Resident Playbook

(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 ^^.

Very good drama and every episode is very interesting to watch. The storyline is not boring, where we can watch while learning about pregnancy and women's health, and each episode presents a different case. A story that depicts the lives of people at Jongno Yulje Medical Center. The professors, ob/gyn residents, and the friendships between these people are told, including first year ob/gyn resident Oh Yi-Young. Set in the Jongno branch of Yulje Medical Center, the series follows the hospital life and turbulent friendships of young Obstetrics and Gynecology residents who proudly enter the unpopular department in an era of low birth rates.

This drama is good, and I can't wait to see the other episodes. Actually, this is much more than I expected because you know that a lot of people have been waiting for this because this is a spin-off from Hospital Playlist, and you know how good the Hospital Playlist series is. I can't wait to see the character and more storyline. I know that a lot of people are disappointed by the plot, but again and again this is the story from the point of view of a resident. And this drama is worth watching from my perspective. You can expect more from this drama, and if you know, you know that these dramas only have 2 episodes by now.

Though the first episode of Resident Playlist felt a bit chaotic and overwhelming, Episode 2 manages to pull things together beautifully. The storyline is more grounded, the pace steadier, and the characters begin to show real emotional depth. It's the kind of episode that hooks you in - not through high drama, but with the subtle charm of everyday life in a hospital setting.

One of the biggest strengths of Episode 2 is the acting. The cast delivers layered performances that help us understand their characters not just as residents, but as young people trying to survive an intense, competitive environment. There's vulnerability, camaraderie, and quiet resilience, all of which come through without being overdone. We're beginning to see their personalities unfold - some are awkward and anxious, others overconfident but clearly masking insecurities. It feels authentic.

There's a natural temptation to compare Resident Playlist with Hospital Playlist. For many of us, Hospital Playlist was more than just a show - it was comfort TV, full of warmth, friendship, and slice-of-life moments that made us laugh and cry. The bond between the five friends, their jam sessions, and their steady rhythms made it a favorite.

Resident Playlist, however, is intentionally different. The tone is more intense, the atmosphere more high-pressure, reflecting the brutal realities of residency. Instead of five best friends who already have their lives figured out, we see fresh doctors trying to find their footing, unsure of themselves, often clashing with seniors, and dealing with unpredictable emergencies. It's not as cozy, but it's real. Episode 2 really leans into this - showing us how challenging and emotionally taxing the residency period can be.

That said, the show is slowly building heart. We see glimpses of mentorship, small moments of kindness, and the beginning of bonds forming among the residents. It doesn't rush to make them best friends - which is actually refreshing. The show takes its time to develop relationships, much like in real life. And that's where its strength lies.

The cinematography and background score remain subtle and effective, reminiscent of the calming vibe we loved in Hospital Playlist. While it doesn't have the musical interludes or nostalgic charm yet, it's beginning to create its own atmosphere - one rooted in chaos, but not without warmth.

In short, Episode 2 is where Resident Playlist finds its footing. It's not trying to replace Hospital Playlist, and it shouldn't have to. It's telling a different kind of story - of uncertainty, struggle, and growth. And for that reason alone, it's definitely worth watching. If the coming episodes continue on this path, this might just turn out to be another comforting-yet-real medical drama we'll grow attached to.

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?