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An Interesting Medical Drama With a Bit of Everything
This is not a fresh from the oven review, I finished the drama eons ago and never felt like writing a review on it. However, I need to practice reveiwing for my book blog so here I am rambling, while trying hard not to get distracted. I'm failing it, I know.[[[[ REVIEW WARNING ]]]]
1. I'm not a professional reviewer, so most of the time I couldn't care less bout the characteristics that a proper review must have.
2. I have no idea what I'm talking about. For example, I can't even tell the different between a bass and an electric guitar - and this will show through the entire review.
3. English is not my main language, so yeah, don't wonder too long over my weird wordings and stuff, because it is more likely that I myself also have no idea what I'm trying to say in the first place.
[[[[ THE STORY ]]]]
The drama was a medical drama featuring five friends who have been friends since their undergraduate days. They went to the same medical school and then worked at the same hospital (as for at the moment, previously? I have no idea..). And oh, they also formed a band for fun.
[[[[ THE CHARACTERS ]]]]
First, there was Lee Ik Jun, the single father family guy.
Secondly, there was Ahn Jung Won, the rich paediatrician who wanted to be a priest.
Thirdly, there was Kim Jun Wan, a friendly reformed playboy(?) who was secretly dating Lee Ik Jun's sister.
Fourthly, there was Yang Suk Hyung, a softie divorcee who was scarred by his failed marriage.
Lastly, there was Chae Song Hwa, the only girl in the group, a sweetheart everyone in the group swarmed to.
[[[[ THE DRAMA ]]]]
The drama featured:
1. Friendship. Everyone were friends and the drama brilliantly showed how they started and then how they grew as friends through the many years they were together. Each character was different but somehow they complimented each other. They loved each other and were always there to support and protect each other.
2. Romance. It was a slow burn romance and as with the writer's other amazing works, we were constantly left guessing as to where and how the romance will go. It is complicated, but amazing as well.
3. Medical Stuff. They were doctors and the drama portrayed their daily lives and interactions with their patients. It was never over the top like so many other medical dramas, it was more towards the realistic kind (not that it is really realistic (come on, it is a drama after all), just not absurd like other dramas). Every treatment was showed nicely, without making the doctors act like sought after doctors that were super brilliant and can magically heal everyone sent to them.
4. Music. I don't remember much of the music but I do admit that it wasn't grating on my nerve so it wasn't so bad. The actors sang the songs themselves, and many said that they were good at it. However, since I'm tone deaf and music deaf, I simply base my opinion on my taste alone. With that being said, I didn't like the music or the band thingy, it was boring to me.
[[[[ MY THOUGHTS ]]]]
Just like the writer's other works (they were all my favourites dramas), I loved this drama. It wasn't overly focused on romance and we were treated with heavy doses of friendship, humors and angsts as well. And the producers and writers were amazing good at what they do, portraying everything in a way that you enjoy every moments of it. And they don't only focus on the main characters only, they also paid attention to the side ones as well. I loved not only the main characters, but the side characters as well.
However, I won't go as far as saying this drama is my favorite drama ever (it is still Reply 1988) because I still find flaws that I couldn't accept. Nah, everything was amazing so these so called flaws were just my preferences actually. What didn't work for me (hence the not perfect rating) were:
1. The cliffhanger. Duh, life is short, I don't need that.
2. The characters' choices. Yeah, I know it's their choices but I choose to dislike them nonetheless lol
3. The episodes. Why so few, I need moreeeeeeeeee TT.TT
[[[[ THE CONCLUSION ]]]]
Hospital Playlist is an amazing drama, watch it. Or don't watch it. Just do whatever you feel like doing ;)
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Wish I had friends like this, now I want to join a band.
First review! Hospital Playlist is about a group of 5 friends who happen to be doctors. A few of them were friends before they all met at medical school, and they come together when hiding in supply closet to avoid the usual "talent competition" section of their medical school Orientation. They form a band, and have been friends since.It takes a while to learn about the separate personalities and each character's story, but I have to say it was easy to fall in love with all of them as they are all compelling in different ways. So the story and characters are awesome.
* Song Hwa, the only girl, is a superwoman. She has it all and does it all uh ... except singing well, in that area she's slightly challenged. She's smart, cute, efficient, gets things done and is also empathetic and kind to everyone. If I were a man I would absolutely be trying my best to put a ring on it.
* Lee Ik Sun is the genius in the group, gets the best grades without studying, is kind, funny AND a good father. The interactions between him and his cute, chubby cheeked son had me going awww numerous times, too adorable.
* Jun Wan the heart surgeon seems like a jerk at the start, but he's the most driven of them all, and is blunt when needed.
