"D-Day" explored the intensity of the first 100 hours of emergency response and its impact on the damaged city of Seoul with its fifth episode.
Kim Young Kwang continues to impart brilliant complexity into this delivery of Lee Hae Sung, a surgeon whose moral compass is strongly influenced by his devotion to his mother, who exists in a persistent vegetative state. The character bears similarity to Kim Tae Hyun of "Yong Pal," in that he is willing to go to any lengths to aid patients in need.
Jung So Min imparts innocence and naive wonder into her portrayal of Jung Ddol Mi, a Busan medical intern, who stays in Seoul to care for survivors.
The fifth episode opens with Hae Sung and Ddol Mi leading the patients from the beleaguered hospital where they triaged victims to the once gleaming halls of Mirae Hospital. Hae Sung implores the hospital director Park Gun (Lee Kyoung Young) to open the doors and accept the responsibility of helping the earthquake victims.
Gun capitulates, but only because Hae Sung has a VIP patient who is clinging to life. Han Woo Jin (Ha Seok Jin) continues his obstinate stance on refusing to help the victims, but his hand is forced as Gun points out the potential PR disaster of his position.
Ddol Mi has the opportunity to tell Woo Jin that she used to idolize him, but she is disappointed with his lack of empathy. Woo Jin saved her life, in the past, and she questions whether he would follow the same course of action now that he is a hot-shot physician.
In episode five, Ddol Mi's stubborn personality causes friction with An Dae Gil (INFINITE's Lee Seung Yeol), a spoiled young doctor who cares more about himself than others. Dae Gil entered the medical field to become a plastic surgeon and is put-off by the harsh realities of a disaster-torn city.
"D-Day" fills the void that is left by the conclusion of "Yong Pal," but with action sequences and special effects that are worthy of a blockbuster film.
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Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor at KDramaStars. She is also a contributing music writer at KpopStarz, MTV Iggy and other publications. When she is not listening to "We Like 2 Party," she can be found on Twitter. (@retrogirladdy).
