No doubt, viewers are in love with Doctor Slump after witnessing its sweet and hilarious nature. The rivals-turn-into-lovers genre has always been the most liked genre among rom-com fans. And the K-drama didn’t miss a chance to win the audience’s hearts. But Doctor Slump Season 2’s fate remains in limbo since Netflix has decided to pay no heed to the fan-favorite series. But will the streaming giant return with Doctor Slump anytime in the future? Well, it might! Keep reading to know what made us say this.
But before that, let’s take a quick look at Doctor Slump’s synopsis. The story focuses on Nam Ha Neul and Yeo Jeong Woo’s relationship, who used to be high school rivals. The pair never liked each other in their childhood and parted ways soon after finishing school. However, their destiny had some other plans, as the pair ended up living together after they were forced to quit their jobs. But are they still together? Let’s see!
Doctor Slump Season 2 Is Officially Canceled!
Unfortunately, Doctor Slump Season 2 isn’t on the cards. Although the series opened at 4.769 percent and saw a hike in ratings as it continued, the ratings dropped after a few episodes. But the ratings exponentially increased after the tenth episode, marking the highest ever. Despite frequent ups and downs, the K-drama gained an overall solid rating of 6.437% in Seoul. Not only this, but the series also received solid 7.5 stars on IMDb and 8.3 out of 10 on MyDramaList. Thus, many wished the show would return for the next season, considering an increase of 1.984 ratings.
However, the chances are low. That’s because Netflix has billed it as a limited series. So, there’s no chance that Doctor Slump Season 2 will return. So, it’s officially canceled. It’s worth noting that the show that airs on Netflix is billed as the streaming platform’s original, and all rights are associated with the platform only. So when Netflix announces it as a ‘limited series,’ there’s no chance the production house or JTBC could renew it.
This is why many K-dramas are facing a crisis; they are begging for another season, but Netflix remains firm on its decision. Some of them include My Demon and The Bequeathed, which performed incredibly well on the platform but currently face the same issue. Thus, considering this, Doctor Slump Season 2 will be off the horizon.
Will Netflix Reconsider Cancelation?
As mentioned above, Netflix has billed the series as a ‘limited series.’ That means it isn’t intended to continue with other seasons or sequels, irrespective of its ending. However, Doctor Slump performed incredibly well on the streaming giant. Shortly after its debut, the series ranked ninth in Netflix’s Global Top Ten in 11 countries. Not only this but in the second week, the series peaked at number one in the non-English TV category, becoming the highest-watched show on Netflix and topping the charts in nine countries. These include Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
It’s not the end. Doctor Slump also remained in the top ten in 47 countries. Thus, there’s a chance that the streaming giant could reconsider its decision and renew Doctor Slump Season 2 based on its performance. Netflix is known to bring back the canceled series. And since the K-drama has already performed amazingly well on the platform, there’s no reason to axe the show. However, we do know that Netflix had already axed My Demon, which remained in the Global Top Ten for seven consecutive weeks, so it’s unlikely that Netflix will reconsider its decision. But let’s hope for the best.
Nevertheless, Netflix renewal is based on the cost vs viewership graph. We know that Doctor Slump remained in the top ten for almost nine weeks and has been watched millions of times, so it’s expected Netflix will renew the series. But again, the chances are low because of its rom-com nature. Such genres often have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Thus, they are least expected to return with another outing. That’s because the story feels conclusive, and the extent of the narrative feels unnatural and forced. Hence, it’s also one of the reasons why Netflix might have canceled the series.
Doctor Slump Season 2: What Might Have Happened?
The series focuses on the lives of two doctors who are forced to leave their jobs. It quickly brings the male and female lead together. However, since both have already faced a challenging time together and dealt with their lowest ebb in the pilot season, there’s nothing left to explore in Doctor Slump Season 2. But if Netflix brings the show for season 2, it could have explored their romantic journey as they have already faced their fair share of challenges. Since the series isn’t an adaptation of webtoons, unlike other K-dramas, Doctor Slump Season 2 can explore beyond the limits.
Doctor Slump Season 2: Who Could Have Returned?
Well, there won’t be Doctor Slump without its main cast. So, Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye could have returned for Doctor Slump Season 2. For the unversed, the actors reunited on screen after 11 years, which is why fans eagerly wait to see them again. So, if season 2 is on the cards, they can return as Yeo Jeong Woo and Nam Ha Neul. Besides them, Yoon Park as Bin Dae Yeong, Gong Seong Ha as Lee Hong Ran, and Oh Dong Min as Min Kyung Min could have returned as well.
Other cast members, including Jang Hye Jin, Yoon Sang Hyeon, and Hyun Bong Sik, could return as Kong Wol Seon, Nam Ba-da, and Kong Tae-seon. There’s a chance that the show could have introduced some more characters. It can also return with season 2 with a completely different storyline and characters following the anthology concept. However, it entirely depends on the streaming platform.
Doctor Slump Season 2: Release Date
As mentioned above, Netflix axed the series just after one season, so it’s highly unlikely that it will return with season 2. But if Netflix reconsiders its decision, then we can expect Doctor Slump Season 2 to release in late 2025. That’s because production takes almost a year to wrap up. This is all for now. Stay tuned. TechRadar247 will keep you updated.