Warmth in the mundane
Watching Resident Playbook gave me the same feeling when I watched the Hospital Playlist series, most especially because they share the same universe, directors, creators, and screenwriters.Like Hospital Playlist, it has a quiet and steady pacing with themes that tackled life minus the fiction cliches, tropes, and conflict.
It fills me with amazement how a series that merely used the different point of views of the main, secondary, and tertiary characters as the main storytelling device yielded high emotional impact. For a material like this, a writer would need tremendous talent to not turn it into a bore-fest.
I’m very contented with the ending and I’m usually good with a single season wrapping up the entire story, but for someone who’s now emotionally invested in the characters, I would like to see more of their journey (I am secretly hoping for a second season).
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This review may contain spoilers
A Great Addition to Medical KDramas
Is it worth all the hype? YESSS!!If you’re a fan of medical dramas, watch this! If you enjoy shows that both break & heal your heart, watch this! If you like seeing a team go from newbies who don’t mesh well to experienced staff/friends who help & support each other, watch this! If a sweet love story that’s a bonus rather than the focus is your jam, watch this!
And even if none of those are what you look for in a drama still watch this because it’s so good - you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll get annoyed, & you’ll be delighted… it’ll take you through all the emotions that these precious 1st year residents feel as they experience life at the hospital under their professors (who can be amazing or horrific depending on their mood!) Thankfully they have one guy who’s always on their side, even when they’re screwing up🫶🏻
Also, all the CAMEOS of our beloved Hospital Playlist friends are ACES!! 💕 Push okay, my fellow drama lovers, & enjoy the antics of this chaotic cast!
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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-
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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.9 💋
- Together : ep.9 👩🏻❤️👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖
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Good but not great
I have to admit that I fell into the trap of thinking this would be like Hospital Playlist, but this is totally different, they both have the same vibes but with a completely different style.Acting was great and story was the same, 4 residents and their daily struggles, personal life representation is limited, except maybe Oh Yiyoung but not the rest we literally know nothing about them.
It's a completely medical drama, romance is too little and comedy is nonexistent and dependable heavily on cameos, I believe the only time I half-laughed was at Ik Jun cameo, and maybe jeongwon but the rest of the drama was all about cases and residents struggles with work.
I hated Eun Won character very very much, she was unredeemable and very arrogant, and the ending didn't satisfy me, it's not enough for such a character, tell me why I watch a drama to get pissed off because of someone I see on daily basis 😂 she is just the worst and I've seen many like her, I literally watch drama to skip shitty people, and I also didn't like how Yi Young and Do won were treated like push overs, specially Do won!! Dude get your shit together!!!!! At least Yi Young is her hoobae!!
Watch it if
1- you like medical dramas
2- not looking for Rom-com
3- doesn't want something like hospital playlist because this is different.
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Playbook vs Playlist
I watched Resident Playbook first. For me its all about the acting. The main cast was a pleasant surprise for their chemistry and antics and character development. I learned a lot about the OBGYN challenges faced by expectant mothers and how they were dealt with medically.The last episode where Dr. Chu and Yang exploded onto the set as pure enjoyment. It has set the stage for a sequel that I encourage to happen quickly. Ahn Eun Jin is one of my favorite actresses. May she get the female lead role.
I then circled back to watch Hospital Playlist. I found it dragged a lot. I knew Eun Jin did not have a large part. I was disappointed with her onscreen time. Now I understand the evolution of Dr. Chu that ties into the RP episode 12 appearance.
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An extended version of Hospital playlist 2 ep 6
After hospital playlist i didn't expect another such drama to be this good, so didn't have a high expectation. But damn, this was so so good.The emotion were on point, the cases were good, the character development of all characters was just perfect, the casting was perfect and had the perfect amount for HP's essence.
Wanted to watch something like HP for so long and this definitely didn't disappoint me. Instade this was almost at the same level as HP. Though some parts in between were a bit boring but the rest of the episode was carried well. Most of the parts were interesting and the pace was also good.
Cameo of HP actors was a cherry on top. Was so happy to see them again. I miss them already😭
Overall the drama was just perfect and enjoyable. Was absolutely satisfied with this.💯💯❤️❤️
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This review may contain spoilers
Don't expect too much and you're gonna enjoy it!
First of all, it's not the best show on Earth, not even the best medical drama, and it's not really accurate either, BUT it's a LOT of fun, and feelgood drama with well-written stories, and characters.I think the biggest problem with the show is the main couple, I don't think there's any chemistry between the leads. The show could've been better without the romance plot. The fact that in the finale, all of them got a love interest was a bit much. Sabi and Jaeil were easily the best "couple" on the show. Their dance scene was one of the funniest part of the show.
