Ghost Doctor 고스트 닥터 [tvN]

The 2022 16-episode Ghost Doctor recently finished broadcasting, and I must say the screenplay was one of the better ones of the k-dramas I've watched.

Through many hijinks of a coma-ghost surgeon possessing a resident, the screenplay touched on mental trauma, selfless dedication, disappointment at not being able to convey thoughts and emotions while it was possible, and had many happy endings.  Somehow, because of the journeys that many of the characters went through, the happy endings didn't seem so grating or fantasy-like.  They even lent a touch of hope in this bizzare never-ending pandemic and the situation in Europe.

There were quite a few familiar faces in the cast:

• Rain: this is the first drama I've watched with him in it.  Must say that the chemistry he had with the younger members of the cast was rather natural.
• the ever-realiable Song Dongil: always could portray the character he was cast in.
• the cleaner lady who was possessed by Song Dongil's character: I remember seeing her in The Miracle We Met and Guardian.  Is she a method actress?

The other cast members pulled their weight too, but I supposed the screenplay was better thought-out that almost all the story arcs had development and closure, and that was what made Ghost Doctor satisfying.    The arcs of the 3 coma-ghosts also developed quite convincing.  1 of them eventually did not wake up, and the character accepted that, and through the resident, managed to convey his wishes to be relocated to a hospital nearer his home.  While it seems like coma-ghosts do not retain memories of the time when they were not in their bodies, the screenplay suggested that somehow, they do retain some memories, to a different extent for each patient.  That is a interesting thought.

On the strength of the screenplay, I decided to ignore the inane product placements in Ghost Doctor. :)