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An honest first look from someone who avoids medical dramas (and didn’t watch Hospital Playlist)
Yep, as the title says, this is unfamiliar territory for me. This is my reluctant dip into a genre I usually steer clear of, no matter how hyped they are. Medical dramas tend to get too technical with all the jargon and revolve around the same predictable plot devices that can feel formulaic fast. Dramatic surgeries, moral dilemmas, a tragic backstory or two. It all ends up feeling cold and repetitive to me; mostly unrelatable too, because I have zero clue how hospital systems work. I’m more of an emotionally driven viewer, and this genre usually doesn’t hit those deeper human notes I tend to look for.
So… why did I hit play?
Honestly? One reason, and one reason only: Go Youn Jung. Hehe. I’d watch anything she’s in, even if she’s playing a nun chanting for hours… on a loop.
Just 10 minutes in and I already found myself smiling from ear to ear. O Yi Yeong (Go Youn Jung) is one of those characters who feels instantly familiar, especially if you’re a young adult in your 20s or 30s trying to survive life. The half-dead expression while waking up for work, the quiet resignation of needing to pay bills and the absolute disinterest with bothersome colleagues; she embodies all that so effortlessly in the opening. Just like her sister suggested, “She has a very transparent face”
The humour doesn’t come from loud gags or slapstick. It’s that “I get it, I’ve been there” kind of humour. And immediately, I get why they cast Go Youn Jung. She has one of those faces that gets the moment: subtle, expressive and somehow says everything without needing to try too hard. Just the right kind of relatable.
“Why do we come to work on time but never leave on time?” -O Yi Yeong
The way she carries herself: tired eyes, dry humor, that “I’m just here so I don’t go broke” energy; hints at someone who’s already been burned once. There’s a quiet conflict behind her every action suggesting that she’s disillusioned by reality. Surely she didn’t survive medical school just to be this reluctant about being a doctor. That disconnect feels like the core of her character, and I’m curious to see how the show unpacks it.
This is the story of four colleagues (not friends, yet), first-year residents in a hospital (Team OB-GYN):
* O Yi Yeong– Working for the paycheck, not passion. The most grounded and ironically, the most human.
* Kim Sa Bi– Nerdy bookworm, top student, but zero social EQ. Kind of robotic and struggles with empathy.
* Pyo Nam Gyeong– Kinda obnoxious, trendy gen-z vibe and got that workplace frenemy energy.
* Um "Jay" Il– Overzealous, kind of clueless, pretty-boy energy. Lacks awareness, but is trying.
And then we have the seniors:
* Koo Do Won– The warm sunbae at work.
* Professor Seo Jeong Min– The classic “witch” boss. Cold on the outside, secretly soft underneath. You know the type.
I won’t say the setup is anything groundbreaking. But what does stand out is how relatable they all feel. Even if you don’t work in a hospital (and I absolutely do not), the character types and office politics are familiar. If you’ve ever worked a job, you’ll find something that hits close to home. And honestly? That’s what made even the technical scenes enjoyable for me. That relatability is what makes it accessible, even if you have no clue what a "central line" or "emergency code" is.
The scene that sold it for me was when O Yi Yeong delivered her first baby unexpectedly. I was just watching, minding my business, and then, bam! It hit me. I suddenly understood what makes this job meaningful, even if it’s just for a second. The way the music swelled, the way her face captured every ounce of fear, awe, and adrenaline. It was beautiful. That moment, more than anything, made me think: Okay, I get why people watch medical dramas now.
And again, this is coming from someone who understood none of the medical lingo. It didn’t even matter. The emotion came through anyway. I’m impressed. Like O Yi Yeong said: “This is really a first for me too T.T”
Final thoughts (so far…) (skip to this if you think I yap too much lol):
As expected, it’s still pretty much a standard medical drama at its core: plenty of jargon, lots of time spent in operating rooms and around patient beds. If you're like me and all that technical stuff flies over your head, you might find those parts easy to zone out on. I’m just here for the drama (and Go Youn Jung), not the anatomy lessons.
That said, if you adore GYJ, then yes, she’s already reason enough to hit play. And if you’re looking for something light, character-driven, and easy to digest, this is worth checking out. It’s warm, familiar, and before you know it, you’re a little hooked. But if you're in the medical field, you might roll your eyes at how chill these residents are. It's probably not the most accurate representation of hospital life. I don’t imagine doctors being this unserious on the job, even if they’re only in their first year… though what do I know?
What I do know is that it’s kind of refreshing to see a take where being a doctor isn’t glamorised the way K-dramas usually do with the genius, effortlessly cool types who always save the day at the last second. This one shows the messy, exhausting side of the job that can make you want to give up before you’ve even really begun. And for someone like me who usually avoids anything remotely hospital-related, this is the first time I’ve found myself thinking, “Huh. Maybe I’ll keep watching.”
