Loved it !!!
It's a pure continuation from HP1.Some viewers might feel down since they get the answers to some questions they had in HP1 and now there is a void of emotional curiosity that couldn't be filled anymore.
I saw some reviews accusing HP2 of encouraging rape culture. That is just a person's view. And I can say for the 99% of HP2 viewers don't even know why it is interpreted like that! But then again people are entitled to their opinion. Whether you like it or not depends entirely on you.
My opinion: Don't put your expection too high. No scripts could reach you if you do that.
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It's one of those drama that kept me up at night
This is one of those drama where you become attached to each characters. Not only the main 5 AKA 99z but also the supporting characters.I really have nothing else to say except it is one the best slice of drama I have watched. I am not usually into those type of genres but Hospital Playlist made me think otherwise.
Maybe I am still at loss as this series has ended and has no plans (yet) for a third season that I couldn't really explain why I love this series. This series have made my Thursdays even better in the last 14 weeks.
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Can a season 2 live up to the first one in a K-drama...? YES IT CAN!!!
Hospital playlist is the first K-Drama that made me wait for a second season for a year, and I was still capable of getting into the mood that it created in S1, ones again as soon as I watched the first ep of S2 as if it never stopped airing. I usually lose interest while waiting for a year.Why I love this drama and what makes it so unique?
This is one of the few dramas that can make you smile, laugh and cry in the same episode!! And that what it did to me in every single ep this season like it did in S1. No evil characters, no hate, no negative feelings, It can make you live inside it and feels like you are part of it even if you didn't intend to, the episodes are long compared to other K-drama's, because it's 1ep/week, but I felt like they were shorter.
MEDICINE: Between all the medical dramas that I have ever seen, this one is now my TOP1, why? Because it's REALISTIC. While the other Med-Dramas concentrate on making it "spicy" to attract people's attention, and represent doctors as if they are superheros who do all the touches inside the hospital and show their daily life as if it is a daily fight with all kind of rare and dangerious cases with critical surgeries, blood everywhere, dramatic cases with people dying everyday. This drama, and specially in this season, highlighted the job of the whole hospital staff: professors, sheff-residents, residents, internes, nurses, emergency departement, pediatric ICU, security guards...ect, and more than that, this drama gived more space to patients and their accompanists so that you can understand and feel them more, it also gived good medical explication while showing how doctors should explain to their patients what's going on with their bodies.
MUSIC: "Mido and falasol", I'll always remember the hard work the 5 main cast endure to make their band practice scenes look so real, they had to practice on their instruments for a long time just to play songs that don't take more than 3min from each episode. I loved all their performances, thanks to them I have a good playlist that I can play when I miss them:"Hospital playlist".
FRIENDSHIP: I never believed in friendship as something that can bring you happiness, for I'm the type who likes to stay alone, but now I do, if you are lucky enough to find those kind of friends, even one, you should hold on to them and cherish their friendship. I thank the 99's friends for making my heart gets warm just by seeing them together.
ROMANCE: I loved all the couples and shipped them all and felt happy when they got together (though I'm not a big fan of winter garden couple, didn't like their over cute scenes this season), the chemistry was so great and I'm happy that it didn't take more space than it should even though I love romance, I didn't want it to be the only focus in this drama, it's not a rom-com after all so I was satisfied though I wouldn't mind more of it with more episodes.
I was hoping for S3 and still do, the ending left some opened questions and there are events we wanted to see but we couldn't unfortunetly, BUT it's not an open ending, it's more like what life is, Life doesn't end with a happy or sad ending, life goes on until death comes and put an end to it with it's sorrows and joys.
Thank you HP, thanks to Jung Suk, Yeon Suk, Kyung Ho, Mi Do, Dae Myung, director, screenwriter and the whole crew who helped in creating such a beautiful ride, it made my Thurdays special.
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Widespread appeal, but not a winner
This is a solid drama. The acting, writing and characters are compelling. However I'm not sure why it's so highly rated on MDL; it didn't grab me and hold me like Goblin or The Untamed (and I tend to like slice of life dramas).It's a bit like Korean Scrubs, but with perhaps a bit more attention paid to being medically accurate.
Many of the relationships seemed somewhat forced; Chu Min-Ha's crush on Yang Suk Hyung was cute and well acted, but I never truly believed that he returned her feelings, though I was happy the plot went that way. In general there wasn't enough romantic build up. Even though Chae Song-Hwa and Lee Ik-Jun were clearly compatible, it still somehow felt like they were settling; it was never explained why Ik-Jun turned Song-Hwa down when they were younger.
