84

Doctor Cha: Episodes 3-4

Flirting, jealousy, secrets — oh my. Our new medical resident is trying to do it all, but her personal life keeps getting in the way of work. Luckily, while her husband aims to make her miserable enough to quit, she gains a staunch supporter at the hospital.

 
EPISODES 3-4

Uhm Jung-hwa Doctor Cha: Episodes 3-4

Uh oh. I think I may have misread this one. I thought we spent the first week setting up tropes so we could knock them down, but now I’m nervous that the tropes are meant to provide the laughs. It’s still early, and I’m still hopeful this is all part of our protagonist’s journey toward growth, but for now, the funny feminism we saw in Week 1 is getting buried in a snowstorm of stereotypes.

We left off last week with a little bit of mystery, wondering how Jung-sook was able to obtain a residency at the last minute. It turns out, it’s not so bad to be older, wiser, and past the age of maternity and military leave. With younger candidates giving up their spots for these reasons, Jung-sook is shooed in.

While her goal was to join the family medicine team — which is how she wound up working under Seung-hee — she’s quickly moved to the surgery department. There, she works alongside In-ho and her son, SEO JUNG-MIN (Song Ji-ho), but it’s all a big secret that Jung-sook is related to them. Although there are some serious ethical issues with this arrangement, In-ho has problems with it for other reasons.

First, he just wants his wife to give up doctoring and go home. Second, Seung-hee is threatening to change hospitals if Jung-sook doesn’t leave. In-ho decides that the best he can do is try to get Jung-sook to quit by making her life miserable on the job. The pettiness begins right away when he refuses to give her a ride to work and then won’t even hold the elevator door when she’s running toward it.

Uhm Jung-hwa Doctor Cha: Episodes 3-4

While Jung-sook is getting acquainted with her new department, “handsome and single” Dr. Kim transfers to their hospital, leaving a trail of gawkers everywhere he walks — and putting all our main characters under one roof. Since Dr. Kim is the only other person that knows Jung-sook is In-ho’s wife, In-ho pays him a visit and asks him not to reveal their relationship.

Everything about In-ho seems to annoy Dr. Kim and, when he runs into Jung-sook at the hospital, the first thing he wants to know is when she’s getting a divorce. He thought she would be on her way out the door after the stunt In-ho pulled during her transplant surgery. But Jung-sook shrugs it off, saying that divorce isn’t easy and it takes way more courage than getting married. It’s one of a few instances this week where we see that, at the moment, our heroine doesn’t have any plans to leave her marriage.

But not having plans to leave doesn’t mean she’s not up for flirting with Dr. Kim. And man does their flirting make for some great moments. There’s the moment when he holds the elevator door that In-ho tries to close on Jung-sook (wearing a motorcycle jacket for maximum impact). The one where they sit next to each other, laughing and chatting, at afterwork drinks (where In-ho is also present and watching). And the one where Dr. Kim gives Jung-sook a ride home on the motorcycle that goes with his jacket (making In-ho super jealous).

It’s during the motorcycle ride home that we get a glimpse into how Jung-sook is really feeling. She looks up at the moon and around at the city lights and starts to cry. She tells Dr. Kim that she feels alive right now, but there’s also a burning weight on her chest. He wants to know why she stays with her husband, and she continues to make excuses like, “love fades over time” and “there are worse husbands than mine.” Dr. Kim points out that her husband doesn’t have to love her, but he should at least respect her. (Yes! I love Dr. Kim. Less In-ho, more Dr. Kim, please.)

While the drama is mostly about Jung-sook’s interpersonal relationships, we do see her on the job this week and it’s not a pretty sight. I’m not talking about blood and guts, either — it’s just the simple fact that she’s not very good at what she’s doing. Rather than trying to learn, she calls Jung-min and whines — cutting into his work time — and has him come carry out procedures for her.

Finally, he introduces her to the world of YouTube (or “Yutube”) so she can look up tutorials for basic medical procedures on her own. She had no idea such resources existed, and it gives her the confidence to start taking on new tasks. Unfortunately, in the process of trying to show this growth, the drama makes her seem truly incompetent and underqualified.

And I’m not the only one who feels that way. Her attitude toward her mistakes gains her the animosity of JEON SO-RA (Jo Ah-ram), a third-year resident who’s in charge of Jung-sook and Jung-min. The animosity is mutual, too, because Jung-sook doesn’t like the way So-ra berates Jung-min when he screws up.

