Saturday 26 September 2015

[Drama Recap and Analysis] D-Day Episode 1

D-Day (2015, South Korea)






Title: 디 데이
Also known as: D-Day
Genre: Drama, Medical, Disaster
Episodes: 20
Broadcast network: jTBC
Broadcast period: Sep 18, 2015 to Nov 21, 2015



Lee Hae Sung is a surgeon who leads the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) and puts the needs of the injured citizens above any concerns about money. But his altruistic approach puts him at odds with the cold, calculating surgeon Han Woo Jin. Jung Ddol Mi is an orthopedic resident who is thrust into the chaos just as she first arrives in the city, while An Dae Gil is a caring young doctor who is the youngest member of the DMAT. However, a disaster strikes Seoul. It paralyzed the city and the drama will unfold around rescue workers and emergency doctors who jump in to help. (Source: MDL)



Cast:



  • Kim Young Kwang: Dr. Lee Hae Sung
  • Jung So Min: Dr. Jung Ddol Mi
  • Hak Suk Jin: Prof. Han Woo Jin
  • Cha In Pyo: Goo Ja Hyuk
  • Kim Sang Ho: Police Officer Choi Il Seop
  • Kim Hye Eun: Dr. Kang Joo Ran
  • Yoon Joo Hee: Nurse Park Ji Na
  • Lee Sung Yeol: Intern Ahn Dae Gil


Overall Score:
Character Development:
Plot Development:
Acting:
Soundtrack:
  

                              [SPOILERS BELOW!] This is a recap and analysis of episode 1 



The episode starts off with a mysterious man in a doctor's gown racing down a bridge and through the streets of Seoul until he finally stops in front of the court building.


We quickly find out that the man is our main character, Dr. Lee Hae Sung, and that he's there as a defendant in the case which involved a patient who suffered cardic arrest. Hae Sung tells the lawyers that the reason why he was called to court is because he did everything he could to save the patient, even after he had died. He says “When performing CPR, I keep going even if bones break and pierce the lungs or the heart. Why? Because if you die, that’s the end”, showing off his moral and unbreakable dedication for his work. As soon as the trial is over, he races back to the hospital where he's jumps straight at new tasks. Hae Sung updates his collegues on how the trial went as he runs around and makes sure to check on everyone, he even pushes aside his colleague who tries to reject a not so badly hurt patient. Suddenly an emergency patients enters the building and Hae Sung makes a quick decision to do a ultra-sound check and not go through the full check-up as he fears that the patient might suffer cardic arrest. He uses an ultrasound to diagnose the condition and orders a surgery room, but he’s stopped by the incoming Director Park, who notifies him that all the surgery rooms are full and suggests that the patient should be transferred since this hospital is a specialized one. Hae Sung tells Director Park that the patient might die in the transfer but the Director doesn't seem to care much as he is certain that the patient will die as it is, since the patients death risk is 90%. Hae Sung insists that the patient should get surgery since the chance of survival is 10% and even adds a snarky "Now it's down to 9%" as he wheel the patient to the surgery room.


In the operation room, the patient continues to bleed and suffers cardiac arrest but Hae Sung refuses to give up and instead performs CPR, and keeps on going even if the heart monitor runs flat and one of his collegues start to take off his gloves. He tells Hae Sung that they should stop and that the patient is already dead but Hae Sung refuses to listen.
The collegue warns him how he should "seriously stop if he doesn't want to be sent back to court again for perfoming surgery on a dead body" but in that moment the heart starts to beat again and the surgery continues and ends with a success. Afterwards Hae Sung looks up at his collegue with a very serious glare and tells him that "it's not the vital monitor that pronounces death. It is a doctor who gives up on his patient" (Okay, seriously, I'm not easily moved but those words really struck me right in the heart :'3 I love this character already! He's so passionate about his work and rightious!) Meanwhile, Director Lee is in his fancy office and cleans his toy ships as he murmurs to himself how "those who don’t want to stay on his ships should get off" which was most likely directed towards Hae Sung who kind of shoved him off with his speech and surgery miracle attempt at the 9% survival rate patient. (You're just an grumpy old man who can't stand the fact that someone who dares to go against your stupid rules and who succeeds better than you! <_< ugh)