I probably won’t update this review much going forward. I might even drop the show if it loses me halfway. But I still wanted to put this out as an early review, especially for those who are like me and are always on the fence when it comes to medical dramas. I know I’m not alone.
Also… full disclosure: I am ridiculously biased when it comes to Go Youn Jung. So take that as you will. (~_^)
Ps: The music? Surprisingly really good. Big plus.
So… why did I hit play?
Honestly? One reason, and one reason only: Go Youn Jung. Hehe. I’d watch anything she’s in, even if she’s playing a nun chanting for hours… on a loop.
Just 10 minutes in and I already found myself smiling from ear to ear. O Yi Yeong (Go Youn Jung) is one of those characters who feels instantly familiar, especially if you’re a young adult in your 20s or 30s trying to survive life. The half-dead expression while waking up for work, the quiet resignation of needing to pay bills and the absolute disinterest with bothersome colleagues; she embodies all that so effortlessly in the opening. Just like her sister suggested, “She has a very transparent face”
The humour doesn’t come from loud gags or slapstick. It’s that “I get it, I’ve been there” kind of humour. And immediately, I get why they cast Go Youn Jung. She has one of those faces that gets the moment: subtle, expressive and somehow says everything without needing to try too hard. Just the right kind of relatable.
“Why do we come to work on time but never leave on time?” -O Yi Yeong
The way she carries herself: tired eyes, dry humor, that “I’m just here so I don’t go broke” energy; hints at someone who’s already been burned once. There’s a quiet conflict behind her every action suggesting that she’s disillusioned by reality. Surely she didn’t survive medical school just to be this reluctant about being a doctor. That disconnect feels like the core of her character, and I’m curious to see how the show unpacks it.
This is the story of four colleagues (not friends, yet), first-year residents in a hospital (Team OB-GYN):
* O Yi Yeong– Working for the paycheck, not passion. The most grounded and ironically, the most human.
* Kim Sa Bi– Nerdy bookworm, top student, but zero social EQ. Kind of robotic and struggles with empathy.
* Pyo Nam Gyeong– Kinda obnoxious, trendy gen-z vibe and got that workplace frenemy energy.
* Um "Jay" Il– Overzealous, kind of clueless, pretty-boy energy. Lacks awareness, but is trying.
And then we have the seniors:
* Koo Do Won– The warm sunbae at work.
* Professor Seo Jeong Min– The classic “witch” boss. Cold on the outside, secretly soft underneath. You know the type.
I won’t say the setup is anything groundbreaking. But what does stand out is how relatable they all feel. Even if you don’t work in a hospital (and I absolutely do not), the character types and office politics are familiar. If you’ve ever worked a job, you’ll find something that hits close to home. And honestly? That’s what made even the technical scenes enjoyable for me. That relatability is what makes it accessible, even if you have no clue what a "central line" or "emergency code" is.
The scene that sold it for me was when O Yi Yeong delivered her first baby unexpectedly. I was just watching, minding my business, and then, bam! It hit me. I suddenly understood what makes this job meaningful, even if it’s just for a second. The way the music swelled, the way her face captured every ounce of fear, awe, and adrenaline. It was beautiful. That moment, more than anything, made me think: Okay, I get why people watch medical dramas now.
And again, this is coming from someone who understood none of the medical lingo. It didn’t even matter. The emotion came through anyway. I’m impressed. Like O Yi Yeong said: “This is really a first for me too T.T”
Final thoughts (so far…) (skip to this if you think I yap too much lol):
As expected, it’s still pretty much a standard medical drama at its core: plenty of jargon, lots of time spent in operating rooms and around patient beds. If you're like me and all that technical stuff flies over your head, you might find those parts easy to zone out on. I’m just here for the drama (and Go Youn Jung), not the anatomy lessons.
That said, if you adore GYJ, then yes, she’s already reason enough to hit play. And if you’re looking for something light, character-driven, and easy to digest, this is worth checking out. It’s warm, familiar, and before you know it, you’re a little hooked. But if you're in the medical field, you might roll your eyes at how chill these residents are. It's probably not the most accurate representation of hospital life. I don’t imagine doctors being this unserious on the job, even if they’re only in their first year… though what do I know?
What I do know is that it’s kind of refreshing to see a take where being a doctor isn’t glamorised the way K-dramas usually do with the genius, effortlessly cool types who always save the day at the last second. This one shows the messy, exhausting side of the job that can make you want to give up before you’ve even really begun. And for someone like me who usually avoids anything remotely hospital-related, this is the first time I’ve found myself thinking, “Huh. Maybe I’ll keep watching.”
I probably won’t update this review much going forward. I might even drop the show if it loses me halfway. But I still wanted to put this out as an early review, especially for those who are like me and are always on the fence when it comes to medical dramas. I know I’m not alone.
Also… full disclosure: I am ridiculously biased when it comes to Go Youn Jung. So take that as you will. (~_^)
Ps: The music? Surprisingly really good. Big plus.
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