Little does Jung-sook know that Jung-min actually likes it — and he and So-ra take that power dynamic with them into the bedroom after work (I mean, holy moly with these two: “You may be my senior at the hospital but not here”). The fact that Jung-sook doesn’t know they’re dating is just one more secret that Jung-min has to juggle, as he tries to keep his mom and his girlfriend from hating each other.

Work and home life keep colliding when Jung-sook finds an expensive gift receipt in In-ho’s coat pocket. It’s for a bracelet that he bought Seung-hee, but he lies that it’s a gift for Jung-sook’s birthday. Jung-sook is immediately happy and starts treating In-ho nicely, drawing him a bath and sitting with him to talk.

Throughout the episodes, we’ve seen a lot of jealousy from both spouses, with Jung-sook even admitting to her dermatologist friend, BAEK MI-HEE (Baek Joo-hee), that she applied to be a resident in family medicine when she found out Seung-hee was in that department. All this time, she had no idea Seung-hee worked at the same hospital as In-ho, but now, she wants to know why he never mentioned her. In-ho lies that he doesn’t know much about Seung-hee, and Jung-sook starts going on about how pretty Seung-hee still is. In-ho concedes that Jung-sook doesn’t look too bad either, and she brightens up and leaves him alone.

At the hospital, while Jung-sook is supposed to be reviving someone in the ER, she sees In-ho and Seung-hee together — and Seung-hee is wearing the bracelet that In-ho bought. Jung-sook is so worried about what she sees, she’s not paying attention and gets herself knocked out from electric shock at the end of the episode.

Oh boy, I feel like there was some backpedaling after our premiere week. My impression from these episodes is that Jung-sook really loves In-ho and that being a devoted wife and mother actually suits her personality. I didn’t feel the sense of indebtedness or independence that Episode 2 was careful to detail. It’s possible that the drama is throwing a kind of emotional red herring, but I also had this strange fear creep up that maybe the point of the show is to save their marriage. I hope not!

The thing that bothered me with these episodes is that I’m finding it hard to like our female lead. With so much setup to get us on her side, I was hoping we could see her journey of change without having her succumb to slapstick bits showing how scatterbrained she is. There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes, but I’d prefer if I could see her smarts shining through as she makes them. At the moment, we’ve got multiple competent female characters, so it’s hard not to compare — and I find myself siding with them over our lead.

I’m still hoping that all this wishy-washy behavior is just a part of the setup so we can knock down all these stereotypes later. I’m ready to go along for a laugh-out-loud ride, I just want to make sure our heroine is delivering the punchline, not being made the butt of the joke.

 
RELATED POSTS

Tags: , , , , ,

84

Required fields are marked *

Ah, I had a slightly different take on this. Last week, some folks had questioned how easily Dr C was able to pass her written exams. I thought that possible, but I was sure she was going to fumble when she encountered live patients. Theory is a lot easier than practice. If she was brilliant at her first attempts, I'd have questioned the realism.

I do agree that it wasn't fun watching her struggle and push her son. But I did like that once she understood YouTube and got a bit of practice, she got cracking. I'm also hoping we see more of our capable heroine as the drama gets going. Fingers crossed.

Speaking of tropes, I'm used to the one where the mysterious bike rider takes of her helmet and shakes her long, lovely locks. It was fun to see the man doing that.

17
8
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think the problem isn't her making mistakes but her attitude overall. She still assumes someone will jump to help while we wanted to see her taking life on independently.

7
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I didn’t see it that way. She was just desperate. And her asking for help isn’t a bad thing (for patients).
And it was her son she took advantage of which isn’t that bad.

7
reply

Required fields are marked *

I see her as a long emotionally abused wife, whose only role has been to serve her family's every physical needs. It's clear she's been next to a slave when MIL can't keep household help. With that and with 20 years absence, no wonder she doesn't have a full load of self-confidence, but I do see it coming. It's early to talk divorce, but the cheating husband who was willing to let her die should be kicked to the curb mercilessly at some point.

8
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I do agree that I didn’t like her incompetence; it made her look like a joke to me. But I understood more reading the comments here that it actually is right that the first-year resident does t know much about all these surgical procedures. I didn’t like it when she always called upon her son; it was exhausting even to witness it on screen. But again, given her character’s background it kinda makes sense.

