Complemented by well-placed humor, episode 15 of Doctor Cha Season 1 contained plenty of emotion and was amongst the series’ best efforts. Tomorrow’s finale looks like it’ll be a rewarding one, which means this show looks ready to end on a high.
Doctor Cha Season 1 Episode 15 Recap
What is the reaction to Jeong-suk’s liver troubles?
We begin with Jeong-suk being informed by Roy Kim that her recent health issues could be “acute liver failure.” Disappointingly, the resident, who becomes discouraged in her work, understands she must quickly “get things in order” with her training before a biopsy and hospital admission.
After brushing past questions on potentially donating his bone marrow for his father, Roy Kim gets So-ra to order him some tests. The reason for this isn’t exactly subtle, given that the professor wants to know whether his liver matches Jeong-suk. Meanwhile, Ae-sim finds out the hospital investment she made through her now estranged partner was a scam.
How do Ae-sim’s debts become troublesome?
As Jeong-suk begins subtle farewells to her fellow residents, In-ho is told some home truths by a divorce expert. These are that the professor could lose “up to 50%” of his assets and that Ae-sim’s building, which was put under her daughter-in-law’s name for tax purposes, could be taken away.
When Ae-sim suggests selling the building, panicking about needing to swiftly pay a sizeable amount of money back to her friend’s thanks to the investment scam she was caught up in, In-ho takes action. But Jeong-suk doesn’t budge, not wanting to sell her asset for the benefit of the family who “used” her.
In return, the resident suggests that in her divorce, she can keep the building while In-ho retains possession of the house.
Next, Deok-rye talks candidly with Ae-sim about her mistreatment of Jeong-suk and how they should leave their children to deal with their impending divorce. Concurrently, Jeong-suk’s final patient, 103-year-old Lee Pan-sim, is said to be suffering from an aortic dissection, meaning she may die without immediate surgery.
While warnings over Ae-sim’s unpaid debts affecting his reputation cause In-ho to entertain the idea of borrowing money from Seung-hi, Jeong-suk is accused of desiring a larger treatment payment due to her taking a CT scan of Lee Pan-sim, who her children expected would die.
Together, the elderly pair make it known to the resident that their mother must be “tired of life.”
After hearing from Pan-sim herself that she hoped to be able to pass away “this time,” Jeong-suk prepares to take her leave of absence but cannot be promised reinstatement post-liver treatment.
Luckily, there is some good news, as Roy Kim tells his friend he would be able and willing to donate his liver if necessary.
Following a petty confrontation with his wife over how she’s partially responsible for him potentially being exposed to Ae-sim’s debt, In-ho speaks with Seung-hi. Though he cannot bring himself to ask for money, he soon ends up stunned by the news that the ill Jeong-suk could need another liver transplant should drug therapy fail.
What does In-ho do about his wife’s illness?
As Jeong-suk tells her family the truth about her condition yet attempts to offer some reassurance, too, In-ho surprisingly reflects on the times he has needlessly tormented his wife. It’s so overwhelming for the adulterous professor he pulls over and weeps, realizing just how horrible he’s been.
At Roy Kim’s office, a tearful In-ho hears the full extent of his wife’s health issues and puts himself forward as a liver donor, wanting to “make up” for his many wrongdoings. Then, the professor pays Jeong-suk a visit to tell her this same thing, only to receive a dressing down over how she’s put Ae-sim’s building on the market, so he needn’t bother with a false attempt at kindness.
On his knees, In-ho begs for a chance to do something for Jeong-suk, but she emotionally refuses, knowing their relationship is destined to end regardless. “If I die, then that’s just my fate,” the former resident says, absolving her husband of the blame for her health issues, hoping he’ll drop his belated attempt at liver donation.
After Jeong-suk expresses her gratefulness for all she’s managed to see and do in life, noting she’s “not sad” over the prospect of dying, the former resident talks with Seung-hi. Here, apologies are given, and an acknowledgment is made that should their lives have played out differently, the two enemies could’ve been friends.
Then, Jeong-suk tells Seung-hi she wishes to be “at peace now,” wanting the same for her adversary too.
Doctor Cha Season 1 Episode 15 Ending Explained
When In-ho hears of Roy Kim’s desire to give his liver to Jeong-suk, the professor cancels an apologetic text to his wife in favor of confronting his foe. The two then naturally squabble over their respective intent of donation before they’re interrupted.
