Doctor Lawyer Story:-
Both medical and legal dramas have had their fair share of success in Korean television, with shows like Hospital Playlist, Dr. Romantic, Juvenile Justice, and The Devil Judge gaining popularity despite their seemingly ordinary premises.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 3 June 2022 |
| Language | Korean,English |
| Genre | Drama |
| Episodes | 16 |
| Cast | So Ji-seob, Soo-hyang Im, Seong-rok Sin, Lee Dong-ha |
| Director | Lee Yong-seok |
| Writer | Jang Hong-cheol |
| Producer | Jo Na-yoon, Jeong Dae-woong, Jun Hyung-man, Park Jae-sam, Yoo Byung-sul, Lee Seung-hee |
| Production | Celltrion Entertainment |
| Certificate | 16+ |
In comes Doctor Lawyer, MBC and Disney+’s attempt to merge both genres. The straightforward title may raise some eyebrows, and initially, the series doesn’t seem too promising. Han Yi-han, played by So Ji-sub (Oh My Venus), is introduced as a top cardiothoracic surgeon at Banseok Foundation & Hospital. His fiancée, Geum Seok-yeong (Im Soo-hyang), is a prosecutor, and her brother, Seok-ju (Han Seung-bin), is a patient at the hospital due to a heart condition.
Yi-han gains recognition after successfully completing a challenging surgery, and he is promoted to head of cardiothoracic surgery. Meanwhile, Seok-yeong and Seok-ju receive hope for a heart transplant, with Yi-han leading the surgery. However, Yi-han is called for an emergency transplant for a mysterious VIP, raising suspicions about the source of the heart.
Tragically, Seok-ju passes away due to alleged complications, leading Yi-han to suspect foul play. Despite his efforts, he is accused of medical malpractice and arrested. Blackmailed by the hospital’s chief executive, Yi-han is forced to confess to the charges to protect his loved ones. He sacrifices his career, relationship, and freedom to save his family.
Upon his release from prison, Yi-han becomes determined to seek justice. He transitions to the legal field, specializing in medical litigation, with the ultimate goal of uncovering the truth behind Seok-ju’s death and holding the responsible parties accountable.
In its initial two episodes, Doctor Lawyer lays the groundwork for a potentially compelling exploration of corruption within a capitalist healthcare system, while also injecting a considerable amount of emotion into its narrative. The script, while sometimes mediocre and overly dramatic, effectively portrays the struggle against corrupt institutions, with wealthy yet morally bankrupt figures pulling the strings.
However, the true strength of the series lies in the exceptional performances of its lead actors, So Ji-sub and Im Soo-hyang. Im’s portrayal of Seok-yeong’s profound devastation following the loss of her only family member is particularly striking, conveying a sense of overwhelming anguish and grief that resonates deeply with viewers. Meanwhile, So Ji-sub’s portrayal of Yi-han effortlessly transitions between the stoic facade of a seasoned surgeon/lawyer and the vulnerability of a man stripped of his dignity. Despite being depicted as a lone wolf, the heartfelt moments shared between So and Im add depth to their characters.
Unfortunately, Doctor Lawyer falls into the trap of relying on tired tropes, making it seem unremarkable compared to other medical and legal dramas. Its premise bears similarities to other shows, such as 2019’s Doctor Prisoner, which also revolves around a medical professional falsely accused of malpractice seeking retribution. This lack of originality threatens to overshadow the stellar performances of the cast.
While there is potential for the series to improve its storytelling, viewers may hesitate to invest in it fully due to its current shortcomings. Nonetheless, new episodes of Doctor Lawyer air on South Korean TV network MBC every Friday and Saturday, and are also available on Disney+ in select regions.
