Yang steps outside to take a call, Chairman Oh and Director Choi walk over to get a better view of the highlight of the procedure: the crucial forty-five minute window to repair the babies’ hearts.
Both teams proceed in step as the timer ticks down, the anxiety growing with each passing minute. Hoon yells at Soo-hyun to focus when he catches her sneak a nervous glance towards the clock with just over ten minutes remaining, and that leads to a minor yet critical mistake.
Soo-hyun starts to panic, but they’re running out of time and they must repair the tear to move on. Taking her shaking hand, Hoon tells her to look at the baby and stitch it up herself. Feeling insecure, Soo-hyun makes excuses, and Hoon reminds her that they practiced earlier: “Do it. Are you going to be called a quack for the rest of your life?”
Seung-hee looks up at the observation deck to see Agent Cha sitting with the other doctors (grah, the severe lack of security in this hospital), then demands that Hoon do it instead. But Hoon waits on Soo-hyun, who runs through all the negative remarks about her surgeon skills and then Hoon’s encouragement.
And just when Hoon decides to do it himself, Soo-hyun steps up to the plate. But as they work, Jae-joon’s team finishes up first, which makes his team the winner. Seung-hee casts a worried look towards Agent Cha before her eyes fall upon Hoon with the same concerned expression.
Prime Minister Jang is informed of the result, and we see Agent Cha prepare his gun in his car outside.
Thankfully Hoon’s team finishes with a minute and twenty seconds to spare. Soo-hyun nervously apologizes and starts to blame herself, but Hoon cuts her off, saying that they saved a life. Watching the baby’s heart beat faithfully, he says it doesn’t matter to him that they lost.
As the twins are led out of their respective operating rooms, Hoon sends Jae-joon a look of acknowledgement. He tries to grab Seung-hee for a word, but she says they can talk later.
When Doctor Moon conveys his timid congratulations to Chairman Oh, he’s told that there will be something for him to celebrate in the near future. Then Chairman Oh declares that this was Hoon’s last surgery, and despite Director Choi’s efforts to dissuade him, Chairman Oh remains resolute to his decision. Having Jae-joon alone is enough to make Myungwoo into the best hospital in Korea, he argues.
Doctor Moon gets worked up when Chi-gyu congratulates him in advance for his soon-to-be transfer to the branch hospital, since that’s not what he had in mind. He chases Chi-gyu around, neither of them noticing the “water bottle” (filled with liquor, perhaps?) drop to the floor.
Because Doctor Moon is the easily influenced type, he pleads with Soo-hyun to persuade her father not to send him away. She has no idea what he’s talking about, and when he latches onto her hand, she encourages him to speak to the chairman himself, squirming out of his grip.
Hoon responds to Doctor Moon’s hysterics with the usual dismissal, all, You’ll be just fine. In the midst of his dramatic “We’re all dead!” cries, we see Agent Cha casually walk past him. Sigh, no wonder there’s no one manning that security room.
Hoon comes looking for Seung-hee, only to be told that he’s just missed her. He runs into Chang-yi on his way over, and her first question is: “Hyung, that woman was Jae-hee?” Well, now.
Hoon pulls her aside and instructs her to listen closely. He makes Chang-yi promise not to tell anyone what she’s seen. She agrees and then asks again, “Is she really Jae-hee?” Hoon nods. Finally, a definitive confirmation from our hero!
When Chang-yi admits that she’s scared at how Jae-hee is also a spy, Hoon says that’s why they have to remain tight-lipped. She hands him the keys to the trucks and asks one last time if everything will be okay. He gives her another reassuring nod.
As for Seung-hee, she’s busy looking for Agent Cha, who reminds her that they’ve failed their mission and Hoon is now his target. He sees Hoon running after Jae-hee through the hospital, making sure to keep himself unseen.
Seung-hee argues that they’ve still got another chance and whether their mission is a success or a failure isn’t for Agent Cha to decide. By now Agent Cha has mysteriously caught up with her at the operating theater—he obviously thinks differently and asks if she’s afraid to die.
He acknowledges that they did have an opportunity, but that bastard Hoon ruined everything. Seung-hee sees Hoon arrive in the operating room and looks up towards Agent Cha on the walkway… only that there’s no one there.
Panic washes over her face as her eyes search for Agent Cha’s whereabouts. It’s another minute before she looks down to meet Hoon’s gaze. At that moment, we see a shadow behind Hoon, and sure enough there’s Agent Cha with a gun trained on Hoon’s head.
The suspense builds with each passing second, but before Agent Cha can shoot, Chi-gyu and his newest fling come barging in to mess around. Never mind that an operating room is a sterile environment, of course. Anyhow, the two stop to get a good look at Agent Cha as they leave, but throwing on a doctor’s coat makes you one in this place.
So when Agent Cha turns back to finish the job, both Hoon and Seung-hee are already long gone.
Soo-hyun meets with her father, who gripes over how she could help Hoon over Jae-joon. Everything worked out for the best, she replies, and she asks if her father is concerned about their relationship. Chairman Oh says he’s worried about losing a potentially great son-in-law.
Their conversations take on an endearing quality lately, as Soo-hyun assures her father that she likes Jae-joon second best after her father, which makes the latter smile. He’s surprised to hear that Soo-hyun wants to move out and live on her own (oh, so the apartment was for herself?), and her mind’s already made up on that matter.
She briefly runs into Jae-joon outside since he was also called in to see the chairman. He asks if she’s free, but she brushes that aside and congratulates him on winning.
Chang-yi contemplates whether to report a spy to the authorities, her finger hovering over her phone. She’s briefly interrupted when Soo-hyun appears, looking for Hoon. Once she leaves, Chang-yi calls it in. Uh oh.
Soo-hyun catches a glimpse of Seung-hee walking past with her phone to her ear. She continues her search for Hoon, briefly interrupting Min-se’s advances towards a nervous Doctor Geum.
She eventually runs into him in the hallway, telling him that there’s something she wants to tell him. But Hoon says they can chat later, and runs off looking for Seung-hee.
Somehow, Agent Cha still goes unnoticed in this hospital and notes Director Choi’s presence. Seung-hee is still trying to get ahold of him by phone, to no avail. She then calls Hoon to tell him to get out of the hospital immediately, but he just keeps demanding to know where she is right now.
Having heard each other’s voices in the vicinity, they both stop and walk towards each other. Hoon has no idea that Agent Cha has appeared from behind him again, and once he sees Seung-hee’s face, he softly utters, “Jae-hee.”
“Stop!” she calls out. Hoon stops in his tracks and Agent Cha keeps his eyes trained on Seung-hee, shaking his head. “It can’t end like this,” she whispers as she walks down the steps.
Hoon starts walking towards her again, but Seung-hee cries “Stop!” once more. Hoon thinks she’s talking to him, but we know that she’s speaking to Agent Cha behind him, pleading, “We still have a chance.”
Hoon is quick on the uptake and follows her line of sight behind him. He slowly turns his head just as Agent Cha raises his gun. As he pulls the trigger, Seung-hee pulls Hoon out of harm’s way, then they search into each other’s eyes, holding onto one another.
A code blue is announced, and while all the other doctors rush towards the ICU, Seung-hee leads Hoon in the opposite direction. Interestingly, we see Nightshade hanging outside the ICU, and he notices Agent Cha stalk off in frustration in the wake of his failed attempt.
