The K-drama “Resident Playbook”delves into the lives of four first-year residents navigating the complexities and challenges of their medical careers. Each character faces everyday mishaps and obstacles as they strive to become skilled surgeons.
Episode 1: Oh Yi-young’s Unconventional Awakening
In the debut episode, Oh Yi-young (played by Go Youn-jung) experiences a bizarre dream that transports her to an emergency room, where she finds herself entirely unprepared for surgery. The head surgeon’s cutting remarks about her prior resignation serve as a wake-up call. The dream takes a surreal turn when she shifts to a massage parlor, only to discover her financial troubles due to her father’s business collapse.
The narrative quickly shifts back to a disconcerting vision—Oh Yi-young bound to an operating table while a surgeon menacingly brandishes a saw, hinting at her dire money situation. Awakening with a jolt, she races to the bank, only to realize her credit card is maxed out and she’s amassed a staggering 50 million won debt, complicating her already precarious situation without a job certificate.
Having quit her residency previously, Yi-young is reluctantly compelled to return to Jongno Yulje Medical Center and embark on her residency anew.
Exploring the Dynamics: Episodes 1 and 2 Recap
As she re-enters the hectic world of medicine, Oh Yi-young encounters Ku Do-won (Jung Joon-won), a fourth-year resident who greets her, only to find her deflecting recognition. She soon meets her fellow first-year residents: Pyo Nam-kyung (Shin Si-a), Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji), and Um Jae-il (Kang You-seok).
In stark contrast to Yi-young’s struggles, Kim Sa-bi shines academically, while Um Jae-il, a former idol, juggles the deluge of new responsibilities. Interestingly, Pyo Nam-kyung is a high school acquaintance of Yi-young, although the latter has no recollection of their shared past.
Throughout her interactions, Yi-young assists Professor Seo Jung-min (Lee Bong-ryun), often being sidelined to the role of an observer. Meanwhile, Um Jae-il consistently misdiagnoses patients despite seeking advice from a third-year senior, Lee Da-hye.
In a pivotal moment, Yi-young finds herself in an operating room where she struggles to dispose of a suture correctly and is ultimately reprimanded for her inexperience. During this episode, Kim Sa-bi demonstrates a lack of empathy, shocking a cancer patient when she pressures them to sign a consent form.
After a series of blunders, Yi-young unexpectedly delivers a baby in the hallway—a feat marred by her previous mistakes. Despite Professor Seo’s criticism, there’s a glimmer of relief in her acknowledgment of Yi-young’s realization of her errors. The connection between Yi-young and Do-won becomes clearer as it is revealed that they are connected family-wise, making the drama richer in interpersonal dynamics.
Meanwhile, Do-won provides valuable insight to a cancer patient, contrasting sharply with Kim Sa-bi’s earlier failings in patient communication.
Continued Struggles and Moments of Growth
In episode two, tensions rise when Um Jae-il transfers a patient to Pyo Nam-kyung after repeated mistakes. Kim Sa-bi faces repercussions for failing to apologize to a distressed patient during a dressing change.
Oh Yi-young’s late arrival for emergency surgery raises doubts among her peers, complicating her already fragile reputation. In another dramatic thread, Pyo Nam-kyung’s frustration boils over as she vents about her workload to the very patient she should be caring for, only to be overheard.
Teetering on the edge of quitting again, Yi-young hears a ‘code blue’ and rushes back, earning a nod from Professor Seo for her dedication, while Min Eun-won, who is on-call, faces her own reprimand after lying about her tardiness.
As events unfold, Pyo Nam-kyung copes with her emotions when she mistakenly believes a patient has died, only to find the patient alive in the hallway. Their heartfelt exchange brings a moment of tender connection, illustrating the emotional weight of their roles.
Meanwhile, Yi-young receives support from Chu Min-ah, who shares her own experiences from the first year, while Seo Jung-min encourages Kim Sa-bi to adjust her approach, highlighting the importance of empathy in medicine.
Conflict arises in the OR when an anesthesiologist criticizes Yi-young, but Do-won defends her, changing her perception of him for the better. On another front, Um Jae-il grapples with feelings of inadequacy and is eventually reminded of his importance after Pyo reaches out for help.
As the episode concludes, Do-won and his fellow seniors reflect on the challenges faced by the first-year residents, embodying the struggles, camaraderie, and growth inherent in their journeys.
For fans intrigued by this engaging portrayal of medical residency, “Resident Playbook,”featuring Go Youn-jung, continues to air new episodes every Saturday and Sunday on tvN and Netflix.