I really liked the first half of this drama, not so much the second half. I found the second half a slog to get through, and I almost dropped this one. I am happy that it gave us a real finish to the romance, and kudos to them for including not only an engagement but also a bedroom scene--is it me, or are those rare nowadays? I loved the second couple, and will confess that I only paid close attention to their scenes in these last two eps. I liked how the uncle got a love interest, even if it felt a bit pat and like they were just tying a bow on everything (but, hey, isn't that why we watch romcoms, for good feelings?)

As a mental health professional, I think that the drama did a lot of good things in that area, but the ML's PTSD was resolved waaaay too easily and simply. Ha-neul's seemed to be adjustment-related, and once she made some life changes her symptoms resolved as well--which is great and does often happen, but I wish the drama had acknowledged that there's often more to treating depression than just getting engaged and switching jobs. I also want to know what the heck depression measure they're using for Ha-neul, lol.

As others have said, I really wish this drama had stuck more with everyday issues and burnout rather than abusive bosses, sabotage from coworkers, trucks of doom, and mob-orchestrated murder plots. I'm not even sure I would agree with the name - the ML was not just in a slump, he was pretty much rock bottom. Ha-neul wasn't much better.

This drama was a big disapointment. I wished they chose the slice of life genre instead of rom-com. Two doctors burnt-out by their job was enough no need of villain who abused the FL and planned the ML's fall.

I hated their teenager behavior when they were together, it wasn't funny, it wasn't swoony, it was ridiculous. Ha-Neul was the usual FL who never dated and Jung-Woo forgot everything when he moved on the rooftop.

I didn't find the actors specially good in this role. Park Shin-Hye was her usual. She doesn't really take risk in her choices of character. It was interesting when she said she never acted in a play because she was too scared. With her experience, it would be nice she tries to take risk, even Sung Hoon will act in a play! For Park Hyung-Shik, I know he became very famous for this kind of role in SBDS but he's far better in serious roles.

It was funny to see a cameo of Mi-Ram who was in Destined With You with Hyun Bong-Sik. It's cute the casting is still in contact, she was in Rowoon's fanmeeting in Japan too.

Huzzah! 👏Much like our adorable leads, the show managed to pull itself out of its slump and give us a well-earned happy ending! 💕❤

And it was one that felt tonally right for what had gone before – so not too cheesy or schmaltzy but still peppered with heartfelt moments (someone was cutting onions at my place!) alongside wonderfully cathartic humour.

I also enjoyed everything being a bit more ‘dialled down’ in terms of the melodrama moments and slapstick, which allowed for more emotional sincerity. Cutting out of the scene with the Aunts, for instance, without needing to show us how Ha-neul’s mum was going to lord it over them, was a great choice.

Doctor Slump as a whole was a mixed bag for me with interest petering out after halfway through the drama. I think this will find its way into my list of dramas with wasted potential, because I liked the premise, loved the actors, was drawn to the characters but the journey the drama imposed on them was unnecessarily dramatic for my taste. They took an interesting uncommon premise to explore but then chose to advance the plot with usual drama tactics and logic and flattened the impact.
I liked the message, liked the cute romance and found family trope, liked that the characters found their own ways to be better but was not a fan of how they got there. Jung woo's PTSD was too easily resolved, Truck of Doom for kyung min arc was unnecessary and too much information was eavesdropped or passed through the airwaves to move the plot along.
Its a drama where I felt the parts were better than the sum. And I will remember it as such. And the way Jeong Woo made my heart warm with his 'You're like the kidney bean I planted; I cant wait to see how you'll sprout'.
I come away from this thinking that I want to see these actors in different settings and that I'd recommend this to people who can adjust their viewing lenses and expectations and aren't that miffed by medical inaccuracies.
It was a fun watch initially, it wasn't the worst but wasn't the best it could've been either. A solid 7/10.

I loved the first ten episodes and can imagine watching them again later. But for the last six episodes, I'm going to pretend they don't exist at all.