Aw, Chairman Oh berates Jae-joon for being so harsh on Soo-hyun that she would join the rival team. He tells Jae-joon to take good care of her. Jae-joon rushes over to the NICU once he hears the code blue. Turns out their baby has gone into shock and requires another surgery.
The primary blame falls on Doctor Geum aka Jae-joon’s first mate in the operation, and Doctor Moon seems awfully too excited about this turn of events. Oh phew, Hoon and Seung-hee file in moments later, but when Hoon demands to prep for surgery immediately, Jae-joon grows irate.
Barely controlling his rage, Jae-joon grits out that this infant is his patient, therefore he’ll be the one to perform surgery. Seung-hee disappears into the crowd and Hoon takes off after her.
Director Choi pulls Doctor Moon aside to lecture him on his inappropriate behavior. Doctor Moon is a terrible doctor who would rather win this ridiculous competition and save his own skin over saving a life, and says they have to go and re-determine the winner with the chairman immediately.
Jae-joon successfully completes the procedure and dismisses his first mate, determined to see that this operation is error-free from start to finish. His blood still boiling, Soo-hyun comes barging into the operating room, wanting answers. He barks at her to get out. Aw, I love you Soo-hyun, and I know your heart’s in the right place, but I’m with Jae-joon here on that now’s not a good time.
Unfortunately for him though, Chairman Oh has seen the outburst from the observation deck above him, and he rises from his seat, disappointed. Chairman Oh doesn’t get far before running to Director Choi and Doctor Moon, whom he walks past without a word.
And then Doctor Moon bursts into a victory dance right then and there. He’s a ridiculous character, but that’s still not cool. If anything, it gives Doctor Moon reason to punish Chi-gyu by ordering him to do backward push-ups.
Prime Minister Jang is informed in his sky blue teddy bear pajamas (and furry cat slippers) that Jae-joon has lost. He wonders if he should choose Hoon again in the same casual tone as if deciding what kind of juice would make a good nightcap before heading off to bed. Curiously, it’s as if Nightshade is reading Jang for a reaction, but says nothing.
Seung-hee finally catches up to Agent Cha in an empty clearing and says smugly that Hoon has won. Agent Cha already knows, and when she lashes out that his rash behavior nearly compromised their mission and that Hoon nearly died, he pins her against the pillar.
“You dared to try and run away with him!” he spits back furiously. He warns Seung-hee against her own impulsive behavior, adding that he’s always watching. “I decide whether [Hoon] lives or dies,” Agent Cha reminds her. “The same goes for you, Han Seung-hee.”
At the same time, Hoon is still looking for Seung-hee. He catches a glimpse of her being dragged away by the wrist and follows them out of the hospital. Ignoring Doctor Moon’s cheeriness, he trails behind Seung-hee’s car in the truck.
He ends up back at his tiny clinic and heads on inside… a sight Agent Cha sees from his own car. Hoon opens the doors with great anticipation, but his face falls in disappointment to be met with the same video of Jae-hee playing on his laptop.
But then he turns around to see Seung-hee/Jae-hee standing there with the same big smile Jae-hee used to wear. “Hoon-ah,” she says, her eyes welling up in tears.
She runs into him, wrapping her arms tightly around him. It takes a few seconds for the initial shock to wear off before he holds onto her, running his fingers through her hair.
Nestling into her shoulder, Hoon hugs her and then pulls away to gaze into her eyes. She cradles his face in her hands as he surveys her face. He finally breaks into a smile, and then swoops in to kiss her.
Hoon stares at the image of ragged Jae-hee on his computer the following morning, then she pops out from behind him: “Stop watching that, I’m right here!” Omo, you two spent the night together. Bow chicka wow wow.
Their pleasant morning after plays out just like in Hoon’s fantasy back in Episode 3, as they giggle and make faces at each other. Hoon prepares curry for the both of them and watches her eat happily with that same goofy grin.
But then that happy image fades away as Hoon wakes up alone in his bed. He runs out, calling Jae-hee’s name over and over again.
COMMENTS
And we’re back to the Seung-hee mystery. It just can’t be that easy, can it? I’ll first get this out of the way: It matters less to me who Seung-hee exactly is than learning why she assumes this identity in this covert mission/conspiracy. I know that it matters a great deal to our lovesick hero, yet with the innumerable conspiracies flying around, I find that the importance of that detail keeps coming up short in lieu of more pressing questions. For instance, I’d rather know who in the North is in cahoots with the prime minister and issuing orders to Agent Cha and Seung-hee. And also why all three of them including Hoon are as good as dead if Hoon doesn’t follow a protocol he isn’t even aware of himself.
But since the show continues to bring Seung-hee’s identity into question, we’ll start there. I wish I could say that Hoon’s solid conviction (and verbal confirmation of his belief) helps us any, but it sadly doesn’t. To the show’s credit, I can see the attempt to make a distinction between what Hoon believes versus what the rest of the dramaverse thinks. Unfortunately what happens is that I find myself distrustful of any character’s subjective opinion, most of all Hoon’s. He should be our best barometer since he knows Jae-hee best, but his reactions and nonverbal behavior ultimately can’t tell us what he’s thinking. Sometimes a verbal affirmation isn’t necessary, but once your hero harbors a crucial secret or any kind of integral information from its viewers, the writing enters dangerous territory which could end up revealing a narrative gap and/or a writing flaw. In this case, we have Hoon’s verbal confirmation of his thoughts and Chang-yi’s evidence in the arts center. But until we see more definitive visual proof, we’re still treading speculation waters.
So while much of Seung-hee’s mysterious identity is still up in the air, we do know that it was important for Hoon to believe that it was Jae-hee standing in his clinic, that it was Jae-hee whom he kissed and spent the night with. To that end, Hoon’s reunion was heartbreaking to watch, no matter who she really was. Seeing Agent Cha sitting outside makes me suspicious (as many things do in this show), especially since he was so angry with Seung-hee in the previous scene. I’m sure there’s more than what meets the eye, because it just couldn’t be that easy, right?
I realize that there is ONE person in this dramaverse who comes closest when it comes to solving the Seung-hee conspiracy. I’m talking about our teddy bear pajama-wearing Prime Minister Jang of course, who would arrive at a faster decision over who will operate on him with a coin flip rather than holding an arbitrary surgical competition he didn’t even seem to care for. His close watch over Hoon seemed to suggest that he had a specific plan that involved our genius hero, but he spends more of this hour being even more flippant about the future of his health. Apparently knowing who Seung-hee all but helps him decide what kind of coffee he wants tomorrow morning. But I digress.
Even though it’s not much an hour to know more about all these confusing and nonsensical conspiracies running around in this hospital, I’m at least grateful that their existence is keeping Hoon alive. Well maybe keeping him alive everywhere else besides the hospital because for some damn reason hospital security keeps letting an armed North Korean secret agent roam free, ready to take down Myungwoo Hospital’s best (and most adorable) cardiothoracic surgeon.
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Tags: Doctor Stranger, featured, Jin Se-yeon, Lee Jong-seok
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1 Andromeda
June 2, 2014 at 8:18 PM
OMO! Now that's what I'm talking about scorching hot chemistry right there with the kiss scene with PH and JH/Seung Hee. Besides the ah-mazing kiss scene, I hated the way this episodes mostly center its self on cat and mouse chase between Agent Cha, PH, JH/Seung Hee, and even Soo Hyun.
