“Hospital Playlist” Season 2 Episode 5 Recap | One Year Later…

As “Hospital Playlist 2” approaches the middle of the season, the drama’s characters reach emotional turning points, making for an episode that’ll have you excited for a future that’s closer than you think.

Korean Title: 슬기로운 의사생활 시즌2

Genre: Friendship, Comedy, Life, Drama, Medical

Channel: tvN, Netflix

Number of Episodes: 12

Episode Length: 90 minutes

Episode Number: 5

Content Warning: This episode contains depictions of domestic violence that some readers may find upsetting.

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Once again, we pick up where we last left off. Ikjun wraps up his phone call with the sickly Iksun, who begs him not to tell Junwan about her condition. Junwan approaches him obliviously, returning his friend’s stare with confusion. That night, Ikjun sits at his dining room table pensively, and casts his mind back to his conversation with Iksun. She confessed the truth to him, telling him not to ask her about their breakup, simply explaining that they split for the most cliched reason imaginable. Hmm. Meanwhile, Junwan is up late drinking again, scaring Jeongwon when he walks into the kitchen for some water. Jeongwon quietly pats his friend’s shoulder before going to bed, and Junwan makes a call, presumably to Iksun, but she doesn’t pick up.

We return to Yulje in the morning, where Ikjun is starting off his day. Gyeoul updates him on the condition of a patient named Choi Eunsuk, who’s suffering from hepatic encephalopathy, encompassing jaundice and a high temperature. The doctors head in to check on the patient, whose husband informs them that she’s not doing too well. He massages her shoulder with his hand, and she winces, earning a look from Ikjun. He informs the husband that they’ll likely need to perform a biliary drainage, and promises to come back tomorrow.

At the second floor cafe, Rosa and Younghye are discussing how much Seokhyeong has changed recently, observing that he’s become more generous and cheerful. Younghye expresses her relief that everything has worked out for the better for her family, but admits that she wants Seokhyeong to remarry. Rosa tells Younghye to worry about her own life, and reminds her of how much Seokhyeong’s past marriage suffered as a result of her meddling. Younghye defends herself by claiming Shinhye’s family financially deceived her and that Shinhye stole back the only dowry gift the Yangs received, a diamond ring. Rosa accuses her of being delusional, but Younghye continues to insist that Shinhye is a snake. Speak of the devil and she doth appear, because Shinhye appears in line at the cafe. She glances at the mothers briefly, then walks away. Younghye notices that she’s wearing a diamond around her neck, and says she believes it to be the very same diamond from the stolen ring. Rosa tells her to stop being petty, but when we flash to the room where Shinhye’s sipping her coffee, the camera lingers on her necklace.

Over at obstetrics, Minha asks Seokhyeong if a patient named Kang Yuna’s husband is permitted to bring a camera to record his baby’s birth. Seokhyeong worries the husband might get punched (lol), but Minha laughs and clarifies that he just wants to record the birth itself. Seokhyeong tells her that he’s okay with it, and Minha hesitantly tells him that she has another question. She wants to ask this question over coffee, but Seokhyeong tells her to just ask it then and there. However, Seungjoo’s curiosity about the question prompts him to change his mind.

Uh-oh. Professor Cheon is in surgery, and he’s having the time of his life yelling at the new chief resident for not giving him a clear enough view. Newly minted fellow Jaehak scolds him in Professor Cheon’s place, explaining to the grouchy doctor that he wasn’t able to get any sleep the night before. Boomer Cheon scoffs at this, hitting them with that “나 때는 말이야” and insisting that he was able to stay alert when he was young, even after working 180 hours a week. Baffled, Jaehak contemplates how the professor managed this when there are only 168 hours in a week, shutting up when he receives a sharp look.

Jeongwon also wraps up a surgery, thanking the scrub nurses profusely before heading out. One nurse asks another if she’s ever seen Jeongwon angry before, and she responds that he occasionally scolds residents and interns. Politely, using jondaemal, of course. 

