Review: The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call – The Fangirl Verdict

THE SHORT VERDICT:

This show is glossy, snappy and zippy, with a touch of irreverence, and overall very slurpable and fun to watch; narrative arcs don’t take very long to resolve, and they are effectively engaging, such that I’d happily finish an episode, and feel ready for another.

Beyond the slurp factor, I think what lifts Show to the next level, is that it demonstrates a great deal of heart.

From our core team, to some of the patient arcs, that heartfelt quality manages to peek through the gloss and irreverence, making this story world and these characters linger with me, beyond the ending credits.

Very good; would recommend. 🥲

THE LONG VERDICT:

This is one of those rare shows that grabbed me right away, in episode 1, so much so that I basically already started feeling wistful at the end of episode 2, that I would run out of episodes to watch, quite soon. 🥲

As I started getting closer to the finish line, I was even more engaged and invested than at first, and felt distinctly dismayed that I was almost at the end, when it felt like I’d barely gotten started. 😅

I really do think that this one could have been 16 episodes, like Dr. Romantic seasons 2 and 3 (reviews here and here!); I would’ve been down for that, for sure. 😁

Which means I’m very pleased indeed, to hear that there are plans to keep Show going, at least until Season 3.

Thank you in advance, Dramaland! 🤩

HOW I’M APPROACHING THIS REVIEW

First I’ll talk about how to manage your expectations going into this one, and what viewing lens would be most helpful.

After that, I talk about stuff I liked on a more macro level, before I give the spotlight to selected characters and relationships, in a separate section. Finally, I spend some time talking about my thoughts on the finale episodes.

If you’re interested in my blow-by-blow reactions, &/or all the various Patreon members’ comments during the course of our watch, you might like to check out my episode notes on Patreon here.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS

Here are a few things that I think would be helpful to keep in mind, to maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. You don’t have to be a fan of medical shows

..in order to enjoy this show.

I don’t consider myself very much of a fan of medical dramas per se, but this particular brand of medical drama is very approachable, I find, and very much works for me.

2. Think Dr. Romantic, but glossier

If you liked Dr. Romantic (Season 1 Open Threads here!), I’m pretty sure you’d like this too. This is in a very similar sort of vein, just glossier, more compact, and a little irreverent. 😁

Conversely, if you like this show, but haven’t checked out Dr. Romantic, I think you’d enjoy the Dr. Romantic dramas too.

3. Suspension of disbelief is required

Show does stretch logic a fair bit, and therefore, you do need to be prepared to suspend disbelief quite regularly.

Thinking of this as a medical fantasy might help. 😁

STUFF I LIKED

Show’s general handling and execution

One of the things I really liked, is the way Show handles itself.

It’s all very efficient, with clear purpose, and I just like how it knows the story it wants to tell, and sticks to it.

[VERY BROAD STRUCTURAL SPOILERS]

In our first two episodes, Show efficiently establishes the core relationship between Kang Hyuk (Joo Ji Hoon) and Jae Won (Choo Young Woo), which I love, where Jae Won the clueless duckling’s found his mama duck in Kang Hyuk, and will now follow in Kang Hyuk’s footsteps, to be the best mama duck he could possibly be. 🥲

Afterwards, Show serves up clear arcs each episode, and even as these arcs bring their own levels of interest and excitement, they all contribute to the overarching story of our key characters.

Through it all, Show continues to add to the core duo it’s established, while keeping its irreverent, tongue-in-cheek attitude.

I liked that a lot.

[END SPOILERS]

Show’s sense of humor

Show worked out to be quite funny, overall, and I am very pleasantly surprised by this, since k-humor and I don’t often find ourselves on the same page. 😅

Here’s a collection of some of the moments that I found myself feeling quite entertained and amused. 😁

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. I am enjoying the little jokes that Show is making, from time to time.

Like the paging for Ahn Jeong Won from pediatrics, in our first couple of minutes, because that’s exactly Yoo Yeon Seok’s character in Hospital Playlist (review here!), heh.

I would love a bit of a crossover, but at this point, I don’t think that’s on the cards. Nonetheless, I had a good giggle at this little wink and nod.

And then there’s the way Baek Kang Hyuk deadpans that Dr. Han’s (Yoon Gyung Ho) name is “Yu Rin” instead of “Yu Rim” – pfft!

Of course, there’s also the comedy around Baek Kang Hyuk being mistaken for an outsider, and even a gangster, when he’s really an attending surgeon.

Somehow, this didn’t get old for me, I think mostly because of Joo Ji Hoon’s excellent bemused expressions.