At the ending, was it a dream?! Or did JH/Seung Hee slipped something in his food to make him passed out and she sneaked out to meet Agent Cha? ARgh, so many unanswered question. I swear, this drama is stressing me out!
Furthermore, the hospital needs a tighter security! How can Agent Cha just waltz around the hospital with a gun?! Nonetheless, Seung Hee saves PH again from being shot which I found it super sweet especially how they stared at each other after that. ;) #teamfirstlove #heartbeatcouple
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owl 🦉 🫰
June 2, 2014 at 11:26 PM
Yeah, Agent Cha just shows up in the surgical balcony and is not noticed? And no one was bothered by gun shots ringing out in the corridors?
The more I watched the babies' surgeries, the angrier I got at it all being a competition in the first place. So frickin' political on so many levels.
But the 360 degree kiss shots that made me dizzy were scrumpdillyiscious!
Also love that he has a long blue checked jacket along with the pea green one that I absolutely adore on him.
I still contend that Nightshade will kidnap Honn and Jae Hee with the intention of reuniting them and getting them to safety. Somehow. Loppipop man.
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CrazyRedHairMireu
June 3, 2014 at 9:10 PM
I think I finally figured it out. The hospital staff does not give a fuck until you start operating in the surgery room. This is why Hoon got into shit when he impersonated a doctor but Agent Cha can do whatever the heck he wants. As long as he doesn't operate on anyone, no staff member will know him, bot the senior doctors, the fellow surgeons, nurses, the directors etc. It's that or his doctor disguise is just that good but seriously he's seen better days. I know they took your finger but they did not take away your razor buddy. You need to shave and brush that hair. Your face so clearly says secret agent (but then again what do I know, no one's caught him yet...)
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megumi
June 3, 2014 at 5:56 AM
Yeah that kiss was seriously hot, even though i've seen majority of the commenters hate on JSY for her acting and lack of chemistry i still support her with Hoon than Soo Hyun, it must be because of LJS's awesome acting, the way he loves and misses Seung Hee was just heartbreaking to watch, i think he deserves to be happy with her.
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Lord Byron
June 3, 2014 at 9:19 AM
Is it possible that we are watching different dramas under the same title? Or, does it make a big difference whether we watch it in Korean or in subtitles?
I am a big fan of LJS. I remain unwavering in my faith that this is an actor who will go far and who should go far. But in this episode, I've reached my limit.
I am sure it is not his choice but rather his blind faith in the staff who makes him look like a mangy poodle with that hair. His screams are just annoying. And then the kiss, which came out of nowhere, which should have commanded far more emotional response in us! The drama just dropped it on our lap. It did not take us there.
Then there is the actor playing the knight who wants to capture the castle and the princess in it. Well, thus far, all he has done was looking expressionless in the handful scenes that he appears. But we know him from You From Another Star and thus we know he can do a lot more. What a missed opportunity for him and for us.
And Agent Cha is just boring post-Budapest.
I hope the director does not equate himself to Hitchcock. That hide-and-seek chase scene in stairwell went on far too long (like 15 minutes), without any of the Hitchcock-esque dramatic effects.
This drama is becoming a collection of caricatures. It is looking a lot like Medical Top Team. Better luck next time, LJS!
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Moko
June 6, 2014 at 10:57 AM
=.= this is so true. Lord Byron I must say I think and feel exactly the same as you.
This episode was NONsensical.
I even stopped drooling over LJS....
What have you done drama??? WHY???
*tears down in heartbreak*
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Tulipsaki
June 4, 2014 at 4:57 AM
The kiss was hot because of LJS. His lips, man. He seems like a good kisser.
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Aseize Okaztle
August 13, 2016 at 11:21 PM
I kinda of want Hoon to end up with Soo-yhun.
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2 dc
June 2, 2014 at 8:20 PM
first!
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3 yamapisukii
June 2, 2014 at 8:25 PM
this episode did not do it for me. felt like it was all over the place, kind of like a filler.
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pigsnout
June 2, 2014 at 8:50 PM
This whole drama is all over the place. Such a mess.
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Yamapisukii
June 2, 2014 at 9:03 PM
true but it didn't hit me until this ep. lol
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Moko
June 6, 2014 at 10:59 AM
me neither.
when it hits, it hits hard. Cant....get....up....
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pigsnout
June 2, 2014 at 8:56 PM
I caugt up to ep 9 in one week and all i can say is that this drama overall is a huge mess. Lee Jong Seok is really doing a good job but I hope he, PHJ and KSR getbetter projectd next time.
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Beng
June 2, 2014 at 10:01 PM
the scriptwriter doesn't know what to write about his/her characters =(.
I hope it will improved in the next episodes.
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Mieosa
June 4, 2014 at 1:42 AM
Agreed with you there. Very disappointed with this episode.
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light
June 4, 2014 at 4:13 AM
I don't understand what was going on. Episode 10 was worst. I skipped some parts. Mayyybe...episode 10 will be the last for me. Pity. Just kill off JH. Or reveal her as a double triple agent and Hoon will be heartbroken and therefore end up with SH. The end.
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4 Aya
June 2, 2014 at 8:33 PM
You are fast today Gummi! thanks.
I feel this episode kind of messy, but i'll overlook it because of the KISS :P
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5 harukogirl
June 2, 2014 at 8:50 PM
I still don't trust her :(
I *wish* I could root for the "almost-certainly-OTP", but...even though LSJ's a great kisser, even THAT scene left me cold (and for once it was a decent kiss!)
I'll still enjoy the drama regardless...Hoon is way to cool for me to quit, but I loved the 30 secs of him encouraging SH, and her dragging him into the operating room, WAY more than the JH angst/drama/kiss/cute/maybe-almost-kinda-was-it-or-wasn't-it-a-dream-bed-scene
Still on the precarious second lead ship :D
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Andromeda
June 2, 2014 at 8:59 PM
I guess it's all about preference. And I love Soo Hyun dragging PH back to the operating room. I thought that he needed that and I wouldn't want him to abandon the baby. Seung Hee is a badass and can handle herself. Hehehe
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pigsnout
June 2, 2014 at 9:58 PM
I don't know how but that kiss left me cold too. Chemistry is about much more than a kiss. It really feels like LJS is trying so hard, and not quite succeeding to generate real chemistry or acting rapport with her. Reminds me of Lee Seung Gi last year with Gu Family Book.
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Nekoi
June 2, 2014 at 10:28 PM
I think the fault lies in the actress or her characterization which basically leaves people not caring much for her with all this secrecy going on to no end. Not LJS' fault. The kiss came at the wrong time. He has great chemistry with all other actors, just not JSY, which is a pity. The writer'd better do something, else audience will leave this show.
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Anointed
June 2, 2014 at 10:32 PM
Its ratings just went up actually.
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windsun33
June 2, 2014 at 11:43 PM
Yeah, and I can't figure out why, except lack of any real competion. This is one of the most irrational shows I have ever seen.
pigsnout
June 3, 2014 at 1:11 AM
And even with the weak competition it's not breaking more than 13 percent on average. The PD can keep things moving but even he can't cover up for a nonsense plot.
sogazelle
June 3, 2014 at 9:40 AM
That's because there's big strike at KBS wich is showing BIG MAN.
Big man still pulled in 10% with the strike going on...not bad.