The banter between the characters and the way SOME senior doctors taught their juniors were fun and interesting. I'm glad the so called "villain" of the story got her well-deserved ending, but I'd loved it if FL go on rampage because of her.
The 4 residents were likable and had a great dynamic, but I feel like the writers didn't do much with the plot. We could say YET, because I have a feeling we might get a 2nd season. It's more like a week-to-week drama with new cases, so don't expect some massive main plot. To be honest, it doesn't need anything like that.
My other problem with the show is that when real problems occurred, like deaths, I don't think the characters had much time to deal with it, they basically forget about what happened in the same episode. It would've been better if we actually see them struggling a bit with PTSD or something.
Overall, it's a fun show, and if they're planning a 2nd season, I'm up for it, but only because the characters are great. Especially the 4 main lead.
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This review may contain spoilers
enjoyable, but not that great
The Good⌲ It's decently well researched.
⌲ While this is no Hospital Playlist, in the world of Doctor Romantics, this is still very far above average in the medical kdrama genre.
⌲ The lead actors did great.
⌲ The cool episodic patient related plots
⌲ The supporting actors were also up there.
The Average
⌲ The drama feels quite boring at times.
⌲ The romance (it's alright, but not nearly as interesting as the prospective couples we've had in HP, let alone what's the norm in a decent romance drama)
⌲ The semi-villains of the show
⌲ While I enjoyed the HP cameos, most of the appearances felt rather forced.
The Bad
⌲ The lottery thing is egregious.
⌲ FL survived med school & everything to finally become a resident & all she talks and thinks about is quitting.
⌲ To add to the previous point, the whole plot about the debt is a bit insane too..
⌲ The rubber mannequin surgeries were quite immersion breaking.
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Romance Drama In Hospital Cosplay
I was looking forward to a slice-of-life medical drama about the hardships of residency, but all I got was an awkward romance.This felt like a classic bait and switch/false advertising. It's not even classified as a Romance genre. Don't get me wrong, I like a good romance, but this one was so abrupt and misplaced, and dare I say even inappropriate. Not even the charms of Go Youn Jung could salvage it.
Like other reviews, I found it strange that the residents themselves received so little focus, while the FL and ML took up the predominant amount of screen time trying to force a romance that no one asked for, with hospital stuff in between romantic breaths. Not to mention that the medical knowledge is extremely lacking... like can't even get into medical school, no less residency, level of incompetency.
Besides the leads, I thought the acting was solid and the characters were likeable, but were not given much time or opportunity to explore them. The ML and FL had a decent mentor-mentee relationship, but throwing in a romance made it weird. Not only is the ML her direct superior, but also related to her in another way, which made it even weirder. Not to mention the age gap (both in real life as actors and in the drama as well), I kept thinking the ML looks 40 while she looks 20. Go Youn Jung literally just played a student in Moving.
I did enjoy the brief moments of camaraderie that we did get. Some of the interpersonal dynamics between residents, nurses, doctors, and patients were nice but underdeveloped. There is a pretty decent subplot on IVF that I found heartbreaking and also genuine.
But unfortunately, there just weren't enough of those genuine slice-of-life moments, and there was far too much forced romance for my liking.
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Resident playbook
Resident Playbook is such a warm and realistic medical drama. I really loved how relatable Oh Yi-young is—awkward, clumsy, but trying her best. The friendships, the stress, and the little emotional moments all hit just right. It’s not too heavy, not too cheesy—just a really good slice-of-life series with heart. Totally recommend it!
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This review may contain spoilers
Definitely cried every single time with them, watching a medical drama is not for the weak, since a patient dies every viewer cries. Overall i loved everything just there were a few things that i hated about the ending, like for the story of pyo nam kyung and intern's, and of kim sa-bi and um jae il's they definitely deserved more screentime, also oh yi young and dowon definitely needed more dating era moments., in season 2 definitely wish to see more depth to their relationships, all of them deserved so much screen time! But a thing i deeply loved was that oh yi young's sister didn't have kid, i mean in a good way because it was visible how mentally exhausting and frustrated she was during the whole process, and during times like IVF or unable to naturally concieve it makes a women hate herself so much, the way she compared how others could have a kid but she couldn't broke my heart so in season 2 she definitely deserves a kid. I do agree myeong (idk the name so sorry if i spelt wrong) she definitely deserved karma, beating anything would work but then again this is the spin off of hospital playlist so like parents like kid, we basically ignore bad people and move on. But overall loved it, oh right hated how pyo nam kyung's very first patient died, the patient was the one which made nam kyung want to quit but she was also the one who made her change her mind, totally felt bad for her when she learnt about her, but the way where someone died another one took birth, the scene was potrayed so beautifully, it was also painful since this is the reality of doctors they don't have time to cry for patients or feel for patients they have to get up and still work. So loved the drama so much. Was this review helpful to you?