Then there’s Jae Won’s terror in these first episodes, particularly when Baek Kang Hyuk hauls him into the helicopter, and then drags him off it, into a rappel – right onto the side of the mountain.

Jae Won’s screams became funnier as it went on, kind of like a running gag, and it’s actually quite endearing that through his terror, he starts to grow so much awe and respect for Baek Kang Hyuk’s abilities as a trauma doctor.

Baek Kang Hyuk’s habit of addressing everyone by a convenient nickname, unless they’ve earned his respect, is also quite amusing to me, like the way he falls into calling Jae Won “Anus” and Jang Mi, “Gangster.”

I am also amused at the idea of Dr. Han trying to vie with Baek Kang Hyuk for Jae Won’s loyalty; it all lands a bit like a love triangle, and I am possibly more amused by all the hijinks, than I actually need to be. 🤭

E3-4. I had to laugh when Kang Hyuk gets all dressed up for that press interview, only to receive an emergency call right before they get started – and ends up yelling at the reporters to just shut up. Ha!

I found this quite funny.

E5-6. I also like how we start episode 5 with everyone snickering at the way the media is playing up Kang Hyuk’s “Shut up!” soundbite, but end with him being a media darling anyway, and then using that media darling moment, to angle for what he really wants for the Trauma Center: more staff.

It’s very neat and clever, and I like it, what can I say? 😁

[END SPOILER]

Show’s heart

Beyond the funny and the hijinks, I am quite drawn in by the heart that peeks out from underneath it all.

Often, this would have to do with the medical case at hand, but over and above that, there’s also a great deal of heart within the burgeoning relationships among our characters.

I’ll elaborate on that later.

STUFF THAT WAS OK

The hospital politics

Hospital politics are not my favorite thing, but Show manages it in a way that I don’t actually mind it much at all, which is why it’s in this neutral zone.

[BROAD, VAGUE SPOILERS]

The politics of the hospital is basically mostly everyone waiting for Kang Hyuk to fall flat on his face and fail miserably.

It’s played kind of hammy, and it makes for a pretty straightforward set-up, where Baek Kang Hyuk just shows up and outsmarts and outshines everyone without too much trouble, and I dig it. 😁

And it does form an additional layer of tension – because the tension from “just” saving lives, can always be taken up a notch, eh? 😁

One of the big contrasts is in how the hospital bigwigs approach emergencies, vs. how Kang Hyuk and the Trauma Team approach emergencies.

The bigwigs only care about the profit and loss margins, while Kang Hyuk and the Trauma Team only cares about saving lives.

I doubt that this tension between the two goals will ever go away in this story, regardless of how many seasons we end up getting, but I do like the idea that over time, Kang Hyuk and his team will succeed in bringing more people over to their side as allies.

[END SPOILERS]

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARACTERS / RELATIONSHIPS

Joo Ji Hoon as Kang Hyuk

Coming into this show, the attraction, for me personally, was Joo Ji Hoon playing our resident rogue master surgeon, Baek Kang Hyuk.

In many ways, he reminds me of Kim Sabu from Dr. Romantic.

He’s got mad people-saving skills, is kind of eccentric while not caring two hoots about hospital politics, and bends and breaks rules as needed, for the people-saving – all while not breaking a sweat.

It’s just that Baek Kang Hyuk is younger, taller, and looks like Joo Ji Hoon – facts that I am not complaining about one bit, heh. 😁

Honestly, I feel like this role was made for Joo Ji Hoon, because I feel like it’s utilizing so many of his strengths.

His regal aura, his charisma, his effortless quizzical expressions, his cool aloofness, and his knack for physical comedy; it all comes into play, and I am most amused by how easily he swivels from effortless cool to hammy dork. 😁

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. The fact that Kang Hyuk doesn’t actually care about money – because he already has lots of it – just makes him all the cooler.

Like, ha, Director Choi (Kim Eui Sung) had no chance of making the salary negotiation unattractive, so as to deter Baek Kang Hyuk from joining Korea University Hospital, because Kang Hyuk had never cared about his salary in the first place.

I thought that was pretty cool. 😁

Of course, it’s extra cool that Kang Hyuk seems to know everything, from the nuances of anesthesia to how to fly a helicopter.

I don’t care that it’s not very realistic; I am more than happy to just roll with this idea that Kang Hyuk can and will do anything. 😁

E3-4. I also really like the little moments when we see Kang Hyuk show a little bit of his protective mother hen side, like when he tells Jang Mi not to fight – but leave the fighting to him. Aw. 🥲

And I find myself consistently perking up, every time we get evidence that Kang Hyuk’s quite the surgical genius, like how he finds the damaged artery, which isn’t really at all visible, and thus stabilizes the patient.

