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.