Rounds of Life: A Fresh Ride of Medical Kdramas
TBH, i've been anticipating a medical kdrama to watch..and i'm so glad this came this yr & right this time..so apart from looking for a medical drama, if u want friendship, sismance, character development, and teacher-student relationship, this drama was destined to find you...(p.s The romance aspect, i'm still not sure off, but i think we might see one, but whatever, that doesn't matter itself, so yh)...Firstly, the characters: Oh Yi-young (Go Youn-jung), Pyo Nam-kyung (Shin Si-ah), Um Jae-il (Kang You-seok), and Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji) as they navigate the challenges of their medical training. So far so good, them characters may seem unfit for a medical career, but don't forget that these characters at least have one or two reasons for why they chose this career at first without actually delving into the medical role...one for money, one was a former kpop idol, one is a fashionista, and the last one being studious but acting AILIKE...therefore, it will take them quite some time (hopefully not a lot) to start to see the medical roles in them to unleash & start to SHINE heavenly..that's why i said ( in the intro) CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT is really gonna be evident in this drama..Lastly, Unlike its predecessor (which means this drama is a spin-off of kdrama Hospital Playlist), which is followed by seasoned doctors, Resident Playbook delves into the formative experiences of these young professionals, capturing their growth, camaraderie, and the emotional rollercoaster of hospital life.
THANK U SM FOR READING THIS!!
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Resident Playbook: A Soft, Honest Look at Tired Hearts in White Coats
After being delayed for over a year, Resident Playbook, the spinoff of Hospital Playlist, finally aired and it really lived up to expectations. The story is told from a fresh angle, the point of view of residents. They are not complete beginners like interns and not yet experienced doctors either. They are in that tough middle stage where the real struggles begin and it was interesting to see the medical field through their eyes.The story follows four OBGYN residents, each with their own distinct personality. They have their own ideals, fears and personal struggles making them feel real and relatable. Unlike most dramas where rookies are portrayed as overly enthusiastic and high spirited, this drama captures a more honest reality i.e. most residents are overworked, mentally drained and constantly questioning whether they should continue. Their emotional fatigue and lack of drive may come across as pessimistic or even frustrating but its a raw and accurate depiction of what many residents actually experience.
The slice of life charm and realism that defined Hospital Playlist are very much present here. Every episode highlights how residents navigate the challenges of patient care, the pain their patients endure, the lessons they learn and how they grow, not just as doctors but as people. Its a slow, deeply human story that quietly leaves a strong impression.
Each of the four main characters offers something unique:
Oh Yiyoung is laid back and seemingly unambitious, doing her residency only to repay a debt. As the lead character, she defies the usual bright and inspiring protagonist trope and instead leans heavily into pessimism. While that might be off putting at times, its a brave and unconventional choice.
Pyo Nam Gyeong, the fashionista of the group, maintains a balanced outlook. She isnt overly positive or negative, she exists somewhere in the middle, to whom people can relate.
Kim Sabi is the smart one, a total genius. But even though her IQ is high, she struggles to understand emotions. She doesnt always get what patients are feeling but she wants to improve, which makes her journey interesting.
Uhm Jaeil, my personal favorite, is the heart of the show. He is cheerful, kind, endlessly optimistic and hardworking. Though not the most brilliant academically, he makes up for it with compassion and effort. His desire to connect with patients and make them feel seen is both touching and admirable. His kind spirit, resilience and charm make him a standout character.
While romance wasnt the central theme, i wasnt particularly invested in the main romantic pairing between Yiyoung and Dowon. Their dynamic felt dull, both are quiet and emotionally reserved, which made their relationship feel stagnant. Dowon also appeared significantly older than Yiyoung, further reducing the chemistry. I couldnt help but think that pairing Yiyoung with someone like Uhm Jaeil, with a completely opposite personality, would have made for a far more compelling and dynamic relationship.
On the other hand, i really enjoyed the subtle hints of romance between Jaeil and Kim Sabi. Though their relationship was only beginning to develop by the final episode, i wish it had started earlier, it would have been lovely to watch their connection grow throughout the series.
Resident Playbook keeps the heart and warmth of Hospital Playlist alive. It tells a more realistic and emotional story about young doctors and it absolutely met my expectations.
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