Another moment I liked, is when Kang Hyuk takes Jae Won and Jang Mi out to dinner at that fancy Chinese restaurant.

Aw. He cares about morale and teambuilding! 🤩 (Even if he’s blithely nonchalant in the way he goes about it. 🤭)

I also felt it was quite momentous, that Kang Hyuk would officially announce that he’s changing Jae Won’s nickname from “Anus” to “No.1” – even though he qualifies that it’s not No.1 protégé but No.1 slave, pfft.

Maybe I’m just fangirling too hard, but isn’t it something, to be nicknamed No.1 by Kang Hyuk..? 😅

It’s surely a step up from “Anus,” at least?

As for the “sob story” that Kang Hyuk tells, the way he plays it, it looks like he’s just making stuff up, in order to appeal to Jae Won’s humanistic side, but my gut tells me that Kang Hyuk’s telling the truth.

It’s just that the truth sounds so extreme and outlandish, that most people would assume he was making it up (like it looks like Jang Mi’s assuming that he’s made this up).

I wouldn’t be surprised at all, if it turns out to be true, that Kang Hyuk’s father had died as a result of not receiving emergency care, and that was why he decided to become a trauma doctor. 🥲

As for how all the hospital bigwigs are trying to get Kang Hyuk to toe the line in terms of protocol and budgets, I am suitably amused that it’s basically like all of them trying to herd a cat. 🤭

He’s slippery, doesn’t pay attention when he’s being summoned (“I read the emails, but I forgot” 🤭), says what he thinks without much of a filter, and basically refuses to play by the rules that they’re trying so hard to stuff down his throat. 😁

I’m with Kang Hyuk on the issue of the budget, because it’s all bureaucracy and red tape that’s caused the government grant, which is meant for trauma care, to be allocated to shared equipment, because any department could care for a trauma patient. 🤦🏻‍♀️

It’s ludicrous, and yet, the political agenda of all our players, has rendered it as part of the hospital’s standard way of doing things.

E5-6. I feel that we see more clearly than ever, Kang Hyuk’s passion to save, in the midst of this Bridge incident.

Even when he knows that the hospital is already maxed out officially in terms of its ability to handle emergency cases, he opts to send the patients anyway, because he knows that if they’re sent to a smaller hospital, the patients would be highly unlikely to make it, given that smaller hospitals are less able to handle serious trauma cases.

I also appreciate that Kang Hyuk has Jae Won on his mind all this time; that part of the reason he’s hurrying, is so that he can join Jae Won in the OR.

To me, that lands as very mother hen-like; he feels the need to be there to make sure that Jae Won and his patient are doing ok. 🥲

And yet, Kang Hyuk makes sure to mention, before leaving that OR, that Park Gyeong Won had made a significant contribution to saving that patient’s life.

I love this thing about Kang Hyuk; he’s very specific when it comes to acknowledging the contributions of others.

Like how he names Jae Won, Jang Mi, Dr. Han and Park Gyeong Won to all the reporters, and credits them for their contributions towards the day’s successful trauma surgeries.

It really hits me in the heart, that Kang Hyuk knows all of their names in full, so much so that the names roll off his tongue, even though he mostly uses nicknames like “No.1” and “Gangster.”

Now these nicknames land as terms of affection to me, rather than placeholders because he can’t remember their names. Context really is everything. 🥰

Again, how smart is Kang Hyuk, to put Chief Hong (Kim Won Hae) and Director Choi on the spot like that, to get their support for staffing the Trauma Center? It’s devious and brilliant at the same time, and I can’t help but cackle with glee over here. 🤭

[END SPOILER]

Choo Young Woo as Jae Won

I also enjoy Choo Young Woo very well as Jae Won, the hapless doctor who’s on call for the ER, when Kang Hyuk shows up. It’s such a different role than his recent outing in The Tale of Lady Ok (review here!).

I find Jae Won endearing, firstly because he’s so earnest, even while being quite clueless at the same time, and secondly, because he’s so quickly dazzled by Kang Hyuk’s surgical prowess.

He’s like a reluctant fanboy who’s growing reflexive stars in his eyes, and I find it pretty cute.

I also find it endearing how he does his earnest best, even when he’s stressed out and terrified. 🥲

Ha Young as Jang Mi

This was my introduction to Ha Young, and I find her very likable right away, as Jang Mi.

