
Resident Playbook- Episodes 5-6
Nicknames, Broken Hearts, and a Birthday That Hits Too Hard
Episode 5 of Resident Playbook opens with laughter, drinks, and just the right amount of chaos at the OB-GYN team dinner—until things take a delightfully awkward turn. The professors challenge the residents to spill the tea on their secret nicknames for seniors, and while Jae-il desperately tries to change the subject, a tipsy I-yeong spills everything. Professor Seo? “Twenty Questions,” thanks to her rapid-fire interrogations. Professor Kong? “The Screaming Devil,” and honestly, no notes.
I-yeong sneaks off to the bathroom and returns to an empty table—until she realizes she’s snacking on someone else’sfood. That someone? None other than Ahn Jeong-won, who casually makes a brief but iconic cameo.
Back at the hospital, chaos resumes as usual. Jae-il confidently misdiagnoses a woman’s poop as a tumor (yes, really), Sa-bi is sulking because she’s in gynecology instead of obstetrics, and Nam-kyung ends her seven-year relationship for the 347th time, only to secretly hope her ex texts her back before her next blind date.
I-yeong, pushed past her limit thanks to an inexperienced intern, snaps and yells at her junior in front of patients. Do-won sees it and calls her out, hard. She’s shaken—but later that night, they cross paths in front of the dorm elevator. It’s officially her birthday. So she asks for one small gift: for him to say “yes” to everything she asks while they’re in the elevator. He agrees. “Can I like you?” she asks. “Yes,” he replies.
Cue butterflies… and then instant heartbreak. The elevator doors open and Do-won, emotionally unavailable as ever, tells her that if she wants to make things awkward between them, she can keep liking him. Ouch.
The next morning, I-yeong’s family celebrates her birthday with warmth and normalcy—one of the few bright spots in her day. Meanwhile, Jae-il continues annoying every doctor in the building with constant calls to confirm his (mostly correct) diagnoses. He’s glowing with pride; they’re drowning in texts.
Elsewhere, Sa-bi meets a grandmother too embarrassed to get surgery for her prolapsed uterus. Sa-bi tries to reassure her, but it’s Professor Ryu who really comes through—reframing the condition not as shameful, but as a symbol of her sacrifices. The grandmother tears up, and Sa-bi realizes there's more than one way to be compassionate.
Over in I-yeong’s world, her patient—terrified she won’t wake up after surgery—asks her to call her name as soon as it’s over. The operation is a success, and true to her promise, I-yeong yells her name post-op, breaking through the anesthesia haze with warmth and relief.
Meanwhile, Do-won is still ghosting I-yeong and burying himself in work with Dr. Myeong. Jae-il, feeling proud, recounts his diagnosis streak to Do-won, only to get hit with a harsh truth: relying on others to double-check everything isn’t just inefficient—it’s irresponsible.
Just when the residents finally start to unwind, Sa-bi jinxes them by commenting on the quiet. Cue the Code Blue. One of the two mothers who bonded during their cancer treatment takes a sudden turn for the worse. It’s clear she won’t make it.
I-yeong is the one who must break the news to the woman’s daughter—a scene that hits way too close to home. We learn I-yeong lost her own mom in middle school, and the buried grief comes rushing back.
But just when it gets too heavy, Jeong-won steps in—this time not just as a cameo, but as a representative of a foundation that supports patients and families. He helps the little girl say goodbye, offering the kind of comfort I-yeong never got.
The episode ends on a gut-wrenching note: I-yeong wakes to the sound of her mother’s voice. But it’s just a dream. She collapses, sobbing, her grief still raw after all these years.
Petty Fights, Tough Losses, and a Slow-Burn Spark
Episode 6 of Resident Playbook kicks off with a weekly ritual that never goes smoothly—shift assignments. I-yeong is visibly disappointed to be separated from Doo-won (again), while Nam-kyung reminds Jae-il he owes her for covering a shift next month. But Sa-bi, ever the rule stickler, demands repayment within the same month. Cue the bickering. Sa-bi and Jae-il clash like vinegar and baking soda, sparking arguments every five minutes. It gets so bad that Nam-kyung ends up venting about Sa-bi to her patient—without naming names—only for Sa-bi to walk in and hear the whole thing. Yikes.