Firstly, I often quickly lose interest in drama as soon as the couple get together, secondly I don't want to see adults in a relationship behaving like teenagers .
I only watched the last few episodes because the drama started so well.

Loved Ha-neul's mom. She was so cute.

My main complaint is that Jungwoo's parents didn't show up in the end. I hoped that Haneul would travel abroad and meet her future-in-laws. That would have been an opportunity to patch things up between Jungwoo and his detached parents.

I knew it was going to happen and it did. The best episodes were 3-4 and it was downhill from there. The last half of this drama was too much, much like the drinking in this drama. The ending was nice, but the drama itself is just average, even though it could have been great. Sigh

Dropped this show earlier but kept up with the recaps.

Safe to say this show had a ton of potential to be better but it was fumbled.

I guess I will be the lone person so far who will come out and say this show was like a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup on a cold winter day when I have the sniffles. It hits just right like a comfort food. It isn't perfect but it's a fun, warm watch which would be a good rewatch whenever I am feeling a bit blue and need a pick me up. Especially a good laugh at all the chaos caused by our loveable puppy and mischievous squirrel.

For these last 2 episodes I enjoyed that we had time to watch them navigate the next stages of their romance (that kiss was hot!) and their work life. I'm glad that JW was able to overcome his PTSD and even was able to perform surgery without issues when HN was hospitalized. The charity surgery and their interactions with that cute patient were heartwarming.

Early on a beanie asked why Yoon Bak wanted to be part of the show, but by the end you can see that his character was so loveable/goofy and big hearted. Clearly, he and PHS had fun with their sibling fights/interactions- like the brother you love to hate/antagonize but woe is the person who tries to badmouth your brother. His 2nd chance romance with HR was slow to bloom but really blossomed at the end and his teen daughter even recognized the positive influence this new love had on his life and helped him better understand her. In the end he found someone that loves him for who he is, and he also loves HR for all her loose talking and rough edges.

Even the brother had a wonderful character arc of growth spurred to action by HN's accident and him praying to be a better brother/son if she wakes up. He then follows through for the first time in his life to learn how to make the noodles and pull his weight at the noodle shop. When he gets his first real paycheck, he wants to treat HN to grilled beef and insists on paying even when she offers. It was a great brother/sister bonding scene. Also cool was him taking his mom out to buy a purse... but she settled for a wallet and ice cream. Their mom reassured him that even before he was born, he had a special place in her heart and was the rainbow over the ocean and not just an afterthought named to be opposite of HN's sky.

The cooking scene in that rented restaurant/house in Hanok village was gorgeously shot and JW looked so cool cooking the delicious food. HN is going to be so spoiled.

It was a nice touch and true to character that when HN was considering going to the US that JW told her he didn't want to stand in the way of her future/career but was flustered when the timeline was 6 months and leaving in 1 month. Saving his frustration until he got home to vent about how he truly felt was funny/silly but how true that sometimes we know what we should say and do want to say but it doesn't mean we have to like it always. Then DY helps him realize how important it is to let people follow their dreams if you love them because not all opportunities will come around again.

It was...

It seems like there’s a lot of negative thoughts around this but I actually enjoyed this show a lot. It definitely wasn’t exactly realistic and there were times I felt the ML lead could dial down a bit - but overall it was nice and relaxing to watch and I wanted them to be happy so I was pleased with everything getting rounded off.

I definitely feel like it’s better watched a couple of episodes a week than all in one go.

@lovepark Thanks for the recap. I enjoyed this drama even with all the missteps because the drama focused on not just the healing of the characters' mental health, but also on healing the stress of the viewers by being light without too much heavy handling of emotions. Ha Neul definitely had a great character development with her gaining confidence to speak her mind. Jung Woo's character pretty much remained same, but he gained a family that cherishes him. The best part of the finale wasn't the KTp, but Ba Da's arc and mom's speech that he too was a precious kid. I always assumed Ba Da was named after ocean, so I did not get his misunderstanding of hus name. Does anyone know what is the other meaning for Lam Ba Da?

