At the moment, the new K-drama “Doctor Slump” is attracting a lot of attention from audiences. This work is highly anticipated as it marks Park Shin-hye‘s comeback to the small screen after childbirth.
So far, from the first episodes, those eagerly anticipating the collaboration between Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik would not be not disappointed.
The love story of two geniuses reaching “rock bottom”
“Doctor Slump” revolves around the story of Yeo Jeong-woo (Park Hyung-sik) and Nam Ha-neul (Park Shin-hye). Since his school days, Yeo Jeong-woo has been regarded as a genius due to his outstanding intelligence. He has always been the top student in the country even though he studies leisurely. However, Yeo Jeong-woo’s brilliance is overshadowed by Nam Ha-neul’s appearance.
Nam Ha-neul is the “strangest” classmate Yeo Jeong-woo has ever seen in his life. She spends 17 hours a day studying, runs to have extra time for extra classwork, and eats coffee powder to avoid restroom breaks. Thanks to this “excessive” study method, Nam Ha-neul makes Yeo Jeong-woo faint because it’s the first time he’s experienced being second-best. From here, the competitive spirit of the two ignited, and they became arch-rivals.
During school days, Nam Ha-neul was Yeo Jeong-woo’s biggest obsession. However, as they grow up, everything reverses. Yeo Jeong-woo becomes a famous plastic surgeon, opening many clinics and reaching the pinnacle of his career. In contrast, despite working hard every day, Nam Ha-neul is always the target of oppression, scolding, and bullying. After enduring a long period of hardship, Nam Ha-neul falls into depression.
The two may forever remain in each other’s past if Yeo Jeong-woo is not drawn into a mysterious conspiracy where he is accused of causing the death of the heir to the largest casino empire in Macau. This event causes Yeo Jeong-woo to fall from riches to rags, from being admired to being shunned by everyone.
In such a dire situation, Yeo Jeong-woo is forced to rent the top floor of a house. Surprisingly, that is where Nam Ha-neul’s family lives. Thus, the “top students” who have not been in contact for many years unexpectedly reconnect at a time when they are going through life’s “lows.”
Yeo Jeong-woo and Nam Ha-neul are initially not happy to meet again. However, due to their shared circumstances, they gradually come closer, becoming each other’s support. Nam Ha-neul helps Yeo Jeong-woo on his journey to clear his name, while Yeo Jeong-woo helps Nam Ha-neul learn to live happily, so she can enjoy what she has missed for many years. And then, slowly, they fall in love.
Outstanding acting performances and excellent character depth
After just the first few episodes, viewers were treated to outstanding performances from the “Park – Park” couple. Park Shin-hye portrays Nam Ha-neul well, delivering the image of a person who always tries her best, enduring everything, even when tired, to meet the ever-increasing expectations from her family. Although her family love and always sees Nam Ha-neul as a pride, they put a huge burden on her shoulder.
In addition, Nam Ha-neul doesn’t have many friends and is seen as strange by outsiders. Until she meets Yeo Jeong-woo, she lives like a machine. However, since her old friend entered her life, Nam Ha-neul has found more joy and happiness.
As for Park Hyung-sik, he brings a somewhat humorous, somewhat narcissistic, and kind Yeo Jeong-woo. However, he also makes the audience empathize with the character’s sorrows. The heartache of being abandoned by everyone, the despair of collapsing when facing the first major setback, the wounds of a child not receiving much affection from parents, those are what viewers feel in the Yeo Jeong-woo portrayed by Park Hyung-sik.
Captivating storyline, portraying a “Doctor Slump” with warmth
However, among all the emotions that Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik portray, what they do best is expressing the feeling of being comforted, supported, and encouraged of the characters at their most desperate moments. This is also one of the reasons why “Doctor Slump,” despite telling sad stories, does not feel negative or gloomy. On the contrary, viewers will feel warmth and healing in the film.
In addition, because this is a romantic comedy, alongside the emotionally resonant scenes, there are also many humorous situations. The romantic relationship between Nam Ha-neul and Yeo Jeong-woo develops naturally. All of these elements bring necessary harmony to “Doctor Slump.”
One last thing to mention about the film’s content is Yeo Jeong-woo’s journey to clear his name. Of course, it is not as tense and “mind-boggling” as detective dramas. However, the story promises to be compelling, contributing to advancing the relationship between Yeo Jeong-woo and Nam Ha-neul.
Source: K14
