“Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.” is back for a second season, and this time, there’s new challenges for the teenage doctor as she tries to navigate being a teenager while also being a doctor. She experiences her first true rough patch with her first boyfriend, Walter, which leads to them breaking up. She develops feelings for a patient named Nico who is battling cancer. Plus, she has to decide how about her specialty as a doctor.

This season was a little better than the first season when it comes to a broader appeal. Admittedly, this is a show where the main characters are teenagers on a Disney streaming app, so I know I’m not the target audience. But I felt like the first season tried too hard to be kid friendly while ignoring older children, or even teens, who might be interested in the show. It felt very schmaltzy in season one. Season two does a better job of focusing on the aspects that would appeal to those teenagers rather than just kids. It’s still Disney, and it’s still kid-friendly, it’s just doing better at its approach.

I actually enjoyed the Nico storyline. While I didn’t care about teenage romance, the target audience certainly would. But I enjoyed the concept of a young cancer patient who just wants to have a normal life but can’t. It makes sense that he would develop feelings for Lahela and vice versa. It also makes sense that they can’t be together, and he would have a negative reaction to his life changing even if it’s for a positive reason. The acting could be cheesy at times, but the storyline, itself, worked.

In contrast, I really didn’t care for the relationship between Steph and Kai. It makes sense that a young girl would have a crush on her best friend’s older brother. It also makes sense that as they mature, he would notice her in a different light. Unfortunately, I think the writers went too far in the kid friendly direction with their romance. I think that could’ve been handled a little bit better.

Still, this is a good series for pre-teens and tweens. It’s got its highs and its lows like any other television series, but some of it was very good, and some of it was very bad. Could it have been better? Sure. Was it problematic? Not in the least. I don’t know if it’ll get a season three, but I hope its fans enjoyed this season.

Rating: 3 stars

What did you think of season two of “Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.?”

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy has been a big Disney fan since he was a kid growing up during the Disney Renaissance. One day he hopes to go to every Disney Park in the world.

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