Premiere Watch: Doctor Lawyer, Why Her, Cleaning Up

31 June 2, 2022January 15, 2024

Premiere Watch: Doctor Lawyer, Why Her, Cleaning Up

by missvictrix

We have three new shows premiering this weekend — and you thought the weekend schedule had finally quieted down, right? Wrong! We’ve not only got So Ji-sub and Seo Hyun-jin with new dramas, but also a quirky comedy from JTBC to top it all off.

Doctor Lawyer

Time slot: Friday-Saturday
Broadcaster: MBC
Genre: Drama, legal, medical, thriller
Episode count: 16

Reasons to watch: There’s something about So Ji-sub I just love, and always will, so when he’s starring in Doctor Lawyer as the eponymous doctor-turned-lawyer, how can a girl refuse? Dramaland loves its stories of doctors. And its stories of the courtroom. And its stories of wronged heroes. Hey, why not sandwich all those things together? The result is Doctor Lawyer. Also starring Shin Sung-rok and Im Soo-hyang, the drama is written by the screenwriter who brought us Class of Lies (actually quite good, for a coldish crime show), so here’s hoping the doctoring is painless and the lawyering is pro bono.

Why Her?

Time slot: Friday-Saturday
Broadcaster: SBS
Genre: Drama, legal, romance
Episode count: 16

Reasons to watch: Once again, it’s the cast that is pulling me in, and I can’t tell if I’m more excited to see Seo Hyun-jin in this powerful role (and red dress), or if I want to see Hwang In-yub and Bae In-hyuk as our law students. I’m a sucker for these cat and mouse sort of dramas, where the power struggles are fierce, and the stakes are super high. Heo Jun-ho seems a worthy nemesis (and acting foil) for Seo Hyun-jin, so I think it’s just a matter of the writing being strong enough to pull all the moving parts together. Fingers crossed.

Cleaning Up

Time slot: Saturday-Sunday
Broadcaster: JTBC
Genre: Drama, comedy, crime
Episode count: 16

Reasons to watch: From the PD that brought us Mr. Queen, we have the story of three cleaning ladies who go rogue and start insider trading with the info they glean during their day jobs. Our cleaning ladies are played by Jeon So-min, Yeom Jung-ah, and Kim Jae-hwa, so it’s sure to be a hoot. Or it had better be a hoot, with such a fun premise. Then again, K-drama remakes (this one of a UK show) have been hit or miss, so it will be interesting to see how much this one is K-dramafied. Bonus: Na In-woo and Lee Moo-saeng also star.

Required fields are marked *

1 Jezz

June 2, 2022 at 5:51 PM

Legal streaming sites for:
Doctor Lawyer: Disney+
Why Her: Viki/Viu

Unfortunately, I don't think so if Cleaning Up will be legally stream to Iqiyi in Taiwan only. Sadly, it might availability angst except Taiwan and it might be three-day delay for those non-Netflix acquisition JTBC Kdramas only like this one. (https://twitter.com/jsmndaily_/status/1532367457549434880) It also available on KPlus Asia.

Required fields are marked *

Viki

June 3, 2022 at 11:33 PM

Nooo! Why Disney+?? Disney+ US has gotta get access to those K-dramas sooner, like Netflix. I was looking forward to weekly So Ji Sub!!

Anyway, interested in all. I hope they figure out the legal streams for Cleaning Up

Required fields are marked *

2 miso

June 2, 2022 at 5:58 PM

I really did think the weekends had gotten freer. Silly me 🤦‍♀️.

Cleaning Up is the only one which seems to have a fresh (albeit adapted) premise. Will check out the other two only for the cast.

Required fields are marked *

3 Jezz

June 2, 2022 at 5:59 PM

Im Soo-hyang now have two Kdramas this week! Woori the Virgin and Doctor Lawyer.

Both Kdramas had originally schedule to air last week (May 27) at a same time. It ended up to air in different timeslots and even in different schedules. So Woori the Virgin is the first one.

from Dramabeans Open Thread #755 (https://www.dramabeans.com/2022/04/open-thread-755/#comment-3959189) according to @welh:

MBC and SBS are currently embroiled in a dispute over the broadcast schedules of two upcoming dramas starring Im Soo Hyang. On April 5, JTBC News reported that the two broadcast networks were in conflict due to SBS’s plans to air Im Soo Hyang’s upcoming drama “Starting Today, We” (literal translation) in May, when MBC was already planning to air its own drama starring Im Soo Hyang, “Dr. Lawyer,” that same month.