Meanwhile, on a much heavier note, I-yeong’s sister Ju-yeong receives heartbreaking news: her final fertility treatment fails. The embryos don’t survive, and with them, her dream of becoming a mother fades. It’s a quiet, gut-wrenching moment that adds emotional weight to the episode.
Back at Yulje, Jae-il checks in with a high-strung expectant mother who keeps returning for ultrasounds. He handles it with surprising grace. Across town, I-yeong catches a ride home with Doo-won, only for things to get awkward fast. He gets a call from Dr. Myeong, who casually drops the bomb that he’s been bumped from first to second author on their research paper. She claims it needs rewriting, but the truth stings—and she conveniently forgets to tell him the paper’s been accepted for a major conference. Oof.
Later, I-yeong’s patient goes into labor, and it’s a high-risk case. The surgical team preps for potential complications, including the possibility of a hysterectomy. Her husband, known for being incredibly loving and supportive, is visibly shaken. Luckily, they manage to stop the bleeding without needing to remove the uterus. The husband weeps with relief—until he brings up trying for another child the moment his wife wakes up. Her response, via I-yeong? A symphony of creative profanity. Doo-won is not ready for how colorful it gets.
Meanwhile, Jae-il’s anxious patient returns again—and this time, he spots a red flag. He immediately calls in Professor Seo, who diagnoses a uterine tear. Thanks to his quick instincts, both mother and baby are saved. It’s a major win for Jae-il, who later meets Dr. Jang Hong-do from CS while hanging out in the nursery. Potential new friendship? Maybe more?
The friction between Sa-bi and Nam-kyung finally explodes. Their constant fighting causes Nam-kyung to miss a long-awaited meeting with her boyfriend. She tries to race to the café, but work—and Sa-bi—delay her. Later, in a surprisingly mature moment, Sa-bi meets Nam-kyung at a convenience store. She lays it all out—her own flaws included—and sincerely apologizes. Nam-kyung, moved, apologizes right back. Growth!
Meanwhile, the ever-persistent Dr. Myeong presents Doo-won’s research at the conference. I-yeong, assigned to attend, overhears her deflecting credit again. She calls her out on the spot and demands she apologize to Doo-won. Myeong does—reluctantly—but it’s a moment of quiet justice.
The episode ends on a warm note. Doo-won and I-yeong finally share a moment without tension. She reenacts her patient’s hilariously aggressive outburst, and for once, Doo-won laughs—really laughs. Maybe, just maybe, the ice around him is finally starting to melt.
DramaZen's Opinion
Emotional Gut Punches, Petty Chaos, and a Hint of Romance
Episodes 5 and 6 of Resident Playbook are a masterclass in juggling the chaotic, hilarious reality of intern life with raw, emotional storytelling. Just when you think you’re settling into the rhythm of medical cases and awkward flirtations, the show throws you a gut punch—then hands you a tissue and a punchline.
Episode 5 gave us nicknames, birthday heartbreak, and a beautifully handled moment of loss that tied into I-yeong’s own grief with surprising tenderness. The elevator scene between her and Doo-won? Painfully awkward, painfully real. And Jeong-won’s cameo? Pure serotonin.
Then comes Episode 6, where rivalries bubble over and friendships are tested (and surprisingly patched up). Watching Sa-bi and Nam-kyung go from passive-aggressive bickering to actual apologies was oddly satisfying. And Jae-il continues his rise from lovable disaster to competent doctor with a heart of gold—and a knack for bonding with nervous patients.
But it’s the subtle shift in I-yeong and Doo-won’s dynamic that steals the show. Their quiet moment of laughter at the end of Episode 6 hints at a slow burn that’s finally, finally catching fire. The show’s brilliance lies in these small moments—chaotic, tender, deeply human.
Resident Playbook isn’t just finding its stride—it’s sprinting with heart, humor, and just enough mess to keep us coming back.