CW: suicide, violence
Daily Dose of Sunshine is a 12-episode drama about a psychiatric nurse named Jung Da-eun. Netflix describes it as “A kind-hearted nurse working in psychiatry goes above and beyond to be a ray of light for those under her care, despite the challenges coming her way.”
Spoilers ahead…
So I expected a (perhaps heartwarming) light comedy, maybe? A romance? I did not expect it to rip out my heart and hand it back in pieces midway through the series. The main character is overwhelmed when a patient she cared for took his own life.
“…challenges coming her way” yeah, I guess you could say that
Don’t worry, it turns out OK (at least for her, eventually.) But it takes a hard look at psychiatric illness, depression in particular, the burden on families and professional caregivers, and the stigma that people face who are recovering from that illness. Of course there is some much-needed comedy and romance; I don’t think the show would be watchable without it. And some movie-grade special effects that illustrate psychiatric experience.
Remember John Fetterman, the extraordinary senator from Pennsylvania? He sought treatment for depression, and faced a storm of cruel insinuation about his right to serve – about everything really. It wasn’t right.
We finished binge-watching the series tonight. You know it’s good when it should have been longer. Highly recommended.
georgewiman 