Skip to main content

15.5 - Podcast Review of Episode 5 of Hospital Playlist

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 of Hospital Playlist, starring Jo Jung-suk as Lee Ik Joon, Yoo Yeon-seok as Ahn Jeong Won, Jung Kyung-ho as Kim Jun Wan, Kim Dae-myung as Yang Seok Hyung, and Jeon Mi-do as Chae Song Hwa. We discuss:

  • Two songs from the episode:

    • “Oh? What a Shiny Night” by Mido and Falasol

    • “Beautiful My Love” by Urban Zakapa

  • The meaning behind the name Mido and Falasol, the group credited with the Hospital Playlist OST songs, and why so many of their songs became huge hits in Korea.

  • How this episode shows that medicine can’t be separated from people and emotions—the patients, their families, and the doctors and nurses caring for them.

  • The heartbreaking child abuse case, how Ahn Jeong Won recognizes the warning signs, and why doctors are responsible for reporting suspected abuse rather than proving it.

  • The congressman’s elaborate scheme to disguise the identity of his liver donor, and why modern hospital identification and transplant procedures would make such a switch extremely difficult.

  • The baby with moyamoya disease, why Chae Song Hwa orders that the baby not be allowed to cry, and how hyperventilation could further reduce blood flow to the brain.

  • The complicated ways families respond to illness: a daughter willingly donating part of her liver to her father, a wealthy son refusing to donate to his father, and a father insisting that Kim Jun Wan give his son the most expensive heart valve available.

  • Do Jae Hak’s excitement over his matured jeokgeum, or installment savings account, and his plans to use the money for a jeonse lease—and the ominous warning that he should read his lease very carefully.

  • Divorce in Korea and the very different experiences of Lee Ik Jun, Yang Seok Hyeong, and Seok Hyeong’s mother, who refuses to divorce her unfaithful husband even after his mistress announces that she is pregnant.

  • All the developing romances: Jang Gyeo Ul pining for Ahn Jeong Won, Chu Min Ha beginning to see Yang Seok Hyeong differently, Ahn Chi Hong confessing to Chae Song Hwa, and Kim Jun Wan finally confessing to Lee Ik Sun.

  • The alarming ending in which Chae Song Hwa becomes the patient after discovering a suspicious mass and is told she needs a biopsy.

  • Jung Kyung Ho, the actor who plays Kim Jun Wan.

References


###

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. Despite not watching, I enjoyed the podcast. I went and watched few scenes to jog my memory about characters.
    *Lettuce as a fan was very funny. It caught me by surprise.
    *I am sorry, but that kick looked really fake, lol. I felt sorry for him though. He got kicked, his glasses were broken, and he had to sleep on the couch. I wonder if he took it so lightly if he didn't like her.
    *So, I lost my prediction on him being the favourite for our female doctor.
    *If anyone interested in a series that has organ donation as key plot then you can check out "Marriage Contract". It was an Ok series. It had some good qualities, but personally I wouldn't recommend it.

    I was very busy, so I haven't been watching any series, but today I started "Until the T-Shirt Dries" because Doremi mentioned it. It is Japanese though, because I like to mix things
    I liked first episode. It reminded of a movie, but I won't mention it to avoid spoilers.
    J-drama has maybe even better format than K-drama, but unfortunately I find them considerably less engaging.

    The highlight of the week in terms of Korean content though was watching "Secret Sunshine" on Netflix. The title is literal translation of the city name, which is the original title.
    It is one of those great films that seeing it once is enough.
    Most certainly not for everyone. It has heavy and serious themes without even offering some cathartic crying.
    That said, it is great, makes you reflect, and very debate worthy. And above all, it has a mesmerising performance by Jeon Do Yeon. My favourite acting this year. Despite my reservation about awards, she won for that role Best Female Actress in Cannes Film Festival in 2007, at a time when Korea wasn't trendy and everyone knows about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So what do you think of Until the T-Shirt Dries? It's on my list and I'm really curious about it.

      Thank you recommending Secret Sunshine. Will add to my list!

      Delete
  2. I think what stood out to me in this episode is the child-like nature of the adults in this story. Even the oldest generation embrace their playful side, including Dr Yang's (?) mum, who has been sad, lonely and bitter for so long. (It's easy to think she should divorce and move on, but that is not what she signed up for when she married, and the cost in terms of her dignity and social standing, not to mention the threat to her son's financial future, is substantial.)
    The comedic 'silly business' is a big contrast to the serious medical aspects of the drama, and I suspect that is part of the reason some people just can't get into Hospital Playlist.
    Age/power dynamics aside, I do love the romantic pairings, and the secondary characters/guest roles, who add so much to the drama in terms of charm and context.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! This show has it all: great acting, serious medical cases that surface important issues relating to family and relationships, great music, and a whole lot of silliness!

      I hope this season is making some people rethink Hospital Playlist!

      Delete
  3. There was something that bugged me in this episode. Jeung-wan’s lack of acknowledgement of Gyeung-won’s heroic efforts to chase and tackle the fleeing abusive dad rang false to me, especially after his praise for others. She was obviously disappointed, as anyone would be, but to me this seems so out of character for him that I turned the episode off for awhile. I’d love to know what the actor thought about the scene, a writing weak spot to me.