The next scene shows all the head doctors and Director Park sitting at a meeting and the Director announces that the Chef of the ER-department Dr. Kang Joo Ran brought in the biggest profit this month, the meeting makes it sound as if he only cares about economy and profits as he discussed nothing else but that (grumpy man who only cares about money...great. I love this man already. Now I'm just waiting for him to announce that 'only rich people should be treated at our hospital' that'll make him even more loveable) In the hallway Hae Sung is met by Dr. Kang Joo Ran, and she tells him that Director Park wants to see him. She also scolds him for rashly entering surgery without letting the patient go through proper CT scans, but Hae Sung tells her that he knows that she's also doing some stuff without approval from others. He tells her that he knows that she sends patients in for extra scans when their vitals are perfectly fine just to earn more money for the Director. Dr. Kang doesn't deny the claim but also tries to explain herself that she is just doing it so that the ER-department can get more funds so less people will have to die on the street. She continues to say that in order to accomplish her goal, she is prepared to do anything, perhaps even get her hands dirty. Hae Sung looks at her, tells her that her statment is hypocritical and heads off to the Director's office.


The Director first congratulates Hae Sung for performing such an excellent miracle surgery that made the 9% into 100% survival for the patient before he completely throws his praises in the trashcan as he points out the image damage that Hae Sung has caused the hospital and tells Hae Sung that he will be transfered to the Han River Mirae Hospital, a facility notorious for expectionally bad medical service. Hae Sung is struck speechless by the sudden information as the Director mischieviously presses out a small grin. He also glady announces that Hae Sung's mother also will have to transfer to another Hospital. Hae Sung asks about the promise they made but Director Lee waves it off casually by saying that his mother "will just be transfered" as if that makes any sense. Hae Sung starts to strutter as he tries to explain to Director Lee that it's dangerous to transfer his mom since she is in a coma and can suffer a heart attack at any given moment, and that this is the only hospital that can provide her with the help she needs but Director Park (who by the way, looked down at his phone as poor Hae Sung was talking) just tells him "You should've behaved well. We took care of her even though it wasn't our fault. And you're still ungrateful?" (Okay seriously dude, can you be more heartless? He could've said "serves you right, not my problem buddy" and it would've been just as bitchy <_<) He then goes on to become daddy-good-good by suggesting that he will let Hae Sung stay if he makes an oath never to perform a "circus" surgery and tells Hae Sung to kneel down in front of him (and beg him to let him stay) Hae Sung hesitates for a second before he confidently leaves the room without looking back, wiping the smug smile off of the Director face. (HAHA serves you right! >:D) Meanwhile, rumors have already started to spread about Hae Sung being kicked out, and his friend, nurse Park Ji Na finds him to suggest other options. But Hae Sung knows that no other hospital who would take him in if they find out that they also need to care for his mother, so he decides to just accept the situation as it is. He goes to visit his mom who is lying in a coma. He apologizes for the change of hospitals, but he promises to make it up to her by visiting more often. He then strokes her hair, and asks why she ages even when all she does is sleep and also laughs that she’ll be shocked to find him an old ahjussi (korean for middle aged man) when she wakes up.


The scene switches to a meeting where a group of assemblymen hold a very important speech about how South Korea should invest more money and research into tracking and preventing natural disasters such as earthquakes as the probability of South Korea getting hit by one is not non-existent and the percentage risk is in growth. Assemblyman Goo Ja Hyuk even highlights the lack of earthquake-resistant buildings, particularly schools and hospitals but to the suggestions are met with yawns and dry comments.