Anointed
June 3, 2014 at 11:43 AM
I don't know how you're able to correlate ratings with the strike though. Ratings measure viewership, the strike on the other hand relates to something else. Not unless you're implying that the strike has decreased the value of Big Man and hence less viewership.
pigsnout
June 2, 2014 at 11:54 PM
I try really hard to like her but even in cute Jae Hee mode she just feels so, how to say it, insipid.
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ancientgranpa
June 3, 2014 at 1:47 AM
Me too. I SWEAR I try to understand and try to like Jae Hee/Seung Hee too, but it just DOESN'T work for me.
But then when it is Soo Hyun, its just like effortless to see their chems. Its like flowing naturally and all.
I know... plot wise etc HOON is only thinking about jae Hee.
But INFRONT OF MY EYES... the chems between the HoonHyun's is just too strong.
Lee Jung Suk looks don't have to try that hard to make it works. It just... THERE. Flowing... glowing...
globetrotter
June 3, 2014 at 12:41 AM
THIS. Such a shame :'(
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6 MajorDickason's
June 2, 2014 at 8:51 PM
Just looking at early episodes with Hoon and Jae Hee in N. Korea. I just cannot say anything about the incoherent plot these days, but can I just say Hoon's haircut years earlier in N. Korea looked SO much better than his awful perm in modern day Seoul? LJS is such a cutie, but that hair! Ugh.
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7 faris
June 2, 2014 at 9:06 PM
Obviously so many plot holes. Lack of chemistry for hoon/sheunhee especially during kissing scene. And obviously that I ship hoon and second lead to be together.
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faris
June 3, 2014 at 1:27 AM
that secondlead girl whoever the name just have no chemistry with hoon and no talent , so bored to watch
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ancientgranpa
June 3, 2014 at 1:51 AM
Okay... that is confusing. Once you said you ship Hoon and 2nd lead. 2nd you say there is no chems. WHich is right??
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8 pigsnout
June 2, 2014 at 9:07 PM
Oh and it looks like we have an answer for who is the otp. Hoon may have all the skinship with grabbing Soohyun and Kang Sora may be a better actress plus PD likes them scenes that remind me of master's sun .....but it's still the other girl. Who is so boring btw. Idk how she can make a maybe dead NK spy first love boring, but she does.
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ancientgranpa
June 3, 2014 at 1:55 AM
Then the writer must be so stupid if she makes that so many Quack couple moment just for NOTHING.
It is ok and tolerable if its only 1 or 2 scenes between them like Hoon with Chang Yi. But with THAT MUCH story between them ALONE. That is stupidest things to do.
I don't say Soo Hyun have to be the one to get Hoon, but they must want to make storyline with Soo Hyun if the including that much sweet moment between them.
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Moko
June 6, 2014 at 12:27 PM
by the way Lighto, is your nickname from Death Note? Because I'm watching it right now....
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Moko
June 6, 2014 at 11:28 AM
Yeah I think so too.
The writer is either really really stupid and gave us filler scenes with Kang Sora only to put SOME romance in the story...
...or the writer had AMNESIA because of a gunshot in the right collarbone after a successful transplantation of a second BRAIN, thus no memory of screenwriter school where they teach you that story has to make some sort of sense, and now with a second brain has developed schiezophrenia, 'cause it's hard to feed 2 different concepts of thinking of the girl that should be endgame.... AND THAT'S WHY of course further development of the story is currently undecided and doesn't really matter. Naturally. It's already enough stress going on with the re-re-re-re-reshooting of the KISS of the CENTURY.
What do you think? I think the latter one is more realistic and accurate.
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9 Andromeda
June 2, 2014 at 9:16 PM
It's sad that no one is shipping Soo Hyun with Jae Joon. Am I the only who ship these two together? If Jae Joon would only step up his game and maybe he'll have his own shot of happiness instead of pursuing his revenge.
Ahahaha, still swooning at that hot KISS. Hehehe
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windsun33
June 2, 2014 at 11:50 PM
To be honest I don't really care what happens to Jae Hee (or whoever she is) anymore really. In fact I don't care what happens to any of the characters, except the dog. None of them seem remotely real or even human.
Oh wait..... No dog. I wish there was a dog.
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Tulipsaki
June 3, 2014 at 8:09 AM
And if it were a dog, it'd be a super-bionic North Korean Spy Dog. And it would die.
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Purpl3Kat
June 3, 2014 at 1:48 AM
Oh man finally another Soo Hyun & Jae Joon shipper! I really liked them together and I hope Soo Hyun doesn't give up on Jae Joon. Im pretty sure Jae Joon has genuine feelings for her underneath all that revenge scheme that he's been so focused on.
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Minny
June 3, 2014 at 2:42 AM
I am! Nice to see others are too. Honestly, I am far more interested in their relationship than the lead couple's; although looking at the way things are going I wonder if the writer will be able to do their relationship and their characters justice.
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Amell
June 3, 2014 at 4:08 AM
I could like them because I have a weakness for the Falls In Love With The Mark trope but the drama's not giving them enough material to win me over.
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10 Mar
June 2, 2014 at 9:23 PM
Thank you for the recap ^^, it did clear my mind a bit after the more confusing episode
What was that about? Did the last 5 minutes even happened? So Hoon won the competition and suddenly it is like a happy ever after. I have given up trying to understand the story since the 5th episode, but yea I’m still wandering to what kind of ending will the writer lead us to. Since I don’t really care about the story, I will just enjoy the acting and the interaction between the leads. Jaejoon did look vulnerable and panic, we can see how much anger and uneasiness he was suppressing during the second surgery..park hae jin only needs a pair of his eyes to express Jaejoon insecurity, daebakk.
Since it is now confirmed seung hee is jae hee, let’s just enjoy hoon-jaehee moment then (the kiss and the breakfast haha). I did like soohyun-hoon pairing, but now I’m kinda sure their interaction will be limited (since the lost female lead is now found).
It really occurred actually, what I suspect will happen to Jaejoon’s baby. Sure they finished first, but somehow I was convinced that there will be post-surgery complication. I just hope that ambition and pride won’t blind Jaejoon. He’s on the verge of it actually. Just wanting his genuine feeling towards soohyun overpower his grudges (I think he has a soft spot for her).
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11 liz
June 2, 2014 at 9:25 PM
This episode again made me feel there is not much chemistry between Hoon and JH. The kiss was a good one but left me cold. Doesn't help I look to JH and think she is fake.
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12 Silverteem
June 2, 2014 at 9:31 PM
This episode all but affirms that Jae Hee is indeed Seung Hee, as if that's not obvious enough in the previous one, but the continuous presence of Comrade Cha always puts that nagging feeling of doubt into the viewer’s mind. It also doesn't help that the show is purposely trying to tease us viewers about it. To that end, I share the same frustration as the other viewers do, however, on the other hand I'm tired already of trying to get a concrete proof such as scars to confirm Seung Hee's identity. I wouldn't even bother going into speculations, but just trust what my rational mind tells me--she is Jae Hee. There is only a single reason why to believe so, and that is because she cares for Hoon. I don't know how the show can be any more obvious than that. Yes, there could be the entire mission is everything angle to justify Seung Hee's devotion to see Hoon win (and live), but that hypothesis stretches the fibers of rationality. No matter how devoted Seung Hee is to the mission, she would never be as invested to ensuring Hoon's safety to the point of directly disobeying and even confronting Comrade Cha if not for personal reasons (ie her love for Hoon). So why keep up the charade show?
