In Shin WonHo PD and writer Lee WooJung we trust
I've been looking forward to this since Shin Wonho PD announced the series in 2019. I've loved all of his dramas; Prison Playbook remains as one of my best life dramas and is a drama I re-watch at least once a year. I knew this drama would be the same because it is Shin Wonho PD and writer Lee Woojung after all.And they delivered. Hospital Playlist was a humane, heartwarming, beautiful drama about the life of people in the medical field. The friendship, the growth, the bond they forged through the years reflect beautifully through the screen because the cast were great actors and the script was beautiful to begin with. It's so easy to cry with their sorrows, laugh with their foolishness, and be happy with their successes because the bond is so organic that you will readily root for all of them.
One of the things I've always loved with Shin Wonho PD's shows were the cameos and this series didn't fail to give me the nostalgia and warmth that all those previous characters gave me. Reply 1994? We got Go Ara still the strong independent woman and Kim SungKyun! Reply 1988? We got Choi MooSung and Kim SunYoung still happily married! Prison Playbook? My mans Kim SungCheol selling insurance and Jung Min-sung still being the family man who will do everything for the people he loves! And our favorite father? Sung DongIl comes back as a priest I am wheezing.
All in all, this show delivered and I will be looking forward to season 2! Now I'm off to re-watching NJTTW because of that mini-crossover lol
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Whoever casted the actors should be given a pay raise, to be honest. It felt like the characters were written for the actors. I could not imagine any other actor who would perfectly convey the emotions and story of the characters so well. The relationship between the group of friends would be the envy of many. Each of the main leads could hold their own.
Lee Ik Jun is that crazy genius of a doctor and a solo father. Ahn Jung Won is a doctor who defied his catholic family to become a doctor. Kim Jun Wan is that arrogant, doctor. Yang Suk Hyung is that mama's boy but a very empathic doctor. Chae Song Hwa is the glue that holds their group. Everyone had their story to tell and I liked the fact that it was more of a synergy of stories rather than who's story is better.
Also, I love the scenes where they were practicing as a band. Thus, the name "Hospital Playlist". It's so funny to see the legend of a theatre actress Jeon Mi Do to act like a tone deaf vocalist. She is that good. And the time they invested to learn all the songs to make it as authentic as it ought to be is admirable. Especially the part where they practiced Canon Rock. That was hard but they pulled it off. But I think my favorite performance would be the song "Met You By Chance" which by the way is not included in the physical album. WHY??? Aloha will always have a special place in my heart. Them singing it in karaoke is reminiscent of how me and my friends sing karaoke. This is why their friendship is so convincing. They definitely had the friendship chemistry down to a T. Oh, and I especially love that Aloha is winning in the charts.
Can we just talk about the chemistry between Ik Jun and his son, Woo Ju? It's tooooo cute. They have the perfect chemistry. I really can't wait for the second season. 12 episodes is to short for me. I need more!
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This review may contain spoilers
**This review was cross-posted on r/KDRAMA subreddit with a few changesThis was my first """medical""" drama (and Shin PD drama), and I gotta say that I was always interested in the human aspect of medicine, as I spent years studying animals. This allowed me to easily emphatize with the cast. But if there's one thing we probably have in common, its that some types of clients make us frustrated and drained lol. But at the end of the day, we have to try our hardest to understand where they are coming from. And at times, not all cases have a happy outcome. These circumstances, when combined, sometimes lead to burnout and compassion fatigue. I also liked how it was highlighted in one of the episodes that medical professionals always have to take responsibility for the things they say and do. Ultimately, the writers did an excellent job in depicting a typical hectic routine in a hospital setting, as well as the hardships medical professionals and even clients experience.
On the other hand, I am by no means criticizing medical dramas. I liked how HP was realistic and not overly dramatic to convey heartfelt emotions and messages. And I admire the efforts they put in to make the drama as accurate and realistic as possible. But I do understand that storylines may have to altered to serve the purpose of the characters and plot, as well as for entertainment.
The show wasn't something I fell in love with at first watch. Rather, it grew on me as we got to know more about the characters -- although I wasn't deeply invested emotionally in some of the characters as the show jumped from a multitude of cases. Anyway, I just love how its very wholesome and feel good. And the same can be said for its OST, which I think is incredible and one of the best I've heard over the course of dramas that I've watched. HP gave off a vibe that not all episodes were entirely connected, wherein the next episode picks up from the events of the previous one. It always starts off fresh, which was refreshing.
