A surgeon who gets paid by the operation, clocks out at 6 p.m. and doesn't care about hospital politics is Netflix's biggest non-English show right now. Doctor X: Mafia in White, a South Korean remake of the Japanese hit Doctor-X, drew 7.1 million views for the week of October 12 to 18. Here's who Doctor X is, how the show connects to the original and whether it's worth your time.
No. 1 for the Second Week in a Row
Netflix's global Top 10 puts Doctor X: Mafia in White at No. 1 among non-English TV shows for October 12 to 18, with 7.1 million views and 30 million hours watched. Take Charge of My Heart, another Korean series, came in second with 6.4 million views.
It's the show's second straight week on top. Doctor X debuted at No. 1 with 4.6 million views, reaching the Top 10 in 36 countries and the top spot in seven, including South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, Yonhap reported.
The show is a hit at home too. In South Korea, its ratings rose from 11.4% for the premiere to 18.5% nationwide for episode 4, which aired on October 17, Star News Korea reported.
More on This Topic: Harlan Coben's Latest Netflix Thriller Shatters Records and Breaks Into All-Time Top 5
Who Is Doctor X?
Kim Ji-won plays Gye Su-jeong, a freelance surgeon hired out by a staffing agency. She's paid per operation and leaves work at 6 p.m. sharp. Her agency sends her to Guseo University Seonnam Medical Center, a hospital short on surgeons after a wave of resignations, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.
Once there, she pushes back on the director's surgical decisions and on colleagues who care more about VIP patients than everyone else. Star News Korea described her as a cold, independent surgeon taking on a corrupt hospital system.
The main cast includes:
- Kim Ji-won as Gye Su-jeong, the freelance surgeon
- Lee Jung-eun as Jang Hee-sook, head of the staffing agency and Su-jeong's ally
- Son Hyun-joo as Boo Seung-gwon, who takes over as hospital director
- Kim Young-min as Do Yoon-sik, a surgeon more focused on hospital politics than surgery
The Japanese Hit Behind It
The original Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon aired on Japan's TV Asahi for seven seasons, from 2012 to 2021. Ryoko Yonekura starred as Michiko Daimon, a freelance surgeon who takes on high-risk operations other doctors refuse and clashes with hospital administrators along the way. Her catchphrase was “I never fail.”
The Korean version keeps that setup: a lone outsider with exceptional skills, a hospital run by people chasing power and an agency boss in her corner. It airs on SBS in South Korea and is produced by Studio S, Studio Dragon and HighZium Studio. Doctor X is Studio Dragon's 10th global No. 1 on Netflix, after shows like The Glory, Sports Kyunghyang reported.
Not everyone thinks the formula will translate perfectly. Korea JoongAng Daily noted that the original's exaggerated style could eventually test the patience of Korean viewers.
How to Watch Doctor X
Doctor X: Mafia in White streams on Netflix. New episodes air in South Korea on Fridays and Saturdays at 9:50 p.m. local time, so the series is still adding episodes. Korea JoongAng Daily puts the full run at 12 episodes.
As of Netflix's October 12 to 18 chart, the episodes available added up to 4 hours and 15 minutes, which makes it easy to catch up before the next batch.
Is Doctor X Worth Watching?
Early reviews are positive. US site But Why Tho gave the first two episodes a 7 out of 10 and wrote that “Kim Ji-won shines,” praising her deadpan line delivery and comedic timing.
It's a good fit if you like medical dramas built around one brilliant, difficult doctor, or if you enjoy watching a hero take apart a corrupt institution one case at a time. If you prefer slow, realistic hospital stories, the over-the-top tone may take some getting used to. Either way, the first episode will tell you fast whether Gye Su-jeong is your kind of surgeon.