There’s something about her smile and her aura that reminds me Min Ji Ah, who stays in my mind as Cho Bok in Chuno (she most recently played Bae Hyeon Seong’s aunt in Family By Choice).

Ha Young reminds me of a younger Min Ji Ah, and I consider that to be a good thing.

I came to think of Jang Mi as the heart of her team, and I love her for it. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. I like how Jang Mi can be all no-nonsense with Kang Hyuk, when she assumes that he’s an outsider trying to sneak into the ICU, and then later, can become his adviser so quickly, when Kang Hyuk’s trying to figure out how to entice Jae Won to choose to become a trauma fellow.

She’s unintimidated by Kang Hyuk, and I like that about her, very much.

E3-4. What really struck me in the midst of Dr. Han’s meltdown, is how Jang Mi approaches him.

She’s very firm in not allowing him into the operating room, but she’s also so full of compassion and sympathy.

That scene of her just kneeling with him, and holding his shoulders, really touched me. 🥲

It’s not just that Jang Mi’s got heart; she does. But in this moment, she’s representing the Trauma Team, and to me, this means that this is the ethos of the Trauma Team too, and I do like that very much.

E5-6. I’m so glad for Jang Mi, who’s there to offer some friendly perspective to a discouraged Jae Won, so that he doesn’t feel too bad about not having done a perfect job.

I am loving Jang Mi more and more, seriously. 🥲

Jang Mi teaching Jae Won to yell into the vent was very cute, and it tickled me extra, that the cafeteria ladies all know that it’s her, heh.

Even though Jae Won doesn’t get to yell down the vent like Jang Mi, I do think that he benefits from the conversation itself, where Jang Mi gives her perspective on why they work so hard to save every patient, even with so many obstacles in their way: because they can, and so there’s no reason not to try.

I also really appreciate Jang Mi’s sharing about her own journey, where she’d used to feel similarly to Jae Won, and it’s such a great point, that they’re not doing this to get acknowledgment, and so it doesn’t actually matter that no one acknowledges all the work that they put in.

There’s a really nice sense of solidarity there, which I believe is important to Jae Won.

[END SPOILER]

Jeong Jae Kwang as Gyeong Won

I grew to really like and appreciate Gyeong Won, pretty quickly into our story.

[SPOILER ALERT]

I really like the fact that he recognizes Kang Hyuk’s talent and passion, after only working with him once.

I also really like that he’s firmly neutral about hospital politics, even though everyone in his department regularly puts pressure on him not to show up to emergency surgeries.

Gyeong Won strikes me as a cool dude of not many words, who’s got his heart and head in the right place. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Kang Hyuk and Jae Won

This was my favorite relationship in the entire show; I just loved the odd pairing of our rogue master surgeon with his hapless, earnest baby duckling. 🥰

First, it’s just very entertaining to watch Jae Won assisting Kang Hyuk through all kinds of unexpected situations, which are clearly beyond his wildest imagination.

Beyond that, it’s very gratifying to watch Jae Won grow in skills, confidence and even wisdom, as he works with Kang Hyuk.

And of course, there’s the reluctant gruff affection in the mix, that just makes it all pop extra. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. One thing I find myself really liking about Kang Hyuk, is the way that he defaults to coaching mode, even in the midst of an emergency.

He might bark at Jae Won a fair bit, but he makes sure that Jae Won learns stuff while he’s on the job with him, and I like that a lot.

That sets him apart from most other doctors in this drama world, who mostly only seem to care about ranking and reputation, and their rights as doctors. Oh, and money. Definitely money.

Although Kang Hyuk balks at the idea of selling a sob story to Jae Won in order to appeal to Jae Won’s humanistic sensibilities, his real experiences and memories with his patients ends up doing exactly that, without him even trying.

The fact that Kang Hyuk can remember anecdotes about each patient, and has photographs of them in his office, is such a stark contrast to Dr. Han, who only has certificate after certificate lining his office walls.

In that moment, I can see why Jae Won would choose to study under Kang Hyuk rather than Dr. Han.

This is the kind of doctor that he wants to be, ultimately; someone who saves and changes lives, rather than someone who simply collects awards and certificates.

It’s just like Dr. Han to be petty about it, and write that group email, stating that Jae Won would be taking on ALL the on-call duties for the Trauma Department.

It totally sounds like a death sentence, but I do love how Kang Hyuk makes sure to reframe it for Jae Won: that being in Trauma means being on call all the time anyway, and the best kind of hard work, is the kind that’s recognized by everyone, heh.

