REVIEW: ‘Doctor Cha,’ Episodes 1-2

Cha Jeong-suk(played by Uhm Jung-hwa) walked away from her medical license to be a wife and mother 20 years ago. But when a sudden illness shows her the realities of her world, she decides that some changes need to happen so she can live the life she needs to in Doctor Cha Episodes 1-2. Jeong-suk’s first steps on her road to personal fulfillment in these episodes are amazing. From the opening moments of the series pilot, the narrative crafts an excellent tale that demands that the viewer not only care about Jeong-suk’s hardships but also makes it impossible not to share in her triumphs. Seeing a character step into their own and so solidly decide to do what they need to has never felt more empowering for me than how Doctor Cha Episodes 1-2 deliver these moments.

In the first moments of the series, viewers get to meet Jeong-suk as she goes about her normal life. Friendly and helpful, the character is instantly likable as the show lays the groundwork for its star’s past. She’s proud of her family and has no regrets about choosing motherhood over her burgeoning career as a doctor. But her life takes a turn when she is rushed to the hospital with liver failure.

How Jeong-suk struggles with her disease and the hurdles she has to confront to get herself well again are immense and heartbreaking. The truths she learns about her world and the nature of those who live in it hit her every bit as hard as the disease itself. It is these revelations more than the illness that sets her on a new path as the series’ second episode opens.

The second part of Doctor Cha Episodes 1-2 sees our protagonist recovering from her brush with death. Seeing the response to her previous illness from those around her profoundly changes her attitude in many ways. For the last 20 years, she has put everyone else’s needs ahead of hers. Now, she is going to take care of herself more. As Jeong-suk finds some long-denied joy in her life, the viewer can’t help but be swept up in the glow of her new personal enrichment. When she decides to return to practicing medicine, it is a truly cheer-inducing moment.

Surrounding Jeong-suk is a cast that delivers their personalities with a degree of emphasis that ensures the feelings always stick with the viewer while also generously layering a bit of campiness to the series. The exaggerated nature of many characters, particularly Jeong-suk’s husband and her mother-in-law, allows the show to tread the upsetting waters it does without ever becoming too dark. Balancing out these more eccentric performances are calmer personalities like Jeong-suk’s mother, played by Kim Mi-kyung from Trolley, who brings a great calm and compassion to the series that brings the show’s energy a wonderful balance.

Doctor Cha Episodes 1-2 bring a phenomenal opening to its story. An emotional roller coaster of ups and downs that makes the viewer feel like they have already completed a full journey with its lovable star, and there are still 14 more episodes to go. If the series can somehow manage to continue this pitch-perfect balance of drama and comedy for the remainder of its run this could be fantastic series.

Doctor Cha Episodes 1-2 are streaming now on Netflix, with new episodes airing Saturday and Sunday.