MBC asserted that because the broadcast schedule for “Dr. Lawyer” had already been set well in advance, SBS’s sudden decision to air “Starting Today, We” at a similar time was a violation of business ethics. Pointing out the stark difference in the tone of the two dramas, the network claimed that the contrast between Im Soo Hyang’s two roles would be damaging to both series. With both dramas airing at the same time, MBC explained, viewers would have a harder time fully imagining the actress as her character in each show—and marketing for the two concurrently airing dramas was certain to clash.

Koreans are quite sensitive to people upstaging others. I can see why an artist’s agency would be upset to have their client (and their fandom) split between two shows airing at the same time. Split ratings would lower show ratings and hurt their client’s reputation. But then again, the network is paying the star for the work so it can control when and how it airs on TV. Besides, when I was in Korea, the networks often repeated shows during all hours of the day so if a fan wants to watch both shows he or she can.

Required fields are marked *

be ~more~ ~melodramatic~

June 3, 2022 at 10:24 AM

Wow that's really interesting, thanks for sharing! Makes me wonder if they had to do similar things for actors like Park Min-Young who's always hustling. Also makes me want to re-watch "The King of Dramas" haha

Required fields are marked *

4 Jezz

June 2, 2022 at 6:02 PM

Shin Sung-rok fan @katakwasabi will see Doctor Lawyer! Woohoo!

Required fields are marked *

5 loveblossom🌸

June 2, 2022 at 6:44 PM

Haven't watched great legal dramas lately... >_> But that's not stopping me from trying these! Weekends will continue to be busy haha.

I'm extra excited to see Hwang In Yub! Hoping this will be a good meaty role.

Required fields are marked *

6 Happy

June 2, 2022 at 7:38 PM

Waiting for this.

Required fields are marked *

7 be ~more~ ~melodramatic~

June 2, 2022 at 8:27 PM

Looking forward to seeing Seo Hyun-jin <3 Her character (and maybe the synopsis?) is giving me badass "How to Get Away with Murder" vibes

Required fields are marked *

8 ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

June 2, 2022 at 8:32 PM

Strangely, the only one I’m really looking forward to is Cleaning Up. Despite being an adaptation, the story sounds fresh (or clean, amiright?), the cast is awesome and the vibes immaculate.

Why Her? has a really cool cast, but that student-professor romance ain’t it. Something I heard on twitter about this show really stuck with me so I’ll repeat it here - It’s like Seo Hyun-jin got lost on the set of a high school webdrama and stayed there - and yeah, half of it feels like that. The other half sounds like a cool thriller right up my alley. But again, that student-professor romance…

My only real draw to Doctor Lawyer is Shin Sung-rok. I just hope he isn’t back to playing one-dimensional (sexy) villains again.

Required fields are marked *

Kafiyah Bello

June 3, 2022 at 4:11 AM

All of this, lol. I honestly would have been all-in but I always drop shows with teacher-student relationships because it is always unnecessary to the plot.

Required fields are marked *

ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

June 3, 2022 at 4:31 AM

Same. And even if it’s somehow necessary to the plot, it’s rarely depicted as it is - a gross violation of power and ethically dubious. It would be much more acceptable to me if this situation was shown to be predatory, as in real life, instead of some fantasized “romance”.

Required fields are marked *

Eazal

June 3, 2022 at 9:51 AM

I want to try, because I love SHJ to bits, but I am tired of this teacher - student trope (this is the reason I didn't watch Melancholia, and I love both LSJ and LDH...

Required fields are marked *

Kafiyah Bello

June 3, 2022 at 10:31 AM

Oh hey!!!!! And yes, agreed.

Required fields are marked *

Eazal

June 3, 2022 at 11:05 AM

Hi twinnie!! Bogoshipoh!

ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

June 3, 2022 at 12:01 PM

Yup, same here. I remember how Melancholia‘s press tried to say that people’s main barrier to the drama was a general dislike of math rather than the illicit relationship. Oh, those were weird times.