The star of the show was of course, the ensemble of five doctors, which all had a fair amount of screentime. Their chemistry and very close bond is just incredible. I also love how we get a glimpse of their varying personalities when they are together, and with their colleagues. And so it was HARD to pick a favorite character, though I always find myself sucking up to Ik-jun. This brought forth a newfound liking and appreciation for Jo Jung Suk. That said, I've always had an inkling that there was something between Ik-jun and Song-hwa. But I didn't actually expect him to act on his feelings. This storyline is definitely something I'll be looking forward to in Season 2. And I also thought that it was pretty comedic that they made fun of Jung-won's religious beliefs.
But but but I also have to give it to the supporting cast because they were stellar on their own. They were excellent in filling in the gaps, and giving us insights on the inner workings of the hospital and the 5 friends in its entirety. With this, Yoon-bok (Jo Yi Hyun) is also one of my favorite characters, partly because I can 100% relate to her when I was a student -- following doctors around like a sheep, absorbing new things like a sponge, and being downright amazed about learning (although a headache at times).
My favorite episode would definitely have to be the finale. I loved how they were able to depict and allowed the viewers to empathize with the different forms of joy and grief/loss, albeit through different circumstances and perspectives. I think that the complexity of these events is very unique in a way that it evokes the exact same emotion and message to a variety/multitude of viewers. A viewer may not be able to relate with one of the characters, but they could be a sobbing or cackling mess over another one. This may be the opposite for another viewer, and so on. While my heart broke for the mother who lost her child, with the expectant mothers holding their child outside the office -- y'all can bet that I cried the most when we got back to the med student (Yoon-bok) finding out that it was Song-hwa who operated on their mom.
Hospital Playlist is one of the best, if not the very best drama to have come out in 2020. I could see myself rewatching this if ever I need a good watch to soothe my soul.
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The slice-of-life drama I never knew I needed
There are so many things to love about this drama - from the soundtrack to the acting and the melt-in-the-heart moments. I find it really difficult to find a drama that's an "easy watch", especially as some days at work can get really stressful and all it takes is a drama like this to lift up my spirits. It highlights the struggles and joyous moments of each main character equally, but never ever lets either of those things drag on for too long. For example, in the episode after Ik-jun's wife wanted to divorce him, my gut feeling was that that would really impact upon his performance as a general surgeon, but that wasn't the case at all. Instead, those struggles were briefly captured when he opened up to a patient of his about being cheated on, thus allowing the patient to resonate with him.Was this review helpful to you?
IT'S NOT JUST A MEDICAL DRAMA
as Hospital Playlist ended its run yesterday night, i'm here to say THIS IS SUCH A GOOOOOD DRAMAAA!! i have been having a kdrama slump and this drama just healed the slump. i just knew a drama from the Reply and Play Play producer won't disappoint. Hospital Playlist's main charm is that it's super heartwarming! it provides you warm friendships (BEST SQUADD), cute relationships, professional doctors who got golden hearts, and at the same time it presents you the reality of a hospital. life and death situations, unwanted outcomes, and of course there are some doctors with not-that-golden hearts (they're not being given any spotlight, thankfully). all the patients cases and stories are heartwarming and tear-jerking. [someone help i can't press the enter button :")] STORY — for a medical slice-of-life drama, the story is super good. i can't say much bcs it's that good and i'm not the best at describing, but i can say it'a really really really good. there are always warm scenes, funny scenes, and sad scenes. every episode is really balanced. ACTING/CAST — the casts are chosen well. they are able to potray the unique characteristics of each character well. even the patients' families acting!! the happiness and the heartbreak they got from hearing the medical news are potrayed really well. MUSIC — OLD SONGS REALLY ARE SOMETHING ELSE! the songs make you feel things. butterflies, sadness, they chose the music well for each scenes! REWATCH — i would love to rewatch this drama someday later, i believs it'll produce the same heartwarming feelings i get now and of course i would comeback for the friendship and super super funny scenes! CAN 2021 COME FASTERRWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Friendship so precious you want to be part of
I inserted a warning sentence before the part that is a slight spoiler :) after it the paragraph ends so you can know when it ends also :)10 out of 10!