What I fear is that she will become a competent doctor and a good wife. I don’t see her leave the relationship, and sadly, at least for me, do I think that she will become somewhat of a role model to all SK housewives: you can be competent at work but you can also be competent at being a household manager, too. I think that might be the message, but if it is like that, I’d be quite disappointed as I don’t think anyone should live with a husband like that (and no, madam, the reason that others may have it worse didn’t cut it. It just makes you look pitiful.)

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I signed up just so I could comment, been lurking around for few years.

I’m not a doctor/resident but I’m in medical education. Overall, with the FL it’s actually make sense that she doesn’t know how to do any of those surgical procedures since she’s a 1st yr resident. With R1 they don’t have a lot of experience anything surgical since there’s only 2 years that they have to their clerkship (in Canada it is) and there’s only few surgical clerkships and depending on how long their rotation while their in med school. Even during their clerkships, they still don’t do a lot of surgical procedures. Also, it was the right call to call a senior resident, or staff surgeon that has more experience to do this type of procedure.

Overall, I’m enjoying this kdrama. ☺️

18
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Just to add, even when the they’re in the OR, residents mostly observed especially if you’re an R1, they give most the the surgical procedures to R2 to R5 residents. The most an R1 can do especially in the beginning of their training is suturing. Also, even when she asked that R2 on helping her about inserting a chest tube, he even said that he doesn’t have a lot of experienced, and so is her husband.

9
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

This incident I agree with you on but there have been other incidents where her son also a first-year resident knew the answer. Again it is about how she reacts to her mistakes.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Welcome and thanks for the helpful explanations!

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I hate the daughter. She is a brat who wants her mother to do everything for her, taking Jung-sook's sacrifice for granted. The mother-in-law is too fussy for her own good.

Like Dr. Kim, I too question how Jung-sook can continue in a marriage with a man who had no problem leaving her to die.

4
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

She is In ho's daughter for sure. Those two are cut from the same cloth.

1
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

can't agree more both so infuriating

2
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

At least she asked her father to give her mom his liver, so she is better than him in my eyes.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

She’ll come around I’m sure :)

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Comment was deleted

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Even though her defence did not earn her a spot at Gusan, I loved it. I was moved. The interviewers were equally moved but I guess we're stuck in thier own heads to not accept her into her program. Jeong-suk should have applied to Yulje's Residency program and not Gusan.

When she said her husband's dead, I cheered like crazy. Have a taste of your own meds, man.
Apart from In-ho, his mom and Seung-hui, I do not like that second year Surgery resident. She's very suss. Did she take classes on forgetting her bedside manners during medical school? I'm waiting delightfully for when she slips and commits the silly mistakes she grinds Jung-min for. Or is it that she's insecure about training with a guy who's the son of her professor? Whatever stemmed her trashy douchebag behavior, I want her to be on the receiving end one day.

Anything for professor Roy Kim.
Thinking out loud, Kimberly seems weird to be attached to a guy's name. I felt the same shock when I learnt an actor's IRL name on a Canadian show - Transplant - is John Hannah. Well, that's that on the name.
Keep driving In-ho jealous. I'm solidly behind you.

And her apologies to Seung-hui for the In-ho situation back in the days was well done. It was very mature, the words I mean.

9
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Seeing In-Ho jealous and lose sleep is everything I didn’t know I needed.
The guy was losing it and I was loving it 😊
What’s with Seung-Hee and Roy cafeteria scene? Are we setting up double jealousy? Lol.

6
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ditto on the cafeteria scene. In-ho is enough trouble to Jeong-Roy. Adding in Seung-hui will make it dirty water inside jealous comedy.

6
reply

Required fields are marked *

Jeon is the worse in the worst way. When Jung min and Jung sook were taking at the dinner, she rudely interrupted and demanded is grill meat. The way that she took Jung min's lunch from him and then justified it when she was asked to return it, literally turned her nose at the thought.

Then threatening to turn in Jung sook in for harassment, while she herself is having a physical relationship with her subordinate.

Then saying Jung min never spoke back and never should.

She also purposely had Jung sook wait for that chest insert.

Jung min should have dumped her the second she said she was gonna go to the hospital and report Jung sook for harassment.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I actualy love these episodes and Jung-sook's fumbling because of its realism. As @Aych said, it would be unbelievable if she got it right from the start. A lot has changed in the medical field in 20 years. It will take time to assimilate.