Required fields are marked *

fab

June 5, 2022 at 12:24 PM

Unbelievable, how delusional can you be?
I actually went in the first episode not aware of this unimaginative plotline and that's the last of what I've seen of it.
His aim was probably to manipulate the viewer's opinion and I hope he failed.

DancingEmma

June 4, 2022 at 2:13 PM

@ladynightshade: I agree with you about how problematic the student-teacher romance subplots are. From my personal vantage point in the university context in RL, only unethical and troubled teachers would ever embark on such a destructive path. And, unfortunately, there are a minority of mostly male teachers who consistently engage in such conduct with impunity even in the face of general and consistent disdain from their colleagues.

Required fields are marked *

9 panshel

June 2, 2022 at 8:38 PM

Why Her's cast and story are pulling me in. I don't know what their drama age gap is, but irl it's only six years.

Required fields are marked *

10 ssandulak

June 3, 2022 at 12:36 AM

I’ll definitely be checking out Doctor Lawyer and Why Her? So Ji-sub is always great, but I’m hit or miss on the shows he picks. I’m also not a huge fan of medical kdramas…usually. Why Her has a great cast so I’m looking forward to that one but I’m hoping with the (seemingly?) stock standard premise, that it’ll give us some good characters and gripping drama.

Cleaning Up is the wild card. I like the cast and I haven’t seen the show it’s based on, so I’m not going to be comparing it to anything. No expectations for this one, so I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

Required fields are marked *

11 wandering spot

June 3, 2022 at 9:42 AM

Wanted to watch Doctor Lawyer but I am not a fan of Im soo Hyang so I guess its gonna bea pass for me.
Will check others if it is available in any of the legal streaming sites in my region.

Required fields are marked *

JillofAllTrades

June 4, 2022 at 4:33 AM

Same here! I am going to definitely check the other two. I am skipping a So-ji-sub and Shik Sung Rok drama. But Im Soo Hyang is unbearable for me.

I saw Why her on Viki with one episode already subbed. (Due to relying on free fan subs on Viki, you have to wait in spite of paying for the premium subscription which is a long time per peeve of Viki users)

I guess the other one is going be on Netflix.

Required fields are marked *

12 Midnight

June 3, 2022 at 9:49 AM

Class of Lies was one of the best shows I have ever seen. I am immediately curious about Doctor Lawyer, despite the incredibly unimaginative title.

Required fields are marked *

13 Aditya | Liberation club member

June 3, 2022 at 1:47 PM

Good Doctor
Ghost Doctor
Dr.Romantic
Doctors
Doctor Stranger
Doctor John
Doctor Prisoner

and now Doctor Lawyer.

Any guesses on the next drama name to include "Doctor" in the title?

Required fields are marked *

Doppelganger

June 3, 2022 at 4:01 PM

Doctor Mafia
Doctor CEO
Chaebol Doctor

Required fields are marked *

Heartoppaya

June 3, 2022 at 11:01 PM

The Doctor
Doctor's son (my one man struggle to bring back Jung Kyung Ho's character in Heartless City
Good Doctor Gone Bad (inspired by TXT)
Why Doctor?
Doctor, Doctor

Required fields are marked *

ar_arguably romantic

June 4, 2022 at 1:12 PM

Doctor-President (reference to the comedy, Fresh off the boat, where the mom aims for her youngest son to become doctor-president)

Required fields are marked *

DancingEmma

June 4, 2022 at 2:16 PM

@aditya: Doctor Shaman but the credit fir this should go to @hacja.

Required fields are marked *

14 Pat Munzer

June 3, 2022 at 11:31 PM

Where can I watch Doctor Lawyer in the US? Disney+ is not airing it here😡

Required fields are marked *

Zora

June 5, 2022 at 10:45 AM

Soo annoying 😠 Like what is the point of getting Kdrama contents if they are only going stream it in Asia+Pacific? Hello, there are Northern American viewers/fans too?!

Required fields are marked *

15 The Kdrama Enthusiast

June 4, 2022 at 10:01 PM

Most excited for Cleaning Up. The other two? Not so much.

Required fields are marked *