There is no dearth of medical drama in K-Dramaland, but it’s not very often that you find one that’s a perfect mix of humor, drama, and medicine. Well, thankfully for all of us, the wait is over, because the ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ is exactly that. In the crowded space of K-Dramas, where romance and fantasy reign supreme, ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ comes along as a breath of fresh air and a great addition to the medical drama genre. Starring Ju Ji Hoon, Choo Young Woo, Ha Young, and Jung Jae Kwang in the lead, the Netflix drama has heart, humor, and heroics galore. So, if you are wondering whether ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ is worth your time, check out our review to find out.
Dashing heroes and their heroics
‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ is based on the web novel ‘Trauma Center: Golden Hour’ by Hansanleega and Hongbichira.
Set in the Hankuk National University Hospital, the drama deals with a hospital whose trauma center is more or less a facade. With no specialized trauma surgeons or dedicated doctors for the team, Hankuk National University Hospital’s trauma wing gets an uphaul when trauma specialist Baek Kang Hyuk (Ju Ji Hoon) comes in. A genius but enigmatic surgeon, Baek Kang Hyuk becomes the acting head of the trauma department. And there’s only one thing he cares about—his patient’s life. He would do whatever it took to save a patient, be it commandeering a helicopter, driving into a rain of bullets, or bleeding the hospital dry. While the big-wigs of the hospital are worried about the money, Dr. Baek Kang Hyuk is worried about his patients, and if he comes across as a crazy madman in the process, he doesn’t really mind it.
Completely opposite to him is the colorectal surgery fellow Dr. Yang Jae Won (Choo Young Woo). While Baek Kang Hyuk is decisive and quick, Yang Jae Won second-guesses every decision. Baek Kang Hyuk goes against the grain but Yang Jae Won goes with the flow. Jae Won has his heart in the right place, but he is stuck on going by the books, even if it means there might be a bit of delay in saving his patient’s life. But that changes soon once Baek Kang Hyuk takes him under his wing.
The trauma wing’s head nurse, Cheon Jang Mi (Ha Young), is probably the only one who matches Baek Kang Hyuk’s crazy. She is capable, compassionate, headstrong when needed, and utterly bonkers when the situation calls for it, like when she steals an artificial vein to save a patient.
Anesthesiologist Park Gyeong Won (Jung Jae Kwang) draws the short end of the stick when he gets called into a trauma surgery in the first episode, right as he is preparing for his exams. But soon, impressed by Baek Kang Hyuk, Gyeong Won volunteers to take up the trauma cases that his team often avoids, becoming an integral part of Dr. Baek’s core trauma team.
Found family and nuanced storytelling
‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ deals with the trope of a found family, with Baek Kang Hyuk acting as the head of the family. He never fails to stand by his team, guide them, support them, and never let any harm befall them. From the beginning, we see Baek Kang Hyuk as a lone ranger, however, whether that is his choice or circumstantial is unclear. But with Yang Jae Won, Cheon Jang Mi, and Park Gyeong Won, he is a brother, mentor, and even a fatherly figure when circumstances call for it.
One of the best parts of ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ is its layered storytelling. The medical cases often serve as a social commentary along with moving the story along. They give an insight into what turning a humble profession like medicine into just another money-grabbing business looks like. When doctors turn into businessmen, the people who lose the most are the patients and that is reinforced over and over throughout the drama.
‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ is also filled with brilliant performances by the entire cast. Ju Ji Hoon as the mad genius with no concept of risk is a breath of fresh air. He commands your attention every time he is on screen, and his comic timing is commendable as well. Choo Young Woo as a naive but eager doctor, is another great addition to the cast. His chemistry with Ju Ji Hoon is amazing and the duo creates magic together. Ha Young brings it all together with her nuanced delivery of head nurse Jang Mi.
The show is not without its faults. It tends to steer a bit into melodramatic territory when Baek Kang Hyuk is fighting the administration about their greed and its effect on patients’ lives. But despite that, the show manages to hold its own. Unlike other medical dramas, ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ dives deep into the complexities of life in the ER and the morality of being a doctor. It smartly blends humor, drama, and character development to give the audience a memorable show worth watching.
So, if you want a show that balances high-stakes drama with emotional depth, engaging storytelling, and good acting, ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call’ is the one for you.
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