Resident Playbook

When I first started watching this series, I had my doubts. While I enjoyed the first few episodes, I found them to be just OK. The acting was great but the story was somewhat plodding. The medical cases were fine but the main characters were rather one dimensional and that doesn't really change until toward the end of the season. Having seen Go Youn-jung in Alchemy of Souls, I know she has a much broader range than what is shown in the first part of this series so I blame the directing. Fortunately, in the second half of the series, the actors are allowed to start showing growth with their characters and the show becomes much more engaging.

A big part of the series are the stories of the patients themselves. Those become very engaging and will take you on a roller coaster of emotions...from joy of a birth to the passing of a cancer patient. The stories cover a wide range of OBGYN cases. The actors for these stories are excellent and bring a great deal of feeling to the show.

Another aspect of the show is the steady stream of cameos. While I wasn't familiar with all of them, the ones I did recognize brought another interesting angle to the show. I especially liked bringing in some of the leads from the predecessor show for guest appearances.

Finally. They did a great job with wrapping up the season appropriately while leaving the door open for a second season to follow the residents thru their second year. I really hope we do see a second season!

"Resident Playbook" isn't just another medical drama - it's a sincere, human-centered exploration of the lives of young doctors learning, failing, healing, and growing in one of the most emotionally demanding professions. Set within the world of Yulje Medical Center (familiar to fans of Hospital Playlist), this series carries its own distinct tone - softer, more introspective, and incredibly relatable.

From the beginning, Resident Playbook places less emphasis on sensational medical emergencies and more on the quiet, everyday experiences of residents. We follow the story of five OB-GYN residents who are all at different stages in their careers. What binds them isn't just their shared specialty, but their willingness to support each other through the highs and lows of residency. The camaraderie, misunderstandings, late-night ramen breaks, and emotional breakdowns all feel incredibly authentic.

What really struck me about this show is its commitment to realism without losing warmth. It doesn't glamorize medicine, nor does it focus on dramatic heroics. Instead, it captures the exhaustion, the awkwardness of learning on the job, and the often-overlooked emotional toll of working with real lives every day. From difficult patient decisions to moments of quiet despair in hospital stairwells, everything is treated with respect and care.

The ensemble cast is outstanding. Go Youn-jung as Jung Hye-jin, in particular, delivers a nuanced performance - she's confident but not invincible, smart but still vulnerable. Her character feels like someone you might actually meet in real life: a resident who puts up a strong front while quietly navigating intense pressure and deep insecurities. The rest of the cast, including Shin Shi-ah, Kang Yoo-seok, and Jung Joon-won, add unique energy to the team, and their chemistry makes every interaction feel lived-in and sincere.

What's refreshing is that the show allows its characters to grow without rushing them. We're given time to see their development not only as doctors but as individuals dealing with love, grief, personal ambitions, and ethical dilemmas. There are no cardboard cutout "rival" roles here - every character has layers, and even patients are given depth and dignity, no matter how brief their screen time.

Visually, the show is grounded and clean, using muted hospital lighting and intimate camera work to keep the focus on the characters' faces and their emotional states. The pacing is slower than other K-medical dramas, but that works in its favor. It gives scenes space to breathe, to feel real, and to settle with the audience.

The writing deserves special mention. There's humor - gentle and well-timed - that never feels forced. There are quiet moments of joy, subtle heartbreaks, and honest conversations that feel unscripted in the best way. The show doesn't rely on cliffhangers or shocking twists; it trusts its characters and viewers enough to be emotionally present instead.

In a sea of high-stakes thrillers and flashy romances, Resident Playbook offers something rare: a story about ordinary people doing extraordinary work, simply by showing up every day with empathy, resilience, and heart. Whether you're in the medical field or just someone who appreciates character-driven stories, this drama speaks to the universal human experience of struggling, learning, and caring.

It's comforting, sometimes heartbreaking, but always hopeful - reminding us that even when life gets overwhelming, connection, kindness, and growth are still possible. It's not just a show about doctors; it's a show about people, and it's one I won't soon forget.

This is a fun show. Perhaps not as good as the Hospital Playlist series from which it was spun off, with four leads who collectively and individually don't match up to the megawatt charisma of the five leads of the parent show. By confining the leads to the Ob-Gyn section of the Yulje Hospital, the variety of cases is not as great either. But still an enjoyable watch with an engaging cast. I am looking forward to a medical show in which the senior doctors treat the younger ones with a little more patience and kindness - there's one saint in this show and a lot of abusive behavior. Just as abusive parents beget abusive children, abusive doctors make miserable role models for their subordinates and will turn even the best of them into similarly abusive replicants. I'm wondering what our four residents will be like when they do a follow-up show in a few years time.

I must also protest the incessant and obtrusive Subway product placements. Leave aside that I consider Subway one of the less desirable fast food chains, and even accepting that eating fast foods is the lot of first year hospital residents and, this being a Korean show, meals are always needed to fill up every episode, I just don't want any product, even one I like, to be in my face the way it is in this show. My recommendation: fast food forward through every Subway-infected scene. You won't miss one morsel of the plot. If we must have product placements, please may we have a bite more subtlety?

(april 14, 2025)

The storyline is good and the intro was showing the backstory of why Go Younjung has currently no passion in life and interest. It explores the career path she took and how is she dealing it realistically just like in real life. I would love to see more medical terms and the operations to solve diseases. Additionally, I found people see the movie somewhat slow or boring but guys, this is a medical drama it's not like those lovely lovely kdrama that we often see. I mean that's why there is genre in the first place right? I can't wait for saturday and sundays, 2 episodes is out just now, so let's wait further to before sharing our criticism ^^.

I have been waiting for this series since I am a big fan of medical dramas and also a big fan of Hospital Playlist. I was really heartbroken when it was postponed but now that it's here I couldn't contain my excitement and watch the 2 episodes available.

I really like how the main characters are chaotic and messy, really depicts a resident's life, if you are on your first year of residency and you haven't ever thought of quitting, are you even human? HAHAHA. I remember my boyfriend crying to me every night complaining how tired he was and he doesn't want to be a doctor anymore, watching the first and second episodes brings me back to that memory when he was a struggling first year resident, he is the reason why I like watching medical dramas.

I am very excited for their growth but I hope they keep the banters and chaos even in the next episodes, it's what makes the show refreshing and relaxing. You will really see how residents struggle with adjusting and realizing the weight of their responsibilities will somehow scare them but their passion to save will always be there.

Another masterpiece from Shin PD. I can't wait for the next episodes!