Life (TV Series 2018) Poster

(2018)

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9/10
Great acting on a systemic disease that needs a attention besides covid-19
mizmlyn16 October 2020
As a professional in health care in the U.S., I am very familiar with the story line of profit over nonprofit health care. Health care should be a human right. Making health care a commodity is insane. But here we are even in Korea. In the U.S. the pharmaceutical companies, the hospital industry, the durable medical equipment companies, and the American Medical Association of doctors and medical insurance companies make up the medical industrial complex and have its claws on pricing. It's about time that capitalist countries redirect their attention towards investing in the health of their people.

Whatever the critique about the series doesn't matter. The topic itself is important enough to learn from it. The coronavirus has demonstrated that a universal health care system from cradle to grave is what we need and free tuition for hands-on patient care professionals. Kudos especially to the actor who plays Mr. Gu.
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7/10
Highly Underated
nitishak-1324919 May 2020
This drama is so so so beautifully written. It indeed is about "Life". There isn't a single moment wasted. It'll keep you engaged from the beginning to the end. 'What next?' Is the question that'll always be on your mind. The drama starts off really slow and too much of hassle in the beginning, if you pick up the interest from there then you'll definitely end up watch the whole series if not then you'll probably drop after episode 1. Each and every character is so unique. They have all acted so well. The actors have put 'Life' to the characters. The end also isn't shown as the perfect victory by the doctors who fought which makes it even more realistic. However, the ending is perfectly perfect. Special mention to Mr. Gu's character, that is the whole best thing about the drama. He'll keep you engaged. He'll make you wonder what he is actually.. is he good ? Is he bad? Hats off to the writer. Indeed a great one. It deserves more appreciation than it got.
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9/10
Brilliant for most of it but then...
aisjs13 September 2018
This series has an amazing ensemble cast, all individually outstanding actors, who work together brilliantly. The first half of the series was gripping, tense and had a real sense of foreboding about what was to come wrt the Chairman and his meglomaniac control of the hospital. The various subplots, the relationship between the Ye brothers, the budding romance between no Eul and Mr Gu, the under-appreciated Organ donor officer, the whole question of whether Mr. Gu was a decent man or merely duplicitous, were all enthralling and entirely believable. But then it seemed to lose its way. Without wishing to spoil anything, the series ended with NOTHING happening. A minor boardroom skirmish at best and a lot of unfinished storylines. I hope there will be a second series because the first established some fabulous characters and storylines. The series has such potential and such great acting that it would be a shame if it just stops where it did. First time for me to view a Korean drama and I enjoyed how stylish and slick the cinematography was and how unusual the editing is, relative to western tv. Well worth a binge.
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10/10
A show I never wanted to end.
priceyrules7 June 2020
This really is about "life".

It shows the struggles of essential services like hospitals and the money-hungry nature of huge conglomerates.

You get so invested in the characters life and struggles that you cant help but feel emotional. The relationship between the two brothers was especially hard-hitting and I (a 29 year old male) found myself tearing up towards the end of the series.

This isn't a romance hospital series like a lot are. This is about scheming and backstabbing and the two protagonists doing what they think is right, and potentially changing their views along the way.

I'm surprised that this show isn't rated higher than 8 stars at least. Absolutely worth your time!
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8/10
Different angle of life in a hospital
lin-160852 April 2020
We have great actors in this series. Be ready with serious discussions, new discoveries, hidden agendas, dark secrets in running a hospital. If you are wondering how a hospital is being run, why there are so many red tapes, why a hospital is transforming into a money generating giant, why there are change of ownership, merging of hospitals etc., this series will be an overview of all that. It is a bit unfortunate though, as the ending ended with a feeling of the problems will repeat itself within the hospital all over again. Perhaps that is the reason why each hospital needs responsible, committed doctors and staff to safeguard the vision and purpose of the hospital.
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7/10
Okay but not memorable.
AJ_McAninch5 October 2018
Some of Korea's best actors, but not their best work, and the writing has several narrative gaps. Additionally, it's not a medical show, but a story of power plays that often didn't make much sense. It's worth a watch for the actors, but even so, I was not impressed. There are too many exceptional KDramas that this one IMO doesn't match.
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9/10
Gripping brilliant drama
hamlet-168 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
It is series like "Life" that have made Korea a powerhouse of television drama.

This gripping series covers the battle between corporate powers and staff in a large hospital in Seoul. The drama resonates with an all too real story of corporate greed and amoral unethical behaviour.

Excellent performances by the entire cast bring this drama to life.

But Cho Seung-Woo and Lee Dong-Wook as the main protagonists are simply amazing to watch.

Cho Seung-Woo is chilling as the amoral corporate operative whose job is profits not patients.

But the layers of this drama mean that noone is all evil or all good.