Afterwards, he asks a journalist to write a good article for them, as he's not yet ready to give up his idea when his phone suddenly rings. Dr. Kang Joo Ran calls him and tells him that she just lost her right hand man and asks Ja Hyuk if he wants to buy her a drink.


At the same time, the fire department receives a call about a suicide attempt, and firefighter Captain Choi Il Sub find out that it's the same man who they've dealt with repeatedly on numerous occassions. One member of his team, named Lee Woo Sung, receives a message from Hae Sung about him and Mom being transferred to another hospital, which makes him hesitate before reporting for duty. The fire department team arrives at the Han River where a homeless man strums his guitar and performs a weird little song. Captain Choi rolls his eyes at the sight and expresses his frustration that the man shouldn't have called when he's perfectly fine and how they couldn't spent this time on serious cases. The homeless man doesn't seem to mind the situation and is happy to see Captain Choi as he considers him a very close friend.


Suddenly the scene switches and we see a young female doctor, Jung Ddol Mi run out of an ambulance and rush inside a bathroom. While sitting on the toilet, she looks through a magazine with an article about the famous robot doctor Han Woo Jin and shows interest in him and Mirae hospital. When she goes out of the toilet stall she is met by a handful of men wearing puzzled expressions. It doesn't take a lot of effort to realize that she's by accident rushed to the men's bathroom instead of the ladies' and quickly makes up a clumsy excuse for her mistake.
As she leaves, she gets a phonecall from someone and the person that she'll be late as it'll take a while to drive from Seoul to Busan. She doesn't seem to care about that though as she murmurs that she has someone whom she wants to meet in Seoul and asks her ambulance collegue if he can wait another hour. She calls up Han Woo Jin but he immidiately rejects her call as he's busy performing a surgery. Ddol Mi presses out a sad expression and tells her collegue that they should drive off to the Han River, so they can enjoy their short time in Seoul before they head back home. While at the Han River Ddol Mi witnesses a confrontation between a goup of bikers and the homeless man + Captain Choi and his men. Captain Choi chasing the bikers down but misses to catch them and ends up hurt. At the same time, one of the bikers get hit by a car. Luckily for him, nurse Park Ji Na happened to be jogging by and immidately checks the bikers pulse. With the help of Ddol Mi they get the hurt biker in the ambulance and Ji Na tells them to drive to the nearest hospital which happens to be Mirae. While in the ambulance the patient (biker) is in severe pain and his pulse is dropping and Ji Na tells Ddol Mi that she must do something.
She gives her a needle and tells her that she needs to stab the man's chest. Ddol Mi hesitates and says that even though she's an doctor she doesn't know how to do it. Ji Na insists that she must do it, else the patient might die. As Ddol Mi continues to hesitate, Ji Na grabs the needle herself and stabs the man in the chest. Soon afterwards the man starts to breath normally again and the both girls sign in relief.

As they arrive to the ER at Mirae they're met by Hae Sung who checks up the patient. Nurse Ji Na gives credit to Ddol Mi for saving the patient's life. Ddol Mi is struck speechless when Hae Sung then starts to compliment her for her quick thinking, but also notes to her disapproval that he is speaking to her informally. Captain Choi also arrives at the ER together with his collegues. Hae Sung notices Woo Sung (who we can guess is related to him?) and tries to make eye contact, but Woo Sung deliberately ignores him.


While Ddol Mi and Ji Na help scan and treat the patient, Dr. Han Woo Jin enters the room and hears the patient thank Ji Na for saving his life. Ddol Mi notices Woo Jin and tries to get his attention but he is too occupied with glaring at Ji Na for some odd reason. Meanwhile, a drunk old man enters the ER, and Intern Ahn Dae Gil is quick to his feet to check on him. After countless attempts he fails to figure out what is wrong with the old man and instead listens to his collegue's order to tie him up.