Well, that, and I do also love his promise to Jae Won, that he’ll make sure that Jae Won doesn’t do all those on-call duties on his own, ie, he’ll be there with him. Aw! 🥰

And then, I do love Kang Hyuk’s answer, when Jae Won asks why Kang Hyuk would choose him, out of all the doctors: because he’s a good runner, and is always running to save a patient.

Awww. I like that.

I love this idea, that Kang Hyuk looks beyond the surface skills and knowledge, and zooms in right to core of the matter: that Jae Won has the heart so save patients. 🥲

I love this.

E3-4. I do feel bad for Jae Won, particularly since Kang Hyuk isn’t very sympathetic, at least overtly, and just keeps pushing Jae Won to do more and better.

On that note, I do think that Kang Hyuk has a touch of softness amid the iron fist which he uses to train Jae Won; I think it comes across in his voice?

As in, even though he routinely barks at Jae Won, sometimes he does soften his tone as well, and overall, I’m getting a “tough teacher” sort of vibe from Kang Hyuk, rather than an uncaring slavedriver.

I do feel for Jae Won, though, coz he’s getting so little rest, and working so hard, and there’s still so much to learn, while he’s working to save lives.

I do like the little glimpses that we get, though, that Jae Won’s now more knowledgeable and confident compared to our opening episodes.

And, I also really enjoy the little moments where he shows more confidence as a doctor – and as a person – like the way he tells the attending anesthesiologist to please respect Jang Mi, because she’s had more experience with trauma cases than either of them.

Aw. Hasn’t our Jae Won grown? 🥲

It’s quite torturous in the moment, but he is definitely becoming a better doctor, here in the Trauma Center, under Kang Hyuk’s tutelage.

E3-4. I enjoy how matter-of-fact Kang Hyuk is, in setting difficult deadlines, and then achieving them, with time to spare, like how he tells Jae Won that the daughter is in a bad condition, and that they should complete the transplant within 30 minutes.

It’s especially gratifying to see them complete it with time to spare, given that the other lead surgeon in the room, had scoffed at their ambitious goal.

And along with that, I also enjoy how Jae Won’s becoming matter-of-fact too, in aligning himself with Kang Hyuk’s ambitious surgery timelines. He doesn’t protest at all, when Kang Hyuk says he wants to complete the transplant in 30 minutes.

He simply says “yes,” and I like that show of confidence in Kang Hyuk, which also shows me that he’s himself becoming more attuned to Kang Hyuk’s standards.

E5-6. In episode 5, it feels like a Big Deal, that Kang Hyuk sends Jae Won back to the ER on his own, with that patient who’s been impaled by a pipe, and tell him that he believes that Jae Won is capable of saving the patient.

Ever so often, Kang Hyuk says something that I find really touching, and this is one of those times, when he tells a very nervous Jae Won to believe in Kang Hyuk’s belief in him.

From a tough teacher like Kang Hyuk, this feels like a big stamp of approval, and my heart surged with encouragement, on Jae Won’s behalf.

Of course, he’s still nervous as all heck, and gets all shaky and jumpy, and I’m glad that Jang Mi is there to steady him, and talk him through it.

And the point is, he does save that patient.

Yes, when Kang Hyuk eventually arrives, he does chastise Jae Won for not cauterizing all the cuts, but in the end, he does a quick demo, and then leaves Jae Won to finish up while he goes to the next OR.

This, in itself, is a demonstration of trust from Kang Hyuk, yes?

E5-6. I really appreciate what Kang Hyuk says to Jae Won, at the cafeteria, that it’s not that Jae Won had given up on the patient; it’s that he just hasn’t found his reason yet.

Like I’d suspected last episodes, Kang Hyuk’s story about his father being unable to get emergency care, had been very real, and that had become his impetus for getting into medicine, and for giving it his all to save every patient; so that they wouldn’t have to suffer the same fate as his father.

It’s so down-to-earth and practical, the way Kang Hyuk tells Jae Won that he needs to find his own reason to keep going, even when he’s worked like a dog and treated like sh*t – because to walk this tough path for no reason at all, is just too hard.

Aw. That’s so realistic yet idealistic at the same time, kinda?

I do love this idea, that Jae Won needs to find his own reason to keep going, and that it will be the thing that keeps him putting one foot in front of the other, even when the going gets crazy tough. 🥲

I also love Kang Hyuk’s parting shot to Jae Won, that he doesn’t need to feel sorry; that he hadn’t given up on the patient, but just hadn’t found his reason yet.

That’s great reframing, and it feels extra weighty, given that it comes from Kang Hyuk himself.