Personally, I thought the entire chase scene in this episode got a tad repetitive and at times borderline annoying. Had I not known better, I would have deduced that the show just got an extension and so they filled this episode with abundance of unnecessary time-killing chasing back and forth or just the inability of certain characters to make up their damn mind--and yes I'm specifically looking at that entire fiasco of whether or not Hoon should let Soo Hyun take over cleaning up the mess that she made. I like Soo Hyun and I think she's a cool character but ever since she began her skinship campaign with Park Hoon, it seems all her feistiness vanished and she has just become a puddle of lost child needing validation. I mean I don't mind that her story now focuses more about her self-growth as a doctor, but her entire personal struggle just feels out of sync and out of place to the overarching plot. However, I do like to see the story of her rising above her mediocre status but not to the expense of narrative logic such as suddenly improving because of some silly one time (back-hug) simulation whom I doubt whether she was really paying attention to what Hoon's teaching her. But who am I kidding, logic in Dr. Stranger-verse? HA!
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Silverteem
June 2, 2014 at 9:32 PM
On another unrelated note, I just have this tiny quibble about people admonishing Hoon for trying to look for Seung Hee during the surgery. Yes, he should trust her promise, and in hindsight it was the right decision to wait for her. However, without Seung Hee, it's not as if the surgery would have started anyways. Granted that there are probably more than two anesthesiologist on staff to the hospital, but seeing as how there is less urgency of finding a replacement as to winning the damn competition, I doubt whether the baby would have survived anyway with all the professional doctors having their heads deep into their posterior end.
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13 Fan
June 2, 2014 at 9:50 PM
EP 9 will be the last for me. I don't feel the ship story and the chemistry between PH and JH....
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windsun33
June 2, 2014 at 11:57 PM
I am almost there myself. I have been watching for all the WTF moments, but not sure how much more I can take without brain-fry.
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ancientgranpa
June 3, 2014 at 2:01 AM
I'm questioning the same last night and I still don't know what to do.
The story is so confusing plus I really don't feel the chems that suppose to be there for the 'otp'.
So I don't know...
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14 Anointed
June 2, 2014 at 10:01 PM
Now I know what the sound was like when that ice berg breached Titanic's hull. It's one hell of screeching, wailing, mess.
Oh the horror.
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15 woooo123
June 2, 2014 at 10:01 PM
i liked hoon and seung hee together after all that time apart they still love each other i hope they end up together and find happiness or ima be real pissed!!
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lorda
June 2, 2014 at 10:04 PM
YASS!! #heartbeatcouple all the way!
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16 Miruma
June 2, 2014 at 10:09 PM
I feel like it would somehow make sense if Seunghee wasn't Jaehee. I remember there was this scene where she was watching the video of Jaehee/herself and repeating after the video saying, "Hoon-ah, Hoon-ah." Although she had a pained expression, it kind of felt like she was practicing how to say it? Or maybe she just missed calling him that. I don't even know. Im so confused about all the events of this drama.
I'm more interested in Soo Hyun as a character. I like Park Hoon and her together but more importantly, I just like Soo Hyun because she's the only one with no ulterior motive and no hidden secrets in this drama so far. I hope the next episode is better than this one because there was a whole lot of following and chasing around.
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17 CrazyRedHairMireu
June 2, 2014 at 10:20 PM
I stood up for this drama when people said it was confusing but this episode was nine kinds of wtf. After watching the entire episode with my eyebrow raised here's some questions I have:
1) HOW IS AGENT CHA WALTZING AROUND THIS HOSPITAL?! Seriously, the staff looked at him and didn't even register that he doesn't work here.
2) How did he fire a fun and break that glass without anyone noticing? Was there no sound? Are there no security guards on stand by 24/7?
3) Why is performing surgery a competition? The hospital ethics in this show...
4) Why can't the prime minister make up his goddamn mind? Jaejoon card, Hoon card? Is he playing poker? And even of he treats everyone else as a game, is he willing to gamble with his own life?
5) To be Jaehee or not to be...at this point I don't even care tbh, I just want more kisses. Because those are hot and that isn't a question.
6) Where did the prime minister get those bear printed pjs and slippers? They look comfy. I want a pair.
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Just me.
June 2, 2014 at 10:43 PM
Don't forget about Park Hoon's shoes. Those Crocs with all the fashion charms on them. They were stylin'.
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Tulipsaki
June 3, 2014 at 8:11 AM
Yeah, I want those pjs too. Perks of being a prime minister...
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18 Sajen
June 2, 2014 at 10:21 PM
"(grah, the severe lack of security in this hospital)"
Is that really surprising, I mean what dramaland hospital doesn't have awful security? With patients randomly walking in and out, strangers walking in off the streets really you name a severe security breach, every dramaland hospital ever has it.
I've been confused about something, is Kang So-ra the female lead or is it Jin Se-yeon? I ask because Kang So-ra can act quite well in fact and Jin Se-yeon can't made painfully obvious when they're on screen together.
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Amell
June 3, 2014 at 4:19 AM
Out of all the WTH? in Dr. Stranger this one bugs the least. Dramaland hospitals have crap security, if they have security at all.
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19 Lovely.
June 2, 2014 at 10:29 PM
Argh... I just don't know.
I swear off this drama every week but then Monday rolls around and I'm sitting in front of the computer screen watching it while biting my fingernails.
DRAMA CRACK. WAE.
So many things are wrong but I want to see what happens. It's like.. a train wreck.
So as I understand, Jae Hee/SH doesn't have the scar ... ? So did she have it removed? And she needs another Kidney, eh? Why do I have a feeling she's going to end up with one of Park Hoon's.
I totally expected Jae Joon's test baby to have the complication. No surprise there.
And for all the supposed 'concern' the doctors had for the babies ... Maybe they could have used that concern to stop the dumb surgery competition and consider they were working on living breathing human beings ... But, Kdrama. I won't try to understand it. asgjeifvive.
Whoever suggested we call this WTF Doctor needs a high five.
But for all my complaining I'm waiting for the next episode...
And, ah, I want Jae Hee and Hoon back together. I like Soo Hyun, but I also like childhood first loves who end up together after traumatic situations tear them apart.
Last scene, be real. ;_;
-Lovely.
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20 AJ
June 2, 2014 at 10:31 PM
I've yet to watch the latest ep. But from the recap, I am very disappoined. I am having difficulty liking the character Seung Hee. I am sick of having Hoon chasing after her. Please, let there be more medical scenes than romantic scenes. I like the character Hoon and would love to see his growth..but I feel with SH/JH around , he became a helpless kid.
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mystisith
June 3, 2014 at 2:11 AM
Drama is all kind of WTF but it was clear from the get go than the medical aspect of the drama was only here as a background & a plot device so PH could reunite with his first love.
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21 nobi
June 2, 2014 at 10:34 PM
why did not Prime Minister Jang find another great surgeon? for example the best in South or abroad such as Japan,Germany,etc???
i think that would be wayyyyy eeeeeeaaasier than drag surgeon from North and bunch of spies thing
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22 MikaSan123
June 2, 2014 at 10:38 PM
The morning scene was a fake-out?? I can't believe I even let the drama pull that one on me. I was actually quite suspicious when the drama was letting Hoon bask in bliss with Jaehee for so long, but then I let my guard down and started thinking, oh maybe this isn't a dream after all... AND IT TURNS OUT TO BE A DREAM. Now I'm wondering if that kiss the night before was a dream, too. It's not entirely the same, but the twist in the mood definitely reminded me a lot of I Hear Your Voice, when Sooha was dreaming about Hyesung in her pretty dress and then it all turned into a nightmare. Whyyyyyy must you do this to me, Dramas? I hate seeing Lee Jongsuk's happy, blissful dreams being crushed.