During all of these hectic scnearios, Hae Sung is sitting by his desk sulking and playing around with a piece of paper until Dr. Kang goes up to him and tells him to help too. Hae Sung flies up from the chair, and happily runs off to the ER. The scene quickly changes and we see Ddol Mi talking to Ji Na outside the ER. Ji Na asks her if she'll head back to Busan now that the patient is feeling better, but Ddol Mi says that she can't leave because everyone think that she was the one who gave the first aid, so if anything goes wrong she will be blamed. Ji Na assures her that nothing will go wrong and that even if it does, Ddol Mi can blame it on her, she will take full responsibility.
Suddenly, as Ji Na is about to leave the hallway, she meets Woo Jin, who blocks her way and pulls her with him into the dark hallway. She tries to resist but he won't let her. He tells her with a serious voice that "you know what a nurse shouldn't do. What if the patient died?" Ji Na explains herself with that she would never be able to forgive herself if a patient died on her watch, but Woo Jin doesn't let her off that easily. He furiously tells her that he doesn't mind if she is cold towards him, but he can't understand why she's acting this way and lurking around Hae Sung and how she should cherish herself more" (I didn't really get that one, I guess he meant it as "now you're suddenly not following our orders like Hae Sung, who is also a troublemaker, even if he does something good for the patients") Ji Na snorts and criticizes his choice to become a robot surgeon and also adds that “It’s been three years and how it's odd to see the amazing and logical Professor Han be tortured by old emotions".


We're quickly thrusted back into the ER-room where the drunk old man patient is experiencing a seizure. Intern Ahn Gil freezes, unsure what to do. Hae Sung checks on the patient he scolds the intern for his incompetence and how he didn't see that the patient had fallen into a diabetic shock which could've been prevented if the intern had given a incorrect diagnosis. 
Ddol Mi is there too and she wittnesses Hae Sung scolding the intern. Suddenly Prof. Han Woo Jin shows up in the ER and calls out Hae Sung for working at the hospital unauthorized. He disapproves and scolds Dr. Kang’s decision to let Hae Sung work and mocks her desperation to fund her department. Ddol Mi watches the scene from behind, and we're shown a quick scene where the drunk old man, now free from his pain and seizure, notes Hae Sung’s temporary status.


The earthquake reporter, who is working with Assemblyman Gu Ja Hyuk, keeps his promises and tries to convince his superior to consider his idea of writing about major disasters, but his proposal is denied. The scene changes back to the Mirae Hospital as Dr. Kang walks across the parking lot towards her car when Ji Na suddenly approaches her and hands her her letter of resignation. Dr. Kang is shocked but Ji Na explains that she was the one who saved the patient in the ambulance, and that Prof. Woo Jin found out about it. She also notes that the ER department without Hae Sung doesn’t appeal to her and that she should better leave before she causes more harm to the hospital.



Dr. Kang calls Hae Sung and tells him about Ji Na and the patient. On his way out, Hae Sung runs into Ddol Mi and accuses her for taking undeserved credit. She justifies her actions by explaining she’s never treated a patient with a collapsed lung, but Hae Sung tells her that Ji Na has never done it before either, and yet she had the courage to do it and how Ddol Mi is just using inexperience as an excuse, in the end she just didn't want to take the blame if something wrong wrong. She's a coward who doesn't deserve to call herself a doctor and how the most unlucky people are the ones who entrust their lives to a doctor like Ddol Mi. His harsh words clearly offend her, and she crouches down crying.

Hae Sung then runs off and catches up to Ji Na and tries to cheer her up by suggesting that they go out for a drink, and celebrate that she successfully performed that needle-stab-treatment which saved the life of the (biker) patient. In another scene, we see Assemblyman Gu Ja Hyuk and the Minister meet up with Director Park and Prof. Woo Jin to discuss the direction of their funding for Mirae Hospital. The Minister leaves early and Dr. Kang, who is waiting outside, witnesses the Minister entering the car of a mysterious woman.