I feel like now, with these perspectives, Jae Won has the pieces that he needs, in order to create a new way to look at the world. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Kang Hyuk and Dr. Han [BROAD SPOILERS]

The connection between Kang Hyuk and Dr. Han turned out to be much cuter and more heartwarming than I’d ever expected, given where these two had started on completely opposite sides of the fence.

Through much of our story, Dr. Han’s so busy taking relish in opposing Kang Hyuk, that it came as a very pleasant surprise, when things start shifting about midway through our story.

I’m super pleased with how endearing this relationship becomes, by the time we get to the finish line, and I’m nicely impressed with Show’s deft turning around, of this relationship.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. I thought it made great story sense, that the big change in Dr. Han’s attitude, only comes about when his own daughter Ji Yeong’s (Park Jeong Yun) life is on the line.

In a split second, Dr. Han goes from gleeful politicker, to a crying, sobbing mess of a father, who only wants to save his daughter.

I could understand that he wouldn’t be thinking straight and acting crazy, with his daughter in such grave danger.

Layering his trust issues with Kang Hyuk on top of that, all of his screaming and flailing about, demanding that his daughter be seen by a cardiologist instead of Kang Hyuk, is understandable.

After the surgery is successful, I found it poignant to see Dr. Han get down on his knees to thank Kang Hyuk.

Dr. Han’s been such a pompous sort of character that I loved to hate, but seeing him brought to his knees, both literally and metaphorically, made my heart go out to him, honestly.

It does feel like he takes Kang Hyuk’s words very much to heart; that severe trauma can happen to anyone, and one should never think that one is exempt, and I’m hoping that this will mean that Dr. Han will now become Kang Hyuk’s supporter and ally.

Show does undercut the poignance with Kang Hyuk’s signature cheeky deadpan nonchalance, and I did chuckle, when Kang Hyuk responds to Dr. Han’s gratitude, by saying that there are many ways in which Dr. Han can repay him. 😁

When Dr. Han spills what he knows about Kang Hyuk’s involvement with Black Wing, and asks incredulously, that Kang Hyuk hadn’t really killed people, I’m pretty sure that Kang Hyuk’s messing with Dr. Han, in serenely telling him that what he doesn’t know, can’t hurt him. 🤭

E5-6. The way Kang Hyuk makes that desperate call to Dr. Han, and then, the way Dr. Han goes out of his way to talk that orthopedic surgeon into agreeing to the surgery despite his initial reluctance, was quite heart-in-my-throat thrilling to watch.

I love that Dr. Han is now so much more on Kang Hyuk’s side, and so much more appreciative of how important it is, that trauma patients get the life-saving surgeries that they need.

Of course, a big part of it is because Kang Hyuk had saved Ji Yeong, but it’s also cute how it’s Ji Yeong’s enthusiastic support, saying that he’s the coolest to her when he has a scalpel in his hand.

The fact that Dr. Han’s going all out, because he wants to look cool for his daughter, is one of the dorkiest, most endearing things. 🥲

I found it quite a treat to see Dr. Han and Kang Hyuk working side by side in the OR, and I was quite amused at the way Dr. Han, who’s Head of General Surgery and all, taking direction obediently from Kang Hyuk like he’s a resident in training. 🤭

I also appreciate that when Kang Hyuk becomes antsy because Dr. Han isn’t going fast enough, he acknowledges what Dr. Han says about doing his best, and tells him that even though he is already doing his best, he still needs to try to be faster.

It’s not so much what he says, but the way he says it; from raising his voice, he switches to a much calmer, more accepting sort of tone, and I find that to be quite encouraging, coming from him.

E5-6. I am loving this arc, where we get to see Dr. Han’s loyalty towards Kang Hyuk taking firmer shape.

First, there’s the ridiculous lengths he goes to, to make that anonymous phone call to Kang Hyuk, trying to alter his voice and everything, and even wearing a disguise – only for Kang Hyuk to recognize his voice right away, and address him by name, hahaha! 😆

The way Kang Hyuk goes right up to Chief Hong and confronts him is so fearless, and I’m a little slack-jawed at the way Kang Hyuk literally lifts Chief Hong like he’s a child, before tossing him back down on the sofa. 😳

How.. Hulk-like. 😳😳

No wonder Chief Hong is so determined to bring down Kang Hyuk, which is why he calls on Dr. Han, to dish on the dirt that he’s got, on Kang Hyuk.

When push comes to shove, I’m so proud of Dr. Han, for refusing to snitch on Kang Hyuk, and I also love how he says that it would be inhuman of him to turn on Kang Hyuk, after Kang Hyuk had saved his daughter.

