The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call review – Ju Ji-hoon's series is a binge-worthy medical K-drama that keeps you hooked

4/5

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call plot

Starring Ju Ji-hoon as an arrogant but talented doctor, the plot of Netflix’s medical K-drama revolves around the eponymous center headlined by a team of medical experts who treat emergencies and save lives against the odds.

Also Read: The Trauma Code - Heroes on Call First Episode Preview: Ju Ji-hoon as maverick doctor jumps heroically from helicopter to rescue a patient

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call review

Ju Ji-hoon headlines Netflix’s new K-drama, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call. The series has been garnering attention ever since the trailer dropped and showcased him as a savvy medical expert who crosses the barriers of stereotypes to save lives. After his enigmatic character in Disney’s Light Shop, Ju Ji-hoon gives a stellar performance as he transitions smoothly to a top-notch surgeon.

The Trauma Code, as its name highlights, is set against the backdrop of a specialized unit that turns from a non-effective center to a full-fledged and life-changing unit after an unruly surgeon takes charge.  Despite the run time of nearly 1 hour per episode, it is surprisingly easy to binge-watch the entire 8-episode series in one go due to its captivating plot and humour. Whether it is Ju Ji-hoon's magical ‘hand of god’ performing tough surgeries or his absurd humour, The Trauma Code keeps you glued to the screens.

Also Read: The Trauma Code - Heroes on Call: Release date, OTT platform, plot, cast, and more about Ju Ji-hoon's medical K-drama

The initial episodes set the tone for the lead character, Baek Kang-hyeok, as an unruly and arrogant surgeon who is hated by everyone but slowly wins their hearts because of his extraordinary medical abilities and the unwavering spirit to save patients from the pit of death.

This doctor creates new horizons of hope for different patients, from Afghanistan to the war zones of Syria. Only he can sound charismatic even when he is busy assigning weird nicknames like ‘anus’ and ‘gangster’ to his proteges or hurling abuses at the nasty superiors.

The Trauma Code is packed with thrilling medical emergencies and is spiced up with a humourous angle to balance the emotions without weighing too much on the technicalities.  This medical drama also tries to shed light on the corporate greed and profit margin many hospitals juggle to fight. But it doesn’t go too deep to explore the adverse situations.

From enjoying the perks of graduating in top-tier colleges like Hankuk University to facing the stereotypes of studying in a less popular university, the drama showcases how we perceive things differently due to societal pressure. For instance, the main lead surgeon is mostly degraded as an ill-mannered person because he studied in a low-class university (Muhan in this case).

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call explores different scenarios of medical emergencies that portray the essence of doctors and surgeons as they battle the odds to save lives. Even the intro themes and background score are packed with thrills to stir adrenaline rush as we embrace the power of humanly gods in white coats.  On a final note, the well-paced plot and its unique characters, played by Ju Ji-hoon, Choo Young-woo, Ha Young, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Jung Jae-kwang, will win your hearts.

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call verdict

Ju Ji-hoon's medical K-drama keeps you hooked to the plot. The emotionally charged narrative and the nuanced characters make you binge-watch the series in one go despite the medical technicalities. The unexpected Hospital Playlist crossover with Yoo Yeon-seok also adds to the charm of this sweet-and-sour medical K-drama.

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call is adapted from a webtoon and is currently streaming on Netflix.