In the hall, Minha and Seokhyeong are on their way to buy that coffee. Minha asks Seokhyeong what kind of movies he likes, and he asks if that’s her question, which it isn’t. Gyeoul spots the pair from a distance and gives Minha a wave, but Minha gives her a desperate look, and she hides. Seokhyeong reminds Minha that she’s only supposed to ask him one question a day, but she protests that work-related questions don’t count. Seokhyeong counters that she’s only supposed to ask work questions, which the resident can’t seem to agree to. The pair pass Gyeoul, who’s very subtly hiding behind a plant, and Seokhyeong tells Minha to save her personal question for tomorrow. As she encourages him to order a jumbo-sized coffee, they run into Shinhye, who came to the hospital for her father’s final appointment. Minha greets Shinhye politely, and she’s introduced by Seokhyeong as “our resident,” much to her excitement. As they say their goodbyes, Seokhyeong and Shinhye share affectionate yet sad smiles. The camera pulls out as the ex-couple go their separate ways, giving a sense of closure.

As Songhwa finishes up an operation, Gyeoul enters an elevator, excited to see Jeongwon standing inside. He takes her heavy bag stuffed with food, and asks if it’s all for one meal, to which she replies it’ll probably last her two meals. Well, in that case… The elevator doors open where Junwan is waiting, and he awkwardly glances at the couple before telling them that he’ll take the next one. Jeongwon insists that he get in, and Junwan stands as close to the doors as possible.

Ikjun is playing a game in Songhwa’s office, and she arrives and asks where the others are. Ikjun shifts the conversation to Songhwa’s busy Yulje schedule, and asks her what the point of moving to Sokcho was in the first place. That’s what I want to know!! Songhwa promises that she really is going to take a break soon enough, admitting that she needs to recharge. Ikjun sticks a literal charger in her ear, because of course he does, and the rest of their friends arrive one by one. 

The boys sit down, ready to hear Songhwa’s news, and Seokhyeong jokingly asks if she’s getting married. Songhwa tells them that it’s something equally as serious – she’s ordered a bunch of cheap snow crabs from Sokcho (according to google, the city is known for its crabs). An excited Ikjun and Junwan parody this scene from “Autumn in my Heart” for no reason, and Songhwa suggests that they eat the crabs before their next band practice. The guys ask Songhwa how many crabs she bought, and she confesses to buying ten, whoops. Songhwa tells the guys it’s fine – Ikjun can give one to Woojoo, Seokhyeong can give one to his mother, Jeongwon can give one to Gyeoul, and Junwan can give it to… uhh. Junwan cuts his stammering food buddy off, assuring her that he’s got it covered. Songhwa instructs everyone to fast before the dinner, though water is allowed.

Jongsu and Rosa are having lunch, and Dongil comes over to help out with the gardening. Jongsu asks Rosa if Dongil is actually her son, Rosa insists that he just looks older than he is, and just like that, the show neatly sidesteps the ridiculousness of Sung Dongil playing Kim Haesook’s kid.

Over at Seokhyeong’s house, the gang are digging into their snow crabs, and declare band practice to be officially cancelled. They also discuss the need to preserve Ikjun’s vocals, as his throat has been hurting these days. Jeongwon suggests that he just talk less, as if that’s possible. Songhwa seizes the chance to jump in, and starts to suggest that she takes over vocals, but the boys interrupt her proposal with a hearty toast. When they finally calm down, Songhwa targets Jeongwon, assuring him that she’s been practicing on the beach in Sokcho. He looks at her sympathetically for a moment, but Seokhyeong slaps him across the head and snaps him back to reality.

The issue quickly becomes a polarising one, so the guys call a drunken emergency meeting to discuss it, while Songhwa waits anxiously. After a bit of random crab crawling from Ikjun, the guys inform Songhwa of the verdict – she’s allowed to sing, but only on her birthday. Starting next year, that is. “It’ll be a biennial event,” declares Junwan. Songhwa wants to know how she’s supposed to wait until next April, but Seokhyeong promises that the year will fly by. (Note that the show is currently set in March of 2020.) Songhwa reluctantly agrees, but only on the condition that they all go to karaoke. Right now.

At karaoke, Ikjun sings Weather Forecast’s “I Like You” (this might seem like a weird choice considering last week’s cover, but the titles are different in Korean), and Songhwa jumps into the song with vocals that suggest her practice hasn’t exactly paid off. I’m honestly not sure I can do drunk Seokhyeong’s singing justice in writing, but it’s truly glorious. Junwan is the only one not having the time of his life, and he seems especially peeved when Jeongwon starts using him as a drum.

