Rocky Ringtones, Referees, and Ramen: Dr. Champ Recap/Review (Episodes 3-4)

From now on, this poster will be my wallpaper.  Sorry, Damon Salvatore, the spirit is willing but the...

Imagine yourself; a hotshot young doctor, at the peak of your career, numero uno in your class, heaping praises from your colleagues and professors, making your mark in the world of medicine, when all of a sudden, your mentor/boss asks you to conceal a massive medical screwup.  Would you stay silent knowing that this cover up would strengthen your relationship with your mentor and help you climb up the medical ladder, or would you rather stick it to the man?  And if you choose the latter, would you be able to sacrifice your career, ambitions, even your friends?  Would you be ready for the repercussions of your actions?  Are you prepared to face the eventual wrath of your evil ex-boss?  And how would you feel if someone - an unlikely hero; who's more of an arrogant and insufferable smart-ass than a knight in shining armor emerges, rescues you from hopelessness and despair, then with all the chutzpah of a renegade squadron general, kicks your evil ex-boss' big, fat ass?  I mean, ain't that awesome?

That being said, Episode 3 of Dr. Champ delivers one of the best "you're fired" sequences I've seen in television history.  True, there is no ominous music in the background.  No tongue wagging, "you're fired" finger-pointing in the manner of Donald Trump.  No dramatic hysterics.  Dr. Lee Do Wook just calmly asks the hospital director to give Dr. Seo (Kim Yeon Woo's evil ex-boss) the axe, "Director, I have something to say about our agreement... Please fire Dr. Seo who is sitting over there." leaving the evil doctor slackjawed - all dignity mangled, and utterly humiliated. LOL!  BEST. SCENE. EVER!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  On to the episode...MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

The panel interview for the new post of physician at the Olympic village proceeds with Dr. Lee giving the applicants a hard time - asking questions then frowning at their answers, scoffing, and being just as sarcastic and smarmy as he can be. Kim Yeon Woo uneasily squirms in her seat and when asked what made her leave her former hospital, she was saved by a nurse who disrupts the panel interview.  As it turns out,  Park Ji Heon's leg (the one Kim has incised) has flared up and he needs to be immediately seen.  All the doctors rush out of the interview room.  

The clinic then becomes a classroom as Lee and the other doctors toss out ideas regarding Park's condition, his diagnosis, and the interventions the good-hearted athlete needs.  As of this writing, the English subs are still a little bit off and incomplete, so I'm just guessing that's what they are doing.  From amidst all this deliberation and medical hullabaloo, Kim announces that Park suffered from Compartment Syndrome during a prior fight and since such condition is regarded as a medical emergency, she performed fasciotomy.  Okay, Wikipedia help me here.  [Compartment Syndrome is the compression of nerves, blood, and muscles inside a closed space (compartment) within the body.  Such condition builds up intra-compartmental pressure and disrupts capillary blood flow.  This in turn, compromises arterial perfusion leading to tissue death or necrosis.  Fasciotomy is a medical emergency surgical treatment performed to relieve acute compartment syndrome.  This involves cutting the fascia to relieve tension or pressure and to treat the resulting loss of circulation to the tissue or muscle.]  Uh, comprende, everyone?

Everyone is awed at Kim's revelation and quick thinking except for Lee.  He throws out a few more questions at Kim, basically showing everyone that he's not impressed at her at all.  Park, who has now forgotten the pain on his leg and has somehow miraculously gotten all better , thanks to the healing power of uh, infatuation; gallantly comes to her defense: Doctor dude, she saved my life, okay? That's what matters.

Kim finally gets the job! Yay!  New spacious clinic, new boss and colleagues, new patients - everything looks all sparkly and real good.  Even the smell of her newly-furnished office wafts out of my laptop's screen.  Kim looks very much ready for a fresh start and she performs her tasks dutifully although she can barely conceal her noobness in sports.  She also advices Park to temporarily stop Judo practice since his leg needs time to fully recuperate.  Of course, this earns the jealousy and ire of his douche-but-hot teammates.

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Lee sets up a dinner meeting between Dr. Seo and Dr. Kim; in the hopes that the two would eventually patch up their conflict and resolve their differences.  

There is so much tension in the restaurant, you could cut it with a knife.  Seo and Kim dagger eye each other like characters in Animal Face-Off, nostrils flaring, ready to pounce at the slightest stimulus,  while Lee scans the menu and being all nonchalant and indifferent on the impending war that's about to materialize in front of him.  The evil doctor humiliates Kim then cruelly demands Lee to fire her or there'd be hell to pay.  Dr. Seo, watch out for that... Okay, too late!

Devastated and shamed, Kim rushes out of the restaurant and sobs her heart out in the elevator.  Poor, poor girl.

