Episodes 1-3

I just finished watching Hospital Playlist 1 and was really pleased to be able to watch the first three episodes of HP2 immediately. The story-telling for episodes 1-3 remain strong and I can't wait to see the rest of the series.

Lee Ik Jun (Jo Jung Suk) continues to be my favourite character. I like how the writer used the medical story in ep3, the transfer of a transplant patient from a smaller hospital to YULJE and the conversations between Ik Jun and his friends, and Ik Jun and the chief of that hospital, an ex-classmate who considered Ik Jun his main rival while at medical school, to show that Ik Jun doesn't have an ego.

Kim Jun Wan (Jung Kyung Ho) is my second favourite. He's too cool for school in the operating theatre but he's actually a nerd, totally clueless and naive about everything else. They squabbles between Jun Wan and Ik Jun and the eating scenes with Song Hwa (Jeon Mi Do) are affectionate and fun.

The one flaw in HP2 and a major one is the romance between Jang Gyeo Wool and Ahn Jung Won which continues to feel forced and unconvincing. Luckily we can skip these scenes on Netflix.

Episodes 4-6

Actress Shin Hyun Bin and her character Gyeo Wool continue to disappoint. Her solo scenes do not add to the story and the romance with Jun Won is cringe-making and diminishing Jon Won’s character. In terms of romance, I find Min Ha’s crush on Suk Hyung more realistic and, even though I didn’t really like Jun Wan and Ik Soon’s romance, I really felt Jun Wan’s heartbreak.

Ep4&5 are too long and cutting GW’s solo scenes would help. I hope the delay in broadcasting the final six episodes is because the programme makers are cutting some of GW's future scenes.

Episodes 7-9

I like the vignettes of Jun Won's mother, Rosa (Kim Hae Sook) and Mr Ju (Kim Gab Soo) and Rosa and Young Hye, Suk Hyung's mother (Jo Young Hye) that punctuate the series. Rosa and Mr Ju have been friends since they were five years-old and have an easy-going relationship whereas Rosa and Young Hye met through their sons and became reacquainted recently so their exchanges are different. We see how Rosa and Mr Ju's characters have evolved whereas Young Hye is still a snob. Young Hye's hostile exchange with a bewildered Cha Min Ha in ep7 gave viewers an indication of where the story for Suk Hyung is heading.

Ik Jun continues to be the glue of the group. His antennae is tuned to the people close to him and he continues to take care of them without any fuss or asking for anything in return. Ik Jun played cupid to Jung Won and GW, and Suk Hyung and Min Ha and it is clear to viewers that Ik Jun and Hwa belong together but who will be their cupid?

GW continues to take up too much screen time. Again, the episodes would be tighter if they edited out the scenes where GW looks wide-eyed and clueless - 15 minutes in ep7 and 8 minutes in ep8!!

Episodes 10-12

The medical stories and operations continue to be very strong. The storyline for Do Je Hak, Jun Wan's perennially optimistic Resident and his wife is heartbreaking. I loved how Jun Wan and his friends rallied around Je Hak and support him and his wife were able to make the best decision. I was sad to reach the end of the series - it was like saying good-bye to old friends - but happy that the five main characters, Rosa and Mr Ju, and Je Hak and his wife exactly where I want them to be with the exception of Jung Won who shouldn't be with Gyeo Wool. So while I would love to see a third season, I don't think there's enough material to support another twelve 1.5-2 hour episodes unless the writer and director skipped ahead a few years.

Overall, the choice of music throughout the series was perfect and the band practice scenes were fun and heart-warming, the songs supported each week's storyline and the performances were excellent. I will miss everyone and look forward to re-watching both HP1&2 at my leisure.