If you are looking for a kdrama that will take you into the plot right away – no character introduction, no long flashback stories, just dive into the story, then Hospital Playlist is a good drama to queue in your list. Aside from being a well-acclaimed drama of 2020, fans have been very supportive for Season 2 which finally aired last June 17, 2021. But what is in the Hospital Playlist season 1 series that we love it so much?
Note: Spoilers for Hospital Playlist Season 1 ahead
Table of Contents
1. The drama shows the importance of self-care
Chae Song Hwa is best known character who promote the self-care or self-love in the drama series: buying a wood stove, going out for a weekend camp and brewing coffee in the morning. But aside from her, there were a lot of scenes where taking care of oneself was demonstrated.
Even if they get emergency calls while off-work or even during band practice, the five doctors religiously make the time to squish themselves in a carpool, get together for a karaoke or eat late night dinner at their favorite place and talk about life unhurriedly and enjoy each other’s companionship.
The mothers of Seok-Hyung and Jung-Won, the Yulje Hospital president and director also get together often for catch-ups including lunch and playing games. It is like an “older generation” in the drama portrays a similar vibes with the five doctors telling the viewers that regardless of age bracket, there is a need of time to unwind, sit down and have a good food and laugh with friends. And this part of the drama is very heart-warming and relatable to viewers that probably made it a famous being called a”healing drama”.
Read Hospital Playlist Season 2: Why We Should Watch It
2. The drama shows a beautiful side of maturity
“Having a meal with you like this… Eating with you (Song Hwa) and drinking coffee together, that’s the treat I give myself”
No staring or awkward moment, no slow-motion or emphasized romantic background music – just pure and honest words from Ik-Jun telling Song-Hwa what he likes to treat to himself when she asked him indicating that he likes to be around her. This is one of the well-known matured way of Ik-Jun expressing his interest on Song-Hwa in this drama by viewers.
But if you want a couple that has all the slow-mo and emphasized romantic background music that makes your heart skip a beat – Jeong-Won and Gyeo-Wool will make you cuddly. Or if you want a couple with humor but a kick of twist if their relationship will be supported by a bestfriend/big brother, Jun-Wan and Ik-Sun are here for you. How about a couple with stubborn heart who does not want to hurt again but a relationship we are still cheering for, Seok-Hyeong and Min-Ha are still warming themselves up.
Even in their blossoming romances, each couple has unique stories to tell in each episode that displays their maturity of the decisions they make. Jeong-Won deciding to stay with Gyeo-Wool giving up his aspiration and chance to become a priest, Ik-Sun deciding to pursue her ambition to study abroad and having a long distant relationship with Jun-Wan who kept their relationship secret from his bestfriend, and Min-Ha completely being honest about her admiration for Seok-Hyeong who does not want to be with anyone because of his father’s influence and previous failed marriage.
Romance, on top of unpredictable yet heart warming story plot, added the unique spice viewers look forward to but definitely is not the center of everything about this drama. And that made Hospital Playlist a really good one.
Read Hospital Playlist Season 2 Episode 6 recap
3. The drama shows a realistic, medical slice of life
in Hospital Playlist Season 1
Passion at work is great but having the knowledge to properly do the task is still important. Even just a supporting role, Jae-Hak’s character best performs as one who dreams to become a great doctor but falls short in competency at his field of medicine. He tries to perform well whenever possible but lacks the intuition and keeps on screwing everything up. But later along side with Jun-Wan whose cold nature Jae-Hak greatly despises, he developed a confidence in his self and builds relationship with Jun Wan, who encouraged him to continue his medicine career profession.
There are also a touch of other hospital scenes: a child losing his father during Children’s Day, a mother experiencing her baby died inside her womb to name a few. These stories are tragic that most viewers would expect emotional scenes would become the highlight of the episode, however, just as how fast these tragic story were introduced, the next hospital story quickly begins. The underlying message that tells it’s viewers is that no matter how desperate we are to stop the moment because of loss of our love one, the world continues to move at it’s pace which gives this drama a real “slice of life”.
4. This drama shows humor in the simplest ways of daily life
What is friendship without a good laugh? This drama also has a good sense of humor that will give you a really good laugh. From accidental burning of fingers becoming frog hands to eavesdropping on your best friend’s girlfriend call. The humor comes in different scenes which is least expected and that portrays any good laugh with friends during a simple day is a treasure to keep.
So what made you love Hospital Playlist season 1 and 2? Let us know in the comments below!