Doctor X ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko ~

Most enjoyable J Drama for me. Filled with comedy, love and friendship. Love all the cast and their unique characters. Must watch!!

I am a big fans of House MD (10/10), getting recommended from my friend to watch this, and get hooked in an instant.

Don't get me wrong, it is nothing like House MD which requires multiple interpretation of finding the message of layers of story, on contrary in Japanese's way of telling story is very subtle and simple (zen and haiku), but still leave you a wisdom to cherish at the end of each episode.

The situation comedy sometimes distract the story line, which I would give 10/10 without it.

I thought "Gokusen" was impressive for lasting three seasons but it's a flash-in-the-pan compared to the six for this show. And though I've only seen the first, I am absolutely on board for more. The show is based on a fictional premise ( no evidence in real life according to Dr Google ) whereby a freelance Japanese doctor is represented by an agency & can be hired out to a hospital as required. Hence we meet Dr Michiko Daimon ( Ryoko Yonekura ), a terse, self-confident surgeon who arrives at a branch hospital & proceeds to tell all the resident staff ( mostly male ) exactly what she thinks. Her oft-repeated motto when the conservative opposition baulks is "I never fail". And it seems to be true. We do love to see a talented outsider disrupt the status quo & Doctor X is even happy to look the esteemed old Director of the hospital in the eye & tell him he's stupid. The script presents interesting cases amid the inevitable staff politics, & the initially aloof title character is gradually humanised ( a lovely ep involving a child patient does the trick nicely ). The supporting roles are well-written & there's humour to balance the drama, while the direction is efficient & the visuals are good. Same for the music. And the ending is well done, nicely avoiding excessive sentimentality. Former model Ms Yonekura makes a formidable impression despite her cute failings at mah-jong. A fierce desire to be the best almost makes patient welfare an afterthought, though her intolerance for obtuse colleagues is never in doubt. The concept of patients "tipping" a surgeon after a successful operation with an envelope full of cash ( apparently true ) is also intriguing when compared to what we're used to in the West.

"Doctor X" is as irreverent and far-fetched as the series "House." But it does this in a very Japanese way. So don't go into this series expecting an exact copy of the American drama. Do expect, however, a drama-comedy that (only slightly) exaggeratedly plays off Japanese-ness in terms of culture and norms.

What good about this series is that, as a Japanese comedy-drama, it works well due to its fantasy of a super talented outsider doctor taking on the system. Not only that, she's a woman, and a surgeon! In Japan, women make up less than 6% of all surgeons. That fact alone makes for a very promising series.

The machinations and politicking of the male doctors and hospital administrators are equally fun and interesting to watch. The acting is quite good if sometimes a bit overplayed. But that is usual for Japanese comedy-dramas. So too is the overall plot in each season.

The only downside is that the main character is a bit childish, which can be quiet grating at times to watch. Sadly, Japanese society sees ideal femininity as child-like, and so even Doctor X cannot escape this fundamental fact and our protagonist is not so revolutionary as she looks.

I never liked TV Shows but I loved this series. This is by far the best TV show I have ever watched.

Ryoko Yonekura is the best cast for Surgeon Daimon Michiko's personality. She is brave and precise in every surgery. Loved her to the max. I am finishing this show to watch her next show, Legal V.

Her best quote is "Watashi shippai shinainode" which means "I never fail".