When fans of ‘Hospital Playlist’ heard that a spin-off was in the works, excitement surged. After all, ‘Hospital Playlist’ had delivered a comforting, soulful tale of friendship and medicine with just the right amount of humor and music. Hopes were high for ‘Resident Playbook’, a new Netflix series set in the same beloved Yulje Medical Center, this time focusing on a fresh set of characters in the OB-GYN department at its Jongno branch.
But the road to release was anything but smooth. A real-life medical emergency, multiple production delays, and rumors of cancellation nearly ended ‘Resident Playbook’ before it began. Miraculously, two years later—spring 2025—it premiered on tvN and Netflix. And though the show launched quietly, it grew steadily, much like the first-year residents it portrays.
Directed by Lee Min-soo and written by Kim Song-hee, ‘Resident Playbook’ follows four OB-GYN residents—Oh Yi-young (Go Youn-jung), Pyo Nam-kyeong (Shin Shi-ah), Um Jae-il (Kang You-seok), and Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji)—as they stumble through their first year in the medical world. If ‘Hospital Playlist’ was a story of seasoned doctors bonded by decades of friendship, ‘Resident Playbook’ is its younger sibling: awkward, unsure, but deeply sincere.
The charm of the series is its commitment to authenticity. It doesn’t aim for the dramatic high-stakes cases of many medical dramas. Instead, it leans into the mundane, the human, and the quietly emotional. These are not genius doctors solving rare diseases in 48 minutes; they are tired, overworked residents learning how to function, survive, and sometimes thrive in a hospital that never stops moving. What makes ‘Resident Playbook’ special is its tone. Initially shy and tentative, the series gradually warms up. The characters find their rhythm, and the viewers find theirs too. It becomes cozy and familiar, not because it mimics ‘Hospital Playlist’, but because it honors the struggles and triumphs of starting something new. And we’ve all been there.
One of the central themes is the generational tension between the older doctors and the Gen Z/MZ residents. The series explores this respectfully and humorously, showing how both sides can grow. The younger residents challenge outdated norms, seek balance, and speak up. The older generation listens, sometimes resists, but eventually adapts. This evolving dynamic adds emotional depth and topical relevance to the show.
Unlike its predecessor, ‘Resident Playbook’ isn’t about an unbreakable friendship forged over decades. Instead, it’s about the beginning of friendships—those awkward, unspoken connections that may one day become unshakable but aren’t there yet. The series acknowledges that real closeness takes time, and it chooses not to force it.
‘Resident Playbook’ doesn’t shy away from fan service, delivering brief yet meaningful cameos from ‘Hospital Playlist’ characters. Kim Jun-wan (Jung Kyung-ho) appears in Episode 4 with his trademark sarcasm, while Ahn Jeong-won (Yoo Yeon-seok) joins a team dinner in Episode 5 and comforts a young patient. Lee Ik-jun (Cho Jung-seok) and Chae Song-hwa (Jeon Mi-do) bring laughs with a superglue mishap. Chu Min-ha (Ahn Eun-jin) returns in Episodes 2 and 12, now stationed at Jongno, and Yang Seok-hyeong (Kim Dae-myung) makes a touching cameo, confirming their marriage.
An especially fun episode features K-pop idols Yeonjun and Soobin of ‘TXT’, who appear as former bandmates of resident Um Jae-il. Their lighthearted cameo adds levity, introduces new viewers to the series, and even leads to a new OST release, making that episode the highest-rated of the season.
Speaking of music, the OST is excellent. Tracks like ‘A Race’ (sung by the cast), D.O.’s ‘Forever’, TXT’s ‘When the Day Comes’, and Mido and Falasol’s sweetly nostalgic ‘Amateur’ and ‘Someday It’s Time to Shine’ elevate key emotional moments without overwhelming them. Visually, the show is just as thoughtful, with warm lighting, soft colors, and intimate cinematography that mirrors the hopeful tone of the script.
Go Youn-jung anchors the cast with a subtle yet compelling presence as Oh Yi-young, a hesitant but competent resident who takes the job out of financial necessity. Each of the four leads adds a unique flavor: Shin Shi-ah’s stylish and assertive Nam-kyeong, Kang You-seok’s kind-hearted Jae-il with a hidden K-pop idol past, and Han Ye-ji’s emotionally guarded Sa-bi. While their backstories aren’t deeply explored, the glimpses we get are enough to make them feel real and relatable.
Another aspect of the series is that romance in ‘Resident Playbook’ is subtle, slow-burning, and very much in tune with the show’s slice-of-life tone. The dynamic between Oh Yi-Young and Gu Do-Won (played by Jung Joon-won) evolves gradually, starting from awkward introductions to small, meaningful moments: shared night shifts, quiet encouragement, and protectiveness that never feels forced. It treats romance the way real life often does—it simmers in the background, occasionally pushing forward but never demanding attention. The emotional connections between characters—whether romantic, platonic, or somewhere in between—are always grounded in respect, growth, and empathy. The show doesn’t aim for dramatic fireworks; it moves slowly, thoughtfully. Not all threads are resolved, and that’s deliberate. By episode 12, the residents aren’t heroes. They’re still learning, still insecure, still struggling, but they’re also stronger, kinder, and a bit more confident. And that’s what ‘Resident Playbook’ is really about: the slow, imperfect process of becoming.
In the end, ‘Resident Playbook’ isn’t just a spin-off. It’s a story of growth—of characters, of friendships, and of the show itself. While it might not deliver the same emotional highs as ‘Hospital Playlist’, it succeeds on its own terms: quiet, compassionate, and comforting. For those willing to be patient, it offers something rare and beautiful, a slice of life served with humility, heart, and healing.
Written by: MANSHA CHAUHAN
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Loved the Comeo and the OST.