I loved the chemistry of the friendship between the main characters, on the other hand, and the cute side-bromance between Je-Hak and Jun-Wan. Despite being a support character, Je-Hak's storyline was one of the best, with a really satisfying ending.
Still, not sure why it's so highly rated, but I'm glad I watched it. I just wish the episodes were half the length. Who has time to watch 90+min episodes everyday?!
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I laughed, I cried, I re-watched
For me, there are seasons for certain types of shows. My main focus is romance with the much-needed HEA. That being said, sometimes you need a slice-of-life show where you come to know and love the characters, and this was perfect, I must say. I really liked season 1 a lot, but season 2 is on another level. We already know how close all the characters are, and it was so enjoyable to learn and grow in their relationships with each other and those outside their little circle of friends. Extremely well-written and with well-rounded characters, I watched this in three evenings. There were undercurrents of romance for each of the characters and it was refreshing to see mature relationships, with nary a stupid breakup in sight (Jun Wan and GF are somewhat of an exception, but I'll forgive that). I could go on and on about this show, but I'll just give a couple of my highlights.Jung Kyung Ho as Jun Wan - love his knowledge as well as his sometimes immaturity. One thing I found fascinating about him, did he lose weight for this role? He was SO thin and I just kept thinking that because of how busy he was he didn't have time to eat. Granted he's a small-boned man, but he can sure wear his clothes! And in scrubs, his "thinness" is really obvious. It was a good look for him.
Bromance between all the main characters. They had each other's backs but weren't above wrestling for the remote control!
Kim Hae Sook as Rosa (Jung Won's mother). I love her in anything she is in, and her character, as well as her storyline were wonderful. It's refreshing to see a mature person in a good story.
The love/hate relationship between Jun Wan and Jae Hak. There was something kind of stalker-ish about Jae Hak, which brought a lot of humor to the show, as well as their relationship. I also loved the storyline of Jae Hak and his wife.
Jun Wan and Song Hwa are the piggies of the group, constantly eating more than their weight in food. They thought about food, talked about food, and planned what they would eat next.
Sung Hwa as a bad singer. This was so cute to watch and hear, especially since she has such a lovely singing voice.
All the music. I REALLY appreciated that they said what the songs were and who was performing them. I also liked that the actors did a lot of the music.
The medical aspect of the show was often heart wrenching, but it was more about the characters than the medicine.
*If I had to voice one complaint, it would be that, as a health care worker, the first thing we learn is how to talk to patients, compared to other medical staff. The doctors in this show often used medical jargon that no layman would be able to understand. But, that's just a slight blip in an otherwise stellar show.
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Big hearts for this season although it needed a quicker pulse at the end
“Hospital Playlist” had a stellar first season which left some very large matters unresolved at its conclusion. So there had to be little doubt that there would be a season two, but considerable question about whether it would be able to maintain the same degree of excellence. With its return engagement now fully released, Hospital Playlist does, for the most part, match the high bar set by season one. The primary ensemble is not only splendidly cast, but the characters are deftly written. The dialogue and production values are excellent. There are few scenes that are not entertaining or meaningful. If only it could have built up to a higher pitched conclusion, the second season of “Hospital Playlist” might have ended up as one of the very top productions of 2021.In fact, the first four episodes of season two are far and away the best run in either season and among the best of any drama. Much of the credit goes to some outstanding material for Jung Kyung Ho’s Jun Wan as he struggles with a relationship that is both long distance and secret leaving him unable to share his woes. Alongside this arc is a marvelous narrative of a mother waiting for her child’s heart transplant and Jun Wan’s perseverance when her resolve falters. Jung Kyung Ho is tremendous here and, of the five main actors, his performance stands out.
It stands out to some degree because the other four are less compelling in season two. It is only by a small degree, but it is a decline nevertheless. For Jo Jung Sook and Jeon Mi Do, the main issue with the characters of transplant surgeon Lee Ik Jun and neurosurgeon Chae Song Hwa are that they are as superhuman as any comic book hero could be. They are both brilliant doctors, warm friends, funny, terrific bosses, etc etc. Song Hwa’s largest flaw is that she can’t sing. Ik Jun’s flaw? He’s nosy but he has the best of intentions. Without more serious flaws, the characters lack depth.
As for Yoo Yeon Seok’s Jung Won, with the possibility of priesthood out of the picture and the only one of the main five in a relationship for the entire season, his personal narrative became boxed in and without suspense. Despite that, the relationship between Jung Won and Shin Hyun Bin’s Gyeo Wool is a delight. It is so delightful, in fact, that just a series of small day-to-day interactions between them is as captivating as almost any of the heavier storylines.
