Getting the Band Back Together

I started watching the first season of the medical romance k-drama Hospital Playlist but stopped when it triggered some bad memories of my own experiences; although I like romance it's hard for me to watch any medical-centered drama for those reasons. I did like the cast and the story, however, so I eventually I got over myself, went back and watched both seasons on Netflix.

The series follows and the professional and personal lives of five very young-looking physicians in their forties; four men and one woman, all of whom work at the same hospital. They're all brilliant doctors, of course, but they also have fairly significant issues in their personal lives (one is divorced with a child, one is divorced with a domineering snooty mother, two are romantic disasters for different reasons and one is actually thinking about becoming a priest.) The thing that makes this series different is that the doctors have been friends since college, and have the kind of group relationship that is not especially realistic (if only we could all have friends like this) but completely endearing. At the end of every episode they get together and play as a band, and they're really very good.

I'm not sorry I watched both seasons, and I won't gripe too much about the outsiders-looking-in views that do tend to highly romanticize the medical profession while shaping shows like these. There is a charming idealism that I liked despite the inaccurate portrayals. Doctors who work for days without a break do exist, but they are not selfless. In my experience with military doctors I had to work with some very difficult people who were not like these folks. The drama's characters are therefore very unlikely, and let's leave it at that.

The other issue I have is how long and drawn out the romantic relationships are for the most part; one is actually painful to watch unfold. I know Asian dramas are old-fashioned compared to Western standards but oy. Curiously the wannabe priest has the most normal relationship of the five doctors. I had the feeling a lot would be left unresolved in this department because a third season was planned but never happened. I do hope the folks behind Hospital Playlist will finish it someday. Available on Netflix.

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