This a drama to watch and to savour and the ending is far from conventional retaining the believability that is the core of the drama.
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7/10
Great Acting
fake_moviestar13 April 2020
This series is a medical drama but as another reviewer mentioned this show is not really about medicine and more about the power going on behind the scenes. I actually really enjoy those types of shows, so I went ahead and watched it. I think this show is worth a watch, but not something amazing that I would recommend to a friend. Probably a solid 6-6.5 but rounded up to a 7 because I really love the actors and I think they did a great job. The ending felt a little dull after all the drama, and not necessarily earned either. I wanted some more resolution at the end, but it just fell a little flat. Either way, not a bad show, just not a great one.
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8/10
interesting story lines and characters
kingeider-189-36507819 September 2018
There are a number of interesting story lines and characters in this series. Some get close to a soap opera-ish feel, but, all in all, well done. Good acting and cinematography and a pretty interesting soundtrack, too, When this series works, which is most of the time, it really works well, Also a good window into modern Korea. Recommended for people who like dramas.
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6/10
A series that was headed for excellence, but ....
wheatley-2023030 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This series had me engrossed for most of its 16 episodes. The battle between medical ethics and business opportunity is very pertinent.

Nothing is straight-forward. The medical protagonists are flawed, claiming the moral high ground despite themselves too often putting money and political in-fighting before patients. The businessman put in charge of the hospital pursues efficiency and revenue improvements, some of which benefit patients, yet still incur the opposition of the medical establishment.

You are left hanging from episode to episode, hoping that the CEO will choose morality over profit.

Unfortunately that momentum is not maintained until the end. Every character's story arc is pursued to its happy conclusion, at times drowning out the key dramatic moments.

Could have been so much better. But still worth watching.
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10/10
top 5 Best drama ever created!
sara_kavari4 February 2021
ONE OF THE BEST DRAMAS EVER TOP 5 FOR SURE 1000/10 <3 I CRIED MY ASS OFF FEELING SUPER EMOTIONAL ESPECIALLY DURING THE LAST EPISODE I REALLY DIDN'T WANT IT TO END. This drama introduced me to Lee Dong Wook and he is truly one of the best actors to ever exist! As a person knowing how it is to deal with disabilities, I was surprised at how well he portrayed the character. It was absolutely flawless he got me shook in every scene! His every single facial expression was insanely accurate it brought me to tears every time; depressed while trying his hardest to fight through "Life" and the love and hate relationship he had with himself and the people surrounding him were flawlessly portrayed. Though he had been given the hardest role (while everyone else had really vibrant roles and had a lot to play with), he draws you in and steals the show in my opinion. No one else on this planet could bring such a complex character this beautifully to life wow just wow!

The brothers owned my whole heart in EVERY SINGLE scene they had. Their every scene was full of emotion, heavy, authentic and just too beautiful for this world. This drama simply depicted real-life human emotion and struggles. It was too real that for the first time ever, I truly did not feel like I was watching a drama.. The emotions and reactions depicted were so accurate to real life that I am still mesmerized just thinking about it. This drama is a masterpiece and a must-watch! I will definitely be rewatching this masterpiece soon <3

+this is the first time I saw Lee Dong Wook in a drama and OMG he is literally one of the best actors ever! He can depict any emotion through his eyes in a second! he completely took my breath away in his every scene <3
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6/10
Profit or patients
alaningle719 February 2022
The doctors in a hospital battle with hospital President and owners over their management of the facility. It has an excellent cast and most of the series deals with the politics within the hospital it is slow paced with an awful lot of dialogue. It has a hint of romance with a couple of the characters but this feels a little forced and the main story running through the series is of the two brothers, one of which is in a wheelchair. Parts of it were enjoyable but the storyline did not draw me in and even though I think it was trying to make some social commentary I just found it not very absorbing.
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9/10
Beautiful drama
hadesbobbin7 June 2021
What a beautiful drama. I mean it's slow and yet something that pulls you right into itself. I usually really disliking dramas with such heavy cast, because most of the times dramas try to rely on those big actors rather than the story. But not in this one. The story, plot, characterisation and acting is very very strong. And the subtle love stories are just so beautiful.
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10/10
A hope..
isil_pehlevan29 April 2022
It's not a typical series certainly. I have actually become a fan of Lee Dong Wook.. and not just because of his acting. I loved all of his projects after Goblin. Although I am someone who adores fantasy movies; this is my favourite show so far. I believe it will give a glimpse of hope to people in similar situations. A hope that we can have a happy conclusion as well. I really respect cinema and actors. They add our life colour.
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9/10
Eyeopening... thought provoking.....
bushraw8 March 2024
This is mindblowing.. i hd never evwr thought ab this hospital politics and errors.. aftr watching this drama..all the scenes from my father's death r coming in my mind . Due to a medical error. Really thought provoking and eyeopening drama.. gave me knwlegde... how hospitals,doctors work and their politics. I thought this is the story of my country. But seems like whole world is facing these kind of things... PVT hospitals dont care about paitent.. thy only care ab bills.. unnessessery tests and medications... maybe in civilized countries these hospitals and docs r accountable but wht ab 3rd world countires.?
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