veenonat
This review may contain spoilers
**This review was cross-posted on r/KDRAMA subreddit with a few changes
This was my first """medical""" drama (and Shin PD drama), and I gotta say that I was always interested in the human aspect of medicine, as I spent years studying animals. This allowed me to easily emphatize with the cast. But if there's one thing we probably have in common, its that some types of clients make us frustrated and drained lol. But at the end of the day, we have to try our hardest to understand where they are coming from. And at times, not all cases have a happy outcome. These circumstances, when combined, sometimes lead to burnout and compassion fatigue. I also liked how it was highlighted in one of the episodes that medical professionals always have to take responsibility for the things they say and do. Ultimately, the writers did an excellent job in depicting a typical hectic routine in a hospital setting, as well as the hardships medical professionals and even clients experience.
On the other hand, I am by no means criticizing medical dramas. I liked how HP was realistic and not overly dramatic to convey heartfelt emotions and messages. And I admire the efforts they put in to make the drama as accurate and realistic as possible. But I do understand that storylines may have to altered to serve the purpose of the characters and plot, as well as for entertainment.
The show wasn't something I fell in love with at first watch. Rather, it grew on me as we got to know more about the characters -- although I wasn't deeply invested emotionally in some of the characters as the show jumped from a multitude of cases. Anyway, I just love how its very wholesome and feel good. And the same can be said for its OST, which I think is incredible and one of the best I've heard over the course of dramas that I've watched. HP gave off a vibe that not all episodes were entirely connected, wherein the next episode picks up from the events of the previous one. It always starts off fresh, which was refreshing.
The star of the show was of course, the ensemble of five doctors, which all had a fair amount of screentime. Their chemistry and very close bond is just incredible. I also love how we get a glimpse of their varying personalities when they are together, and with their colleagues. And so it was HARD to pick a favorite character, though I always find myself sucking up to Ik-jun. This brought forth a newfound liking and appreciation for Jo Jung Suk. That said, I've always had an inkling that there was something between Ik-jun and Song-hwa. But I didn't actually expect him to act on his feelings. This storyline is definitely something I'll be looking forward to in Season 2. And I also thought that it was pretty comedic that they made fun of Jung-won's religious beliefs.
But but but I also have to give it to the supporting cast because they were stellar on their own. They were excellent in filling in the gaps, and giving us insights on the inner workings of the hospital and the 5 friends in its entirety. With this, Yoon-bok (Jo Yi Hyun) is also one of my favorite characters, partly because I can 100% relate to her when I was a student -- following doctors around like a sheep, absorbing new things like a sponge, and being downright amazed about learning (although a headache at times).
My favorite episode would definitely have to be the finale. I loved how they were able to depict and allowed the viewers to empathize with the different forms of joy and grief/loss, albeit through different circumstances and perspectives. I think that the complexity of these events is very unique in a way that it evokes the exact same emotion and message to a variety/multitude of viewers. A viewer may not be able to relate with one of the characters, but they could be a sobbing or cackling mess over another one. This may be the opposite for another viewer, and so on. While my heart broke for the mother who lost her child, with the expectant mothers holding their child outside the office -- y'all can bet that I cried the most when we got back to the med student (Yoon-bok) finding out that it was Song-hwa who operated on their mom.
Hospital Playlist is one of the best, if not the very best drama to have come out in 2020. I could see myself rewatching this if ever I need a good watch to soothe my soul.
This was my first """medical""" drama (and Shin PD drama), and I gotta say that I was always interested in the human aspect of medicine, as I spent years studying animals. This allowed me to easily emphatize with the cast. But if there's one thing we probably have in common, its that some types of clients make us frustrated and drained lol. But at the end of the day, we have to try our hardest to understand where they are coming from. And at times, not all cases have a happy outcome. These circumstances, when combined, sometimes lead to burnout and compassion fatigue. I also liked how it was highlighted in one of the episodes that medical professionals always have to take responsibility for the things they say and do. Ultimately, the writers did an excellent job in depicting a typical hectic routine in a hospital setting, as well as the hardships medical professionals and even clients experience.
On the other hand, I am by no means criticizing medical dramas. I liked how HP was realistic and not overly dramatic to convey heartfelt emotions and messages. And I admire the efforts they put in to make the drama as accurate and realistic as possible. But I do understand that storylines may have to altered to serve the purpose of the characters and plot, as well as for entertainment.
The show wasn't something I fell in love with at first watch. Rather, it grew on me as we got to know more about the characters -- although I wasn't deeply invested emotionally in some of the characters as the show jumped from a multitude of cases. Anyway, I just love how its very wholesome and feel good. And the same can be said for its OST, which I think is incredible and one of the best I've heard over the course of dramas that I've watched. HP gave off a vibe that not all episodes were entirely connected, wherein the next episode picks up from the events of the previous one. It always starts off fresh, which was refreshing.
The star of the show was of course, the ensemble of five doctors, which all had a fair amount of screentime. Their chemistry and very close bond is just incredible. I also love how we get a glimpse of their varying personalities when they are together, and with their colleagues. And so it was HARD to pick a favorite character, though I always find myself sucking up to Ik-jun. This brought forth a newfound liking and appreciation for Jo Jung Suk. That said, I've always had an inkling that there was something between Ik-jun and Song-hwa. But I didn't actually expect him to act on his feelings. This storyline is definitely something I'll be looking forward to in Season 2. And I also thought that it was pretty comedic that they made fun of Jung-won's religious beliefs.
But but but I also have to give it to the supporting cast because they were stellar on their own. They were excellent in filling in the gaps, and giving us insights on the inner workings of the hospital and the 5 friends in its entirety. With this, Yoon-bok (Jo Yi Hyun) is also one of my favorite characters, partly because I can 100% relate to her when I was a student -- following doctors around like a sheep, absorbing new things like a sponge, and being downright amazed about learning (although a headache at times).
My favorite episode would definitely have to be the finale. I loved how they were able to depict and allowed the viewers to empathize with the different forms of joy and grief/loss, albeit through different circumstances and perspectives. I think that the complexity of these events is very unique in a way that it evokes the exact same emotion and message to a variety/multitude of viewers. A viewer may not be able to relate with one of the characters, but they could be a sobbing or cackling mess over another one. This may be the opposite for another viewer, and so on. While my heart broke for the mother who lost her child, with the expectant mothers holding their child outside the office -- y'all can bet that I cried the most when we got back to the med student (Yoon-bok) finding out that it was Song-hwa who operated on their mom.
Hospital Playlist is one of the best, if not the very best drama to have come out in 2020. I could see myself rewatching this if ever I need a good watch to soothe my soul.
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