There are dramas that hit you in the first five minutes, with plot twists, action, and a leading man in a trench coat with trauma. And then there’s Resident Playbook, a slow drip of character-building, soft chaos, and medical jargon that somehow turned into the most comforting part of my week. Out of all the K-dramas out there, I can’t shake this one, and here’s why.
The Show That Snuck Up on Me: A Slow Burn (kinda), But Worth the Wait
Saturdays and Sundays? Blocked out. I’m at Yulje Medical Center, spiritually, emotionally, and a little too literally. At first, I wasn’t sold. Two episodes in, I was doing that K-drama side-eye. Hospital Playlist gave us rich friendships and depth; Resident Playbook felt like the awkward younger sibling. But by episode three, something shifted. The characters stopped feeling like strangers. The emotional tempo picked up. And suddenly, I wasn’t watching out of curiosity anymore, I was watching because I genuinely cared.
A Roster of Relatable Chaos: Meet My Emotional Support Residents
What Resident Playbook gets right is that it doesn’t give us perfect people. It gives us people we might actually know.
Oh Yi-Young
Our debt-ridden, emotionally-detached free spirit who came back to medicine because capitalism said “no choice.” She’s not here to impress anyone and that’s the charm.
Pyo Nam-Kyung
She’s in her “soft girl but exhausted” era. Her scrunchies are always on point, her ambition never wavers, and she somehow balances medicine with a desire for romance and skincare.
Um Jae-Il
Former K-pop idol turned resident. Happy, bubbly, the unofficial food-ordering team leader of the friend group. The kind of person who’d comfort a crying patient and ask if they’ve eaten.
Kim Sabi
And then, there’s Kim Sabi. My queen. By-the-book, emotionally unavailable, and the only person who can diagnose you and ruin your self-esteem in one breath. I was unsure about her at first until she drunkenly danced to the (Hi Boyz – When The Day Comes) track in karaoke and I lost my mind.
Together, they’re chaos and comfort. They fumble through friendships, hierarchy, grief, and burnout and we get to grow with them.
The Real Plot: Learning, Failing, and Figuring It Out
One thing I’ve come to love is how the show treats failure. Like that scene where Kim Sabi gets called out for bypassing her senior to consult with the head professor. She was right technically, but that wasn’t the point. Her lesson wasn’t medical. It was about humility, hierarchy, and the value of lived experience.
This happens again and again: the book-smart characters get humbled. The bubbly ones hit walls. The cool ones cry. And it all happens in the mundane, quiet moments, which is what makes it so good. It’s not trying to shock you. It’s showing you how people become who they are.
A Scene That Lives in My Head Rent-Free
There’s a moment I rewatched three times: the noraebang (Karaoke) scene. Our sunshine boy Jae-Il starts performing his old idol track “When the Day Comes.” He’s giving choreo. He’s in his zone. And then, Kim Sabi walks in somewhat tipsy and starts dancing. Full performance. Everyone’s jaws drop. Mine included.
That scene? Instant serotonin. Also confirmed my belief that the real plot of this show is watching emotionally repressed characters learn to have fun.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Judge a Drama by Its Pilot
If I stopped at episode two, I would’ve missed out on what has become my weekend ritual. Resident Playbook isn’t loud. It’s not trying to be the most dramatic or glamorous. But it slowly wraps around you with its quiet wisdom, understated humour, and lovable, layered characters.
It’s soft. It’s slow. It’s surprisingly smart. And honestly? I think it might be one of the most comforting dramas of the year.
- Name: Resident Playbook
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Episodes: 12
- Director: Lee Min-Soo
- Writer: Kim Song-Hee
- Release Date: April 12- May 18, 2025
- Runtime: Sat. & Sun. 21:20
Among other news, Elyanna is joining the F1 roster in Abu Dhabi. Find out all the details here.