* Suk Hyung, the chubby obstetrician with the terrible haircut, has had the most DRAMA in his life, I'm sure not all of it is revealed but suffice to say his dad is a real piece of shit and has damaged the son to the extent the son doesn't want to be in any relationships ever.
* Andrea (Jung Won) is the sensitive, new age, super Catholic guy. He wears all his emotions on the surface and of all the characters I wanted to cuddle him the most, just to protect him from being hurt.
Then, there's the band/music aspect. One is a terrible singer, but Ik Jun is really good. I had the warm fuzzies during most of their band / karaoke sessions, LOVED Aloha by Cool (Light of my life), Canon Rock, many of the songs in this were fitting with the story. I don't know if these are pop songs or released for the show, but the soundtrack elevates this from a great drama to a 10.
Watching this I realized when I moved countries I lost my Karaoke friends and we used to drink way too much and sing a lot either in public or even in private rooms. I miss that a lot, it's been over 20 years since I've had a fun karaoke time like these guys had. I wouldn't even mind joining a band, except I have no idea how to find people to do this in the age of COVID.
Loved the drama. Please, give me season 2 as soon as possible. I need more.
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100% recommended
I'm pretty much mentally attached to this drama, its one of the best dramas of 2020. everything in this drama is so perfect, can't wait until the second season comes. it made me cry , laugh and have a emotional breakdown in some episode. i don't have enough words in my vocabulary to describe how good this drama is. each episode is 100/10 .I'm gonna miss those five doctors so badly:((
just give it a try and you will love this drama, especially if you liked reply series you will surely love this show as well.
it's one of the best medical dramas i have watched and will be my fav drama from now on for a very long time.
hope season 2 comes soon!!
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"The Epitome of Korean Drama Perfection"
I've just done watching its last episode. Hospital Playlist S1 is a total package. The plot, characters, main events, virtually the entirety of the series has been portrayed in detail and with love. OSTs are the best! It is no surprising that the word "Playlist" included in the title has been justified. All featured songs have serenaded me throughout the 12 episodes. I can't help but search them on YouTube after listening to them in some scenes. The scenario of the professional world of Doctors are so realistic that the actors made me think they were doing the actual operations. Finally, the legacy it had left on me is the realization that the role of Doctors and front liners they played in times of uncertainty has been given emphasis. Thus, not only does the series merit good reviews and international attention, but it also becomes worthy and timely during the health crisis the 21st-century people are facing today.Highly Recommended!
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Story:
The story highlights the friendship between 5 college friends after they start working at the same hospital. It's a slice of life drama where you follow the daily lives of the main characters rather than a straight, focused storyline. But every medical case and patient story is realistic and heartwarming. The main characters always have each others backs, and their on screen chemistry as best friends is very natural. Its always fun to see them bicker and roast each other and makes me wish that I'll still have such a tight group of friends when I turn 40 too. There are so many funny scenes esp the Aloha karaoke scene LOL
Ok here's a warning the first 15 mins of the first episode starts off pretty slow, but honestly once you get past that 15 min mark you're good to go.
Music:
Covers: The main characters form a band and they cover a lot of old songs throughout the drama. It was surprising to see that all of them were actually really good at playing their instruments!! Apparently they met up weekly and spent a lot of time practicing for their covers, which were pretty good with Jo Jung Suk (former musical actor + husband of ballad queen Gummy) as the lead vocal. I was going to wait until the series finished airing before I started watching it, but after listening to Aloha I gave in and starting binging lol.
OST: As for the actual OST, overall I liked around half of them, but the songs went along well with the drama.
Acting/Cast:
Tbh I initially watched this series mainly for Jo Jung Suk. But after a few episodes, I found myself liking the entire cast - each of them was a perfect fit for their character and I wouldn't have cast it any other way. The main cast's acting was an easy 10/10.
As always, Jo Jung Suk did a great job acting out his character. As Ik Jun, the funny, easygoing friend/clown of the group who's literally friends with everyone, he always livened up the atmosphere and honestly the dude just knows how to crack the audience up. Chae Song Hwa is actually the first lead role for rookie actress Jeon Mi Do, but she did great job portraying the calm and dignified demeanor of a competent neurosurgeon who is dependable to her patients and also reliable to her friends. Jung Kyung Ho also did a good job acting as the confident and slightly arrogant cardiac-surgeon. He seems to be coldblooded with his prickly temper, but you end up seeing how much he really cares about his patients, which is really sweet. Yoo Yeon Seok did a full 180 from acting as the super evil guy from Mr. Sunshine to being an absolute softie here. I was so shocked like how is this the same guy LOL that's some good acting. His adoration for kids as a Pediatrician, his subtle pettiness, and his sympathetic and warm hearted personality was well delivered. Kim Dae Myung also did a good job making his character awkward and antisocial af and I also really liked the actress that played Ik Sun, Ik Jun's younger sister.
