Doctor X

"Doctor X" is as irreverent and far-fetched as the series "House." But it does this in a very Japanese way. So don't go into this series expecting an exact copy of the American drama. Do expect, however, a drama-comedy that (only slightly) exaggeratedly plays off Japanese-ness in terms of culture and norms.

What good about this series is that, as a Japanese comedy-drama, it works well due to its fantasy of a super talented outsider doctor taking on the system. Not only that, she's a woman, and a surgeon! In Japan, women make up less than 6% of all surgeons. That fact alone makes for a very promising series.

The machinations and politicking of the male doctors and hospital administrators are equally fun and interesting to watch. The acting is quite good if sometimes a bit overplayed. But that is usual for Japanese comedy-dramas. So too is the overall plot in each season.

The only downside is that the main character is a bit childish, which can be quiet grating at times to watch. Sadly, Japanese society sees ideal femininity as child-like, and so even Doctor X cannot escape this fundamental fact and our protagonist is not so revolutionary as she looks.