Was just thinking if you already dropped your podcast to close off the end of HP season 2 :)
I think my disappointment in not being able to see Jeongwon's and Gyeoul's conversation about the move to US, overrides the disappointment in not getting their wedding. Like you guys discussed, it's not just the romantic bit but this also involves Gyeoul's career and professional development....Is she following him in the capacity of just a partner or continuing her fellowship in that year as well? Though again like you said, it depends on one's viewing lens... one viewer could be perfectly pleased with the fact that Jeongwon and Gyeoul are still going on strong but another (re: me) wondering if the 1 year in the US involves Gyeoul putting her career on hold in the name of love. I share the same thoughts that ShinLee held back on lots of bits in the hopes that season happens. Overall I am still satisfied with season 2. So many wonderful stories and to me, season 2 was filled with a stronger message of hope and encouragement complete with apt song choices.
Prison Playbook!! I believe I cried far more watching PB than the 2 HP seasons. Indeed brilliant and gave a human side to the people serving their time, and also the people who work in the prison system.
Thanks for taking the time to do this podcase - enjoyed it! After stepping back to review the entire season's narratives, I think WinterGarden did have the most well developed relationship arc, with quite a lot of screen time.... all the way till Ep10. Then they kind of dropped off the radar, and left those few key moments unresolved. The most significant gaps to me were not having a scene with Gyeoul's mum (which would have made the DV plotline more poignant and end on a very positive/healing note), and the proposal (which was talked about way too many times not to have a follow through! And they did tell us that it ends at Season 2...so I'm not holding out for a continuation). I really liked that in Ep12, they chose to give some (precious) screen time to show Gyeoul's progress as a surgeon, which probably fits with ShinLee wishing to show different aspects of their characters (not just as a love interest).
As you both shared, it must have been a painful and difficult decision about what to cull/change so as to wrap things up in the few final episodes, especially if they had plotlines planned for 3 seasons. The writers were probably grieving as much (or more) than us! Overall it's just been a great drama with amazing characters.
You summed up some of the negative sentiments I have heard and felt myself so well: It is the (lack of) following up that people are disappointed about. For me, all the scenes in the last episode were great, but I just hope there could have been more to wrap up the many hints that have been dropped all over the place in the last 11, or even 23 episodes. New developments were also rushed in without much explanation/backstory – even when some of them could have been added easily w/ a quick scene or a couple of sentences in the existing scenes. I do agree that they are potentially saving some cards for S3, as some of the scenes seemed to have been deliberately NOT included - I am still holding out the hope that there will be a S3, or at least a special episode like you mentioned.
But have said above, I still love the show, very much, and S2 even more than S1. They did cast a even wider net for the plots / messages to deliver this season (which could have been originally planned for S2+S3) and the “hit or miss syndrome" you noted naturally would happen. I might have wished for more scenes due to my own lens, but I agree that the care, attention to detail, and the efforts to make a good drama that positively impact the society were evidenced throughout both seasons. I am grateful how the show has provided relief and comfort to me in the past 1 & 1/2 years, and I doubt I will find myself so engaged w/ another drama any time soon, if ever (unless we do get S3😊).
Thank you again! Interacting with you and all the readers here was a critical part of my pleasant memory of HP and I will continue to look forward to your posts!
Thanks for this wonderful discourse with AbsoluteM on HP and also PP.
It has been weeks, which is good as my emotions are not heighten as when I first watched the closeout episode of S2. With all the attached longing for what could have been, I would have vomited countless words here. 🤣. Anyways, overall HP is still one of the great ones for me, as they really were able to capture the essence of the people that makes up a hospital. As what you've said, if I have to nitpick from this exceptional drama will be the romantic resolution of 2 out of the 4 couples. For Bidulgi and my personal fave, WinterGarden, it seems like we followed the character/couple through so much drama (LDR, DV, communication, proposals, rings, relationship baggage, etc) to only have their storyline arcs be partially resolved. Theirs felt like the writer was preparing to give more story development (all those hints and such) and then midway to season 2 realised that there will be no S3, hence can only partially touch on some arcs and left the other developed arcs open, which is of course frustrating. At least with IkSong and lesser extent GomGom, we have a linear arc (friends to lovers, Seokhyung's trauma) and writer did not introduce new surprises along the way, hence their resolution were more fulfilling.
And yes to PP!!!!! One thing that PP was able to do right amongst many was the closeout for each of the characters from Prison guards to most of the inmates. Maybe except for Yoo Daewi and Hanyang, which can be the backbone for a new season. Maybe they can do a meta reference to Jung Hae In's DP, similar character vein. I've checked and it seems PP was Shin PD and has co-writing credits to writer Lee but seems its main writer is the same writer as Racket Boys, writer Jung.
I chanced on this interview that Shin PD gave abt HP and the couples...
"In the case of Jeongwon and Gyeoul, the internal conflict between Jeongwon's heart and his desire to be a priest and Gyeoul's heattbreaking crush were feelings with a happy ending in Season 1. Season 2 focused on how much tougher the couple was becoming. I think I wanted to show a lot more about how good they are to each other and how warm and beautiful they are when they lean on each other through WinterGarden couple. Personally, I think the most meaningful scene is in episode 12 where Gyeoul pats Jeongwon's back."