The next morning, as discussed, Jeongwon gives his share of the snow crabs (he’s allergic) to Gyeoul. As she devours them, she shares that Minha is also from Sokcho, though the friends are both too busy to visit her parents’ bed and breakfast. Jeongwon suggests that they both go together after Gyeoul’s board exam next year (once again, note that the 2020 board exams have just passed in the show), and Gyeoul points out that day might not come – after all, a lot can happen in a year. Girl, you have no idea. Jeongwon tells her that it’ll come in no time, and asks her to promise to tell him if there’s ever anything going on in her life. Gyeoul agrees, but asks him to be affectionate at least once a day in exchange. He responds by kissing her cheek, which evolves into deeper kissing in spite of Gyeoul’s concerns about her boyfriend’s allergies.

Jongsu, Rosa, and Dongil are gardening again, and nothing particularly riveting is happening. Jongsu tells Rosa once more that he envies her kids, but she just gestures towards her son goofing around with a garden and hose and asks if he’s still jealous.

Gyeoul updates Ikjun on Choi Eunsuk’s improved condition, and she’s surprised by the professor’s particular interest in the patient’s husband. Nurse Soobin shares that he also requested Ikjun exaggerate his wife’s condition on her medical certificate, further concerning him.

After setting up an installment savings account, Minha runs into Songhwa and Seonbin. She happily shares that she finally paid off her student loan in full, prompting congratulations from the other doctors. However, Minha’s excitement is quickly cut short, because she soon receives a call requesting that she check on Kang Yuna. After she dashes away, Seonbin asks how Songhwa knows Minha, and Songhwa replies that it’s because she’s a member of the “We Love Tteokbokki” club. I guess it has a name now. Songhwa informs Seonbin that she won’t be coming to Yulje for a while, disappointing her pupil, who adopts a pouty demeanour.

While checking up on Choi Eunsuk, Ikjun suggests that she get a liver ultrasound to a flustered Soobin, who seems sceptical of the test’s necessity, but receptive to the desperate glance the professor throws at her. Eunsuk’s husband asks if he can come along, but Ikjun smoothly shuts him down. (“It’s her ultrasound, why would you come in?”) Ikjun jokingly asks the husband if he doesn’t trust him, and he awkwardly laughs back that he does.

While Kang Yuna is giving birth, Gyeoul heads off to handle an organ procurement. Junwan sits in his office, reading an article about a young boy who recently died and donated his organs. Although it’s illegal for specific donor information to be made public, given how infrequent pediatric organ transplants are, the boy is obviously Eunji’s donor. Jeongwon comes in, and the pair discuss the fact that he can’t drink tonight because he’s on duty. Jeongwon promises that he can still eat dinner with Junwan, prompting his surprised friend to ask if he doesn’t want to eat with Gyeoul. Jeongwon brushes him off by saying that it’s “fine,” leading Junwan to deduce that Gyeoul’s out for the procurement.

Kang Yuna’s baby is just about to come out, and Minha worries about the absence of the patient’s husband, who wanted to record the birth. When he finally arrives with his camera, Minha happily encourages him to film the newborn, but he instead rushes over to his wife’s side, showering her with praise and affection. Minha and Seokhyeong gaze at the emotional couple warmly, and Seokhyeong seems to tear up.

In his office, Seokhyeong knocks over a pile of books before reclining in his chair. Songhwa enters and taps him on the shoulder, and delivers some dinner from Jeongwon. She observes that Seokhyeong’s playing Mozart, and he seems impressed before she points out that she can see the name of the artist on his phone.

Over coffee and dinner, Seokhyeong shares with Songhwa that observing Yuna and her husband’s sweetness made him feel that marriage isn’t always a bad thing for the first time since his divorce. When Seokhyeong admits that it made him feel jealous, Songhwa encourages him to get married. He replies that a guy of his family background shouldn’t get married, adding that he doesn’t want to ruin anyone’s life. Songhwa sympathises that his mother must’ve made things difficult for Shinhye, but asks Seokhyeong exactly what he did to try to make things easier for her.

Seokhyeong shares that Younghye pestered Shinhye about her dowry thirty times a day before they even got married, and that he once saw his wife take six sleeping pills before bed. Concerned, Seokhyeong suggested that Shinhye go study abroad (his first effort, notes Songhwa). However, his mother hassled Shinhye’s parents, angered that Seokhyeong wanted to pay for their daughter’s education. After that, the quiet Shinhye became even more withdrawn, hardly saying a word throughout the process of their divorce. Given how depressed she was, Seokhyeong told her to spend time with her parents (his second effort). However, it didn’t work out, because Shinhye was too afraid of her mother-in-law. Finally, Seokhyeong complied with Shinhye’s surprising request to visit his mother, in spite of his worries. During the visit, Seokhyeong saw her taking a diamond ring (the diamond ring) from his mother’s dressing table, and locked eyes with her. Though he extensively mulled over why she did it, he couldn’t bring himself to ask, and concluded it would be best to pretend not to know (his third effort).