    I just finished a beautiful Cdrama on Viki called ToThe Wonder. I highly recommend it, especially for great writing and cinematography.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this 'omission' is, at least partially, explained later on. Stay tuned.

      Delete
    2. Ellen, I agree with you that Ahn Jeong Won not commending Jang Gyeo Ul was out of character for our sweet, sensitive and caring doctor. Doremi is right that this omission will be rectified later on, but that's the topic for another podcast!

      I still think it's rough and not a great idea to fall in love with someone who wants to be a priest!

      Delete
  4. I keep forgetting how funny this show is. I actually listened to the podcast before watching the show. And then of course I had to go back and watch.

    I think stuffing food into someone’s mouth to shut them up should be a K drama element. I’m sure it is in k drama bingo.

    Sung hee, can you recover from donating a liver that quickly? I had my appendix taken out and I was in bed for like three days!

    As for WMW, I just finished The Affair Was Just the Begining on Viki. Amazing. Maybe my favorite so far this year. It’s a dark comedy. Really well written. With lots of plot twists.

    I’m also watching A Bonafide Killer on Viki. Also great. Wife and mom of a four year old is a secret assassin!

    Then I figured I’d watch an episode of Love on the Menu. Figured it would be a typical rom com set in a restaurant. I really liked the first episode and looked it up on line - it’s 50 episodes!!! It’s more like an old fashion k drama. Kind of what I thought k dramas were like before I started watching them. Or what hymonies would be watching in other k dramas. It’s got all the tropes including the envelope of money for the girlfriend to break up with the chaebol son! I’m loving it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is this Malcolm gone Anon? If so, thanks for recommending Something in the Rain, I found it really interesting, especially the second half of the series.

      Very much focussed on the social boundaries for women in Korea, the FL's predicament/s and her personal growth. I believe the director has passed away recently, with a posthumous drama release imminent.

      Delete
    2. Doremi, yes that was me! For some reason when I post on my phone it switches to anonymous mode.

      Glad you liked Something in the Rain. It's not a perfect drama, but it has real chemistry and does explore heavy social issues.

      The director did recently pass away.

      He also directed One Spring Night, which I believe he said was his attempt at a remake of Something in the rain. It even stars many of the same people.

      Perhaps K Drama Chat needs to do a retrospective episode of his best dramas. ;-).

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for your comment on this episode!

Popular posts from this blog

11.10 - Podcast Review of Episode 10 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, then Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The featured song during the recap: “Theme of Ae-sun” by Park Sung-il, the musician who also wrote “Theme of Gwan-sik,” “Spring in a Heartbeat,” and “Two Faced Summer” from this OST. The Baeksang Awards wins for this show—Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor—and how validating it feels to have picked a gem for Season 11 of our podcast! How this episode focuses on three mothers and their powerful love for their children: Ae-sun, Yeong-ran, and Chung-seop’s mom. The symbolic and cultural significance of white rice, and how Bu Sang-gil uses it as a weapon in his drunken tirade. Oh Seong’s boiling anger against his father and sister, and his tragic learned behavior from witnessin...

12.17 - Special Episode About the Art and Science of Screenwriting with Ellen Sullivan

Today, we have a special episode of K Drama Chat where we’re joined by longtime listener, friend, and screenwriter, Ellen Sullivan . We talk about the art and science of screenwriting and how the best K Dramas follow—or creatively depart from—dramatic structure to deliver compelling, emotional stories. In this episode, we discuss: The shows that are heavily spoiled in this episode: Crash Landing On You , Mr. Queen , Mr. Sunshine , When the Phone Rings , and Captivating the King . Ellen’s background as a screenwriter and technical writer, and how her passion for K Dramas began with My Mister. The Western three-act structure versus the Korean four-act structure (gi-seung-jeon-gyeol), and how each style approaches storytelling and character development. Detailed examples of setup, midpoint, and conclusion in Crash Landing On You , Mr. Queen , and Mr. Sunshine . What makes these shows work: believable character arcs, clear motivations, strong midpoint turns, and emotional payof...

12.16 - Podcast Review of Episode 16 of Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 16, the finale, of Extraordinary Attorney Woo , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Eun-bin as Woo Young-woo, Kang Tae-oh as Lee Jun-ho, Ha Yoon-kyung as Choi Soo-yeon, Ju Hyun-young as Dong Geurami, Kang Ki-young as Jung Myung-seok, and Joo Jong-hyuk as Kwon Min-woo. We discuss: The songs featured during the recap: Dance with a Best Friend by Roh Young Sim and Beyond My Dreams by Sunwoojunga. The Wall Street Journal article that explores the wide spectrum of autism and how the medical community thinks we need better and different diagnoses for the different presentations of autism. Woo Young-woo and Choi Sang-hyeon’s similarities, including their autistic traits, intelligence, and love of gimbap and Rubik’s cubes. Tae Su-mi’s response to her son’s confession of hacking and how it reflects both ambition and maternal instinct. The ethical and legal complexities of the Raon hacking case, including Woo Young-woo’s dilemma between social ...