Keep an eye out for lots of big shot cameos lol they make the series all the better.
Overall:
This series lowkey made me want to become a doctor lmao. It's too late to change my major smh but man it was such a good drama. It doesn't matter what genre u normally go for just try it out and you won't regret it. If you like medical dramas though, great because this tops all of the medical dramas that's out there so far. (I think that its the best medical drama)
Also season 2 is coming out next year with the same cast so ALL IS GOOD :-)
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.
.
You just want more and more of not only these 5 but the side cast too , they were awesome the acting was fabulous and idk what to say but just please leave everything and watch this drama already if you already haven't
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Hospital Playlist reimagined medical dramas by viewing it through a different lens--and it's great!
Hospital Playlist is a captivating medical slice-of-life piece that devoids itself from the usual medical drama tropes. Lesser blood, lesser operation scenes, and no politics, yet I can confidently say that this is one of the greatest dramas of its kind with how it maximized its setting to create a profound drama that explores matters that revolves around the hospital and its people-- doctors, nurses, as well as the patients.One of the common worries by viewers of this drama as it started is its seemingly "plotless" nature. However, I think this is the genius of the writers and the director that is working. They introduce these characters to the viewers and they focus on their unraveled stories and their improvements are given focused, being loyal to its slice-of-life nature. To further it, they tell various stories of the patients that the medical staff characters tend to. These characters add another layer which enrich the characters as well as reveal more to who they are and their personalities. From this point, the plot is getting developed. However, one of the greatest plot devices that this drama used is music. The well curated music that is showed every week is a way to make the viewers understand the motif and themes that are present in each episode. It also is a way to show and tell more about the characters in the drama as the lyrics of the songs can be related to the experiences that they encounter.
As a sucker to slice-of-life dramas, I love how the team made this drama very human and relatable. Every character in the drama explore varying facets of humanity by exploring human experiences, emotions, and relationships. At some point, viewers can see themselves with the material that they are consuming-- and that is a feat. I also loved how this drama humanizes doctors and medical practitioners. This layer is very important especially during these times when we are facing a pandemic. It gives us a huge room in order to understand and celebrate these frontliners who always aim to try their best with whatever case they are facing.
This story wouldn't be magnificent without the great characters and its actors. From the main characters played by Jo Jung Seok, Yoo Yeon Seok, Jeon Mido, Jung Kyungho, and Kim Daemyung (WHAT A STELLAR CAST), to the actors that played every supporting characters and the patients, everyone played a role to make this drama magnificent.
Can I just say how great the OST this drama has? It is a perfectly curated list of great Korean classics that are reinterpreted magnificently (my personal favorite being Confession is Not Flashy because yES WINTER-GARDEN).
The drama has only 12 episodes for this season. I give it a high rewatch value as I see this drama as a possible refuge whenever we are lost. This drama has a lot of lessons in life that we can take note for ourselves.
Overall, Hospital Playlist is a great drama that will take you into a wild ride of emotions. It will make you cry, laugh, and empathize with the characters. It's a healing drama not only for its humor but also with its capacity to enable its viewers to relate to it.
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And don't forget the soundtracks are also amazing. The band thing was awesome! It was great because they can even play it live. How they also put some reply scenes related was hilarious, that was so creative!
I can’t even choose my favorite character out of the 5 people. I love all of them. I fell in love with Jeongwon’s kindness and his big heart. I admired Seonghwa’s time management. I found Ikjun’s cheerful character is so sweet. I liked how Junwan always say something directly and he really meant it. I adored how patient and kind Seokhyeong is.
Definitely can't wait to watch the second season!
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I liked the emotional balance - there were funny and emotional scenes. I must admit that at times I kept my fingers crossed for residents. There are some common patterns in this drama, like the presence of a cardiac surgeon or neurosurgeon (can any series exist without these doctors?) or embarrassing romantic themes. I always feel bad when I look at people who confess their love to a person who feels nothing for that person. I liked the theme of Jang Gyeo Wool who was falls in love with a pediatrician. I kept my fingers crossed for her.
What matters most to me in this drama is this emotional balance. In such dramas there are often too many strong emotions, which makes watching the series difficult. I'm glad that the perspective of the characters themselves - their private dramas, arguments with their families or boys - wasn't stressed too often. I think it's too much. It already was!
I really liked the music in this drama. I love George Winston "Canon". By the way, I heard this song in a different version, this time in the Japanese drama "The Forest of Love". I recommend the violin version, it's really beautiful.
I have so many responsibilities, but this drama made me unable to stop watching it. It's really worth recommending. The frames are beautiful, I really liked the way the show was framed. The cast is excellent, no artificiality, just naturalness.
I can't wait for the next season!
