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elanor's avatar

My first post... I love your blog and the insightful discussions in this group! Just wanted to share that WG's arc is the best in an overall terrific drama. It mixes in important messages with the lovely couple fluff, which emerged clearly in Eps 10 and 11, that can really touch and change lives.

Of the thousands of people who watch HP, some will have similar traumatic backgrounds as Gyeoul/her mother. HP's message to them is that "you're special and worthy of love and a good life". Their gentle and hopeful way of portraying this arc, can also encourage victims to speak out and seek help. I think it's amazing that ShinLee created such a deep and meaningful storyline about a very difficult and often hidden issue, and the actors brought it to life and delivered! SHB's acting in Ep10 was spot on in portraying the emotional struggles and suppressed feelings of abuse survivors in an authentic way (pretty sobbing belongs to Kdrama fantasyland, not real life ... I hope the HP producers won't be influenced by some of the netizen "complaints" abt WG and cut their scenes or anything like that)... these scenes were so touching and well done!

Rosa and JW's responses to Gyeoul and her situation are also a reminder to viewers to be less judgmental and critical of people with difficult backgrounds. Instead, they model acceptance, love and support. Again, this can resonate with viewers who find themselves in a similar situation and give them a new perspective and understanding.

WG truly has an inspirational message, delivered so sensitively and respectfully (and it doesn't hurt to have the amazing chemistry of SHB/YYS on top of it). WG fully deserves a wedding filled with light, love and laughter ... so let's hope that we will be rewarded with that in Ep12! Thanks again to this discussion group for the really thought-provoking sharings.

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Nina's avatar

Your weekly Hospital Playlist reviews give me life, to be honest!!! I always enjoy reading them. 💕 Thank you so much for this!

“There are no twists or turns or nasty surprises. It’s only a matter of when.” Yes and Episode 11 is a huge testament to this. Despite everything being laid out by the showrunners, the show still maintains its element of unpredictability as it leaves us guessing which episode these things would come to fruition or how they will make these things happen.

Who would have thought that they’d make the GomGom and IkSong ships officially sail in a span of one episode? I thought that they used the remaining 20 minutes of Episode 12 for these things to happen but I guess not! 😅

Second, I saw some people accusing the showrunners of reusing the “leaving the country WG-ish trope” for the Gomgom loveline but here we are! It turns out to be a move made by Seokhyung for her overbearing mom to accept his choices.

I just want to say that I’m so happy for Minha. I love how this show highlighted her ability to deal with introverts: Gyeoul, the new resident, and her professor turned boyfriend Seokhyung. I’m quite of an introvert myself so I know how difficult it is to deal with our kind. 😅

“One thing I’ve noticed is how much Seok-hyeong laughs when he’s with Min-ha.” Yes! Love can really do wonders to people 😭

Contrary to the very obvious shift in dynamics among the GomGom and IkSong couples, I think this episode shows “subtle” progress in the relationships of both the Bidulgi and Wintergarden lovelines.

Aside from being the push for Songhwa to confess her feelings, Ikjun’s incident also serves as parallel of Iksun’s accident in Season 1. That episode signaled the start of the Bidulgi dynamics in Season 1 so I guess they’re using this episode to further restart their relationship by giving them more moments together and by providing Iksun another glimpse of how Junwan is inside the hospital. I just hope that the scene where she’s observing a very tired Junwan will make her realize that he needs someone to take care of him and she can be that someone.

As for Wintergarden, the conversation between Jeongwon and Rosa provided us updates on their dynamics. I just love the stability of their relationship! They’re so sure of each other’s love.

And seriously, give the best mother in law award to Rosa now! 😭 No wonder Jeongwon grew up to be the person that he is…his Mom is such a good person.

Jeongwon telling Rosa to give Gyeoul all the gifts she has in store for her says alot coming from someone who refuses to accept an inheritance from her own mother. Yes Rosa, he’s head over heels for her. 😉

I also love how they show Wintergarden’s work/professional dynamics through Kim Geon’s arc. I just love their teamwork. 😭

With all the hints of Wintergarden marriage, I don’t think I can accept a season ender without a marriage talk between the two, to be honest! 🤣 Can we at least get Gyeoul’s YES to the marriage proposal please? 🤣 Yes, I specified it. I don’t want an unanswered proposal. I don’t think I can wait a year for that! 🤣🤣🤣

With all the ships sailing, I have quite lowered my expectations for a Season 3, to be honest. I just think that they’ll end Season 2 with all the ships in a good place but leaving some opening for a Season 3 if they ever decide to push for it.

But I still pray for a Season 3 though. They focused more on personal issues of the lovelines this season so I hope that they’ll make Season 3 to tackle more social issues. There’s just so much potential for all the couples to tackle social issues such as:

1. the stigmatization of divorcees being in new relationships (IkSong and Gomgom)

2. Wintergarden juggling family and work life as parents. I really think the ER scene where a patient’s mother went hysterical was a hint to Wintergarden’s future. Dr. Bong told them that the patient’s mother was his classmate, a fellow pedia from another hospital. I think they wanted to show how motherhood can also affect career progression. Dr. Bong is a professor already but his classmate remains to be a fellow and I think this has got to do with motherhood - the need to take maternity leave if one ever decide to conceive. Gyeoul was there to witness that scene and I think they’re telling something…

3. the stigma of having step mom/step son for Uju and Songhwa

4. the power dynamics between Seokhyung and Minha. Unlike Wintergarden, Seokhyung is a direct supervisor to Minha so I want to see how they’d go around that…

We’re down to our last episode for this season (hopefully not for the show) next week!!! This is giving me mixed emotions, to be honest. 🤣😩😥 *sighs*

Once again, thank you for sharing your thoughts and this space with us.

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