The fifth episode of the TBS Sunday Theatre drama " The 19th medical record " (Sundays at 9pm), starring Jun Matsumoto , aired on August 17th. First Summer Uika's performance as cardiovascular surgeon Chayazaka Kokoro was met with widespread praise.
◇The following contains spoilers
Chayazaka's mother, Ai (Asaka Mayumi), is rushed to Uotora General Hospital in critical condition. Despite surgery, Ai will have difficulty living independently for the time being. Chayazaka, her only daughter, is about to decide to place Ai in an institution, but she begins to show signs of physical and mental discomfort. Tokushige (Matsumoto), a general practitioner, is appointed to examine Chayazaka.
Chayazaka thought he should be the one to take care of his mother. He told Tokushige, "She's my mother, so I can't cut her off. I can't abandon her, right? If I did that, she'd get mad at me." On the other hand, he added, "I wish there had been some clear reason. We just weren't compatible."
Tokushige advised, "Because you're parent and child. It may be an illusion to think that you can understand each other just because you're related by blood. Even if you're family, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's right for you to live together."
Even so, Chayazaka tries to take on her mother's burden, saying, "It's hard for mom to live alone." When Tokushige tells her, "You're a very kind person, to feel this much pain for someone," Chayazaka's eyes turn red and she says, "I can't bring myself to hate her," as feelings for her mother well up inside her.
On social media, the comments were met with discussion such as "First Summer Uika's facial expressions are too good," "First Summer Uika's acting has been polished and is really amazing," "Uika-sama looks amazing in the white coat, she's beautiful, and she's a great actress," "Chayazaka-sensei, played by First Summer Uika-sama, has always been a solitary person," and "Uika-sama's eye movements, her subtle facial expressions, the tone of her voice, and her gestures are all well-crafted and her performance really stirred emotions."