First of all to comments that say they behaved like teenagers after getting together, yes that's how a healthy relationship looks like..you have to express your love and be in love for that..what exactly do or should adult relationship be? Behaving like aquitainces? It was completely okay if the drama ended in 12/14 episodes but I personally liked the last two episodes because they gave us their happy life scenes, tied everything completely. After episode 10 it wasn't about story it was about characters in depth potrayal, if it's not your cup of tea this drama isn't for you. This is a simple healing romcom and it was said so from beginning, so you can't complain about something that was never expected to be in it. This is one of the romcom where the script had really good dialogue it's really understandable for people who have gone through it. For others it may not work and I understand that. Every drama has its flow this one too but still this was a very good one. I don't think one would understand to have a relationship like them until you're emotionally matured and not so cynical about everything. The thing that bothered me most in this drama was the alcohol consumption. But that's it.

I did love it, despite the lack of the story in the second part. Super casting. I caught the final episodes last night and it was sad to say goodbye to them :) Yep The uncle and girlfriend are a mismatch :) I thought the girl will become a love interest for the brother :) It can be a good binge watch in the future. I liked the positive tone all over the drama!

These last two episodes were such a mixed bag of feelings! I really liked Ba-Da's redemption arc, and his character has grown into a responsible young man. I also liked the second lead's love story, and HR rescuing DY from the annoying patient was the highlight. I also really liked how they showed that ultimately, therapy/ medication will not magically make you happy, but will give you the strength to face adversarial circumstances with the belief in your own emotional resilience to cope.

However, I didn't like the way the main couple just simply don't communicate till the very end. Be it good news or bad, it is only ever found out by happenstance. For a show supposedly about supporting each other through a slump, neither FL or ML actually accept support from each other or are vulnerable about their emotions.

I also have this problem with K-Dramas in general, where despite having established to be in a relationship, the female leads act all surprised and scandalized when the ML initiates any romance. It just makes the viewers uncomfortable, doesn't make the scene cute.

Overall, I liked the message the drama conveys, and I think it has definitely opened a space for conversations on Mental Health. A solid 6/10!

I too am a viewer that really enjoyed the last few episodes.
Perhaps it feels like "lack of plot" but isn't that what learning and healing often are? Slow, often mundane from the outside, but each of the little bits they showed us over the last couple eps were excellent development to me.
Jungwoo handled so many things in a mature and thoughtful way (in spite of the silliness at times, especially when alone). He did want to speak to his old friends again. They hurt him and they know it. He isn't going back to YT fame or videos but a small clinic because that is what he truly has always wanted. He noticed how his friend at least stuck up for him online in comments sections. They won't be as close perhaps and they won't work together which is entirely appropriate. Jungwoo will probably always be a little likely to give more weight to others' needs (hello, so many in the medical professions I know) but he is learning where his boundaries are and I love that for him. Perhaps the PTSD was resolved too quickly although I think it's more that he's been doing small surgeries quite often at his friend's practice (this show doesn't show us all of them or really give an idea of how much time has been passing often) so he has learned that the procedures are not a threat or fight/flight situation and that he can truly trust his skills. And he is still keeping himself to a small clinic at first which is a good call.
Haneul showed so much growth, bravo girl! She has gone from self-recrimination at everything that doesn't turn out "perfectly" and is much more resilient. I was a little taken aback by the assignment abroad and then how quickly it was rescinded and that's probably very much how it felt to Haneul too. But she knows this is the result of crappy policies and favouritism (incredibly common in workplaces) and not a reflection of her lacking in anything. And she knows that no matter how hard she works, not everything is going to go well and that is not her fault either. She gave herself a boundary for going back to work and she stuck to it. This may not change everything at that job and she may not stay in that job either after she gets some experience and resume skills. But you'd be surprised at how someone speaking up calmly and consistently can indeed make change. And whether or not they change, Haneul has indeed changed. She would never have spoken up before, she would have turned it into self-loathing to whip herself with and then ruminated on it for months, even years.... Now she is speaking her mind and has so many things in proper perspective. That is growth, not finished of course (and what adult do you know that has the "work-life balance", gosh I hate that phrase, always balanced? I don't think that exists...)

