Everything (I Love) About Hospital Playlist

Anyeonghasaeyo everybodyyy - this is me on days when I had too much coffee (which is clearly today). In this modern life, it's hard for me to go on a day with a cuppa.

Speaking of coffee, I thought this drink would be essential especially for the roles of the characters that I am about to share with you - doctors who works tirelessly and always busy saving people. Anyone else dreamed of being a doctor when you're younger? 

While I'm not sure why the English title of this drama is called Hospital Playlist but the korean title actually translates to 슬기로운 의사생활 (pronounced as Seulgiroun Euisasaenghal) that I would rephrase it as The Lives of Wise Doctors (or commonly known as Wise Doctor Life).

Rating: 8.7 (never knew medical drama and doctors singing in a band would be my cup of tea) 

Genre: Medical drama

Synopsis

From the creators of Reply 1997, Reply 1994 and Reply 1988, this drama talks about the lives of doctors and nurses at Yulje Medical Center focusing on the five individuals who quickly became friends after meeting each other one fateful evening back in 1999. 

Fast forward to the present, these five friends are now the ace at their field in the university hospital. Despite living different chapters of their lives, their friendship and passion hasn't fade even one bit. This drama of only 12 episodes presents the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary work in their daily lives, while still making time to strengthen the friendship through playing as a band in their free time.

Cast and Characters

Jo Jung-Suk as Lee Ik-Joon

Yoo Yeon-Seok as Ahn Jeong-Won

Jung Kyung-Ho as Kim Jun-Wan

Kim Dae Myung as Yang Seok-Hyeong

Jeon Mi-Do as Chae Song-Hwa

Saraa's Favourite Highlights

The Noble Professions That Serves Humanity

As the entire drama goes about learning the ever busy lives of the five doctors, you just can't help but appreciate the newfound sense of respect for doctors in the way they carry their responsibilities and worked all their way to save any patient. Often, doctors in this drama are seen to sacrifice their own interests (and even sleep) due to a medical emergency - when Jeong-Won did not complete his seasonal his half marathon and Song-Hwa's weekend plans at the campsite.

On top of being a doctor, they also fill other shoes - for instance, a parent (Ik-Joon to his adorable son, Woo-Joo), son (Jeong-Won to Rosa) or daughter (Song-Hwa to her dad), lovers (Jun-Wan with Ik-Sun). The timing of this drama couldn't be better to emphasize the hidden sacrifices our medical professionals and frontliners have made throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, while the rest of us stay indoors and maintain the necessary precautions.

Nobody is Perfect, Not Even Doctors Themselves

All doctors in this drama have their set of flaws or shortcomings including their chief residents. Gyu-Wool started off as cold but calm when she pulled off maggots from a rotting leg. Jae-Hak who failed his exams numerous times and yet he still pulls himself through his failures. This drama simply gives all of the doctors room to grow both as a doctor and an individual. 

Out of all characters, I find Ik-Joon as the most interesting character because it makes me wonder how is he just good at everything? As if to answer my question, there are episodes where you see that he too has his own issues to deal with but he prefers to do it on his own.

Of Death

As we realize how fragile life is, death becomes an inevitable topic and for this drama I find that there are a few episodes where the doctor emphasizes the need to thank the donors who has unfortunately passed on - because if not for them, those who are lining up to receive them wouldn't stand a chance at living. It's just one of the things you don't notice until you paid attention. In brief, there are also episodes where it touches the topics of young parents, child abuse, single parenthood and also grief.

At the same time, death helps our characters grow to be more understanding as a human. Despite his calm demeanor, Seok-Hyung's thoughtfulness shined through in times when he prepared his nurses for a tough surgery by saying this - No matter how prepared the mother is for her child's death, hearing the cries will traumatize her for life. 

Of Heartwarming Friendship Across Generations

I love every band practice they had singing classic songs together (that I now still love listening to). Plus points for how they tie in the lyrics with the storyline but more importantly, the smooth transition of their covers with the original song was so well executed in the episodes! The flashback episodes were too good not to miss as it gives the background story as to how the five doctors met in 1999. While the guys are annoyed and stressed out each time Song-Hwa starts to sing, I can't help but to laugh each time she does. The fact that she can pull this off while being a legit good singer in real life makes it more impressive and funny at the same time. 

Here's a snippet of the part I'm talking about and I hope you too a good laugh! 

While on the topic of friendship, I have to admit that I laughed a lot when Jeong-Won taught his mom, Seok-hyung's mom, Jong-Su (the chairman of Yulje Medical) and his cousin (the hospital director) how to play Mafia. The scene ended with Seok-Hyung's mom calling his son that she enjoyed her time at Rosa's house and that she hasn't laughed this much since turning old. It was nice to see the older generations coming together to have fun including Jong-Su and his cousin who are the top two leaders of the hospital. 

Ahh, the little things you appreciate as you grow older. 

Every time they get together to play songs or even eat dinner, it was always a pleasant sight to see. No matter how good or bad of a day, you just want to spend it with those you adore. Same goes with this five friends - no matter how chaotic it may seemed as they enjoy their dinner, you can subtly see how comfortable they all are with each other - setting things up for each other without asking. The comfort that can only come after knowing each other a long time. 

Favourite Soundtracks (OST)

Compared the OSTs I actually prefer all of the band performances that they did in the drama. My favourite songs they've covered so far has to be Songolmae's Met You by Chance (the electric guitar and the fact that Song-Hwa killed it with her bass) 

Seo Ji-Won's With My Tears 

(a really good sad song that was a hit back then and I've only learned recently that the singer committed suicide before seeing how this song would have changed his life). 

Aloha - Cool 

Up till today, I cannot forget Jun-Wan and Jeong-Won singing 'I BELIEVE' during their karaoke.

Of course, I can't miss one from Mido & Falasol because this is the song they all sang together. Even the MV is so cute. 

Me to You, You to Me - Mido & Falasol

Saraa's Afterthoughts

Overall, it's a reasonably light-hearted drama that suits for all to get a glimpse of how it is like to be a doctor. From a person to another, it also reveals that there is more to see than just the surface even when each carefully hid their struggles away. Perhaps this too puts the lives of medical professionals under the limelight - they too experience, love, hate, fear and joy simply because they are humans too. 

I do love the fact that there is a balance when it comes to the characters, to make sure that everyone in the group feels like a protagonist at some point. At the same time, it portrays the different types of doctors they all are and explores how much they have grown since 1999. Though they may seem different and with perks of their own, it's heartwarming to watch how them grow and bond through their love of food and music, while sharing similar passion. 

Just good friends and good times even when we all know that we are the crazy ones. Like puzzles of completely different shapes but fit together perfectly. 

Ik-Joon is the social butterfly and the one who is good at everything 

Song-Hwa is the nerdy one and she chose to be a neurosurgeon for she loves to study

Jun-wan is just blunt with his words but he never has bad intentions as a surgeon

Seok-Hyeong is a thoughtful and considerate introvert who never gets alone time
Jeong-Won is the generous one and lacks greed for materials possession

While there are so many cliffhangers at the end of episode 12, I'll leave them out from this post and I can't wait to see Mi-Do and Falasol again in Season 2 (release in 2021)! 

Love, Sara