Amused by Songhwa’s habitual listing, Seokhyeong laughs gently and asks if she agrees that he made an effort. Seriously, Songhwa shakes her head, and tells Seokhyeong that he didn’t put in any effort, but rather tried to avoid the problems he was facing. Songhwa tells Seokhyeong that rather than just worry about Shinhye, he should’ve made an attempt to probe her problems, or suggested therapy. Seokhyeong asks Songhwa how it is that there’s nothing she doesn’t know, and admits that he’s fully aware of the fact that he was at fault. He proclaims himself a coward, and laments his tendency to run away when he’s faced with hardship.

Optimistic, Songhwa tells him that knowing the problem is half the solution. In an attempt to deliver the other half, Songhwa tells Seokhyeong to “say more useless things,” because they might not seem so useless to the person on the receiving end. She advises him not to be like that with everyone though, just those he feels most comfortable with. As Seokhyeong nods, he picks up a phone call from Minha about a present the department is buying for a nurse. Seokhyeong asks Minha several “useless” questions about the gift, and Songhwa watches him carefully.

Due to unexpected complications, Gyeoul won’t be able to complete the liver procurement before 11pm and will miss her train, but a nurse on the phone tells her that she’ll try and arrange an ambulance ride back to Seoul for her. Over a smoke break, Jeongwon asks Ikjun why he’s still at work when he’s not on duty, and Ikjun sighs deeply.

After loading the liver onto the ambulance (wait, so she was going to take an organ transport box on a train?), Gyeoul gets into the passenger seat, making an effort to keep the especially sleepy driver awake. Later, as she prepares to scrub into surgery, she receives a concerning call from her mother, and asks if she fought with her father. However, Gyeoul’s mother reassures her that she’s doing fine.

The next morning, a guardian requests to Gyeoul and Soobin that they be moved to a different room. Her reason? She suspects that Choi Eunsuk’s husband is physically abusing her, and it’s too noisy. Clearly worked up, Gyeoul rushes over to Eunsuk’s bed, where her husband appears to be gently looking after her, and she walks off, looking perturbed.

In the evening, Junwan is hurriedly downing some cup ramyeon in his office when Ikjun comes in and asks about his schedule. When Junwan says he’s fully booked for the week, Ikjun mutters that it’s a relief. Junwan seems to find his friend’s questions strange, but brushes off his confusion when he receives a call from Jaehak, who tells him that Eunji’s mother wants to consult him about something.

Later, Gyeoul is still at work organising some charts when she notices Choi Eunsuk’s husband coming in drunk. Gyeoul and Soobin exchange worried glances, and she follows him into the room.

In the PICU, Eunji’s mother delivers some illicit thank you cookies to a nurse. She thanks the nurses profusely for taking such good care of her daughter, and shares that there’s someone she’s even more grateful for. In the hallway, she talks to Junwan, and asks him to deliver a letter and a certificate of annual donations under the donor’s name to his family. Junwan tries to feign ignorance about the donor for legal reasons, but Eunji’s mother shares that she also read the article about the young boy and connected the dots. She tearfully requests that Junwan passes them on, along with her utmost gratitude. Junwan stares at her for a long time, and the expression on his face suggests that he intends to do as she asks.

As Jeongwon exits an elevator, Soobin frantically emerges and asks two security guards (who have notably been stationed on the floor throughout the episode) to follow her. They run after her, and we find Gyeoul standing outside Choi Eunsuk’s room. The guardian who reported the situation earlier opens the door and complains to Gyeoul that “he’s started again,” prompting the doctor to head inside. Gyeoul throws the curtains around Eunsuk’s bed open, and sure enough, her husband is beating her. Gyeoul shouts at him in anger, and is thrown to the floor when she grabs his arm. Jeongwon runs into the room, and helps Gyeoul off the ground, guiding her out the door.

