REVIEW: ‘Doctor Cha,’ Episodes 5-6

Ongoing struggles both at home and work continue to make life difficult for Jeong-suk as she pursues her dreams. Nevertheless, she is determined to make her way in the world of medicine. Doctor Cha Episodes 5-6 sees some major gains for the good doctor as she goes above and beyond for some of her patients. Plus, the secret about In-ho and Seung-hi may be about to break.

This pair of episodes feel transitionary in nature as they see a couple of sub-plots that have been going on at the hospital resolve. Both the rich CEO and the prisoner Jeong-suk has been treating see their storylines wrap up in these episodes. I thoroughly enjoyed how both of these stories drew to a close, as it allowed them both to be meaningful moments for both the patients and Jeong-suk. The impactfulness of these sub-plots is helped immensely by the show understanding of when to let them end. These side stories could’ve easily been dragged out with unforeseen complications and other mishaps. Happily, the narrative allows them to instead pass while the viewer will only feel the emotions the situations present, rather than have that tainted by relief that the plots are finally wrapping up.

Beyond these side plots seeing resolution, Doctor Cha Episodes 5-6 also provide some major movement in its main arcs as well. It was only a matter of time before In-ho and Seung-hi were seen together, and that moment finally came in these episodes. The discovery and initial reactions to it are handled well, as they set up even larger dramatic moments that are sure to come. But while this revelation is a big one for the show, the best thing to come from this week’s releases where this affair is concerned is how it times the big discovery with a deeper look into Seung-hi’s life.

What makes this peek into the doctor’s life so powerful is that the show opts to look at her through the lens of her daughter. This approach to Seung-hi allows the series to look at both the good and ill that have come from her choices. How her life has impacted her child wonderfully displays every parent’s complicated relationship with their children. How her daughter can be frustrated and angry with her mother while also standing up for her imparts these complex and difficult feelings in a deep and meaningful way.

With so much already to talk about, it would be understandable if that was all Doctor Cha Episodes 5-6 had delivered to viewers. But there is more. A new plot develops that I didn’t see coming that looks to cause even more emotional struggles for the series’ core family. This plot gets off to a fiery start with a shocking moment that had me raging. I shouldn’t have been surprised that a certain character would behave as cruelly and selfishly as they do, and yet I still was. The self-centered delivery of the character is wonderfully acted, bringing the scene’s energy to a complete boil.

Doctor Cha Episodes 5-6 set a new high mark for the series so far. How the show continues to balance the ups and downs of its story allows for stretches of pure enjoyment to balance out the emotional pitfalls of Jeong-suk’s journey. Its ability to see when to start, stop, and dive deeper into its side plots only bodes well for the series as it plows ahead, bringing the viewer along for the ride.

Doctor Cha Episodes 5-6 are streaming now on Netflix, with new episodes airing Saturday and Sunday.