First of all if anyone asks me if they should watch this drama I will definitely say yes! It’s very beautiful story of 5 friends and their life as doctors. The first episodes might be a bit overwhelming with too many characters but soon you will get attached to them and know them all ^^ Honestly I thought I won’t like it when I first turned it on. But as soon as I reached even half of the first episode I loved this a lot. :) It's an epitome of my friendship dream! <3
Life in a hospital is not always sweet but it’s not always sour eirher, it’s not always easy but not always hard either, it’s not always cool with glorified doctors but it’s not always uncool either... it’s just life with it’s ups and downs and in this drama we see it through 5 main characters. Yes 5! Not a male lead, female lead and second lead, but 5 friends with different likes, different departments, different stories. Their friendship is the highlight of this drama and the most precious thing in this world of hospital playbook. This whole hospital life is not shown to us only through these 5 precious friends, but also nurses, some directors, and of course patients and their families. How each and every family is different, how doctors are in pain with their patients and are happy with their patients too.
Honestly I don’t like slice of life/ slow dramas. But this one is different. What I don’t like in those kind of dramas is the grey-ness and sadness they show. But here, they show that it’s not always bad, and even if the life can be horrible at the moment, there is always sun that will shine again later. They show that routine can be enjoyable too and even if it’s not it’s not that bad and can’t be just done. And that they can enjoy different hobbies! The next line is a slight spoiler but we all know how doctors can be called any moment and even if they get a call at night they have to run. So when Sung Hwa reaches her camping site and puts the tent she gets a call and has to clean up the tent right away and go back... she didn’t get to do anything but still she says that she enjoyed going there even if it was for a short moment.
And I just loved their band and jam sessions! It was always my dream so it was especially meaningful for me :)
Characters in this drama like I already mentioned are amazing. Each and every one is special, different and interesting. I love how this drama doesn’t have a villain. All of them are just people. And they are awesome people! All of this of course was possible by amazing directing, writing and acting! Actors did such a great job I got attached to each character and don’t want to say goodbye.
Yang seok young may seem like a boring loner and a mama boy, but is very sweet, had his own share of difficulties and is very strong, responsible and nice.
Chae Song Hwa is like a perfect woman but she too has her difficulties and her little hobbies she enjoyes a lot, she is also very strong and very nice.
Lee Ik Jun may seem like a crazy and irresponsible man, but in reality he cares for everyone and is very sweet, he doesn’t help only his friends but also absolutely everyone in this drama, friend of the world.
Kim Joon Hwan may seem cold and harsh but he also cares for everyone around him and does all the sweetest things without anyone knowing.
Ahn Jong Won may seem naive and week, but he has his own big special things that he is responsibly doing and a heart of big soft gold.
The nurses, residents and other staff had their share of screen time too which wasn’t even slightly brining. Each and every person was unique and interesting.
I love how they show us that you can start your career even later in life, even after you failed at another place. That you can find your love later in life too and that everything will be alright and life goes on.
I need to mention also parents of the main characters and other older cast. At first some of them are introduced in a tricky way making us think that they may be bad. But each and every one of them is so precious! I especially loved chairman’s Rosa’s friendship!
And of course patients and their families, we see all kinds of patients mean and kind but all in all everyone was human trying to live their lives.
Humor in here is another thing and I loved that even after the devastating tragical cases they always included comical scenes to not make the viewers sink in the sadness but give them some ray of light and hope that the sun will shine tomorrow and you can laugh!
Anyway it was really a phenomenal drama that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I cried and laughed with them and was extremely jealous of their friendship!!!!
P.S. I never rewatch dramas so I just put a random number in there :)
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Absolutely THE BEST DRAMA I've ever Watched
I'll just write the pros and cons here in a list form.This drama is actually a slice of life drama. It's just like an anthology of short stories but the roles are the same.
Pros (not in any order):
I. OST-rich
2. No boring episode. Here, you have 5 main roles to watch, they are funny and are true friends.
3. This drama grants you a LOT of comedy in each episode
4. THE MOST REALISTIC KDrama I've ever found
5. This drama DOES have romance stories with perfect ratio (the drama isn't overshadowed by romance scenes).
6. This drama does NOT rely too much on past stories/conflicts. The past is just to explain that those 5 characters are friends since long ago and the history of how they became friends.
7. Rich of BEAUTIFUL LIFE STORY, no unnecessary plot twist.
8. WILL make you understand some of the medical terms and procedures.
9. THE BEST NATURAL COMEDY in K-drama ever. You will laugh just by watching their acts, in fakin' EVERY episode!
10. You will also be teary because of the kindness or sadness in the story. This drama's setting is in the live-or-die building after all.
11. It's planned to have the SECOND SEASON!!!
Cons:
1. It's too short. Only 12 episodes (1 hour ++) each. But, still not enough for me :(
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Diaries like drama, in the start it look so simple like there are nothing on it but it have so much if you look more, so much relationships and so much love lines /ships ^^ and that's so reality if you work in the same place for all day and we all that hospitals have that much couples in real..