As for her whining and lack of tact, I blame it on her lifestyle. She is used to it.
My mum still calls me, even though I am miles away, to fix silly things for her. It's a parent thing.

Personally, I feel Jung-sook is still doing things for the wrong reasons. What she wants is past glory. Yeah, she wrote the exam, passed, and got a job, but she did that to spite her husband and show she can also do the things they can. She is attaching her worth and sense of life to being a doctor, just like she did to being a homemaker.
I know not everyone takes up the profession for noble causes, but for now, her patients her not priority to her. And somehow, at the back of her mind, she isn't thinking long-term. She doesn't think she is needed in the field.
That is a shift I am waiting for. I hope it does happen soon and she sees she can be an addition to the medical field.
When this shift comes, then Jung-sook will see herself grow and be proactive.
She's good, but she needs to learn and to trust herself. And more importantly, be in the present.

The best part for me last weekend was her apologising to Seung-hee. Jung-sook realised she never did. And I liked the fact that both ladies recognised and accepted that they can't be friends. However, Jung-sook now has a right to be angry.
But please show, do not let her reconcile with her husband. She can be alone (without Roy😭) but please let her not stay with the husband. 10 years of infidelity is not redeemable, at all.

12
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I don’t think Jung-Kook is doing for past glory. She had a near death experience and wanted to do something that she valued. She wants to try and continue the dream she abandoned. You are right that her habits of 20 years of life is hard to change. Change will come with time.
Like what you said about need. She was needed by her family and that gave her a sense of satisfaction. She needs to get satisfaction at work too. Feel that she is worth it.

6
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree! Returning to this industry after 20 years aint gonna be all rainbows and sunshine & I'm so glad they are depicting it well.

Im also praying hard that they give her the character development she deserves and not let her stay with the scum of a husband.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Overall, still enjoying it - some laugh out loud moments, especially "My husband's dead...". Some great comments from the Beanies here that helped me process some of the things that were irritating - thanks.

One other thing that grated for me. Jungsook has applied for family medicine. I'm assuming the reason for this is that she feels she has 20 years experience of working in a family and has a grasp of its dynamics. How she is so out of her depth when she has to simply try and talk to people to find out why they're refusing treatment doesn't make sense to me. Her need to be cajoled into trying to reason with them and then backing away at the first failure is annoying. The only thing I am left to assume is that she never engaged in things like this for her 20 years as a housewife - clearly her husband/neighbours/mother-in-law/kids all behaved impeccably and never gave her cause to try and find out why they were struggling with something (!) or she gave up with family conflict too (actually, seeing the attitude of her daughter, that may be true...) I want to like our FL, but, wow, she's wet behind the ears at the moment.

5
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

I laughed when she said her husband is dead. But if you think about it, it’s a smart answer. These are people she will work with for a while. There will be no “let’s meet your husband”, “where is your husband”, that kind of thing. People will be uncomfortable even bringing him up

7
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Plus, she is now free to go on bike rides with hot doctor!
Great thinking gal.

5
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ahhh the hot doctor…

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Husband has been dead emotionally and sexually to his wife. So, she actually nailed it...

9
reply

Required fields are marked *

I hate In-Ho
I loved it when Jung-Sook says “he didn’t tell me you were working here”. I wonder if she knows.
I especially enjoyed In-Ho’s shock at seeing her in the hospital
When Seung-Hee freaked out and yelled at In-Ho. I seriously wanted to slap her. Hard.
BTW, I hate In-Ho.
Another person I wanted to slap hard - the daughter. How entitled do you have to be to treat your mom like that?
I felt so much joy at In-Ho’s jealousy of the ML and the ML’s open enjoyment of In-Ho’s discomfort . Which btw, it’s ok for you to sleep with your first love, but she can’t look at someone else? Especially such eye candy.
I don’t understand why the senior resident needs to be quite so mean to her juniors

Did I say how much I hated In-Ho?

6
10
reply

Required fields are marked *

Also, I loved when Jung Sook’s mom called out In Ho’s mom on her motives

7
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

👍🏼 wow, that was so good.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I wonder where the arc with Seung Hee’s daughter is going

2
7
reply

Required fields are marked *

She seems to know her mother is seeing a married man and now after seeing the family Picture she knows it’s her friends father.
I wonder if the reason is for the daughter to get to know of this soon. So she sees things differently? yeah, otherwise I don’t see a point of this. Or if this will make Seung Hee leave In Ho.