In the ER, Gyeoul is reprimanded by a concerned Kwanghyun, but she tells Jeongwon that she can’t promise she won’t do it again – after all, a man was hitting his wife. Jeongwon tells her that she should’ve let the security guards handle it, and reveals that Ikjun had specifically asked them to keep an eye on the husband.

We revisit Ikjun and Jeongwon’s conversation from earlier in the week, where Ikjun shared his concerns with Jeongwon, from a bruise on Eunsuk’s forehead to her tendency to flinch whenever her husband’s hands went near her. We’re also shown Eunsuk’s “liver ultrasound,” appointment, where Ikjun and Soobin discreetly offered her help, only to be hesitantly told that they had misread the situation. Eunsuk apologised to the professor, but he reassured her that as the victim, there was no need for her to be sorry, leading her to cry and tearfully ask for some time.

Concerned, Gyeoul asks Jeongwon what they’ll do if the husband attempts to flee the situation by moving his wife to a different hospital, but Jeongwon says that Ikjun has moved Eunsuk to the ICU as a preventative measure. Seizing the opportunity, Jeongwon emphasises to Gyeoul that bad situations should be shared with others, and asks if there’s anything she should be telling him. She replies that there isn’t, which he accepts, but he tells her to tell him if there ever is anything, since he might be able to help. As the couple starts to hug, Ikjun’s voice booms through the ER, looking for Gyeoul.

Back in Seoul, Iksun is sitting in the passenger seat of Ikjun’s car as they drive to the hospital together. Ikjun reassures the discreetly dressed Iksun that nobody at the hospital will recognise her, because his friends aren’t in today. Ikjun briefs Iksun on the tests she’ll be receiving, and instructs her to get hospitalised regardless of Junwan if the results are bad. Iksun agrees, admitting that she’s scared too. She tells Ikjun that he should’ve brought Woojoo, but Ikjun points out that he would’ve blabbed to Junwan. Iksun tells Ikjun not to do anything cheesy like wait by the door as she’s getting her tests, and he promises that he’ll wait in his office.

Obviously, Ikjun goes back on his word, pacing anxiously in the lobby as his sister gets tested. Afterwards, the siblings discuss Iksun’s hepatocirrhosis, which is luckily in its early stages. Ikjun tells Iksun to focus on recovering her health in Changwon, and they set off to see their parents.

Yikes. Junwan has received an emergency call, and is in a taxi on his way to the hospital. Ikjun and Iksun are still in the carpark, and Ikjun heads back into the hospital to grab something he accidentally left in his office. As Junwan gets out of the taxi and heads into the hospital, Iksun spots him from inside the car, visibly startled. Emotional, Iksun clasps her hands over her mouth, and her eyes well with tears. As Brown Eyes’ “Already One Year” plays on the radio, Junwan notices the car and approaches it, and a look of confusion crosses his face. Given how dark it is and how sleep-deprived, malnourished, and heartbroken Junwan is, it’s understandable that he can’t quite believe what he suspects he might be seeing. Luckily for the tearful Iksun, Jaehak runs into the carpark to fetch his professor, who looks over his shoulder once more before heading in.

At band practice, the group covers the song that was playing on the radio, which fades out as we visit Eunsuk, who’s decided to press charges against her abusive husband. She shares her gratitude with Gyeoul and Ikjun, thankful that the hospital staff have helped her to find the courage to stand up to her husband and live out the rest of her days in peace.

In his office, Seokhyeong is watching a variety show and cackling to himself when Minha comes in with two cups of coffee. Emboldened by the “useless questions” Seokhyeong asked her on the phone, Minha bravely asks the professor if she can confess her love to him five times, as long as it doesn’t make him uncomfortable. Seokhyeong tells Minha that it won’t make him all that uncomfortable, but he’ll have to turn her down. Minha tells him that he can’t reject her before she’s even confessed, and reiterates her resolve to ask him out just five times, pretty please. She uses her first confession immediately, telling Seokhyeong that she really likes him, and asking him to the movies on the weekend. Seokhyeong chuckles, and tells Minha that he’s going to a temple with his mother. He gets up and informs her that she has four attempts left, exiting the room with his coffee. Minha sighs, disheartened.

At the hairdresser’s, Iksun lops all of her hair off, opting for a pixie cut. The song resumes for its final stretch, and as it wraps up, Iksun receives a duty appointment order stationing her at a new division. Summer arrives, and she enjoys some cold noodles with Ikjun, sharing an update on life in her new unit. Vivaldi’s ​​”The Four Seasons” plays, and we watch Ikjun dine with his sister as the year moves by. The mood between the two is joyful, but there are undercurrents of unresolved problems – Iksun’s liver index is still high, and she still seems to be hung up on Junwan. 