I really enjoyed how our 2nd couple learned together too. Honest about their concerns and worries and also accepting who they are and the other too. Beautiful and that blended family photo...

I really enjoyed how our 2nd couple learned together too. Honest about their concerns and worries and also accepting who they are and the other too. Beautiful and that blended family photo on the desk at the end warmed my heart so much. And when they show us how Daeyoung brought up Jungwoo leaving because he knew Jungwoo never would.... aww, what a lovely perceptive caring man. Hongran was exactly right that he is deeply caring and that is such an important quality. She doesn't need to be "impressed". She knows his true worth.

What really got me crying was the conversation between Mum and Bada. He really has believed his whole life that he was named only to be a matched set with Haneul. He has believed that he is at root a constant disappointment who can never match up to his sister. So of course he stopped even trying! I never found Bada as annoying as others (just immature and living the "screw-up" role he believes about himself) and to watch how he changed and worked after Haneul's surgery made me so proud of him. He has begun to understand what he is capable of. It sounds like he has never heard about his mother's dream that lead to his name, how beautiful that ocean in her dream was and how she couldn't forget it. He is not an academically minded person like Haneul and he doesn't have to be. He applied himself to learning to make milmyeon and he did it well. He feels the self-confidence and satisfaction of accomplishing that. His family don't pressure him to actually become a cook or anything else. They are proud because he stuck to something hard. So many people in this world never learn that skill! Even better, they tell him that they are confident he can apply himself to many things and will choose a good path for himself.
Maybe it's because I am a parent but I was in tears at that conversation. Their mum is so cool. And she also learned a lot. She learned how she was putting a great deal of pressure on Haneul because of how Haneul will take her words and enthusiasm. Mum learned that Bada only remembers being compared to his sister and always being shouted at. She has always been a great loving parent and she is also great because she is adjusting how she parents her kids based on their personalities and needs, even now they've become adults. And she is soooo cool (and the show is so cool) for having her point out the insane price of a handbag she doesn't need. It's not the price tag but the gesture of buying her a treat and then spending time eating ice cream and chatting with Bada that is precious. I love her <3 She is going in my Hall of Fame of kdrama parents, with her missteps and her triumphs.
The show felt sincere and also didn't take itself too seriously. The pacing of elements felt off sometimes but overall, I looked forward to every episode and I cared about where all our characters ended up. That for me is pretty much all I ask.

I thought this drama had a wonderful balance of drama, humor, and warmth. I appreciated that despite the murder and car accident subplots, the story stayed consistently focused on mental health and healing throughout. I do think it might have been even better at 12 or 14 episodes, but it was satisfying to see each character's journey.