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23 Mikey
June 2, 2014 at 10:49 PM
IMO this drama would have been much better with a simple storyline. Take it from when jae hee gets shot and have her lose her memory then they meet two years later as usual. the whole drama will be about jong suk trying to make her gain her memory back. Then agent cha who is bitter about them ruining his mission and life, stayed in south korea all this time to plot his revenge with some big fight in the final episodes. The whole spy thing, kang sora loveline, surgery competition, north korea, park hae jin's back story, and the possibility of jae hee being a fake is messy and makes no sense. I think it was way past the writers ability level.
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24 Marina
June 2, 2014 at 10:54 PM
Thanks for the recap. I've stopped watching this drama after episode 5, only read recaps and comments for the humor part. What's wrong with Dramaland lately?!! It makes me unhappy - nothing good to watch.
Losing interest in Big Guy. Angel Eyes is so boring, the female lead I liked in BOF, is beyond pathetic in that one. Only Golden Cross and All Surrounded left. The Hotel King is a farce, due to overacting elderly villains, but at least main leads are hot and have some chemistry. The new batch of next shows can not arrive soon enough.
.
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windsun33
June 3, 2014 at 12:07 AM
New Leaf and Golden Cross only ones I really care about now.
Same with you on most others, Angel Eyes went way downhill after the first two episodes. Big Man seems to turn more idiotic every episode. Triangle is just dumb.
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atz
June 3, 2014 at 2:38 AM
Oh, Angel Eye! During the past two eps, when Ku Hye Sun cries, she cries with her voice but her expression is not there... her expression was rather restricted. I felt that she did not want show her ugly face when she cries. I just could not sympathize her character for her agony at all. Same is true with Jae Hee/SH actress. When I get sick of watching actresses' faces who are pretty but rather expression-less to maintain their pretty faces, I watch the crazy sleep deprived editor in Flower boy next door, her expression is vivid and alive.
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Miya
June 3, 2014 at 7:14 AM
Same here. Amen to that!
Seriously, what's wrong with kdramas lately?!
I'm so desperate I started to dig in the old series just to feed my drama addiction. Why? Oh why?
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25 Raven@8
June 2, 2014 at 10:57 PM
Pointless episode of waltzing, stalking and walking. Last scene was a total confusing mess. The only this good about this drama is Soo-hyun! Soo-hyun fighting!!
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26 .
June 2, 2014 at 10:59 PM
This episode was a waste of time tbh. The last time they had Hoon running all over the place looking for JH/SH, i hated it. This was as bad as that. Urgh, we don't need half an episode of him and her running around looking for each other.
The past few episodes made me care more for JH/SH, but at this point, I can't help but think that the show would be a lot better if they had really just killed her off, and focus more on PH growing as a doctor. Idek this show anymore, damn. Like when he finally decided he had to do the operation instead, I wanted it to be because of him knowing what it means to be a doctor more than "because Jaehee would like me to do this"
LJS is such a good kisser though >->o
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27 krisislove
June 2, 2014 at 11:17 PM
damn! SooHoon ship is dead!!! and so does my interest to continue watching this drama...
to be honest, I tried really hard to watch this drama and tried my best to like it... and SooHoon otp help a lot.
The plot is of this drama.... not going to say its bad, but the problem is, this drama is too.... I don't know, not that logic I guess?
And yes, I think falling in love with a hot alien and my girlfriend can see ghost is much easier to believe than using your hand instead of stethoscope to check on your patient.
and also, major problem I think is JSY's acting in this drama. She is a good actress, but not in this drama.
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Pola
June 3, 2014 at 2:43 AM
"and also, major problem I think is JSY’s acting in this drama. She is a good actress, but not in this drama."
she is a major problem, and she isn't a good actress not in nor out this drama. Good actress should be good in whatever she acts in; good acting isn't something seasonal you know.
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Anointed
June 3, 2014 at 4:44 AM
Many actors have had bad scripts that they have to endure. Even KSR who is the favorite sweetheart in this show used to suck balls in Dream High2.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
June 3, 2014 at 8:43 AM
except she'd delivered good performances before that in Sunny/4th Period Murder Mystery.
And in Dream High 2 EVERYONE sucked, not like here where one actor stands out as a sore spot among other completely competent performances.
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Anointed
June 3, 2014 at 9:32 AM
She's actually just got of a relatively better acting parts from AoF. So yes it happens. And if KSR was definitely better prior to DH 2 then that just affirms the point even more. Script.
pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
June 3, 2014 at 9:55 AM
...except that 'script' does not explain why no one else sucks in DS except her.
They are all acting off the same script, and I've seen other actresses do more with less.
Anointed
June 3, 2014 at 10:18 AM
We're venturing on personal opinion here by judging how the rest of her actors doesn't "suck" as hers, but to make a quick reference from her previous work, Gaya was intolerable but other characters around her like shinichi was far more interesting. Certainly it's not LSH's fault alone.
On this drama itself, jaejoon doesn't really evoke anything from me. There is nothing that PHJ can do to make me more interested in his character unless the writer doesn't properly flesh out his character.
Anointed
June 3, 2014 at 10:31 AM
Also, KSR was surrounded by idols during DH2. IF she is that excellent of an actress then it would have been so easy to elevate herself and stand out as the only bright spot for DH2. But it ain't so.
Tulipsaki
June 4, 2014 at 4:55 AM
Trouble is, I keep seeing that Dream High 2 character when I watch her here...
28 A
June 3, 2014 at 1:14 AM
I remember back in the first few eps, SH or whoever she really is, received photos of soo hyun and did I miss a scene? Was there a bigger thing to do that or are we just completing forgetting that ever happened and ignoring any significance it might hold? Or will it actually bring it up later because that agent cha was in the house that soo hyun was going to buy...or was that a coincidence?!
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
June 3, 2014 at 8:44 AM
You're expecting narrative logic from this show, A. That's a little too much to expect.
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29 dramamad
June 3, 2014 at 1:29 AM
Here's what i think is going to happen. Seung/Jae Hee will have a few attempted cutesy episodes with Hoon. then he'll finally figure out how she came about to be where she is. He's going to be disappointed with her methods and who she's become and drama, drama, drama, "you're not the girl i fell in love with", then some pointless spy action. Jae Hee dies redeeming herself. And we'll end with a 5yrs in the future with a HFN ending beetween Hoon and So Hyun.
What say?
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atz
June 3, 2014 at 2:26 AM
I get a feeling Sueng/Jae Hee is bound to die in the end to save Hoon or something. And 5 years in future, if not five years, but warping years in ending eps is a Kdrama's mantra.
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F
June 3, 2014 at 3:21 PM
I would rather find out how Hoon ended up in South Korea instead. We never got told how he managed to get out of Hungary without North Korea taking him back. I want Hoon to end up with Soo hyun. Soo Hyun and Doctor Moon have become one of the only reasons why I'm still watching this drama.
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30 rose
June 3, 2014 at 1:36 AM
Ok, been lurking around since forever and now finally decided to open the floodgates of comments because this episode just made my brain spin for countless rounds and not in a good way.
