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Dr. Storks

Dr. Storks

2015–2017Miniseries2 seasons21 episodes~54 min/epMidcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

The drama revolves around Kounotori Sakura, an Ob-Gyn doctor working at the Persona General Medical Centre who is also a gifted jazz pianist. His mother had died in childbirth and he was brought up in an orphanage, which is what fueled his ambition to be an ob-gyn. He hopes to be able to deliver every baby to this world, congratulating them on the gift of life given to their little bodies. (Source: TBS)

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Dr. Storks?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Dr. Storks streaming on Netflix.

Subscription

Highlights

What stands out about Dr. Storks?

Dr. Storks earns 2 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Hopeful.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Dr. Storks worth watching?

Dr. Storks' Midcredits score is the 59th percentile of all shows, from 350 ratings across 2 sources. 68% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

59th percentile

Better received than 59% of shows

56th percentile among Drama57th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)70th
Approval (how many liked it)46th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

75 /100

70th percentile of all shows

72nd percentile among Drama68th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.3 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

68% liked it

46th percentile of all shows

39th percentile among Drama44th percentile among 2010s
68% rated it 7–1032% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

49th percentile

342 ratings across platforms

38th percentile among Drama55th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show is emotionally driven, repetitive in structure, and has a flawed but distinctive main female doctor character.

Fans praised

  • addresses real-life maternal and neonatal issues with emotional depth
  • believable cast with good chemistry between leads
  • musical element adds soothing touch and uniqueness

Detractors panned

  • repetitive plot and preachy agenda about babies being a miracle
  • main female doctor character is grating and unrealistic
  • male lead's character is rigid and limited in range

What stands out

Emotional impactDivisive75

emotionally draining rollercoaster with several good cries per episode

Sound and music70

piano music adds soothing touch, lead plays piano each episode

ActingDivisive65

cast believable but main female doctor is criticized as unrealistic

Plot and storyDivisive50

repetitive episodic structure focusing on different pregnancy crises

CharactersDivisive45

Shimoya grating and unqualified, male lead too rigid and limited arc

Pacing45

repetitive and requires patience, especially first season

Originality40

formulaic for J-drama, agenda-driven, repetitive themes

Dialogue40

some dialog like public service announcements, preachy

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2017 · 11 episodes

  • S2E1

    Episode 1

    Oct 13, 201745 min
  • S2E2

    Episode 2

    Oct 20, 201745 min
  • S2E3

    Episode 3

    Oct 27, 201745 min
  • S2E4

    Episode 4

    Nov 3, 201745 min
  • S2E5

    Episode 5

    Nov 10, 201745 min
  • S2E6

    Episode 6

    Nov 17, 201745 min

Watch experience

What is Dr. Storks like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you hopeful.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
WarmContemplativeMelancholic
Heaviest: middle
Warm humor
Register
Sentimental · 4% of showsWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe series plays its emotional material straight and earnestly, with no irony or self-awareness; it aims to move the viewer genuinely.
The rideThe series likely balances tender medical stories with the protagonist's personal journey, with emotional peaks in the middle seasons.
StructureEpisodes follow a standard dramatic arc: introduction of a pregnant patient with a complication, medical intervention, and emotional resolution.
Episode formatAs a medical drama about a gynecologist, the series likely features patient-of-the-week cases alongside seasonal arcs about Sakura's personal growth and relationships.
Season formatTwo seasons likely have distinct story arcs while following the same core cast and setting.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
HopefulCathartic · 3% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves viewers with hope for new life and emotional catharsis from each resolved case, despite the heavy subject matter.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeEach episode follows a typical medical case where the team confronts a pregnancy complication; the monster is the medical crisis, but no subtype from the guide fits precisely.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9% (this title): Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1% (this title)
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Survival

Illness and disability · under 1% of showsPurpose
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe show deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and women's health, confronting illness and medical challenges while exploring the protagonist's dual calling as a doctor and musician.
StanceThe series appears to present the challenges of medicine and personal fulfillment without heavy moralizing.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalUrbanRealistic
JazzOrchestral modernSupportive music · hybrid
SettingA general hospital and jazz clubs in contemporary Japan
MusicGiven the protagonist is a jazz pianist, jazz music likely features prominently in the soundtrack.

Content guide

Is Dr. Storks okay for kids?

Ratings in 9 other countries
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea15
  • Austria16
  • Czechia18+
  • Hungary16
  • Poland16
  • ROAP
  • SingaporePG
  • Switzerland16

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Dr. Storks have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Dr. Storks?

Cast

Gô Ayano
as Sakura Kounotori
Mayu Matsuoka
as Kae Shimoya
Yoh Yoshida
as Rumiko Komatsu
Kentarô Sakaguchi
as Ryo Shirakawa
Kazuyuki Asano
as Masanobu Ozawa
Noriko Eguchi
as Shoko Mukai
Gen Hoshino
as Haruki Shinomiya
Nao Ōmori
as Takayuki Imahashi
Wakana Matsumoto
as Emi Kurasaki
Hio Miyazawa
as Goro Akanishi

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