Kim Dae Myung was quietly the star of season one. And Suk Hyung’s personal life is set up to continue to push him forward as the most compelling character. Professionally, his child deliveries always have potential for high emotional impact. Personally, his complex relationship with his mother makes his story fertile ground for big moments. Mostly, however, it is Ahn Eun Jin’s Min Ha that stands out here. Her pursuit of Suk Hyung despite his intransigence delivers because of the splendid work by Ahn Eun Jin. Now that Shin Hyun Bin is getting leads in other productions, Ahn Eun Jin should absolutely be next in line.
If there is a serious flaw of season two, however, it is not in the main characters or the actors portraying them. The ensemble, rather, is as good as any cast save perhaps “Vincenzo”. But the storytelling takes a noticeable dip in quality after episode five. The passage of time lurches forward irregularly for several episodes. A patient that seems to be a long term ICU inhabitant is prominent for a couple of episodes and then never reappears. Another recovering from a brain injury intermittently pops up but not often enough to leave an impact. Jung Won’s mother, played by Kim Hae Sook, has the most consistent screen time of any supporting character but outside of a brief health crisis, has an almost indistinguishable relationship to the primary narratives. And there is a deliberately painfully long build up of the central relationship of both seasons of “Hospital Playlist”. The length of the suspense is not an issue. Whether the payoff delivers is questionable. It’s a solid scene, but not the devastatingly memorable one fans were undoubtedly expecting.
A more minor quibble - the episodes are incredibly long. Very easily, the season could have been sixteen or twenty episodes of more manageable viewing time.
And a major plus - where season one excelled with the development of the main ensemble of five, season two is borderline magical when it allows supporting characters to take the reins. Shin Hyun Bin, Ahn Eun Jin and Ha Yoon Kyung all have episodes where they are captivating. Jung Moon Sung, however, is hands down phenomenal throughout season two. The relationship between his Do Je Hak and Jun Wan is more entertaining than any of the romances. The arc of his wife’s pregnancy is the most poignant of the second half of season two.
While it is a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion, “Hospital Playlist” is a captivating production with one of the best casts assembled and is highly, highly recommended.
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Good Enough
Korean Drama "Hospital Playlist Season 2" is heartwarming and cozy, just like the first season.But this one had more medical cases, that were pretty interesting and emotional, as well as well constructed. There was screen time for the interns as well. The romances, on the other hand, some were enjoyable and some not so much. Some of the songs weren't as fun as there were in the first season. And the ending was rushed.
Nevertheless, the pace was relaxing and the drama is a good slice of life with lots of emotions and subtle notions.
Finally, the performances were great from everyone in the cast.
So, overall, 6.5 out of 10.
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Hilarious and Heartwarming
9/23/2021 - 8.75 rating - not quite a 9.0.Hospital Playlist 1 was one of the first K-dramas I watched during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because I was so new to K-dramas, I didn't know what to expect from a slice-of-life drama. Maybe that's why my expectations were too high and I was a little disappointed. I did not quite get the hype of this drama, since it's so beloved by all.
Now that I have over 150 K-dramas under my belt, I think I know what I want and like. This drama needs to be reviewed as a slice-of-life drama, but not a plot-driven medical drama like Dr. Romantic. It's not about the medical cases and patients. With that in mind, I am able to enjoy Season 2 a lot more. I also forgot most of what happened in Season 1 ;)
Episode 1 started off great. You see the beloved characters and their tight friendship. Their friendship is the selling point of this drama. This episode was hilarious and heartwarming. The story of the mother who lost her son, and visited the hospital often, touches my heart on a personal level. The drama showcases people and relationships surrounding the patients and the medical cases. It talks about the unsung heroes, e.g. nurses and ER staff. If you have stayed in a hospital before, or accompanied someone, you know it's the nurses who do all the hard work. They are the ones answering your call at all hours. They really need a show dedicated to the hard working nurses. On another note, even though there are show about ER doctors, I appreciate them highlighting the importance of critical care in the ER, before all these hot-shot surgeons get a chance to operate. A side note, the ER in Hospital Playlist 2 is the calmest ER I've seen in drama-land.
There are so many funny interactions and moments. Just seeing two of the male leads sprinkling water on each other cracked me up big time. They acted so silly when all the BFFs are together. Top moments for me: The off-key singing of our FL, the cute son, father-son adorable relationship, siblings love, all BFF moments from our leads to our supporting cast.
However, I think I am most disappointed in the romance storylines. I know it's not a show focused on romance, but they are all not very satisfying. I also think the last episode is anti-climatic and boring.
