Doctor Stranger

It is only because of Lee Jung Sok that I managed to finish this show. The first eight episodes is a pain, it starts to pick up momentum in Epi 9.

This is supposedly to be a TV series with a complex plot, but lose its excitement and steam while the show stretch to build up the suspense.

The four lead characters are a mixed bag. The main lead Park Hoon is average & predictable, it is only the good acting of Lee that makes it bearable to watch Park whining, whispering and moaning about Jae Hui over and over again for the first 8 episodes. Lee Jung Sok is a promising young actor who not only have a pretty face but with real acting to boost. The Park Hoon character seriously is a waste of Lee's talent. This is the irony; the second male lead's character is far more interesting. Dr Han is a determine, intense, and talented doctor. Hae Jin Park really gives this character life and make it so believable. Good actor and handsome too. The female lead - Dr Han Seung hee or Song Jae-hui. It was written to be the main focus of this show, supposedly more prominent and important than Park Hoon. Actually the character was well written but it was the ineffective BAD acting of the actress that ruined the character and to a large degree, the show. The actress has zero acting skills, expressionless and emotionless. Her trademark expression/acting is the constipated frowned look which runs for the whole series. It is as if she is always holding back her emotion, no joy, no pain ... nada... The two leads have zero chemistry and watching them hug or whispering "I love you" to each other is like watching cartoons - ridiculous and at times hilarious. Her un-stylist dress sense is another pain to watch. The worst character is the second female lead - Oh Soo Hyun, average, pathetic and selfish to the point of annoying. I do not like this character one bit. The actress however delivers the character as it was written. Oh Soo Hyun is naïve and witless; she'll do what her father wants without question. i.e. she didn't seem to mind her father's evil act of sending Park Cheol and Park Hoon to North Korea and ruin a family. All she cared/crying about is her love wasn't reciprocated. The same with Dr Han's situation, she gets all upset by Han's revenge but not how her father had wronged Han's family in the first place.

The ending, however is satisfactory, Park Hoon ending with Song is reasonable. They have known each other since childhood, their relationship was built over a long time and have a strong foundation (I wish the actress did a more credible job), they experienced the highs and lows of their life together. No way he will end up with another woman he has just met, specially the daughter of THE man who caused his father's death, his mother's insanity and ruined his life. That just doesn't make sense.

The setting of this show is unethical & unscrupulous, putting people's life for competition is unacceptable and immoral. Watching the whole surgical team wholeheartedly focus only on winning is just so wrong. The supporting cast is strong, but there are just too many unlikable characters. The chairman, the chairman's son, Dr Moon (the clown), Dr Yang (the immoral one), the sex hungry young interns who make out at every hour of every day??!! The negatives of this show is overwhelming.

Overall, if you love Lee Jung Sok or Hae Jin Park, go for it. Otherwise, skip it.