This week’s episodes of Taxi Driver 2 had probably the most outrageous case yet. Yes, even crazier than the cult last week!
For Episodes 9 and 10, our Rainbow Taxi friends had to expose a popular surgeon who was essentially running a surgery factory in order to take the government money used to subsidize the health care of the patients for herself.
Dr. Ahn Young Sook (Lee Hang Na) targeted elderly patients living in poverty and with no family members by pushing unnecessary surgeries on them. However, she would not be the one performing the surgeries. She instead secretly delegates the surgeries to random pharmaceutical and medical equipment representatives, who are (somewhat reluctantly) in on the scam. Since the elderly have no family to care whether they live or die, Dr. Ahn has no qualms about the fraudulent surgeries leading to the early deaths. So long as she gets the money from the Korean government providing health care to these patients.
The Rainbow Taxi crew get involved when Do Ki meets Han Jae Duk (Jeong Gi Seop) whose daughter Su Ryeon (Kang Seol), an emerging track star, was put in a coma after what was supposed to be a routine surgery by the fraudulent surgeon.
First of all, the idea of treating the elderly as disposable tools to gain wealth is absolutely disgusting and horrific. On one hand, I’m glad they didn’t specifically focus on one such patient because I don’t think I’d be able to get over it. I was already very emotional with the grandma who was scammed a few cases ago. What more to see the story of a victim of this insane doctor have to suffer through this ordeal.
On the other hand, an unflinching look at such crimes and depravity is something that Taxi Driver has not shied away from. Especially when the stories they tell are based on or inspired by real life events and cases. It is a good thing to bring to light such instances of injustice in a world that often tends to sweep such things under the rug.
And that’s another point from this pair of episodes. Calling to light the lack of accountability in government. Surely, someone would have been able to notice something was wrong with this surgery assembly line situation masked as a hospital. And even more so, the fact that Dr. Ahn had already been charged with the exact same crime, yet was let off the hook with just a slap on the wrist. And years later being able to become a licensed surgeon under a false name. How is that even possible?
It seems so crazy, but sadly too possible at the same time.
Another theme from this pair of episodes talked about the idea of speaking up and stepping forward. There were many characters who had an inkling of something being wrong, but never had the courage or will to actually bring it up to someone who might be able to find what’s wrong and fix it.
That fear or lack of will can be attributed to two things. One, a potentially selfish reason of not wanting to harm your own career position or advancement. And two, a basic fear of those in power and feeling like nothing you can say or do will ever make a difference. So, together, why stick your neck out and harm your own life when nothing will happen for the better anyway.
It’s almost a hopeless feeling. And maybe one reason such injustice can continue to thrive even today.
That’s why our Rainbow Taxi friends are such invaluable people to exist in this Taxi Driver world. In their own way, they are able to do what they can to right some of the wrongs that would otherwise go unchecked. If only there were Rainbow Taxi crews in real life too.
Elsewhere, we got just a little bit more about On Ha Joon. What’s most interesting right now is wondering whether or not Do Ki truly has suspicions of Ha Joon. The show has made it (too?) obvious that the others think Do Ki is a nice guy. So on one hand, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are already one step ahead and have been tracking Ha Joon’s movement against them this whole time. But on the other hand, I also wouldn’t be surprised if they are taken completely by surprise by Ha Joon’s true identity and motives.
I think either way would provide some exciting material.
As for the cliffhanger explosion and the preview showing them mourning Do Ki’s death, we of course know it’s not that simple or cut and dry. So seeing how Do Ki has managed to escape death this time will be fun to see play out in the next episodes.
I just realized we have six episodes left, just three weeks! Time really does fly by. But I definitely hope this won’t be the last season of the series. Considering Madame Lim is still out there, I’ll bet on more Taxi Driver to come after this run. hehe
