To fill in the void of Red Sky last week, I’ve been binge watching Romantic Dr. Kim 1&2 back to back and found renewed love for the series. When I watched them live, I was super annoyed with the young doctors of both seasons and thought they were hopeless and totally train wrecks, but for some reason I managed to pull through and finished both seasons despite my exasperation.

Now, rewatching the seasons back to back is a wonderful experience because this time I can see the growth of not only the young doctors but also the elders of Doldam hospital, especially Kim Sabu. His experience with the oddball trio of Kang Dong Joo, Yoon Seo Jung, and Do In Beom in Season 1 definitely prepares him to be a better mentor for Seo Woo Jin and Cha Eun Jae in Season 2. His temperament improves significantly in Season 2. He learns when to soften his teaching and manages to show more nuances and empathy in his words. In general, imo the writing and directing are much better in Season 2, the plot transition is less choppy, camera work is of higher quality, and overacting is less of an eyesore. Another thing I like about Season 2 is that although the problems of WJ and EJ more or less resemble that of DJ and SJ, I found the WJ-EJ couple are more endearing, probably because they’re always willing to go out of their way to help each other and their relationship doesn’t involve any love triangle, while DJ-SJ are too caught up in their own problems to reach out to each other.

I’m excited that SBS has started discussions regarding production of Season 3 with Han Suk Kyu and Ahn Hyo Seop, my favorite duo from Season 2. I really hope that we can also have the return of Yang Se Jong and Lee Sung Kyung, that would be perfect! Also, no comical villain(s) for Season 3 please. Building the new trauma center with government funding indeed would involve some serious politics, but I’d rather see more of our Doldam staff growing in terms of professional advancement and doctor-patient relationship. Winter 2022 please come quickly!

Here’s my favorite scene from Season 2.

4
2