Hi there! This is a segment on my blog where I review Korean shows (also known as KDrama) spoiler-free! I’ve been watching KDrama for almost over a decade. And I love the way these shows are made, specifically with the intention of showcasing a particular human thought and insight about life. It’s not all romance you know! There is always something to learn, something to think about, and something that gives you a refreshed/renewed perspective! So I hope you enjoy the review and also learn something new :)

If there is one thing that I am a complete sucker for, is a strong friendship line in a story. Where each unique person brings something in their personality to the friend circle that completes it. That also fills in a strong character quality that someone else doesn’t have and contributes to the group’s dynamics in a different, but equally important way.

Reply 1988 was one show that demonstrated this, and it currently stands as one of the BEST KDramas I have ever seen. So when I found out that the same writers had another show coming, I already had some expectations. And honestly? I wasn’t disappointed.

So here is a spoiler-free review of Hospital Playlist:

Hospital Playlist Season 1 (Season 2 is out!)

Snap Summary: A medical drama that includes the lives of 5 best friends working in a hospital, and surrounding plots of the nurses and doctors working with them. That’s it. But what makes it special is the storytelling of the everyday instances and heart-warming/breaking cases they face at work and personally. And how they handle them, go through them, how they grow with them that inevitably teach you, the viewer, on how to value certain aspects of life that often go unnoticed and unappreciated.

What I learned from the show:

1.     First and foremost, the importance of having a good support system. People who know you and know about you, to help guide you in moments where you feel a little lost and a whole lot of confused. They help give you a different perspective to think on, and also serve as a space where you feel comfortable to open up and take a break from the role you play for everyone else in life.

2.     The value of doing something outside routine that lets you relax, unwind, and do something different to help charge you for things you need to do. I think it’s important that you have that. Either it’s a hobby or just an activity that you can fully immerse yourself into. The reason why this show is called Hospital ‘Playlist’ is because these 5 friends used to have a band in college, which they rekindle many years later. Not only do you get to listen to some amazing Korean music, but the way they weave the theme of the songs into the current scenario of each episode makes it all the more enjoyable.

3.     I did mention the importance of having a strong support system, but there is this fundamental insight that you need to develop for yourself which can only happen if you learn how to spend time with yourself. Yes, the show talks about spending time with your friends and how they help you get clarity on a lot of problems you may have, but this show also displays aspects of why you need to spend time with yourself to think. By doing things on your own that help you discover who you are, you dig a little deeper into your personality and uncover new characteristics that help you grow as a person.

4.     The more experiences life gives you, the better you can make important decisions quickly. There may be some decisions you regret or some which don’t go your way. But these are all life-lessons that help teach you to tackle the next situation better. There are no regrets in life, just lessons learned. Just like how they show doctors making life-altering decisions every day.

5.     In the world of instant results, we expect instant understanding. We expect to get something right away or meet our needs immediately. And that seeded impatience makes us judge people too quickly because they are not instantly reacting to things in a way that appeases us. But the truth is, we all need some time to cultivate relationships and help understand them before we quickly switch over before giving it a chance. Doctors don’t give you instant results and solutions to your illnesses, they tell you to be patient, treat yourself kindly to cultivate positive results. Sometimes that’s all you can do, knowing you did your best before you decide to conclude on something.

Favorite Quotes:

“When your brain and your heart are saying two different things, your heart is right. Just follow your heart and you won’t regret it.”

“I don’t want to waste time. My time is too precious for that. I was to live doing the things I like and the things that I want to do right now.”

“Kids don’t lie, they are not like us, adults. When it hurts, they say so. When they are fine they say so. They are always honest. But adults pretend that they are not sick when they are.”

Why you need to watch it:

1.     For its great character development, honestly by the end of if you don’t even know who you’re rooting for, because you automatically feel like a part of their hospital family.

2.     For its heartfelt, relatable moments that make you think a little bit more about life. Everyday instances that often go unnoticed or even appreciating the things we have and being grateful for it.

3.     For the storytelling and production. I think visually there were some very striking scenes that amplified certain aspects of a moment. Bring tissues.

4.     For the over-all feel good wholesomeness of it.

Honestly, this show is unmissable. It has everything expected of a good KDrama and more. Highly recommend and cannot wait for season 2! To enjoy this show and the cameos a little bit more, I suggest watching Reply 1988 first. You won’t regret it!

Living for a life that’s better than any KDrama,

Niki :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the media used above. All the rights are reserved with original owners/tvN