ACTING i think there are no need to talk about the mean cast acting they all known and proved how good are they.. but let me tell you literally everyone is good from big roles to small roles even the kids, maybe it's the power of Shin director he is known since replay even bad actress act well with him.. he is that good.
Music = Nostalgia , even though it's not from my young age not from my country it steal take me to that time . I enjoyed it the most and wait for the band gather scenes the most.
Lastly as expected from shin won ho and lee woo jung give us the best life , friendship , love and heartwarming feel all in one show. I want to thank them for that.
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Realistic Plotline
Hospital playlist is a such a soothing and realistic drama, no unrealistic love triangle or fight over ownership or whatever. Though this drama won’t be everyone’s favorite, it might be boring to some people because of the plotline but I believe it’s a drama that is closer to reality, dramatic plots can be tiring also.The acting, the OSTs, the side characters and how issues are addressed by the characters just hit different. I love everything about this drama and I hope season will be better
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In case you don't know Hospital Playlist is about a 5, 30-something doctors who have been close friends since college. The 5 of them let off steam by forming a garage (well basement) band. Hence the playlist part of the title. There are several stories woven into the fabric of HP. There are the patients, the hospital staff and their interactions with the core 5, and the core 5 themselves. The 5 have separate side stories that cris cross nicely. The same way all of our stories intersect with friends and family I would assume. Screenwriter Lee Woo Jung did a very good job juggling the stories, the sweet and bittersweet. The director, Shin Won Ho, did an excellent job as did his editors.
The cast is what truly made the drama special. Each lead actor brought something unique and different to the screen. The character's personalities were unfolded wonderfully. They were fantastic. Not just the lead and supporting actors, but the guest stars were wonderful. The guests I'm referring to mostly played the patients. From the children to the elderly, they were brillant. I caught myself wanting to console so many patients. It was ridiculous how many times I wanted to cry; how many times I was happy; how many times I wanted to kick them and yell snap out of it. OK I did the yelling part. My family just looked at with raised eyebrows. There really was no stand out acting among the 5. They were a true ensemble amongst themselves. I will admit Jo Jung Suk's Dr. Lee Ik Jun was my favorite from his first to last scene. If I had to pick one thing I didn't like, it was seeing the band in almost every episode. Thankfully, their stories moved along during the singing, but oft times I could have done without. But, honestly, it wasn't that bad.
The music was good. I usually don't pay much attention to it, but as I stated the 5 form a band and sing in every episode. All 4 of the men have great voices, especially experienced stage/musical actor, Jo and Yoo Yeon Suk. I don't know if Jeon Mi Do can sing, but her character most definitely can not! I have to say I did like the songs they sang. They seemed to convey the mood of each episode. I just wish it weren't each episode.
I'm not big on rewatching, but I can see Hospital Playlist having a large rewatch value for those that do, especially since season 2 will be out next year. Rewatch or not, it's definitely worth a first watch. It's emotional. It's funny. It's uplifting. It can be sad, but not depressing. It's addictive. Mostly, it's enjoyable.
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Healer
Simple yet Extraordinary medical drama. I actually don't know how could I appreciate this drama with just words. Each episode will make you cry, laugh and you'll go with the flow till the end and didn't realize how quickly this drama ends. The whole cast ,each and every actor, Ik Jun is such a charming person and his cutie son U ju, Song Hwa's strong female character won my heart, Jun Wan and Seok hyung were perfect,and other supporting actor's expressions were mesmerizing. Music, stories of patients and friendship , love stories ( especially Gyo Eul and Jung Won ) relationship between doctor and patient... Can't describe how beautifully they depicted everything.Full package of healing.At last this drama sets another level of medical dramas. Just GO FOR IT WITHOUT ANY DOUBTS.
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Best !!!
BESTEST MEDICAL DRAMA ❤️If you haven't watched it yet...Go, Watch it Now.
Heartwarming Stories... True Friendship and Awesome Acting Made this drama Realistic and Worth watching.
Everyone's Story was Beautifully described, How Their friendship starts and they're still together and spend their weekend by Singing and enjoys it. They'll definitely remind you your Friends.
Heart touching and Emotional scenes of Patients. Comedy scenes of Ik Jun,Wow... He was such a Mood maker and U ju too.
Slow Burn Romance of couples was so Good. Specially Gyeol Eul and Jung won. I was waiting for their scenes in entire drama. And I'm desperately waiting for next Seasons, how other couple's love stories will proceed.
Loved it. Feels So Relax while watching it & Enjoyed a Lot.
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