Meanwhile, Hae Sung and Ji Na share a drink as Ji Na expresses her satisfaction over saving a life. She wonders why she didn’t become a doctor, to which Hae Sung jokingly replies "because you can't be better than me". Suddenly something crashes into the restaurant window, throwing Hae Sung and Ji-na onto the floor. Past the debris, Hae Sung spots a gas tube leaking and yells at Ji Na to run.


Just as they run outside, another explosion occurs in the building. The explosion is so severe that it made the ground on the entire street shake. People start to scream as other buildings and objects start to collapse one after the other. Ddol Mi watches this right outside the convenience store next door, and the three of them stand frozen in shock as a crane speedily fall toward them. With that hardcore cliffhanger episode 1 ends.



My thoughts:
Let me start off my saying that I think I'll have to reconsider what I put as my least favorite genre in dramaland, sure this is a medical drama, but this episode, hands down has got to be one of the best first episodes I've seen...ever. No joke. It left me speechless. I love the introduction to the plot, I love the characters, especially Hae Sung, I think he's such an all-around interesting guy, from his backstory (with his coma-bedridden mom, to his cold relationship with his brother) to his rightious and passionate view on his work as a doctor. I'm just so excited to find out more about him. He's got my eyes on him. Great job scriptwriter! Not to mention, some of the comments Hae Sung said made me almost tear up. He knows how to say things, they really hit you painfully deep. Especailly what he said to Ddol Mi, that's gotta hurt ._.
As for Ddol Mi, her introduction was very funny. I think she's one of those characters that'll mature up and gain more confidence with time, and I can't wait to see her character development. Ji Na, she isn't anything special but she isn't boring either. I like that she's fearless and quick in her judgment, I can see why Hae Sung is friends with her. They are kind of similar. The director and Prof. Han are kind of playing the big bad guys in this drama, I guess. Well, I'm not sure with Prof. Han, he is mysterious but when it comes to the Director, I think the scriptwriter knew what strings to pull inside my brain to really make me hate a character. We're only in the first episode and I already want to send Director Park to swim with the sharks -.-* ugh....he's interesting through. I love my evil villains so it's a love-hate relationship I guess haha xD Overall it was a very good first episode, I really like how all the important characters got their segments, we got to grasp all of them more or less, the plot was pretty intense, with a lot of scene-switching, especially in the last 20 minutes of the episode, but I can't say I mind that. I can't really complain about anything because I was honestly not expecting anything from this drama. I'm very skeptical when it comes to medicals, tome they're all about surgery and long talks and more surgery...but this one had me on the edge of my seat from the very begining so yeah ._. applause! I really hope it'll keep it up, perhaps not with the same intense scene-switchings and sudden falling cranes, unless it wants to give me a heart attack (hm...although I dunno if I would mind that if it's Hae Sung treating me *_* hehe, drools).

Like I said, it was a very good first episode, I'm pleasantly surprised. If I had to point down one favorite thing with this episode it'd be the dialogue. I found it very clever and deep. As I mentioned before, some of Hae Sung's comments made me think and feel all sorts of emotions.
As for a "least favorite" part, that would probably have to be the kind of "weird/fake-looking" smoke, and special effects at the end. Now, I can't really compare it to anything since this is Koreas, or Asian dramaland's first disaster drama, and as alwasy the first episodes are low budget compared to the future episodes, but yeah....it's not a big flaw, and it's not like it made me want to dig my eyes out, but I just had to point it out since I can't make this first analysis/thoughts comment only be praise xD I have to be a bit evil too mwahahaha.
Oh, another thing that I would like to add is that I like how the letter ‘D’ in the title ‘D-Day’ doesn’t just mean one thing, but three – ‘Disaster’, ‘Despair’ and ‘Determination’. Those three D’s hint on what's to come in this drama and I'm both scared and excited about it xD

What did you guys think? Do you agree/disagree? Were you as pleasantly surprised by the plot as I was? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Well then, until next time guys ~

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