Ikjun also eats with Woojoo, whom he rapidly exchanges finger hearts with. Later in the year, the two discuss the fact that it’s a “new semester” at the hospital too, with plenty of “new friends” like interns and residents coming into the picture. Ikjun smiles and says that his “old friend” is also coming back, and we head to Songhwa’s office, where she sets up her space to her liking (the calendar on the wall indicates that it’s now March of 2021). As it rains, she opens up her window and smiles. One by one, the guys come to welcome her back to the hospital, with the grand finale being Ikjun. Poking his head in, he delivers their classic line – “let’s go eat.” With a smile, she follows him out.

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Episode in review:

The timeskip is finally here! I’ve been anticipating it for so long that as soon as Songhwa’s next birthday was brought up, it was obvious it was only a matter of time. Honestly, I don’t think there was much point in delaying it for this long, because all we really got from early 2020 was some Iksong development and a soul-crushing break-up. Better late than never, I guess.

Now that the show is set in 2021, I’d really love to see an exploration of the pandemic and the way it’s affected day-to-day life for medical professionals. Some might worry that this would compromise the show’s humour, but I entirely disagree. “Hospital Playlist” has always been successful in realistically depicting the realities of the medical field in a tonally balanced way, and I don’t think this matter would be difficult to portray sensitively. Shin and Lee have built their entire brand about capturing the zeitgeists of the eras their stories are set in, so it would be a real shame if they failed to explore something so current and so relevant to the medical field. In fact, I’d argue that it’d be almost tone-deaf not to, in the same way that comedic police procedurals need to acknowledge the BLM movement.

In general, I’m pretty excited for the timeskip, because I think it has the potential to revitalise the show in many ways. The episode’s ending hinting at some new additions to the cast, and a blank period in the timeline will hopefully streamline the development of several characters and relationships. This week’s episode achieved the highest ratings yet, and the timeskip might be just what the story needs to continue the drama’s momentum.

The most intriguing storyline for me this week was definitely Gyeoul’s – her phone call with her mother and her reaction to Choi Eunsuk’s husband seems to point at a history of family abuse. To support this theory, you might also recall that she had a similar reaction to the twin boys who were hit by their father in season one. Given the fact that she’s actively hiding the situation from Jeongwon (who seems suspicious for reasons unbeknownst to us), it’s highly likely that this plot will be explored down the line. We don’t know much about the backstories of the supporting characters just yet, and it looks like some of them could be darker than ever anticipated.

Seokhyeong facing up to his past mistakes was also a really powerful aspect of the episode. He evidently loves his mother more than anyone else in the world, but he’s also highly critical of her actions and disappointed in himself for allowing her to have so much influence over the people in his life. I’ll admit that I’ve tended to crap all over Shinhye because I’m such a hardcore GomGom shipper, but in a way, she’s a pretty tragic character. Seokhyeong was clearly just looking to have a casual conversation with Songhwa, but the way she stepped up and made him realise that he could’ve done more was incredibly impactful. Realising that his divorce was perhaps a product of his own apathy rather than inevitable given his family situation is a strong first step for Seokhyeong in terms of embracing relationship with Minha, and that’s especially exciting considering that she still has “four attempts left.” Seokhyeong’s emotional development was written brilliantly this week, and Kim Daemyung certainly did it justice with his acting. 

Perhaps even more phenomenal was the performance of Kwak Sunyoung, who delivered Iksun’s fragility and heartbreak with incredible rawness. There was something so tantalisingly real about the scene in which Junwan approached Iksun in the car as she cried, and the way it was shot lent it a certain quality of emotional intensity. You wanted him to reach her, and yet you didn’t – it was the sort of scene that had the power to stir inner conflict within viewers, and the sort of scene that really shows the drama at its best.

This week’s playlist:

I’m not going to complain about Brown Eyes’ “Already One Year,” because it’s obvious why it’s an appropriate choice for the episode. With that said, it’s probably my least favourite song of the season so far. Beyond some pretty fingerpicking and decent vocals, this week’s cover musically had very little to offer.

MVPMD:

This week’s most valuable MD is Ikjun, for identifying an abusive situation and doing everything in his power to help the victim on her own terms.