Resident Playbook- Episodes 7-8
Chaotic Interns, Secret Diagnoses, and a Near-Miss Romance
Episode 7 of Resident Playbook dives headfirst into the delightful mess of intern drama, and I’m here for it. The episode kicks off with the interns gossiping about the first-year residents, and the verdict is clear: they’re a chaotic bunch. Oh-young is a walking temper tantrum, Jae-il is so empathetic he practically cries for his patients, Nam-kyung’s volume could trigger an avalanche, and Sa-bi is an enigma—calm, collected, and completely unreadable.
Meanwhile, Professors Seo and Ryu have a secret mission: recruiting intern doctor Tak Gi-on to the OB-GYN department. Their strategy? Gaslighting Nam-kyung (just a little) into believing Gi-on looks up to her. Suddenly, she’s on her best behavior, determined to be a “role model.” But when Gi-on accidentally tells patient Ik-sun her illness is back—mixing up charts with another patient—Nam-kyung’s patience is tested. Instead of exploding, she stays calm. Growth?
Chaos is the theme of the day as the residents juggle emergency deliveries that keep bumping scheduled surgeries. They’re stuck apologizing to every grumpy surgeon in the building while absorbing all the blame. It’s OB-GYN in survival mode.
Things get more serious when a cancer patient arrives, and her son asks the doctors to keep her diagnosis a secret. She’s already lost loved ones to cancer, and he’s terrified she’ll refuse treatment if she knows. The doctors reluctantly agree.
In the middle of the madness, Do-won treats the residents to dinner. He offers to take I-yeong out for another meal, but then remembers—oh right—he’s about to fly to Taiwan. Classic Do-won, dependable to a fault, even as other professors pile last-minute tasks on him.
Nam-kyung, despite her efforts to shine, keeps getting overshadowed by Gi-on, who unintentionally hogs the spotlight. Meanwhile, Sa-bi negotiates a mini turf war in the nursery, and Jae-il refuses to let another department delay his patient’s testing. Our soft-hearted intern is finally learning to stand his ground.
And then it happens—Gi-on accidentally reveals the cancer diagnosis to the elderly patient. The woman is devastated and almost refuses surgery. But instead of a disaster, it becomes a turning point. Professors Ryu and Nam-kyung apologize for keeping the secret, but the woman thanks Gi-on for his honesty and agrees to the operation. Truth hurts, but sometimes it heals.
I-yeong’s finally catching her breath when an emergency call pulls her back—a foreign patient who doesn’t speak Korean or English is suddenly going into labor. With no other doctors around, Professor Seo pushes I-yeong to step up and perform the surgery. Panic rises… until a familiar face bursts in. Do-won, who miraculously missed his flight after oversleeping, shows up to help. Together, they deliver the baby and save the mother. The tension, the teamwork—chef’s kiss.
Elsewhere, Nam-kyung’s rollercoaster romance finally hits a quiet end. Her boyfriend calls from the hospital, but instead of rekindling their on-again, off-again relationship, they gently agree it’s over. It’s a surprisingly mature, bittersweet breakup.
In the final twist, I-yeong texts Do-won, asking him to meet her on the rooftop. But when she gets there, she runs into her colleague from anesthesiology—who asks her out for dinner, just as Do-won arrives and sees them together. Classic rom-com timing, and I-yeong doesn’t even know she’s in the middle of a slow-burn love triangle.
Surgical Scares, Sweet Confessions, and a Bus Stop Heart-to-Heart
Episode 8 of Resident Playbook brings the drama, the sweetness, and a solid dose of awkward romance—all wrapped up in one emotional rollercoaster. It kicks off with a surprising twist: Sa-bi, the unflappable queen of calm, is actually a patient. In a flashback, we see her fainting at the hospital, only to be diagnosed with a fibroid that requires surgery. While she’s stuck in a hospital gown, the residents rally around her, showing just how tight-knit this chaotic little family has become.
Meanwhile, Do-won switches things up by giving I-yeong a ride to work, only to spot Dr. Ham Dong-ho—the guy who asked I-yeong out for dinner—calling her. If jealousy were a person, it would be sitting in Do-won’s passenger seat.