Of course, this interrupter turns out to be Jeong-suk, dressed in leather and entirely confident. To end the episode, she leaves Roy Kim and In-ho waiting for her to decide over whose liver she will accept.
Doctor Cha Season 1 Episode 16 Recap
How does Jeong-suk take the news of her liver failure?
After rejecting the liver offers from both Roy Kim and In-ho, Jeong-suk blows off some steam via a motorbike ride. Elsewhere, Seung-hi decides she will take over her late father’s cancer hospital, instead of selling it.
Upon hearing the news her condition is now acute liver failure, Jeong-suk brushes past Roy Kim’s further offer of his liver. Then, the former resident gets a temporary discharge to share the bad news with Mi-hee, who insists on her friend receiving a second transplant to save her life.
Still, Jeong-suk is concerned this cycle of poor health may still repeat in the future, thus causing “unnecessary suffering” for someone else.
Following on from some deep reminiscing about her life, Jeong-suk pens a note for her children. It’s an emotional one, centered around the desire for Jung-min and I-rang to live happily, achieve what they set out to, and know they’re shielded by their mother even if she isn’t physically around.
Doctor Cha Season 1 (Credit – Netflix)
What happens with Jeong-suk’s divorce, and her surgery?
As I-rang is told to pursue art school, and is comfortingly encouraged to move on from the pain caused by her father’s affair, In-ho reflects on the housework completed by Jeong-suk in spite of her poor health. So, bearing that in mind, he agrees to divorce his wife, as well as let her keep the building Ae-sim left in her name.
Nevertheless, In-ho does wish for Jeong-suk to accept his liver in the wake of their divorce, candidly stating he wants to “repent,” and still be able to meet her “as the mother of my children.” The next day, the professor meets with Seung-hi, who breaks the news she’ll be leaving to run a hospital, and that their relationship is also officially over.
While Jeong-suk comforts a tearful Eun-seo, and tells her she isn’t to blame for any of the affair drama, Seung-hi gets a congratulatory send-off on her final day. Elsewhere, In-ho anxiously runs through every detail of his upcoming liver surgery.
Repaying the trust placed in him, Roy Kim ensures Jeong-suk and In-ho’s respective surgeries go well, meaning the former has a healthy liver via transplant once more. Then, we quickly cut to divorce court, where the couple finalize their separation, and eat together for the first time in years.
What happens after In-ho and Jeong-suk officially separate?
After In-ho is commended for his promotion to hospital director, and Jeong-suk establishes the fact she will return to work at Gusan once she’s properly recovered, the divorced couple officially part ways. It comes following sincere apologies and offerings of thanks, which later upset In-ho, who appears to realize what he has lost.
The next day, Eun-seo hears of In-ho’s divorce from I-rang, and goes to her father in a bid to get him to pursue Seung-hi. But it’s unclear for now whether this request is heeded, given when the formerly adulterous couple reconvenes, their conversation mostly pertains to having the cancer hospital become affiliated with Gusan.
When Jeong-suk thanks Roy Kim for “saving” her life through surgery, vowing to now look after herself, he sees an opportunity and confesses his feelings.
However, the professor is rejected, before being encouraged to find a woman more compatible with him, who is potentially willing to get married with children. As an aside, it’s also said here that Roy Kim donated his bone marrow to his biological father.
Three years into the future, Jeong-suk runs a specialist family medicine clinic of her own (with a downstairs cafe), taking care of patients with a noted kind heart and strong personality. The clinician has also gained her motorcycle license, news she shares jovially with Deok-rye, who now lives life comfortably doing gardening.
Doctor Cha Season 1 Ending Explained
In-ho appears inundated by Seung-hi’s “surgery favors,” Roy Kim is said to now have a partner, and Jeong-suk visits Gangwon-do to continue doing volunteer work as she promised some time ago.
While In-ho and Jeong-suk talk kindly after their volunteer work, So-ra and Jung-min discuss their future as a couple, which includes the plan of having a child together. Then, in the ending of Doctor Cha Season 1, Jeong-suk narrates her gratitude towards life and expresses her current happiness.
What did you think of the Doctor Cha Season 1 Episodes 15 and 16, and the ending? Comment below.
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