For the first time (if memory serves) we get a look inside the shared domicile of Jun-wan and Jeong-won. The significance of that of course lies in the fact that they also share a space at Yulje Medical Centre which wasn’t featured in the first episode. Their respective bedrooms appear to be an exercise in minimalism. Furniture is sparing suggesting that they spend very little time there compared to work. It’s a place to sleep, clean-up and get away from work for a few short hours. Work seems to be the real home. The irony of course is that now the two men are in dating relationships. Secret dating relationships to be precise. Except that the gang knows that Jun-wan is in a relationship but doesn’t know who the lucky girl is. Ik-jun might though. As I’ve often said in the past the trajectory of both men run parallel lines — parallel but not identical. In some fashion both needed women in their lives for one reason or another. For Jun-wan being in a relationship tampers his temperament and for Jeong-won, having a girlfriend in the hospital gives him some kind of reason to go to work with all its thorns. He was in effect lonely and now hopefully has found the companionship with a woman — a possibility he’d been missing for all of his adult life not for lack of admirers either.
I agree with you that Song-hwa values compartmentalizing her relationships. That said I do disagree that Song-hwa and Ik-jun have it altogether in every way. In fact, the show indicates clues that they need each other and understand each other.
The first clue was during Song-hwa's health scare when she was getting the results of her biopsy. She pretended that she didn't want or need company, yet we saw how scared she was in her car and how happy she was to see Ik-jun. I do think her flaw is being afraid to be vulnerable and asking others for help. We constantly see her mentoring or supporting others, but she does not ask others to do the same for her.
Ik-jun also needs Song-hwa. When U-ju was sick and Ik-jun needed to go into the hospital, he called Song-hwa. She helped him take care of U-ju and decrease his fever. She also points out to him that he doesn't do things for himself. In many ways, Ik-jun is a social butterfly, but I also sense a deep need for companionship that goes beyond friendship. That's why he values the coffees and meals that he has with Song-hwa, and we see the difference between their one-on-one meals and meals with their friends.
This is so intricately beautiful, hard to grasp depending on the reader's depth yet its warmth definitely an universal experience. I'm not so good with details so I might ask for the 'connection tree' drawn by that special someone 🧡 Thank you for the enlightenment 💫
As I mentioned in my previous comments, I ship Ik-Jun and Song-Hwa but this will be a long road ahead. I want to know more about Song-Hwa and why is she the person she is now. She remains an enigma to me.
To add to your insight that Song-Hwa appears to be compartmentalizing her life, it is also worth noting that Song-Hwa is very comfortable in an environment surrounded by men. She is, after all, the only girl in her family and has three brothers.
That kind of environment is a safe and comfortable space for her so as you mentioned, this is a status quo she is not willing to rock at any moment.
This is my first time reading your reviews but boy, I am in awe of how spot on every sentence is. The best one of your analyses, for me, is that Ik-song don't need the development in character brought about by having each other as much as others did/do. And as someone who had both been friendzoned and ruined friendships because of breakup with a former bestfriend, I am not really for the idea. The fact that the mirror effect was used when Song-hwa gave Ik-jun her answer, confirms that she would rather sacrifice her own feelings to not touch the possibility of ruining their friendship. For me it was enough to know that she also liked Ik-jun. Thank you for this review!
The beauty of Hospital Playlist's writing is that it lets the quiet moments in the stories speak to its viewers. And every viewer relates to the stories based on our own experiences. As a 40 something, i totally understand Song Hwa's hesitance and why she rejected Ik Jun. There is so much at stake for her, why rock the boat at this age? It's not just her friendships with Ik Jun, big the whole gang. Too precious to risk it.
I think part of this season's story would be about Song Hwa working through all these fears and issues, and both of them coming to meet in the middle. But I believe, at the end of the season, Iksong will happen.
I agree with you that Song-hwa values compartmentalizing her relationships. That said I do disagree that Song-hwa and Ik-jun have it altogether in every way. In fact, the show indicates clues that they need each other and understand each other.
The first clue was during Song-hwa's health scare when she was getting the results of her biopsy. She pretended that she didn't want or need company, yet we saw how scared she was in her car and how happy she was to see Ik-jun. I do think her flaw is being afraid to be vulnerable and asking others for help. We constantly see her mentoring or supporting others, but she does not ask others to do the same for her.
Ik-jun also needs Song-hwa. When U-ju was sick and Ik-jun needed to go into the hospital, he called Song-hwa. She helped him take care of U-ju and decrease his fever. She also points out to him that he doesn't do things for himself. In many ways, Ik-jun is a social butterfly, but I also sense a deep need for companionship that goes beyond friendship. That's why he values the coffees and meals that he has with Song-hwa, and we see the difference between their one-on-one meals and meals with their friends.
This is so intricately beautiful, hard to grasp depending on the reader's depth yet its warmth definitely an universal experience. I'm not so good with details so I might ask for the 'connection tree' drawn by that special someone 🧡 Thank you for the enlightenment 💫
As I mentioned in my previous comments, I ship Ik-Jun and Song-Hwa but this will be a long road ahead. I want to know more about Song-Hwa and why is she the person she is now. She remains an enigma to me.
To add to your insight that Song-Hwa appears to be compartmentalizing her life, it is also worth noting that Song-Hwa is very comfortable in an environment surrounded by men. She is, after all, the only girl in her family and has three brothers.
That kind of environment is a safe and comfortable space for her so as you mentioned, this is a status quo she is not willing to rock at any moment.
This is my first time reading your reviews but boy, I am in awe of how spot on every sentence is. The best one of your analyses, for me, is that Ik-song don't need the development in character brought about by having each other as much as others did/do. And as someone who had both been friendzoned and ruined friendships because of breakup with a former bestfriend, I am not really for the idea. The fact that the mirror effect was used when Song-hwa gave Ik-jun her answer, confirms that she would rather sacrifice her own feelings to not touch the possibility of ruining their friendship. For me it was enough to know that she also liked Ik-jun. Thank you for this review!
The beauty of Hospital Playlist's writing is that it lets the quiet moments in the stories speak to its viewers. And every viewer relates to the stories based on our own experiences. As a 40 something, i totally understand Song Hwa's hesitance and why she rejected Ik Jun. There is so much at stake for her, why rock the boat at this age? It's not just her friendships with Ik Jun, big the whole gang. Too precious to risk it.
I think part of this season's story would be about Song Hwa working through all these fears and issues, and both of them coming to meet in the middle. But I believe, at the end of the season, Iksong will happen.