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The Rise of « Doctor X »with" Kim Ji-won shows no signs of slowing down. Aired on October 17, the fourth episode of the SBS medical drama achieved a national viewership rating of 18.5 %, according to Nielsen Korea. This marks a new record for the series, which has seen its ratings rise with each episode since its premiere, and made it the most-watched program of the evening across all channels.
This success is also largely due to a scene that sparked a strong reaction.
Warning: Spoilers for Episode 4.
Initials engraved on a patient's organ
In this episode, a surgeon carves his initials into a patient’s organ in the middle of surgery. It’s a disturbing scene that, all on its own, sums up what the series is criticizing: a hospital where ego and power take precedence over patients.
As unbelievable as it may seem, this incident is by no means the product of a screenwriter’s imagination. In the United Kingdom, surgeon Simon Bramhall was convicted after engraving his initials on patients’ livers during transplants. In the United States, New York obstetrician Allan Zarkin lost his medical license in 1999 after carving his initials into a patient’s abdomen following a cesarean section.
Drawing inspiration from these cases, «Doctor X» embraces its mission: to use the medical genre to highlight real ethical issues. In the face of these abuses, Gye Su-jeong—the gifted surgeon played by Kim Ji-won—stands out as an exception, guided solely by her skill in the operating room.
This national record builds on what has already been a remarkable start on the international stage. Right from the first week, The series had ranked No. 1 on Netflix's global Top 10 list for non-English-language series.
«100 Days of Deception» Has Its Best Saturday Yet
That same evening, on tvN, « 100 Days of Deception » has also seen an increase. The third episode of the spy romance starring Kim Yoo-jung and Park Jin-young reached a national audience of 7 %, its highest rating for a Saturday broadcast. The series thus remains the most-watched cable program of the day.
A pivotal episode: Lee Ga-kyeong agreed to become a spy for Yoo So-ran (Kim Hyun-joo). Under the false identity of Geum Seo-hee, she landed a job with the Japanese General Government… where she crossed paths with Sato Hideo once again. The episode ended on a cliffhanger: a stranger accused her of being a spy before kidnapping her.
What to Expect in Episode 4: Danger and a Closer Bond
Scenes from Episode 4, which aired this Sunday, show Ga-kyeong being held captive in an unknown location, with a gun pointed at her, her lip bleeding, and her forehead covered in sweat.
But what follows hints at a completely different tone. We see the young woman alone with Hideo Sato in a traditional medicine clinic, where he kneels without hesitation to bandage her injured ankle. The two carefully avoid looking at each other, and the awkwardness between them is palpable.
The production promises an increasingly unpredictable plot that will blend the suspense of espionage with the emotions of romance, while gradually revealing the feelings of those around Ga-kyeong.
«Doctor X» airs every Friday and Saturday at 2:50 p.m. (1:50 p.m. starting October 25) on SBS and on Netflix the same day, while «100 Days of Deception» airs every Saturday and Sunday at 2:10 p.m. (1:10 p.m. starting October 25) on tvN and TVING and is also available worldwide on Netflix.