Before anything, thanks so much gummi for the speedy recap! :)
And, here goes - At ep 8, my brain was already telling me that the writer really needs to step up on revealing some of the mysteries there are and was immensely hoping that ep 9 would at least give a clear idea of who exactly Seung Hee is - a spy or really Jae Hee herself? This question has been going round and round AND ROUND till this point where I am starting to lose interest. I really do hope the writer reveals her identity so that it can be done and over with and viewers can get on with the real meaty plot - overarching mission that they are all involved in as well as growth and development of Hoon as a genius doctor.
This drama is so fragmented with all that's happening in two worlds - one which revolves around NK agents & SK politicians with guns, fights and tortures; the other which revolves around doctors and patients with scalpels, hearts and operating theatres. Honestly, the second world is much more appealing because it is more straightforward. I find some sense of sincerity in the characters when they are in this second world - where doctors are trying to save lives. I guess this is why I find Soo Hyun's character likable because for the most part, she is herself without having any secrets/identity to hide from viewers. Her sincerity in her friendship with Hoon as well as her struggles to become a skilled doctor amid great doubts from her colleagues is open for all to see. While on the other hand, JH's character has too many secrets going on that I cannot even catch up with.
From ep 10 onwards, I really do hope that the mysteries/secrets the writer has been building up and keeping all these while will begin to be answered. If not, I really do worry that there would not be enough episodes to beautifully complete the story. This drama has so much potential to finish well with the great acting and directing that's being fleshed out week after week. So please writer-nim, don't disappoint!
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31 Kaybee
June 3, 2014 at 2:02 AM
This is totally 'the drama' of drama land. Nothing makes sense and anything can happen without any reasons. Somehow we pacify ourselves because the drama overall is not that bad...
Prime Minister Jang in his sky blue teddy bear pajamas (and furry cat slippers).... :D I don't know even what to say. At least it shows his childish personality but a person like him running a nation is just too far fetched...
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32 Amell
June 3, 2014 at 4:27 AM
I firmly believe Seung Hee is Jae Hee but I don't think she has the scar which is why Pres Jang calls Hoon a fool.
The south's top plastic surgeon is probably a northern spy too, as part of the mission prep Seung Hee went and got a skin craft. Does it work that way in real life? I don't know and this drama wouldn't care.
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33 NessaCool
June 3, 2014 at 4:43 AM
Ok guys, sorry to say but I'm dropping this show. I'll just read the recaps because my heart can't take all this nonsense. In all my years of watching kdramas I never disliked a lead so much. So for the ones who are watching, enjoy the ride.
(If the opt changes, I'll be back) ;-)
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34 ?✌️
June 3, 2014 at 5:20 AM
My friend suddenly show up while im watching DS.
Friend: what are you watching?
Me: (replied without thinking) finding jae hee.
F: ..... What?
Im on the verge of quiting. I hope ep 10 will satisfy my thirst. Well i ship hoon & quack! And im still hoping! Haha.
(Just saying. Please dont get mad. Hehehe)
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35 Dramafied
June 3, 2014 at 6:09 AM
Show our pissing me off to no end with our nonsense to the point where I just might have to give up on medical dramas... Or just watch Brain n White tower every time get the urge.
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36 tenminutes
June 3, 2014 at 6:22 AM
yall are crazy i loved this episode lol!
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Mikey
June 3, 2014 at 4:34 PM
yea everyone here is more dramatic than the show itself. it is confusing but not terrible. everything besides the prime minsters and his friends storyline is actually entertaining to watch. even the funny parts with the other doctors. those who are angry and are dropping the show need to relax. you are expecting way too much from a kdrama.
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Moko
June 6, 2014 at 12:07 PM
Yeah you might be right. We're making a drama out of this drama.
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37 Bravo
June 3, 2014 at 7:01 AM
Tbh that kiss was very hot... <3 But the ending is so confusing, did any of that chemistry actually happen?
I'm shipping Jae Hee / Hoon because if this doesn't happen, Hoon's character just wouldn't make sense at all. And LJS's acting and Hoon's awesomeness is keeping the drama afloat.
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38 boholanna
June 3, 2014 at 7:02 AM
Loving the director and the look of this drama. But, I'm shaking my head at the writing. It's all over the place. I just wished they stuck to a main story and made it more cohesive and even though the writer thinks these are pieces to the puzzle - it's making me puzzled and not in a good way.
I love mysteries and thrillers and all that "gotcha" moments in twists and surprise endings. But this show is losing me.
C'mon, show! I don't want to give up yet.
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windsun33
June 3, 2014 at 8:45 AM
I think the writing is the major problem with this show. Not just that it is overly complicated, but that many of the complications simply make no sense or are irrelevant to the central theme.. assuming there is a central theme.
And yet, with all the complications and sub-plots, there is just so much that is totally predictable - like we pretty much KNEW that the "winning baby" would have complications.
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39 m
June 3, 2014 at 7:13 AM
from the very beginning i never cared much for jae-hee. she always just seemed like the typical kdrama "pretty, innocent & sweet girl" that the hero could endlessly pine over as his perfect lover lost. by comparison seung-hee is a far more compelling character but her motivation thus far is confusing. the obvious assumption would be that she truly is jae-hee but i still have serious doubts. when seung-hee broke into hoon's place and began watching the video of imprisoned jae-hee she looked very detached from it as if she wasn't looking at herself? then when she began imitating the way jae-hee said "hoon-ah" and reached towards the monitor the same way hoon had? it was just so odd?
i also find it hard not to focus on the super unrealistic logistics of of seung-hee and jae-hee actually being the same person. i know it's a kdrama… but are we really suppose to believe that malnourished, dehydrated, and sickly jae-hee managed to survive an organ transplant surgery with an unhealthy organ. then after just having major surgery and before even waiting to see if the organ transplant actually takes to her body she is shipped overseas. then not only is she able to survive having her heart stopped and started again when she is already in a weak state but manages to survive without any brain damage and is able to book it for miles allover the city without tearing a single stitch or causing any internal bleeding. t h e n… even after all that she manages to survive being shot, experiencing even more blood loss and shock to her body, and falling hundreds of feet into what we can assume is probably freezing cold water.
i know i'm way over-thinking this but come on! seriously? are we really not suppose to question that? falling from that hight, even into water, a person would be lucky to survive with ONLY 2 broken legs. could jae-hee even swim(i imagine there's not a lot of summers at the beach happening in n.korea)? even if she could somehow miraculously survive ALL of that and was washed up/down shore somewhere how did they then find her and get her back out of the country? ugh!
and on a similar but different note… in episode 2 why did it take the local authorities so bloody long to show up? they completely tore it up all over the city and had a giant shootout on a major bridge but the police only show up at the last minute then practically let the bad guys run away back into the city with their guns. why did that not become a hugh international deal? did they cover it up? again, i know i'm over-thinking it but that really was just bad writing. the whole bridge bit was trying so hard to be suspenseful and dramatic but all it managed to achieve was being epically cheesy and predictable.
sigh… this episode was very scattered... did hoon and seung-hee actually spend the night together or was that just a dream? so confusing? honestly… the jae-hee/seung-hee + hoon relationship has always bored me. i just don't feel terribly emotionally...
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m
June 3, 2014 at 7:23 AM
invested in their relationship. i think a relationship developing between dr.oh and hoon would be far more interesting to watch but i won't hold my breath for that one.