In fact, it’s kinda great how Dr. Han tosses out that Chief Hong hadn’t even visited Ji Yeong, when she’d been in the hospital, despite their supposed 20 years of friendship, before he walks off.

[END SPOILER]

Special shout-out:

Kim Sun Young as Minister Kang

I just wanted to give Kim Sun Young a shout-out, because it’s always a pleasure to have her on my screen, and I got a kick out of seeing her in a role where her character was so influential and respected. 🤩

I also love the fact that Minister Kang isn’t afraid to fight for what she believes in, and take bold risks, where necessary, in order to achieve her goal.

[MINOR SPOILER]

I do also love the little detail, that Dr. Han seems quite smitten with Minister Kang, tee hee hee!

I am thrilled with the idea of someone being a smitten dork for Kim Sun Young, and I also love the idea that Minister Kang is blithely unaware of said smitten dork.

We don’t get any elaboration on this, in this season, but even so, this little detail did add a touch of spark, to my watch. 🥰

[END SPOILER]

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

E7-8. Well that was a very satisfying ending, and I’m already wistful that I have no more episodes of these characters doing their thing, and saving lives. 🥲

There are a few key parts to this finale, so I feel like I should talk about each of them, at least a little bit.

First, we’ve got that situation where Chief Hong’s stripped Kang Hyuk of his doctor privileges and is accusing him of malpractice, which, in the very urgent present, is preventing him from operating on a trauma patient.

I was wondering how Kang Hyuk would get around this, but leave it to Kang Hyuk, to be so well-versed in hospital policy, that he knows to go straight to the Head of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Im (Kim Byung Chul), and not only remind him that he has the authority to override Chief Hong, but also, make it his responsibility to do so.

It’s a smart move, because of course Dr. Im doesn’t want to be responsible for the patient’s death, which would certainly be imminent if Kang Hyuk isn’t allowed to take him into surgery.

I thought it was a great touch, that Park Gyeong Won had so much trust in Kang Hyuk to find a way to get to the OR, that he’d be prepared for surgery, even before Jang Mi arrives to announce the news. Aw. 🥲

I also found it nicely heartwarming, to see Dr. Han run around to try to save Kang Hyuk from being pinned with that malpractice label, and put such an earnest, desperate effort into it, too.

After that, I found it so satisfying, that Kang Hyuk would march into the press conference that Chief Hong’s holding, and completely turn the tables on Chief Hong, by announcing that it had not been the emergency procedure, but the lack of helicopter assistance, that had led to the vegetative state of the patient – which points the finger squarely at Chief Hong.

Ha! I found that quite delicious, not gonna lie. 🤭

Afterwards, of course whole Sudan arc was extra dramatic, but I was happy to roll with it, despite the suspension of disbelief required, because that’s just how this show rolls, after all.

It’s just that the Sudan arc is on a bigger scale, is all. 😁

I love the idea that Kang Hyuk takes his core team with him, and I do love that detail, that Park Gyeong Won doesn’t hesitate even for a second, when Kang Hyuk shows him what’s up, on his phone.

Gyeong Won just gets up and moves to leave – even if it’s to Sudan. I love how it feels like he’s completely on the same frequency as the Trauma Team. 🥰

I did get a kick out of seeing Kim Jae Won play army medic Seo Dong Ju, because I’ve been seeing Kim Jae Won and Choo Young Woo share the screen a lot, in The Tale of Lady Ok (review here!), and this just gave me a worlds-colliding sort of effect, which I found quite fun. 😁

When the team is told that there are barely any packets of blood left because the supply room had been attacked, I’d had a feeling that at least one person on our team would end up donating their blood, and it turns out to be Jang Mi, valiant caregiver that she is.

I was quite struck by how personal it seemed to be, for Jang Mi, that she give the patient enough blood, even though, past a certain point, she was clearly becoming quite faint from losing all that blood.

After that, we finally get acquainted with Black Wing – because that’s exactly where Kang Hyuk goes, with his team and their patient in tow, when they run out of options at the hospital.

It’s completely tropey, and the English-speaking characters are almost as cringey as they tend to be in every other kdrama, but I still got a huge kick out of seeing everyone be so in awe of Kang Hyuk; clearly, Kang Hyuk had been a legend while he’d been at Black Wing.

And of course, it’s also Kang Hyuk’s connections with Black Wing, that gets them that air ambulance ride back to Korea – yay!

Also, I’m glad that we get to hear Gyeong Won explain his stance about being a mole for Director Choi; that someone would have to do it anyway, but at least if he does it, he can prevent someone else from being a real mole.