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So I started watching this drama a few days ago after 11 of the total 12 episodes of season 1 had already been released. BIG MISTAKE. Each episode of this drama is almost 1 and a half hour long. And it's worth every second so I couldn't help but binge watch. I was sleep deprived and exhilarated at the same time.Hospital Playlist has a little of everything. It will literally cheer you up. The inter-relationship shown between different characters is perfect. Every actor no matter how minor their role was, portrayed their characters perfectly. Even though I didn't understand half the medical talk in the series I still enjoyed it.
The chemistry between the 5 main characters was off the charts.
Song-Hwa was like the fairy god-mother of the group. All the others seem to come to her for advice. She could do everything perfectly. All the mothers also loved her (Seok Hyeong and Jeong won's mothers trying to set them up with her was very funny). She was described as the emotional pillar of the group which was spot on but she herself, at times, seemed to require some emotional support. (which is why I shipped her with Ik-jun rather than with Chi-hong. While she took care and guided Chi-hong like she did with others, Ik-jun seemed to take care of her instead. He was just as much her support as she was his)
Ik-Jun was the comedian of the group. When things got too serious he would break the tension with some humor. He also had a sociable and likable personality and got along well with everybody. He could also be responsible and serious at times which showed mainly during his interactions with U-ju, Ik-sun and the other 4. He poked his nose in everyone's business and would help them out.
Jun-Wan was the moody and silent helper type of the group. He was a great doctor although with a prickly personality. He also didn't explain his actions to others. He would do good and endearing things but never take credit. He and Song-hwa had a sibling type relationship (If the writers would have suddenly said that they were siblings I would have totally believed it). His and Ik-jun's friendship was the most entertaining to watch (since one was secretive and the other nosy). His relationship with Ik-sun was surprising but turned out good. His character had the most development in the series (from playboy to committed man and from insensitive to understanding) .
Seok-Hyeong was the anti-social/introvert of the group (The ones who don't make friends but are adopted into the group). Despite his problems with inter-personal relationships, he was a great doctor, responsible, thoughful and generally nice. I had really wish that he had atleast given Min-ah a chance instead of flat out rejecting her (I was rooting for her since her feelings for him went from dislike to respect to resentment to finally liking him which was great development).
Jeong-Won was the adorable baby of the group. He was empathetic, sensitive and friendly. His character also developed so much. I feel like every person that watched this series was rooting for him and Gyeo-wool to get together. ( I literally hid behind a pillow when she confessed her feelings and then pumped my fists in the air when they kissed. Most.Satisfying.Kiss.Ever.)
Gyeo-wool's character also went from robot doctor to become more understanding towards others feelings.
Rosa and Jong-su's friendship and banter was hilarious and just perfect.
Seok-min and Sun-bin's pairing was also very sweet.
Jae-hak's growth from fumbling amateur to a responsible doctor was good to see. His and Jun-wan's relationship as mentor-mentee helped .oth of them grow.
The twins Hong-doo and Yun-bok as well as U-ju added so much cuteness and fun to the show.
The music was great. It didn't really hit the same for me since I am not korean but it was still fun (since most of the songs were old I feel like they were supposed to induce the feeling of nostalgia). The concept of the band was also good and unique.
In conclusion I would recommend this drama to everybody whether you like the genre or not .
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The Good in People
This show focuses on how to bring out or see the good in a person. That's the central theme. It's carried by the friendship of the 5 99'ers, who support, challenge and correct each other. This makes the show different, cause there is no villain, not a whole lot of standard plots and plot devices and as a result will have some haters who want more of this or that.But if you look at the craft put into each episode to show us how to improve on a bad situation or to limit the ripples on its environment, you can't help but gaze in awe. It provides perspective via hindsight. It shows the struggle of parents trying to prevent their children from making a mistake, knowing very well they are as stubborn as themselves. Learning how to communicate, what they would not have believed if an older person would tell them, at the age of their child.
It's also very refreshing to see Kim Kap-su in a roll as a lovable considerate teddy bear with a heart of gold. So many drama's he's been a despicable, scheming person - it must have been a joy for him to play this part and it shows. He does an awesome job and the banter between him and Kim Hae-Sook is one of mutual respect and admiration with a lifetime of experience.
Another very good point of the series is that you can see the couples forming long before they do, but you also understand that it will take time for them to clear the fog between them that prevents them from noticing the inevitable. That is where the true romance lies and for once, we don't have an abundance of 30 second shots full of repeats and slow motions presenting us the first kiss that so many Kdramas are overusing.
Ironically, I skipped over the musical bits - not my cup of tea. And while it's the glue of the series and surely gives an extra dimension for those who can appreciate the music, the series is still very much a pleasure to watch if you can't.
Looking forward to season 2.
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