Can ‘Resident Playbook’ extend gentle drama momentum?
Go Youn-jung plays resident Oh I-young in the drama “Resident Playbook.” Courtesy of tvN
TvN’s new medical drama "Resident Playbook" premiered on April 12 after a yearlong delay and is drawing attention both at home and abroad.
As the first spin-off of the widely popular "Hospital Playlist," the series was originally set to air in early 2024. However, it was postponed amid prolonged conflicts between doctors and the government over plans to increase medical school admissions, a controversy that intensified public criticism of medical interns.
Despite the stumbling block, the show drew strong responses upon its debut. Netflix released the first two episodes at the same time, and they quickly topped TV show rankings in Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and other parts of Asia.
Following the megahit success of "When Life Gives You Tangerines" last month, industry watchers are wondering whether "Resident Playbook" could signal a continued appetite for “gentler” dramas.
Unlike most medical series focused on brilliant, infallible doctors, "Resident Playbook" centers on four first-year obstetrics and gynecology residents — each struggling with their own flaws and circumstances.
Kang You-seok plays resident Eom Jae-il in the drama “Resident Playbook.” Courtesy of tvN
Medical drama without genius doctor
Oh I-young (played by Go Youn-jung) returns to residency only to repay debts. Eom Jae-il (Kang You-seok), a former idol, is overly zealous and often causes trouble. Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji), a top scorer on the medical licensing exam, is book smart but lacks communication skills.
The story tracks their journey as they grow, learning what it means to be both professionals and teammates.
This focus on residents is a rare approach in a genre typically dominated by near-superhuman figures. In contrast, recent dramas like Netflix’s "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" portrayed protagonist Baek Kang-hyuk (Ju Ji-hoon) as a near-messianic figure who risks his life for patients.
Disney+’s "Hyper Knife" featured Jeong Se-ok (Park Eun-bin), a doctor with antisocial personality disorder who nonetheless performs miraculous surgeries.
Kim Heon-sik, a cultural sociology professor at Jungwon University, said that characters like Baek Kang-hyuk in "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" and Kim Sa-bu in "Dr. Romantic" (2016) often distort the reality of medical practice by portraying doctors as geniuses.
“'Resident Playbook' stands apart, because it shows how doctors grow and emphasizes that it’s not the brilliance of one but the collaboration of many that saves lives,” Kim said.
Director Shin Won-ho, the creator of "Resident Playbook," said the series is fundamentally a story about growth. “I think growth narratives have become rare in both everyday life and dramas. There’s something moving about watching someone mature, like a baby learning to lift their head or roll over," he said at a recent event.
The four main residents in the drama “Resident Playbook.” Courtesy of tvN
Will soft-toned dramas keep winning over viewers
However, not all responses have been glowing. Some critics say the drama, much like its predecessor "Hospital Playlist," paints an overly idealized picture of the medical profession.
Yoon Seok-jin, a professor of Korean language and literature at Chungnam National University, pointed out that the show’s delay last year was precisely because of its romanticized depiction of doctors and hospitals during a time of national discord. “Portraying only one side can be regressive,” he said.
The success of "Resident Playbook" may also mark a shift away from the dominance of dark, provocative storytelling in Korean content.
Since the global success of "Squid Game" in 2021, Korean dramas have leaned into revenge plots, zombie thrillers and violent school settings.
In contrast, last month’s "When Life Gives You Tangerines," a multi-generational family drama set on Jeju Island, captivated viewers without relying on sensationalism.
“With so much noise in real life, people may be turning to dramas that avoid intense conflict. If 'Resident Playbook' follows 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' in gaining popularity, it could signal a turning point in content trends," Yoon said.
The poster for "Resident Playbook" / Courtesy of tvN
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.