4
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ahhh. That makes sense. She did seem uncomfortable after seeing the photo. Seung Hee doesn’t look like the all sacrificing mother though.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think she knew sooner and that is why she became friends with In ho's daughter. The snide comment when she was in her room and then what she said to Jung sook. I think she as uncomfortable because Jung sook is not who she thought she was or maybe what she wanted her to be to justify In ho straying. Jung sook is a pleasant and loving women to her kids and the guest they bring home.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Isn’t she also In Ho’s daughter? I assumed she is, and my question is whether he even knows, or if Seung Hee has managed to keep that hidden all these years.

2
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yes that was my assumption too - something that will come out and add to all of the realtionship tensions!

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh I never thought of that.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Wow. That opens a whole can of worms

0

I quite liked these two episodes. Episode three was a riot. As I said earlier the show puts in the serious moments just right and somehow the actors and writing make the humor work for me.

I had no issue with how the FL is written. In fact I find this realistic. Her wanting to do something doesn’t make her naturally good at it. She is struggling. And I like that she asks for help. Becos this is not a profession where you take chances. If you don’t know you ask. And the third year resident never chides her when she asks for help. As long as she takes help and learns I am fine with it. Now that she knows how to go about it I am pretty sure she will figure out.
Also her strengths like compassion, empathy and life experiences are the ones she needs to lean into which will give her an edge over other residents. She just needs time.

Also, I don’t think the show is backpedaling. She didn’t pursue her career to leave her marriage or because she wanted to end the marriage. Her wanting to live her life differently and her marriage are two different things. It’s still her family. Now that the affair is out in the open she might start to see this differently.
I completely understand when she said ‘it’s easy to get married but very hard to leave a marriage’.
I don’t care if the show keeps them married or divorced or she remains single or goes with dr.Kim as long as she makes these decisions deliberately. My guess is she will end up single once her daughter goes to college.
Also I want to see her now husband start respecting her and start doing some chores at work before anything happens.

I did find Dr.Kim cross the line when he asked her those questions (I didn’t think they were close enough to ask such questions) but they make for great conversations. I hope they remain good friends for now and no feelings are thrown in.

Looking forward to this drama the most. What a surprise this turned out to be.

16
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I was shocked when Dr Kim straight out asked when she was getting a divorce and then remembered he’s supposed to be American.

7
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

lol, yes. That's what American's do.. go around asking people to divorce ; )
But yes, him growing up in the US is supposed to make him not look down at things like divorce.. or its not a taboo topic for him..

2
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

And we’re seen as very blunt (even though we would not start a conversation asking a stranger how old they are ) 😉

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I am also a SAHM who's preparing to get back into the workforce, and I thought the fish-out-of-water scenario felt accurate. Since you don't use your knowledge on a regular basis, you would feel uneasy and uncomfortable maneuvering around an environment you don't have immediate experience in. I could see making knee-jerk reactions out of anxiety (desperately calling her son) simply because she is unaware of resources available to her. Even tho her son may be on the same level, his education and training is fresh in his mind (plus he doesn't have to contend with the issue of negative outside forces). I also think that when she was at home, she really didn't need to convince anyone to change their mind bc she was bending to their will (her actions were passive rather than active, which is how she handled everything in her life, including things that pertained to her.) We aren't seeing other 1Ys in action at this point, so the only thing we're going on is her and her behavior.

11
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Couple of thoughts on some other characters:

KBC, still killing it with the comedy. My favorite moment was the lighter during the karaoke with that deadpan expression. So good. I like seeing him become more conflicted and seeing his wife in a better light. But I also don’t want it to go anywhere other than to increase the stakes.

Dr Kim: Yes, too forward, too bold. Maybe they think Americans are like that? But loving it. Someone needs to be blunt with Dr C (and I totally respect her response as @mayhemf said.). Not loving the adoption subplot. Feels tired. (And my worst fear makjangy fears about his parentage are cropping up.)

Son: Aww, I get it. He’s already struggling. And it’s tough to have your mom, also struggling, at the workplace. But after their outburst, I think they achieved some kind of understanding.

Daughter: Yup, she’s spoiled. But change is hard. All she’s ever known is that she’s the center of her mother’s universe. It might be bumpy but with that letter, I hope she'll start changing. (Tho complications coming with that friend!)

Mum: I see tears, and Dr C finding validation in restarting her career after being able to help her mum. Or so I hope.