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Those 5 stars are ONLY for the actors and actresses that did their best in a poorly written script!
I REFUSE to continue watching a tv series that promotes rape culture.When a woman says NO that means NO.
Writernim Lee made the stellar character of Song Hwa a caricature, normalizing rape culture in the process.
In the beginning of the Season 2, SHwa made pretty clear that she rejected IkJun.
But little by little, they made her to change her mind in a way that is awful!
ShinLee duo used their cast to validate such behaviors as:
- It is alright to have a stalker! The girl or boy will eventually change her / his mind!
- It is alright to stay in a toxic relationship, manipulation and gaslighting doesn't matter!
You are just imagining things! If he / she lies or doesn't say the truth (lies by omission) then that's okay too!
-It is alright to stay in an abusive relationship, if you don't die in the end!
(I am using sarcasm obviously!)
Some might think that I am exaggerating, but since the Pandemic and the lockdowns around the world, have you seen the Femicide rates by country?
ShinLee basically told us that:
*WE* don't know what we are thinking!
Women can hold grudges for over 20 years and stay forever in a 19 year old mindset, where being dumped is something that can happen to anyone,
BUT
Instead of making women or men move on and grow mentally, emotionally and intellectually, that makes them indecisive!
We can be brilliant to our occupations, but we don't really know what we really want from a partner!
Is that a HEALTHY ROLE MODEL in its 40s?
Should all women in their 30s-40s something, out there in the world, feel imcompetent, just because they are not married?
Should they lower their standards, in order to find someone to marry, in order to be accepted that they are following indeed our society's standards!?
Every woman has its own path, that is different from others and that's okay. And that applies to men as well!
If the script was better written I wouldn't object to that pairing, but it isn't.
Hence my frustration and disappointment!
They also did disservice to the character of Ahn Jeong-won.
DLL was used for what reason exactly? Why did he give it to Song Hwa for?
What happened with his ultimate dream? There are so many loose ends that go nowhere.
We didn't see at all IkJun spending time with Uju.
We got almost 2 hours episodes every week, that didn't have a scene with the boy.
Do you think that is okay for a single father not to spend time with his son?
THINGS I LIKED:
The only healthy relationship is the Bear Couple.
MinHa and Seok-hyeong show to the world, how a relationship should be approached!
Also, Seok-hyeong as a doctor saved the day several times over.
The best character development is that of JWan's.
JWan along with JaeHaek are the stars of Season 2.
IkSun made the best apology ever to JWan about their breaking up.
If you want to watch Season 2 be prepared for a poorly written script that has nothing to do with the stellar Season 1. It contains fillers, scenes that doesn't bring emotional build up and a brilliant cast that is trying to save the day!
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If you are reading this review you would have probably seen its 1st season
This drama is one of a kind with no antagonist and only simple pure hearted characters in it. Such kind hearted characters can only exists in a reel life and not in a real life.Even though thks is not a makjang drama. You always find yourself wanting more and more from the characters in the drama. Well everyone knows how great the cast of this drama is but i was pretty impressed by the supporting characters. They were not neglected and shadowed by the writers, who did a great job.
This drama makes you cries at some moments and makes you burst with laughter at another.
There is simply nothing to hate in this drama and the story was not compromised in the 2nd season, if not improved.
At the end of all the rambling i would like to say that i loved Ik Jun's character. I always found myself looking forward to his scenes in the drama.
This is simply an amazing ,mind boggling (in a good way)drama. I enjoyed it to the full.
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My favorite episode would be the acknowledgement of the nurses in the PICU and also the highlight with emergency doctors and the emergency team. It feels like they inserted two dramas: Emergency Couple and Romantic Doctor, both highlights emergencies.
Having the same line up of characters is also a plus since I already know the characters.
One of the best release korean dramas. Recommended.
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Comfort Drama... You wish you had a friend group like theirs.
Hospital Playlist is one of the best comfort dramas you will find. It's a drama with many lessons that will teach you something every single episode.Don't expect your typical fast paced drama with lots of action. It is a slow drama with a beautiful plot.
The friend group is a delight to watch. Such a beautiful bond and such amazing characters.
The writer did an amazing job writing such distinctive characters with unqiue personalities. You can really see the INDIVIDUALITY of the characters and this is honestly such a breath of FRESH AIR.
The COMEDY is here. The doctors never fail to make you laugh. Although doctors, they are still human beings.
The OST is beautiful.
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Yes, watch this drama, especially if you're interested in the medical field. You might not understand it that well if you are too young. I first watched it 2 years ago and I couldn't really get it, but now it is one of my comfort dramas.
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