JW says: "I can become miserable again, but that's okay. Should misfortunes come, I have the strength to endure them."
In a nutshell, this sums up what the drama showcased.
It's no secret that I loved the show. But unlike others, I loved the slow pace of these two episodes because they embodied what the show set out to do: have two people ease into a typical relationship with mundane needs and wants.
Were there missteps? Absolutely. As someone outraged when Gravity scored Academy awards like candies falling out of an overturned jar, I have very little patience with pretentiousness. I can forgive much when the storytelling is the king, and Doctor Slump aced it.
I loved the vehicle DS chose to pass on a critical message in a society that does not do well with mental health. It promised a rom-com, and it stayed there. And I am so glad to see a drama that had the courage to cruise to its finale rather than throwing unnecessary twists at the end to keep things 'moving'.
While love remained a key ingredient in this romance tale, it wasn't a 'love conquers all' theme. In their darkest moments of reckoning, it was not 'love' that showed them the path. It was the support that we as human beings so crucially need, as amply depicted by the beautiful scene of Mom and Jeong Woo on that bench - a highlight of this series.
Ha-nuel's arc is beautiful, and at the end, she accepts that life will keep throwing wrenches, and it's depicted beautifully.
But I disagree that JW's PTSD was resolved quickly. He was shown as struggling even going into the last surgery, even though he was calm through the small emergency (I loved how they called the Chest Surgeon instead of having JW do everything). JW acknowledged that instead of helping, his presence might have even harmed Dr Bin because of his scalpel-dropping incident and the ensuing gossip. He then reached out to Dr Kang because he is still afraid, has trust issues, and needs someone he can trust. So I think it's still a work in progress for him, though he has come a long way. I relate to Jeong Woo in many ways because I also believe holding onto negative thoughts and grudges only hampers my peace of mind. He makes peace with his friends, but unlike before, he does not jump in to help them and lets them carry on. And of course, they better not mess up anymore, because now they have Ha-nuel to answer to, hehe! As for KM, I do think JW mourns what could have been.
I loved how everyone got a closure - including Dr Kang.
I came to adore Ba da. Underneath all his annoying demeanour is a man who has not yet found his life's calling. He is starting to be responsible but might not stick to it. He may become an influencer just like JW used to be. But this arc is so close to real life. So many successful people have kids/siblings who never made it anywhere in life. But I think choosing to show Ba da as a happy individual despite having grown up as a shadow of his super successful sister was...

Thanks for the lovely journey and recap @lovepark .Your way of recap is so on point sometimes like during blind date shopping scene - JW heart falls like falling petals 😂

I really appreciate PHS AND PSH portrayal of JW and HN respectively. Both characters are so endearing and relatable. Great communication. And, the wedding pictures are Chef's kiss. The chemistry is off the charts and one can see that they are so comfortable on and off screen.

The one thing about rom-com is that one may find some romance part cringe or swoony , but its effort is to feel us that way, right. And, I find those people in real life cute because you can't act that way with your other half unless you are comfortable with each other. JW and HN are besties-lovers coded. They act silly around each other , not with others . They are serious when come comes to important things.

I like JW proposal ' will you be my friend, family , lover. Will you be my everything in my life?' WOW.

I think most people relate a lot with HN character and her growth to accept the fact that 'there are many things in life that we can't change and learn things along the way and move forward'.

I saw some comments stating that her therapist gives her medication too soon. I strongly disagree this one. As a medical professional and being a friend of a depressed medical colleague, counselling alone doesn't work and meds like anxiolytic, antidepressants, sleeping aids have to be taken (may depend on individual). And, mind is like a mystery box - some are good and in some days, u may even have su*c*de thought when some things are not working in your way (imagine what may look like in depression).

So, I really like her psychiatrist last talk with her about being "better". "accepting the fact that misfortunes will always be a part of life but knowing that life will be okay as long as we have the strength to endure". And the final narration.

First, thank you for the recap @lovepark.
Second, my musings now that this drama has ended. I really enjoyed watching Doctor Slump. The leads may not have the same level of chemistry as other drama couples out there, but they still sold me on their relationship. Their aegyo were over the top (looking at you PHS!) but I think since both characters were quite immature in the love-relationship side, it kinda made sense. As one beanie once said, it was just between the couple, and we, as viewers were just witnessing those cringe moments. The healing part resonated to me the most. They showed that having a great support system and the right meds (as needed), can make a whole lot of difference to those who are going through a lot. Thumbs down though on promoting the use of alcohol while on anti-depressants. That's really a big no-no for those on anti-dep meds. The writers should have researched this part better!
Lastly, that dialogue between Uncle and his first love... that was the same dialogue during the helipad scene in The Doctors between Yoo Hye-Jung and Hong Ji-hong!! That's considered a meta moment right? :)