11
9
reply

Required fields are marked *

Absolutely! Kim Byung-Chul is amazing here. As much as I hate his character I enjoy how it’s played by him that makes me not hate him. He is so good at showing his petty suffering that I can watch him lose it for 16 episodes.
And that lighter scene was great. So was the bathtub scene.

Yeah. I don’t know where we are going with the adoption plot. I hope it makes sense to the plot .

10
8
reply

Required fields are marked *

Love Kim Byung-Chul. Hate In-Ho

5
reply

Required fields are marked *

I don't know if you watched Pegasus Market or not, but yeah, this man is a comic genius and needs to do more of it.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

And the scene with the music behind his laptop. So unexpected 😂

4
reply

Required fields are marked *

I tell you my worst fear re Dr Kim's adoption. He's actually Dr Cha's brother.

Noooo...

1
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yikes! Noooo!!
His name in the orphanage was Kim U-heol, so I dont think he is from the Cha family.. Hope its not mother's secret child with a Kim!

1
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think you're right. And I think I've probably watched too many old school melos. :)

1

Whoa! Now that you've brought up this possibility, I can't unthink it.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

LOL I wouldnt put it past the mother!

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I enjoyed episodes 1 and 2 more than I expected so I had higher expectations for episodes 3 and 4, and I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed.

I wouldn't mind if In-ho and Dr. Cha got back together in the end, but if that happens to be the final outcome, it better happen only because he somehow managed to redeem himself and conclusively shows us that he deserves to win her back.

I'm so happy Dr. Kim is there to make In-ho realize how much he's taken his wife for granted all these years. Nothing quite like seeing other people want what you have to make you cling to it/them more tightly.

The entire montage where Dr. Cha kept calling her son was great because it's such a natural thing for her to lean on the one person who would have trouble saying no to her. Props to Jung-min for finally pushing back and putting her on the path to better self-sufficiency. (Teach a gal to fish!)

Also, I had a huge belly laugh at the scene in the cafeteria when Dr. Kim catches the tray. It's such an over-the-top "heroic" act that it feels like the show is taking the time to give itself a wink and a nod.

Curious to see where the side plot of Dr. Kim searching for his roots will take us. Surely there is more to come there, considering the air time that plotline got?

9
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I did not have a problem with the fact that Jung-sook did not know how to do the procedures and needed help. As many have already commented, it would have been unrealistic if she were competent when she's been away so long. What I had a problem with was her attitude. When Jung-min complained about her constant calls, her default reaction of "I'm your mom" grated on my nerves. She crosses too many lines at work. I know it's done partly for laughs, and because old habits are hard to break. I'm trying to be empathetic, especially as I cheer anyone who pursues their forgotten dreams, and in midlife, no less. That takes courage. But if this is really what she wants, and she wants to do it well, then to quote Kenny Rogers, "If you're gonna play the game, boy (girl), you gotta learn to play it right."

4
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

"Then to quote Kenny Rogers, 'If you're gonna play the game, boy (girl), you gotta learn to play it right.'"
The Gambler's reference I wholesomely welcome.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

It's like the recapper is watching a completely different show from the rest of us.

Also, two plot points, and one very important to the forwarding of the story was ignored.

The mother's dinner together was one.

And the fact that Sueng hee's daughter not only knows who her mother is having an affair with, but also befriended the daughter of the person her mother is having an affair with. That is pretty big.

3
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

The daughter was a red flag the show very obviously planted (hopefully not a red herring they'll bury). And she's the same age as Dr C's daughter. Hmmm...

I thought the mother's meeting at the dermatologist friend's clinic was also a potential plot point. The mother developing skin cancer or some other ailment just as her daughter returns to the medical field. Another hmm...

3
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

Naw, she is someone else's daughter. Sueng hee and In ho didn't reunite that far back. It was 10 years ago and the daughter is what, 17.

1
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh, the affair has only been going on 10 yrs? I thought they’d gotten back together closer to after his marriage. That changes my assumption that the girl is In Ho’s daughter 🤔

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

It was mentioned in the 1st 2 episodes that In ho went to the states for training and Sueng hee was at the hospital and they started their affair. Sueng hee was already there as she left after graduation.

0

@larelle79 Thanks! Now I can switch to wondering who Seung Hee got together with! 😉

0

I was wondering if it could have happened when she came back from the US (but before he had the courage to break up after his affair with Dr C)?

