Get your way One of the most common genres of Asian TV series is romantic, which is not surprising, since the opportunity to briefly believe in a fairy tale and disconnect from all anxiety for the modern viewer is especially valuable. Such series are often carefree, however, sometimes "pink snot" is used by authors of dramas only as a background to highlight significant social issues. The stories of this kind include a new Chinese series about the lives of doctors in love - "Love is a panacea", designed to acquaint its viewer with the difficulties of fighting incurable diseases. Oddly enough, this theme does not make Panacea a heavy or particularly deep work of fiction, which is probably a good thing, since this drama is not documentary and is not designed for an audience of art house cinema.
Although the main circumstances and limitations of the proposed story are set out in its first series, which allows you to approximate what the series will tell as a whole, Panacea formulates an interesting, ambiguous and difficult to resolve dilemma only to its equator. Putting the clinical trials of a new drug in the center of the narrative, the drama raises the question of the limits of permissible risk during their conduct, which exacerbates the fact that we are not talking about the next version of the flu vaccine, which can pass without any intervention, but about the fight against an incurable disease that significantly reduces the quality of life. The position of the main characters on this problem is quite unambiguous, but when considering it, it should be borne in mind that both of them are doctors, that is, people who once gave the Hippocratic oath, and for whom the principle of “do no harm” is vitally determining. Of course, technically, they're absolutely right, they're fighting for the right cause, for good medical ethics, and if the conventional approach to trials were different, drugs might not be safe.
But the dilemma is complicated by the fact that there is a second side of the coin. Caring for a seriously ill person, especially those who are unable to serve themselves, is a cross that not everyone is able to bear, and such a disaster is absolutely capable of destroying the lives of relatives to the same extent as the patient himself. And if so, is there a right to refuse these people in hope, and to deprive them of their own choice? Moreover, the outcome of the fight against Huntington’s disease is foregone, and in this situation, even a sudden defeat may not be a negative scenario. This may sound sacrilegious, but still reasoning takes place. What should I choose? Which side is right? There is no right answer to the question, and there is no perfect solution to the dilemma. The series only raises the topic once again, but does not give the only correct answer, because it simply does not exist.
In principle, to formulate all the above series could, and without endowing the main character Su Wei'an predisposition to a deadly disease. However, such a scenario decision is due not only to the desire to catch up with the drama, but also to the desire to consider another issue. No one living on this planet knows for sure when he will leave, and so he builds his life without looking back on the possibility of death. In the case of Su Wei'an, although her illness is not predetermined and the risks are only 50%, the heroine sees herself not only as doomed, but as a living dead person, she voluntarily gives up her own life, just waiting for it to end. No, the problem is not in a permanent escape, and not in the obvious answer that one cannot escape from oneself, but in the fact that all life is finite, and it is important not so much how many years, months, weeks and days a person spent in this world, but how much he managed to do, even if it is significant only for himself. Having given up her depression, the heroine achieves a lot, literally saving herself, which quite directly speaks about the inadmissibility of wasting time, and in this morality it does not matter, a completely healthy person without visible problems or such a special one as Su Weian. So the idea is simple and obvious: every moment of life should be appreciated, life is too beautiful and important to ignore.
Although the series is not empty or superficial, its plot is quite straightforward, built around a central love line, which, however, does not make much intrigue, even despite the hint of a love polygon. The main pair of characters is not quite equivalent, which is often, and, although each has a quite distinct character, is associated with a love relationship with an admixture of patronage and parental. As it often happens, the young man embodies the type of another ideal, which is emphasized by the profession of a neurosurgeon, and the ability to do anything well, and an incredibly patient character, and the girl, although not a “blue heroine”, is very changeable due to her self-sufficiency, which, admittedly, sometimes tires. The notorious “chemistry” between the characters is quite convincing, although without sparks flying in the direction, perhaps these passions are even slightly lacking. The lines of secondary characters, both positive and negative, are built around the main pair and are dependent on them, so much so that, for example, the second couple in love does not even get a specific ending. It is not quite a success to make the decision to the finale an antagonist to that quite positive hero, moreover, really deserving of sympathy - the decision of the writers in his respect is very cruel. In general, the finale in the drama is very ambiguous - treat as you like, although not open in the traditional sense of the word. Especially sensitive people can cry, and optimists – on the contrary, rejoice.
The unconditional advantages of the drama would like to include the creation of an image of a high-class neurosurgeon: his work is shown reliably, so that the hero conducts complex operations, and not treats snot and diarrhea. The traumas of childhood – the usual plot twist – are greatly exaggerated here, and one could do without them: Luo Yun Xi creates a completely integral image of an adult and meaningful person, for whom suffering in the past is not necessary. By the way, the actor’s play is also a great advantage, it is very pleasant to look at his sympathetic, but seasoned, intelligent and insightful hero. In principle, Zhang Jo Nan paired with him looks acceptable, and her heroine does not cause any rejection.
In general, I assess “Love is a panacea” quite positively, although I can’t help but admit that the series is not characterized by sharpness, surprises, and at times seems boring, protracted. But he achieves his goal - introduces the problems of a rare Huntington's disease, helps to understand people who encounter it, and also entertains, showing another beautiful love story between pleasant people. Not necessarily, but you can see it.