Was just thinking if you already dropped your podcast to close off the end of HP season 2 :)
I think my disappointment in not being able to see Jeongwon's and Gyeoul's conversation about the move to US, overrides the disappointment in not getting their wedding. Like you guys discussed, it's not just the romantic bit but this also involves Gyeoul's career and professional development....Is she following him in the capacity of just a partner or continuing her fellowship in that year as well? Though again like you said, it depends on one's viewing lens... one viewer could be perfectly pleased with the fact that Jeongwon and Gyeoul are still going on strong but another (re: me) wondering if the 1 year in the US involves Gyeoul putting her career on hold in the name of love. I share the same thoughts that ShinLee held back on lots of bits in the hopes that season happens. Overall I am still satisfied with season 2. So many wonderful stories and to me, season 2 was filled with a stronger message of hope and encouragement complete with apt song choices.
Prison Playbook!! I believe I cried far more watching PB than the 2 HP seasons. Indeed brilliant and gave a human side to the people serving their time, and also the people who work in the prison system.
Thanks for taking the time to do this podcase - enjoyed it! After stepping back to review the entire season's narratives, I think WinterGarden did have the most well developed relationship arc, with quite a lot of screen time.... all the way till Ep10. Then they kind of dropped off the radar, and left those few key moments unresolved. The most significant gaps to me were not having a scene with Gyeoul's mum (which would have made the DV plotline more poignant and end on a very positive/healing note), and the proposal (which was talked about way too many times not to have a follow through! And they did tell us that it ends at Season 2...so I'm not holding out for a continuation). I really liked that in Ep12, they chose to give some (precious) screen time to show Gyeoul's progress as a surgeon, which probably fits with ShinLee wishing to show different aspects of their characters (not just as a love interest).
As you both shared, it must have been a painful and difficult decision about what to cull/change so as to wrap things up in the few final episodes, especially if they had plotlines planned for 3 seasons. The writers were probably grieving as much (or more) than us! Overall it's just been a great drama with amazing characters.
Thank you for the podcast!
You summed up some of the negative sentiments I have heard and felt myself so well: It is the (lack of) following up that people are disappointed about. For me, all the scenes in the last episode were great, but I just hope there could have been more to wrap up the many hints that have been dropped all over the place in the last 11, or even 23 episodes. New developments were also rushed in without much explanation/backstory – even when some of them could have been added easily w/ a quick scene or a couple of sentences in the existing scenes. I do agree that they are potentially saving some cards for S3, as some of the scenes seemed to have been deliberately NOT included - I am still holding out the hope that there will be a S3, or at least a special episode like you mentioned.
But have said above, I still love the show, very much, and S2 even more than S1. They did cast a even wider net for the plots / messages to deliver this season (which could have been originally planned for S2+S3) and the “hit or miss syndrome" you noted naturally would happen. I might have wished for more scenes due to my own lens, but I agree that the care, attention to detail, and the efforts to make a good drama that positively impact the society were evidenced throughout both seasons. I am grateful how the show has provided relief and comfort to me in the past 1 & 1/2 years, and I doubt I will find myself so engaged w/ another drama any time soon, if ever (unless we do get S3😊).
Thank you again! Interacting with you and all the readers here was a critical part of my pleasant memory of HP and I will continue to look forward to your posts!
Thanks for this wonderful discourse with AbsoluteM on HP and also PP.
It has been weeks, which is good as my emotions are not heighten as when I first watched the closeout episode of S2. With all the attached longing for what could have been, I would have vomited countless words here. 🤣. Anyways, overall HP is still one of the great ones for me, as they really were able to capture the essence of the people that makes up a hospital. As what you've said, if I have to nitpick from this exceptional drama will be the romantic resolution of 2 out of the 4 couples. For Bidulgi and my personal fave, WinterGarden, it seems like we followed the character/couple through so much drama (LDR, DV, communication, proposals, rings, relationship baggage, etc) to only have their storyline arcs be partially resolved. Theirs felt like the writer was preparing to give more story development (all those hints and such) and then midway to season 2 realised that there will be no S3, hence can only partially touch on some arcs and left the other developed arcs open, which is of course frustrating. At least with IkSong and lesser extent GomGom, we have a linear arc (friends to lovers, Seokhyung's trauma) and writer did not introduce new surprises along the way, hence their resolution were more fulfilling.
And yes to PP!!!!! One thing that PP was able to do right amongst many was the closeout for each of the characters from Prison guards to most of the inmates. Maybe except for Yoo Daewi and Hanyang, which can be the backbone for a new season. Maybe they can do a meta reference to Jung Hae In's DP, similar character vein. I've checked and it seems PP was Shin PD and has co-writing credits to writer Lee but seems its main writer is the same writer as Racket Boys, writer Jung.
I chanced on this interview that Shin PD gave abt HP and the couples...
"In the case of Jeongwon and Gyeoul, the internal conflict between Jeongwon's heart and his desire to be a priest and Gyeoul's heattbreaking crush were feelings with a happy ending in Season 1. Season 2 focused on how much tougher the couple was becoming. I think I wanted to show a lot more about how good they are to each other and how warm and beautiful they are when they lean on each other through WinterGarden couple. Personally, I think the most meaningful scene is in episode 12 where Gyeoul pats Jeongwon's back."