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We bid farewell with our adorable and hard-working Yulje residents as they successfully wrap up their first year of residency and prepare for year two. Time flew by so fast and it’s wild to think about all the rewarding, amazing, and meaningful experiences the group went through as well as all the difficult and challenging struggles that they overcame. It wasn’t easy for sure but our 4 residents grew and learned so much over the one year. In the process, they developed both professionally and personally and formed special friendships, intimate connections with their patients, and even found love along the way.

The final two episodes wrapped things up with a special bow on top as we ramped things up in the romance department with not only Yi-young and Do-won but also Sa-bi and Jae-il as well as Nam-kyung and Gi-on. I think this is proof of the charm of “Resident Playbook” because it doesn’t do anything special and yet the romantic scenes themselves feel so special. Jae-il’s confession to Sa-bi in the falling snow was so adorable and sweet. There was no grand confession, no slow motion scenes, nothing big or adventurous. It was so simple and easygoing and straightforward and yet, it felt so seamless and adorable. My heart skipped a beat at how blunt and direct Jae-il was. He had no problem admitting that he liked Sa-bi while Sa-bi was a bit taken aback by the sudden confession and commented that she would need one full year to get to know Jae-il and whether or not she liked him. I might just not have been paying too much attention to these two so their love line came as a pleasant and adorable surprise to me.

One of my favorite aspects about the drama was the focus on Yi-young’s growth at work and the final two episodes were no exception to that. We watched as she tried new things she had never done before in the operating room and successfully accomplished them with the support of Doctor Seo. Similar to Sa-bi and Doctor Ryu, Doctor Seo was that mentor for Yi-young and encouraged her to do things that she was unfamiliar with. Yi-young was definitely pushed out of her comfort zone and pushed to try new things she had never done before but it gave her both confidence and experience. You’ll never learn unless you try and if Yi-young wanted to become a successful doctor, she was going to have to try new and unfamiliar procedures. Doctor Seo saw the brilliancy and determination in Yi-young to be able to do those things and Yi-young was a fast learner. She went from being scared in episode 7 to the point where Do-won fortunately came in to help with the surgery to taking the lead a few episodes later in episode 11 with Do-won also there to assist her with the surgery (he was there to witness her growth and success T_T how adorable and sweet!). There were many things that happened at the hospital throughout the entire drama but I have to admit that Yi-young had some of the most memorable, impactful, and strongest moments. I loved the way that she stayed true to herself the entire time; she didn’t change herself or compromise herself for anyone else. She was still the awkward and reserved Yi-young we saw at the beginning of the drama but she was also smart, flexible, and strong. She comforted her patients in her own ways and adapted those methods based on who it was she was interacting with and their unique situation (I’m going to remember the talk she had with the little girl who lost her mom at the end of episode 5 for a really long time. It was such a good good good scene in the drama and one of the stronger episodes in the entire show). Yi-young was so easy to root for, so relatable, so strong, and so funny. I just really liked her in my own little ways.

The drama did just as well in highlighting Sa-bi, Jae-il, and Nam-kyung in its own special ways. It felt as if each week the drama took turns in placing one of these characters in the spotlight. I still really enjoyed Nam-kyung’s story, from her time with her mom in the hospital to her time mentoring Gi-on. Even in episode 12, we saw her cry over the loss of a patient who she cared for throughout her time at the hospital. In a way, I wished this was something that the drama focused on a bit more. I wanted to see more of Nam-kyung’s grief and how she processed this difficult moment in her life. Our residents cared for their patients in their own ways and although they tried their best to stay strong and professional, there were times where they got sad or heartbroken over their patients. It’s such a sensitive and vulnerable topic and I wished it was something that the drama touched upon earlier in the show and devoted a lot more time to covering. I felt for Nam-kyung when she suddenly broke down into tears at the hospital shortly after losing her patient and then quickly had to snap out of it because there was another patient who was giving birth. Though Nam-kyung tragically lost one of her patients, she was there to help deliver a new life into the world. In regards to Sa-bi’s story, I found her connection with Doctor Ryu to be one of my favorite parts about the show. It cheered me up seeing the way they rooted for each other and supported each other. Sa-bi had someone to stand up for her and look out for her which was essential to her growth and development. She’s so hardworking and determined to do well and it was nice to see such a healthy and mutual sunbae-hoobae relationship in the work place for once. I’m glad that the drama gave us something much nicer and more positive with Sa-bi and Doctor Ryu’s bond.

Along with Yi-young, Jae-il was one of my other favorite characters. He was so funny with his former idol shenanigans and stories. But man, he was also so so easy to root for. He also had plenty of moments where he struggled and learned things the hard way. He had honest, brutal, and harsh conversations that woke him up and made him realize he needed to be better, to be more independent, and more confident in himself. And even when he struggled and was going through a hard time, he always kept going. He was always positive and upbeat. He always worked hard even if he wasn’t the brightest or most clever person in the room. He always cared for his patients. His cheerful and positive energy carried over to his patients and he just lit up the room. I’ll remember his tough conversation with Do-won in episode 5 for a long time. In the same vein, I’ll also remember his conversation with Do-won in episode 9 for a long time. Jae-il learned the hard way what he needed to do to grow in the workplace. He learned how others perceived him and although it was hurtful for him to hear those things, he ultimately grew from it. Similar to Yi-young, Jae-il was such an admirable person and someone who I really liked and supported.

In the final episode, we also got updates and progress on other sub-plots that the drama covered throughout its run. This included Yi-young’s debt that she still had to pay off because the lottery ticket she won had expired since she didn’t claim her money in time. LOL. I’m so glad the drama didn’t take the cheap route with the lottery ticket win because I would have been so mad and confused (like what was the whole point of watching Yi-young be a first-year resident this entire time if he was just going to randomly and magically win a lottery ticket at the last minute? Lol). Additionally, we got some updates on Joo-young’s infertility journey with her husband. I thought it was interesting how the drama concluded their storyline. Although it would have been all rainbows and sunshine to give them a happy ending, I appreciated that the drama was honest, real, and consistent with their story. Because the heartbreaking reality for some couples is similar to the way that Joo-young and Seung-won’s journey concluded. No matter how many attempts and how much you try, some things just don’t work out the way you want it to. My heart broke for Joo-young and Seung-won because this was something they really wanted but at the same time, you know they’re going to be okay some way somehow. It’s not going to be easy but they’ll be alright (and I also love the ongoing joke about their interpretation of Yi-young and Do-won’s relationship LOL. They kept thinking the two were just fighting or making up and that they weren’t in a romantic relationship, haha. I’m kind of glad that the final episode kept things lighthearted and didn’t do a whole segment on Joo-young and Seung-won finding out about Yi-young and Do-won’s romantic relationship. That can wait for another time hehe).

All in all, “Resident Playbook” was a fun, adventurous, frustrating, stressful, chaotic, and rewarding watch. Just like our characters experienced, there was rarely ever a moment of peace and calmness at the hospital. But through all the chaos and mayhem, our characters came out of every experience 1% better, stronger, and more confident. They successfully finished their first year and will now begin their second year journey as residents. And there’s comfort in knowing that the only thing that has changed is the number of years of experience under their belt. Our 4 residents themselves remain the same. Their love and care for themselves, one another, their colleagues, and their patients will always be there.