At the hospital, I-yeong and Nam-kyung celebrate a milestone with Professor Seo—a patient’s 100th day in the high-risk pregnancy ward. This patient isn’t just a statistic; she’s become a rock for other expectant mothers, offering advice and support. Even I-yeong finds herself leaning on her for guidance, turning the ward into a mini support group.
Back in her room, Sa-bi is desperately bored. She’s not built to be a patient—she’s built to work. So she starts trying to jump back into action, mostly leading to Jae-il hilariously dodging her like she’s contagious. He’s not wrong—Sa-bi’s determination is terrifying.
Romance (or at least awkward romance) is in the air. I-yeong finally sets up a date with Dr. Ham Do-hong, but on Nam-kyung’s advice, she plans to be honest—if he confesses, she’ll tell him she likes someone else. Do-won, of course, keeps accidentally running into them. Subtle? Not really.
In a surprise crossover, Jae-il reconnects with his tutor and first love—Jang Gyeo-wool. It’s a sweet reunion that leaves him floating, but his good mood is interrupted when he learns Nam-kyung’s mom has been admitted for surgery. We get a peek into Nam-kyung’s life—her parents run a dumpling business, and she’s known for losing her temper with her mom. But the worry on her face says it all—she cares deeply.
Elsewhere, Ju-yeong is ready to give infertility treatment another shot, but there’s something haunting her—a nightmare she can’t shake. The details are still a mystery.
Back in the residents' lounge, the team digs into a pile of dumplings sent by Nam-kyung’s mom. I-yeong casually comments that at least they all have their mothers, leaving Nam-kyung reflecting on how lucky she is. Inspired, she sticks by her mom’s side for surgery, a quiet but heartfelt show of love.
But the joy is short-lived. The high-risk patient—the one who brought life to the ward—loses her baby. I-yeong, in a heartbreaking moment, takes it upon herself to break the news. She gently encourages the woman to eat, even sharing her own sister’s painful experience of loss, trying to help the woman feel less alone.
Nam-kyung’s mom, on the other hand, recovers well and is discharged. In a tearful exchange, Nam-kyung begs her not to get sick again—a raw, genuine moment that hits hard.
The evening brings an unexpected twist. I-yeong heads out for her “date” with Dr. Ham, only to realize it’s a group gathering of the doctors who worked on the emergency delivery case. Instant relief. But on the way home, Dr. Ham confesses his feelings for I-yeong—and casually reveals that he knows she has a crush on Do-won. It’s an awkward but sweet moment that ends with mutual respect. No heartbreak, just honesty.
But the real magic happens at the bus stop. I-yeong, after picking up her phone from the hospital, ends up waiting with Do-won. They watch a couple and she tells him she wants that kind of relationship—one that’s loving and supportive. Do-won almost confesses his growing feelings for her, but in classic rom-com fashion, she doesn’t hear him.
They sit side by side at the bus stop, inches apart but worlds away, and the episode ends.
DramaZen's Opinion
Chaos, Confessions, and a Bus Stop Heart-to-Heart
Episodes 7 and 8 of Resident Playbook are a delicious blend of chaos, comedy, and quiet heartbreak—proof that this show can juggle messy medical drama and emotional depth without missing a beat.
Episode 7 gives us the wild world of OB-GYN in full swing, with the residents drowning in emergency deliveries, mistaken identities, and one truly awkward recruiting mission involving Tak Gi-on. Nam-kyung’s journey from overlooked to appreciated, and Gi-on’s accidental truth bomb about a cancer diagnosis, remind us that even the simplest decisions can change everything. And let’s not forget Do-won missing his flight, only to show up like a drama hero just in time for a life-saving delivery. Timing is everything.
Then Episode 8 dials up the emotions. Sa-bi’s rare moment of vulnerability as a patient is a refreshing twist—she’s usually the ice queen, but watching her go stir-crazy in a hospital bed was both hilarious and touching. I-yeong’s growing bond with the long-term patient in the high-risk ward is a testament to how she’s evolving—more compassionate, more resilient. And let’s talk about that bus stop scene. I-yeong practically asks for a rom-com relationship, and Do-won almost spills his heart… only for her to miss it. Slow-burn doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Whether it’s the chaos of surgeries, the tenderness of a mother-daughter bond, or the ache of unspoken feelings, Resident Playbook is mastering the art of messy, heartfelt storytelling. Bring on the next round.