Aw! And I am just as excited as Jang Mi, to hear that he’s planning to apply to the Trauma Center, once he finishes his exams. Hooray for a new, fully committed member of the team! 🤩

Back in Korea, I got a huge kick out of seeing Dr. Han attempt to step into Kang Hyuk’s shoes, and even yelling out, that he’s Baek Kang Hyuk, and channeling Kang Hyuk’s confidence and authority.

Tee hee hee! I found this extremely amusing, and then I found it even funnier, when Dr. Han finally comes face to face with Kang Hyuk, and literally bursts into tears, like a peeved wife who feels put-upon by her husband who’s much later in arriving back home than he’d promised. 🤭

I was quite shocked that Kang Hyuk would not only get injured on-site, but that his injuries would be so severe that it would render him in a critical condition, honestly.

But, it’s a great chance, narratively speaking, for Jae Won to step up and fill the shoes that Kang Hyuk would otherwise occupy.

He might seem quite high-strung and nervous a lot of the time, but he’s clearly learned a lot from working with Kang Hyuk, to correctly assess that they should skip the CT scan, and leverage on the golden time, while they had it.

That’s truly bold, for Jae Won, especially since he has to fight through pushback from both Dr. Han and Gyeong Won. I’m so proud of him. 🥲

And I’m so glad that, after Kang Hyuk wakes up, he does tell Jae Won that he did well, and even addresses him as Dr. Yang Jae Won, instead of as “No.1” – Aw! How momentous!

It’s also quite funny how Jae Won’s mind is so blown by this development, that he starts swearing at the top of his lungs. Clearly, this is an Extremely Big Moment, for him. 😂

Later on, I loved the Big Reveal, when Kang Hyuk visits Director Choi at his home, because Director Choi is planning to block the proposal for the hospital to acquire an EMS helicopter.

Honestly, when Kang Hyuk starts talking about his father’s story, I’d thought that his story would end in disgust over how the doctors at Hankuk National University Hospital had failed his father – but that’s not the case, AT ALL.

I was blown away, that instead, Kang Hyuk’s story is about how the doctor at Hankuk National University Hospital had given it his all, even though the odds were against him, and that doctor had been none other than Director Choi himself – and that Kang Hyuk had resolved to become a doctor just like Director Choi.

Aw, wow. That’s so meaningful, and I love that this actually brings Director Choi to reflect on the doctor and person he had used to be, before hospital politics had changed him. 🥲

I do wonder how this development would shape future seasons of this show, but I guess we’ll have to wait, to find out!

In the meantime, I love the various elements that we get, as we close out our show.

I’d thought we’d seen the last of Seo Dong Ju, the military medic, for this season, but he shows up again, at the Korean Society of Surgery’s Autumn Conference, and basically indicates interest in signing up with Kang Hyuk’s Trauma Team.

I love the thought that our Trauma Team is growing, specifically with likeminded individuals. 🥲

I also love the detail, that Jae Won’s quick to decide that the mouthy attendees won’t be suitable candidates, and doesn’t hesitate to take back the information packets. Yay for every little moment that shows that Jae Won’s growing more confident under Kang Hyuk’s tutelage. 🥹

And, it wouldn’t be a regular day at the Trauma Center, without an emergency, and that’s how we have Kang Hyuk and Jae Won promptly flying off in the spanking new EMS helicopter, right at its inauguration ceremony, heh.

I did love that final touch, where we have Kang Hyuk and Jae Won low-key bickering over what Kang Hyuk should call Jae Won now.

It’s so great that Jae Won is comfortable enough to even bicker a little bit, with Kang Hyuk; it’s a great vibe, and I will miss them until we get to see them again, in Season 2. 🥲

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Slurperliciously entertaining, while also managing to be heartfelt and stirring.

FINAL GRADE: A-

TRAILER:

PATREON UPDATE!

The next drama I’m covering on Patreon, in place of  The Trauma Code, is When Life Gives You Tangerines [Korea].

You can check out my episode 1-2 notes on When Life Gives You Tangerines on Patreon here.

Here’s an overview of what I’m covering on Patreon right now (Tier benefits are cumulative)!

Foundation Tier (US$1): Entertainment Drop (Sundays) + the first set notes of all shows covered on Patreon (that’s 2 episodes for kdramas and 4 episodes for cdramas)

Early Access (US$5): +Buried Hearts [Korea]

Early Access Plus (US$10): +Undercover High School [Korea]

VIP (US$15): +The First Frost [China]

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