But I think you're right. The daughter may be the result of her post-breakup rebound. Phew.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think my favorite part was at the staff dinner, when she was being asked about her husband, was Dr. Kim was trying to keep it together, especially when she said he was dead. I hope having him in her corner will help her grow. i like their relationship and i don't mind if they stay friends or become a couple.

4
8
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think he wants something more than a friendship. He flat out asked when she will divorce In ho and I don't think that question came from a place of being friends.

3
7
reply

Required fields are marked *

maybe, maybe not. we can only wait and watch

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Did you see the way he was looking at her when she was laughing?

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

At times like this, I think it’d be fun to have a poll:

Dear Beanies, do you predict that Dr Cha will:

1. Remain with her (hopefully) reformed husband
2. End up with Dr Kim (probably after a time skip)
3. End up single and satisfied (with Dr Kim a catalyst of sorts)

I’m good with 2 and 3. For 1 to work, the show better work some major magic.

5
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm good with any of the three options as long as the process to get there actually makes sense.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I hope it’s 3. What the husband did is beyond redemption (I.e., two-timing, not helping the FL) at this point. I hope she can become a happy, independent woman who is a good mother to the children and has her fabulous life in the end.

2
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Btw, I thought the potential romance between Dr Kim and the FL is impossible because they are doctor and patient?

0

Anything but 1. When she hits on him in episode 1, after she leaves, he does this grossed out dance like the thought of touching her is disgusting. He doesn’t deserve her

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I didn't get the impression that she likes or is happy with her husband at all. She was thrilled about the necklace because it's the one shining moment in their awful relationship. Notice how when Roy brought up divorce, she didn't say she didn't want to, she said that she was scared to.

6
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I noticed the same thing — when she said it takes more courage to get a divorce than it does to get married — that perhaps she will one day become "brave" enough to ask for a divorce.

However, a later scene where she said being a mother and wife is her priority gave me pause, because that means her self-identity is wrapped up in being those two things. I guess it's still too early to tell where the story will take us.

4
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh I love it so far! Reminds me of my nursing school days. This is my new crack!

4
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

What worries me is that the actor who plays the husband gets second billing... makes me think he is the end game even though I vigorously object!!

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I found that the problem I have with this show is that because it’s supposed to be comedic, I’m not sure if I should take anything seriously, everything seriously, or nothing seriously like at all.

For example, the last scene when she got electrified because of her own absent mindedness, I debated whether I should be upset because of this stupidity, or whether I should have a LOL moment.

3
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

There is one scene that I really don’t like in the last ep, it is the scene when she said to her son that she carried him inside her stomach for 9 months why couldn’t he help her when she needed help that day. I think that was uncalled for, and made her a general character instead of a character I wanted to root for. What could the son have said in that situation and in response to that kind of questions? I know you were upset, but that was just wrong.

5
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

She was frustrated. If her son was truly upset at her about what she said, he would have said something. He sent her a video to start her on the tutorials, she made a little a comment, smiled and things seemed fine.

Out of all her relationships in her household, those two are and will continue to be solid.

7
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree that it wasn't one of Dr. Cha's better moments. And if they had stopped at that and allowed it to drag on, it would have been a real dealbreaker for me. But she and her son found a way forward from there that put her on the path to self-sufficiency, so I see it more as another step on her path to finding herself.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think the show's choice to have the scene where she falls to the floor immediately followed by the upbeat end-credits music suggests we're supposed to find it funny.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I thought Dr. Kim after having seen an view of her life asked the question we were all thinking 'when are you gonna get a divorce? '. He sees her as a colleague. The husband was ready to leave her to die. I think she wants to leave but has financial considerations and kids.

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Aw I love ouri Dr. Cha! She's been away from the field for over 20 years, it's only natural that she has yet to regain her touch. I'm just here for her to thrive, flirt and stick it to her gaesaekki husband! Ok, and to prove to herself and kids that she can achive anything if she puts her mind to it- and anyone can. Her kids are actually pretty great and oftentimes behave better than the adults around them cough-grandma and dad-cough. The youngest is just being a teenager, and Jong-min doesn't mind his mum being around and is pretty supportive. I secretly hope they keep the slapstick comedy. I laughed for ten minutes straight during the team diner. Courtesy to Uhm Jung-hwa and the other veteran actors. Thanks for the recap!

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Twenty Again meets Emergency Couple

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *