Alright, I just binged Resident Playbook on Netflix, and I’ve got a lot to unpack. As a huge Hospital Playlist fan—seriously, that show was my comfort food during tough times—I was stoked but nervous about this spin-off. It’s set in the same Yulje Medical Center universe, but at the Jongno branch, following a group of first-year OB-GYN residents. After watching all 12 episodes, which wrapped up on May 18, 2025, I’m torn. It’s got heart, some killer moments, and that familiar Hospital Playlist vibe, but it’s also kind of a hot mess at times. Here’s my honest, no-filter take.
The Vibe: Chaos and Heart in the OB-GYN Ward
Resident Playbook dives into the lives of four rookie residents—Oh Yi-young (Go Youn-jung), Pyo Nam-kyung (Shin Si-ah), Um Jae-il (Kang You-seok), and Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji)—as they stumble through the high-pressure world of obstetrics and gynecology. Yi-young is the main focus, a former resident who quit for reasons we don’t learn right away and is back because she’s drowning in 50 million won of debt. She’s blunt, unmotivated, and not exactly thrilled to be there, which makes her a tough sell at first. The others have their quirks: Jae-il’s a former K-pop idol with great people skills but iffy medical instincts, Sa-bi’s a socially awkward brainiac, and Nam-kyung’s a perfectionist obsessed with looking good.
The show nails the chaos of residency—24-hour shifts, snappy professors, and life-or-death decisions. It’s gritty, showing the unpolished side of young doctors figuring it out. There’s this one scene in Episode 2 where Yi-young’s nightmare about being strapped to an operating table for her organs (yikes!) perfectly captures the stress. The medical cases, especially the OB-GYN focus, feel real, with graphic surgeries and birthing scenes that had me wincing. The details, like textbooks lying around and emergency procedures, seem spot-on for the setting.
What I Loved: Real Feels and Slow-Burn Growth
The best part? The characters grow on you. Episode 1 was a bit rough—Yi-young’s apathy and the chaotic vibe had me worried—but by Episode 2, things started clicking. The show’s strength is watching these residents go from strangers who butt heads to a team that’s got each other’s backs. Seeing them evolve from bumbling rookies to semi-competent doctors is super satisfying, even if they’re still messy. Yi-young never turns into a starry-eyed healer, which I respected—it feels real. Go Youn-jung kills it, making Yi-young’s guarded, flawed personality relatable even when she’s frustrating.
The supporting cast is awesome too. Side characters like Seo Jeong-min and Cha Da-hye feel like real people you’d meet in a hospital. The Hospital Playlist cameos (like Ahn Eun-jin as Chu Min-ha in Episode 2) were pure fan service, and I lost it when they hinted she married Yang Seok-hyung. The romance is light but sweet, especially Yi-young’s slow-burn thing with senior resident Ku Do-won (Jung Joon-won). It’s maybe 30% of the story, not the main focus, but it’s cute, with Yi-young taking the lead in flirting, which I loved. The slice-of-life vibe is where it feels most like Hospital Playlist—it’s not about epic medical saves but everyday struggles like dealing with rude seniors or comforting patients’ families. By Episode 10, I was tearing up over patient stories and laughing at the residents’ banter. The OST is solid too, adding to that warm, cozy feel.
What Didn’t Work: A Shaky Start and Some Forced Bits
Here’s where I struggled: the show takes a minute to find its footing. Episode 1 felt like a chaotic blur—too much going on, not enough charm. Yi-young’s “I hate this job” attitude made her hard to root for at first, and the pacing is uneven with those long 75-80 minute episodes. I get that it’s meant to be slow and mundane, but early on, it felt like nothing was happening. Some viewers online even bailed after the first episode, calling it bland compared to Hospital Playlist.
Some plots felt forced too. The romance with Yi-young and Do-won came out of left field—one minute she’s indifferent, the next she’s crushing hard, and I was like, “Huh?” The OB-GYN setting also felt weirdly disconnected from reality. The show never touches on South Korea’s low birth rate, yet babies are everywhere, which felt off for a series that’s otherwise so grounded. And while the residents’ mistakes—like Yi-young holding a scalpel wrong and nicking someone—are meant to show they’re green, they sometimes made them look straight-up incompetent, which was hard to buy.
How It Compares to Hospital Playlist
Hospital Playlist was like a warm hug—funny, cozy, with a friend group you wanted to join. Resident Playbook isn’t that. It’s rawer, less polished, and focuses on survival over friendship. Some fans love this fresh angle, showing the grind of young doctors before they become the cool, calm pros of the original. Others feel it misses the warmth and humor that made Hospital Playlist special. I get both sides—it’s not as comforting, but it’s real about the residency struggle, especially in South Korea’s tough medical system.
My Final Thoughts: Worth Watching, But Don’t Expect Perfection
Resident Playbook isn’t flawless, but it won me over. It’s got strong ratings in South Korea (4.47-8.1%, peaking with the finale) and trended on Netflix across Asia. It’s not Hospital Playlist 2.0, and it’s not trying to be. The shaky start and occasional clunky moments hold it back, but the character growth, emotional patient stories, and that Yulje heart make it a solid watch. I binged it in a week, and those long episodes flew by once I got attached. It’s like watching a new band try to follow a legendary act—not quite there, but still worth the show.
If you’re a Hospital Playlist fan or into medical dramas, stream it on Netflix. Just know it’s messier and less cozy, and give it past the first two episodes. I’m bummed it’s a limited series with no Season 2, but I’m glad I hung out with these residents.
My Rating: 7.5/10