Back at the Olympic Village, Park receives a call that his sister-in-law is in some sort of trouble at a local karaoke bar.  He gets into an altercation with a moron who turns out to be Kim's screwup of a brother! Imagine that? What are the odds of them meeting for the 250th time?  Totally embarrassed at this turn of events, Kim sits down on a bench, looking all forlorn and Park decides to comfort her.  Aww, isn't he sweet?  He even gives her his jacket though I think the writers just want to take this opportunity to show us his magnificent delts.  

While inside the cab, they talk about how in the game of life, honest people need to beat them no-good cheaters.  Nonetheless, when all hope seems lost, and it seems like the good people will never win, there are always the referees - the ones who can change the game and let good triumph.  Kim then sighs and says, "I don't have a referee."  Ahhh, too much metaphor!!! Of course, the driver needs to swerve so that Kim can smack-dab her head right into Park's awesome lap! Naughty, ajeossi.  

Dr. Kim and Dr. Lee, the coaches, as well as several athletes from Taereung get invited on a celebration hosted by Kim's former hospital and everyone practically runs into former flames and former evil bosses.  How about that? Start slicing the major cake of awkward!  At this point, I'm kinda worried that this will slide into yet another trite, passive-aggressive exes confrontation, I'm-over-you-no-I'm-not, No-I'm-definitely-over-you-no-I'm-not, annoying melodrama scene with massive flashbacks and voice-overs. 

But no.. a grand, triumphant, and awesome event follows that jolts me out of my existence and gives me pure joy!!!  (See third paragraph)  HAH! For the win!

Kim wakes up the following day all refreshed and very happy, reliving last night's "firing" scene.  She goes to work and relates the wonderful news to Park, telling him that she has finally found her referee.  There's a certain glint in her eyes that hints the beginning of some subtle infatuation-admiration towards Dr. Lee (?).  Hmm, curiouser and curiouser.

More awkward elevator scenes! 

Seriously, the writers need to add more layers and depth to Kang Hee Young.  I know she's supposed to be the fourth leg on this love quadrangle but the writers need to at least give her more dialogue.  All she does is stand around, looking all pretty, and pretending to be deep and remorseful.  

And then we cut to some more medical drama involving an athlete dying of a liver disease.  "I just ruined an athlete's career," Lee ruefully says as he stares off at the distance.  Well waddayaknow, this guy isn't so heartless after all.

Okay, since when did Kim become Lee's official driver?  

All the histrionics promptly cause Kim to forget a promised dinner date with Park.  The poor fellow has been patiently waiting for her for hours in a restaurant; consuming nothing but water.  Haha! Isn't this guy so awfully adorable and funny? 

More back stories and revelations!  Dr. Lee is all glassy-eyed and plaintive of course, and just to let us know that he is terribly hurtin' and his heart is all-a-breakin', he dramatically places his palm against the glass door while he looks woefully at Kang Hee Young as she swims lapses on the pool.  

So she leaves him just when he needed her most?  Kang Hee Young, you give love a bad name! :)  And now that she's divorced and back on the market, will Lee finally forgive and forget, and give her another chance? Oh gawd, please, no!    

Revenge of the evil ramen!!!  Of all places, why does it have to be Park's crotch?  Aigoo-ness!

Sweet, hilarious, and aww-inducing moments.  I just love how Kim and Park celebrate their success by giving a "ramen" toast to each other - he, for making it to the nationals and she, for having a new job.  Ah, if only life were always perfect like this, kids, we would not find Kim Yeon Woo...

embroiled in one heap of a medical mess the very next day.  Apparently, one of her patients has been caught doping and she needs to explain herself to the medical board.  And the medical board, boy oh boy, are those people so pissed.

Trouble's a foot!  Kim freezes...Perfect your love! 

I love how this show is progressing.  We are seeing more back stories and everything is being laid out in a nice, quick manner.  We are getting more dynamics between our two lead doctors and I'm pretty excited to see how they develop trust, mutual respect, and concern for each other over time.  

I'm hoping that the writers would present us with more compelling confounding medical cases and scenarios like the ones in House or ER, but that's just my wishful thinking.  At any rate, I still adore the whimsical lightness of this medical drama.

Ah, the love quadrangle is slowly being developed.  There are hints of Kim's infatuation with Lee and we're starting to feel Park's jealousy as he sees the growing bond between our two doctors.  We know that Lee is still hung up on Kang but will he want to reunite with her?  And will Kang get more speaking parts in the future?  What is evil ex-boss plotting now?  Is he in some nefarious cave somewhere, plotting his nefarious schemes, and planning his nefarious revenge on our heroes?  What about Park's teammates?  Are their characters going to be reduced as ego-tripping d-bags who, if they're not flashing their awesome abs, will make our favorite athlete's life in Taereung miserable?  And after hearing the theme from Rocky, what upbeat "fight-fight-fight" song will the producers give us next?  Eye of the Tiger? Danger Zone? Time of My Life? Never Say Never?  

Life is a series of questions.  Tune in next time for Dr. Champ.  Thanks for reading, guys.  Peace out! :)

Ah, UTW... As always, you are so cute!

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