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rose
June 3, 2014 at 8:13 PM
Agree with you with my hands up and legs down! The pairing of Hoon and JH/SeungHee just feels so lopsided. While Hoon is all devoted and pouring his heart out to love JH/SeungHee (even to the point of not even caring about whether she's a spy or not), JH/SeungHee doesn't seem to share the same emotions. If she really does, I don't understand why at the private moments when she's alone, she still has this cold expression in her eyes and face when it comes to Hoon.
If JH/SeungHee really loves Hoon that much to be sacrificing her life to protect Hoon, then her eyes should definitely show at least a little bit more emotion or longing for him. And not like what we saw during her scenes in seeing her own image in Hoon's computer and tried 'practicing' to say "Hoon-ah".
Honestly, I feel all their sweet moments in 1st ep are coming to naught and even turning a little distasteful as this story develops. Sigh.
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Lokiangel
June 4, 2014 at 6:14 AM
If SH was JH, then i have to say, SJY's acting in this drama was worst! Cause as you say, i can't see her emotion or eternal love for Hoon? Just cold, cold even the kiss. I can't meet fully! Korean film i've watched, the kisses were so hot that i had to turn away :)) But in this drama, it's so insipid!
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40 Tulipsaki
June 3, 2014 at 7:36 AM
I'm confused: why did SooHyun rush in to the operating room looking for answers, and what were her questions?
and why was Seunghee undressing in front of Jang?
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Anointed
June 3, 2014 at 8:07 AM
She's just trying to get validation from Hoon or whatever to congratulate her doing what she's supposed to do.
Scars.
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41 pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
June 3, 2014 at 8:50 AM
Someone pass the popcorn, this is a mess but a weirdly amusing mess.
I guess it's really too much to ask the show the remember things that happened maybe a few episodes ago, in show time. Like Seung-hee/whatever her name is, getting a folder on Soo-hyun for her 'mission'. Or her looking at that video like she's never seen it before and trying to imitate it. Or Hoon insisting to infinity that he's a doctor to save lives blah blah blah....and then trying to run off from an operation because his gf is threatened. Or this whole surgery competition nonsense.
Like someone said, the PD is good at action scenes and fast paced stuff and I like that he likes to go for it with the kiss scenes, but damn even Lee Jong-seok's best lip nibbling skills cannot cover for the shoddy mess that is the writing and plot.
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42 happybunny1985
June 3, 2014 at 9:38 AM
I don't care much for the whole plot....the only thing that is keeping me interesting are LJS and his cutesy moments with Dr Quack. Why is the writer making it all so complicated and confusing!?!?!
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sogazelle
June 3, 2014 at 9:55 AM
Because he/she is stupid...thinking that she can play with the viewers....
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43 min_nie
June 3, 2014 at 10:07 AM
I can't even bring pepper spray in a hospital. Where exactly are the security cameras in that place? Shots were fire are they just going to ignore the bullet holes in the wall.
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44 observer
June 3, 2014 at 10:58 AM
I'm still confused the last scene, it was in the following morning after they spent a night together. Hoon cooked for her and fade away...then as he woke up, she was gone. so did he took a nap after cooked for her or it was just a dream???
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45 Ob2
June 3, 2014 at 11:02 AM
I'm still confused at the last scene. DID PARK HOON HAD A DREAM in the morning? or DID he fell a sleep after he cooked for her? this is a bit unclear for me.
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46 Pearl~ai88
June 3, 2014 at 11:26 AM
My thoughts:
1. Those pajamas tho....
2. Why the heck is Seung Hee suddenly all willing to be Jae Hee and kissy huggy? That whole sequence was so similar to Hoon's previous dream that I wasn't even sure it was really happening. And then she disappeared. WHAT THE HECK?!
3. The preview. O___O WHAT THE HECK?!!!!!
4. In summary, WHAT THE HEEEECK?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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47 pg
June 3, 2014 at 1:36 PM
i love this drama every bit of it i love it so much that it hurts to see people write such bad stuffs about it before dramabeans used to my solace my tranquilizer until i wait for the proceeding episodes but this time around even dramabeans is overcrowded with negative review and complains
well people have their reasons too cause they obviously like lee jong suk and they are just angry that they feel that the drama is not living upto their expectations
but i love the drama i just love it every episode has been a whirlpool of neverending series of conspiracies which has only kept me wondering and wanting to know what actually lays behind all those layers.....
if anything i wish this was a movie than a drama where we could get to the ending quickly,,, cause i am seriously dying to know the suspense,, episode 1 and 2 were the best they definitely felt like a movie but even that people complained saying that too many things were hapening so they weren't able to follow and now that it has paced down they complain how repetative the drama has been and so on.....
why can't we just trust the makers for a while think that there might be a reason as to why they are presenting the drama as they are to us..........
i wish to be in a doctor stranger paradise but currently i can't seem to find any..... i don't even feel like commenting on dramabeans anymore cause to do it, i would have to go through all the comments above so this might be my last comment on dramabeans .... i will definitely come to check the review but won't be commenting anymore......
thank you dramabeans for your constant unwavering support for doctor stranger i hope of all the people atleast you keep on getting hooked enough to it so that we get your insight on doctor stranger every week....... i beg please don't stop reviewing it......
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Andromeda
June 3, 2014 at 2:03 PM
No! I loved your insight on these things and you're basically the only person who offers logical commentaries in each episode in dramabeans. Nooo, don't leave!
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Moko
June 6, 2014 at 12:24 PM
pg are you knew to kdrama?
I ask because it sounds like you are. It's so cute of you to take this drama seriously. I'm sorry we complain so much here. Sometimes it just makes fun to rant on and on so please be patient with us and please share your thoughts.
I personally really need someone positive in this comment section because with this episode I hit a pitch black hole. So if someone consoles me on my ranting I will reflect on it. Like right now.
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48 san
June 3, 2014 at 4:18 PM
for some reason i sat through this episode challenging everyone to do everything they wont do like kill hoon in my head...i was just so...bored...literally. and this whole show just seems like its trying to be cool but in the end its just gonna crash and burn and we're all gonna go home annoyed that we gave it our attention...lol im ranting wow. im gonna try to keep watching but mostly i just like oh soo hyun and i think park hoon should get with her and...WHY THE HHELL IS EVERYONE AFTER HOON. GOD. AND WTF IS JAE HEE UP TO??? GUUUUUHHHHHHHH oh soo hyun and hoon make a hotter couple and they bicker which is always a good sign hee
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49 Eclipse
June 4, 2014 at 2:25 AM
Okay you know what idek it's probably just me but regardless of the mess in the drama I still ship Jae hee and Park hoon like I mean they're "soulmates" and I just really want them to end up with eachother ahah that Kiss at the end got me all excited and gave me hope but if she continues her allegiance with Agent cha then Hoon deserves better man but if she returns back to her original self then hell yeah they should be together ahah! Idek what you guys think but this is my opinion :)
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50 GOODLUCK
June 18, 2014 at 4:58 PM
0^0 The only thing I'm thinking abut after watching this episode is....DID PH/LJS "SLEEP" WITH THAT GIRL?!?!? TT^TT I know it's a drama but..And also, when did that dream start? Was it when he entered the clinic(when Park Seung-Hee appeared), while he was sleeping, or did he fall alseep after they had an actual meal? LOL did that sentence make sense to you?? ㅠㅡㅠ She better be Jae-Hee if she slept with him, whether it's a normal sleep or "sleep"...
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