TV series operates on a different level

Following a regional outbreak of COVID-19, the crew were unable to use the hospital as a set any longer, so a life-size replica of the hospital's emergency department was built. It took the team 25 days, but the construction ensured that unfinished scenes were completed, says Gao Chen, the drama's chief producer.

Gao recalls that the show features many tailored special-effects, with all the readings on the medical devices added during postproduction.

"All the signs should match the condition of the patients, but the actors and actresses were healthy, so the prop team put pieces of green cloth over the screens and monitors, replacing them with 'corrected' images using digital technology," explains Gao.

A veteran producer known for hits like The Interpreter and Eternal Love, Gao says he was hooked by the script of Thank You, Doctor when reading the script, adapted from the popular online novel ICU 48 Hours.

"Getting older, I have seen more of my relatives and friends need to visit the hospital a lot more. Compared to the past, we have obtained a deeper understanding about numerous medical conditions, as well as the meaning of life and death," says Gao, adding this is partly what provided the impetus for him to produce the drama.

"The doctor-patient relationship has undergone a transition over the years. With the improvement of Chinese people's understanding about health and medicine, patients and doctors are more like 'allies' teaming up to fight against illness," says Gao.

Currently, the drama is streaming in more than 10 countries and regions, including Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea and North America, accumulating widespread interest from foreign audiences.