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15.4 - Podcast Review of Episode 4 of Hospital Playlist

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 4 of Hospital Playlist, starring Jo Jung-suk as Lee Ik Jun, Yoo Yeon-seok as Ahn Jeong Won, Jung Kyung-ho as Kim Jun Wan, Kim Dae-myung as Yang Seok Hyeong, and Jeon Mi-do as Chae Song Hwa. We also discuss Jo Jung Suk, the actor who plays the general surgeon Lee Ik Jun. We discuss:

  • The songs featured during the recap: Pachelbel’s Canon in D, played in rock fashion by our five doctors, and Confession Is Not Flashy by Kyuhyun, a remake of Lee Seung-hwan’s 1993 ballad.

  • The demands being placed on K-pop performers, inspired by Joanna’s experience at the BTS concert, and why the physical and mental health of performers needs to come before tours, albums, and fans’ expectations.

  • Our change in how we feature music on the podcast because of licensing concerns, and our new playlist of Hospital Playlist songs that listeners can play along with during the recap.

  • The episode’s many stories about parents and children—and how those relationships can be loving and protective, but also abusive, exploitative, complicated, and heartbreaking.

  • Dr. Bong’s entertaining description of the five friends as “The Lacking Five” and what his stories reveal about Chae Song Hwa, Kim Jun Wan, Yang Seok Hyeong, Lee Ik Jun, and Ahn Jeong Won.

  • The tragedy in Yang Seok Hyeong’s family—his sister’s death, his father’s affair, and his mother’s stroke—and how those experiences transformed his relationship with his mother and help explain the quiet, devoted man he is today.

  • The baby born with anencephaly and Yang Seok Hyeong’s decision to honor the mother’s request that she not hear her baby cry, leading to a fascinating discussion about how hospitals and families handle the birth of a baby who will not survive.

  • How the five doctors started their band in medical school, their hilarious younger hairstyles and clothes, their attempts to master Pachelbel’s Canon, and our own memories of orchestras, family bands, Rock Band, and Dance Dance Revolution.

  • Matters of the heart: Lee Ik Jun tries to play matchmaker, but it’s Kim Jun Wan who appears increasingly interested in Ik Jun’s sister Lee Ik Sun—and who ultimately travels to her military base claiming he just wants to eat jajangmyeon.

  • Jo Jung Suk, the actor who plays Lee Ik Jun: his beginnings in musical theater, his breakout film role in Architecture 101, his many dramas and films, his award-winning performance in Pilot, and his journey toward becoming a singer-songwriter through A-List to Playlist.

References


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K Drama Chat is a weekly podcast where we take one Korean (K) Drama each season and and recap and analyze each episode. K Drama Chat is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora. 

Comments

  1. I can't help with the recorded music issue. It's a shame there's not an overarching licence service you can subscribe to, like the ones they have for schools and churches.
    I can tease out the original instrumentation of Pachelbel's Canon, though. 'Basso continuo' refers to a combination of a bass instrument (bass viol, cello or bassoon) playing the single line of bass notes and a keyboard instrument (organ, harpsichord or clavichord were the options in the Baroque era) filling out the harmonies with chords implied by the bass line.
    It's the Baroque equivalent of bass guitar + rhythm guitar in a band.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And actually, harpsichords have jangly vibe that's close to a snare drum sound. So I'd say the 5 doctors' interpretation is pretty faithful to Pachelbel. :)

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Doremi, for explaining this!

      Delete
  2. I haven’t watched the episode, so I am commenting on the podcast.

    *Who is the lady Doctor going to end up with?
    I am going 55% the Crash Romance Doctor, and 45% the Priest Wanna be Doctor. I am a man, but I can certainly add my voice to the “What a Waste” crowd lol.

    By the way, the actress (Shin Hyun Bin)playing the doctor who is everyone fighting over to be in their surgery has a drama that I really liked called “Tell Me That You Love Me”. It is a mature romance with a deaf ML, so it has a bit of a different angle.

    The Dad Doctor was in my 5th Kdrama and a top favourite “Oh My Ghost”. It has Park Bo Young effectively playing double role (same person, but opposite personalities), and not famous yet Shin Hae Sun (I am so proud of myself for thinking this is a really good actress and was looking for her scenes). It has to be said though that I liked the drama more than most viewers.

    *On the wife discussion. On this occasion, I am inclined to agree with Joanna. I can see Sung-hee point, but if she can get a decent settlement, I think she should divorce him. She is unlikely to live wonderfully, but it will still be better life. And having at least a chance must be better than no chance.

    *I finished “In Your Radiant Season”. It was a solid and decent series, and I would even softly recommend it. It offers nice viewing experience, but largely forgettable. 3/5.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seven Seas, THAT is the question, right? Who will she end up with?

      Thanks for sharing what you're watching.

      Delete
  3. Seven Seas, you should check out The Affair was Jut the Beginning on Viki. I think it is your kind of drama.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Malcolm, I am enjoying Something in the Rain, but not loving the soundtrack, which is very intrusive. I like a lot of country music (RIP Dolly), but I never loved 'Stand by your man' and the more I hear it in this series, the more I hate it!

    ReplyDelete

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