very mild spoilers

Whenever I read "slice of life", I tend to associate it with episodic stand alone scenes/stories within a given universe, with given characters that remain more or less the same throughout the series. But this is somewhat more of an empirical notion than based on therotical research on the subject. (it is discussed here for example : What is the Definition of Slice of Life Anime?)

The thing is, I usually like long stories that take their time to develop characters and plot, and all things being equal, this label tends to give me a bad feeling a priori.

After a dozen chapters into TMD, globally I don't think it fits very well. Sure it mostly takes place in the same hospital and most chapters brings forth new patients, new medical situations and their resolution, but on the other hand the leading characters keep being fleshed out, the MC is building her team and we get to know more about the way things work behind the scene (feudal system).

I'm not complaining here, I just wanted to know what you folks think in order to get a better idea of the general understanding of "slice of life" (if i'm ever to tag series).

Slice of Life
As the name suggests, this genre represents day-to-day tribulations of one/many character(s). These challenges/events could technically happen in real life and are often -if not all the time- set in the present timeline in a world that mirrors our own.

[url]http://mangaupdates.com/genres.html[/url]

Iryuu - Team Medical Dragon couldn´t fit more as it fulfills all requirements. Workplace series are also usual assigned with the tag and the narrative is as much about the dramatic aspect of the hospital setting as it is about the lives of the cast.
The genre remained unquestioned for years too and Emma, Inuyashiki or Spice & Wolf are a good selection of how fast the definition can go and yet fit.
School Life manga can also earn the genre if a noticeable aspect of the series is set outside of it as Zankoku na Kami ga Shihaisuru´s just lock-down proves.
I read the entire manga and am content with how MU´s Team Medical Dragon is set up besides the 2 nonsensical Educational categories.

I also read EU/US comics and am a librarian.
Manga-Masters, My ANN-Lists + Imdb

Quote from residentgrigo

[url]http://mangaupdates.com/genres.html[/url]

Thanks residentgrigo for pointing this table out... and well i guess you're right and there's not so much to debate over.
I thought that slice of life was excluding plot/character development, apparently it's not.

from what i've read maybe "these 2 nonsensical Educational categories" come from the fact that Hero sensei (the genius surgeon whose name i've forgotten) is kind of training the intern ??

No problem and the manga may have a lot of insight into Japanese medicine but is still as much of a "educational" piece as CSI, ER or Black Jack.
Shin Koutai Monogatari would be a medical series that is supposed to educate first and foremost. Whatever.

I also read EU/US comics and am a librarian.
Manga-Masters, My ANN-Lists + Imdb

Quote from residentgrigo

No problem and the manga may have a lot of insight into Japanese medicine but is still as much of a "educational" piece as CSI, ER or Black Jack.

Yeah not to mention he's a bit too much super-heroish to me ; i mean what he manages to pull against the whole establishment, especially in a seinen, had me face palm a bit. I hope it'll get less manichean and they'll sometimes face failure.

And I think i'll try the car battery DIY defibrilator to make the news headlines if the occasion comes :/