Resident Playbook Episode 8 Review: When Love Starts to Bloom

Resident Playbook Episode 8 Review | Leisurebyte

Director:
Lee Min-soo

Date Created:
2025-05-04 18:40

Editor’s Rating:

4

In Episode 7 of Resident Playbook, the interns grow closer while navigating a whirlwind of medical mishaps, emotional moments, and career pressure. Gi-on’s mistake in revealing a cancer diagnosis sets off a chain of complications, while Nam-kyung struggles with being overshadowed despite her hard work. I-yeong faces high-stress deliveries and earns her moment of triumph when Do-won rushes back from a missed flight to help her save a patient in a dramatic, life-affirming surgery. Meanwhile, personal lives quietly shift—Nam-kyung ends her relationship with grace, and a rooftop near-miss hints at a new romantic tangle for Do-won.

Resident Playbook Episode 8 has a runtime of 70 minutes.

– Contains Spoilers –

Resident Playbook Episode 8 Recap

Episode 8 of Resident Playbook opens with Sa-bi in the operating room—not as a doctor, but as a patient. Through a brief flashback, we learn that she collapsed at work, prompting a check-up that revealed a uterine fibroid. Determined to keep her personal life private, she lists Jae-il as her emergency contact instead of involving her mother. The surgery goes smoothly, and although she’s advised to rest, Sa-bi’s inner workaholic won’t let her fully relax. It’s clear she’s itching to get back to her patients and routine.

Meanwhile, the OB ward marks a bittersweet milestone: one of the pregnant women has spent 100 days in the hospital awaiting her twins. Her perseverance and positivity have made her a comforting figure to fellow patients. Professor Seo takes notice and encourages Yi-young to adopt a similar bedside manner. She tasks Yi-young with reading the Williams Obstetrics textbook and reporting to her daily, not just to sharpen her medical skills, but to help her learn how to speak gently and empathetically to patients in crisis.

Also read: Heavenly Ever After Episode 6 Review: A Gut-Wrenching Ride of Love, Loss, and Redemption

As if that’s not enough on her plate, Yi-young is also dealing with romantic confusion. Dong-ho asks her out for dinner and schedules it for the upcoming Friday. Do-won, who witnesses the invitation, is visibly affected. He may not say much, but his disappointment is hard to miss—he’s not ready to let go of the connection he’s built with Yi-young.

Elsewhere, Nam-kyung’s mother is admitted for a minor surgery, and her bright, bubbly personality immediately lights up the ward. She charms everyone except Nam-kyung, who snaps at her mother and shuts down her efforts to bond. But her actions speak louder than her words—Nam-kyung secretly sleeps by her mother’s bedside and personally checks with the doctors to ensure the operation goes smoothly. It’s clear that beneath her tough exterior, she deeply loves and worries about her mom.

Jae-il, meanwhile, has his own emotional rollercoaster. He’s about to reunite with his first love—none other than Gyeo-wool from Hospital Playlist! Before the meeting, he excitedly describes her to Yi-young and Nam-kyung, who both point out that his description oddly fits Sa-bi. Offended by the comparison, Jae-il insists that his first love is incomparable. But irony plays its hand throughout the episode, we see Jae-il and Sa-bi effortlessly matching each other’s energy, remembering each other’s preferences, and sharing subtle glances. Maybe fate has new plans for his heart?

Back at home, Yi-young’s sister and brother-in-law are quietly preparing for another round of IVF treatment. They decide not to tell Yi-young just yet, wanting to spare her from worry. But while hope blooms in one corner, heartbreak looms in another. The same pregnant woman who had spent 100 hopeful days at the hospital tragically lost her baby. The news rocks the ward, casting a sombre mood over everyone. Yi-young gently volunteers to deliver the devastating news, believing she can offer the compassion the patient needs.

She does it beautifully. Her voice is calm, her words sincere. Professor Seo, overhearing the exchange, silently acknowledges how far Yi-young has come—not just in skill, but in empathy.

Nam-kyung’s mother’s surgery is a success, and the three residents—Yi-young, Sa-bi, and Jae-il—rally around her to show their support. Witnessing her mother surrounded by love and laughter, Nam-kyung’s emotional walls finally crack. She breaks down and begs her mom to stay healthy, a raw, heartfelt moment that shows how hard she’s been trying to be strong.

Sa-bi also returns to work, feeling refreshed and determined. Jae-il is right there by her side, subtly offering support, perhaps more than just professionally. Meanwhile, Friday arrives, and Yi-young heads to the dinner that Dong-ho planned. But it’s not a date, at least not entirely. Dong-ho has invited the entire group that worked on their previous surgery project, and the evening turns into a joyful mini-reunion.

After dinner, Dong-ho walks Yi-young home and asks her a bold question: Is her crush Do-won? When she’s surprised by his accuracy, he admits that her behaviour around Do-won made it obvious. He then confesses that he likes her and, while he respects her feelings, he just wants her to know. Yi-young takes a beat, then clearly tells him: she likes Do-won.

Back at the hospital, Do-won learns from the others that Yi-young went out for dinner. Nam-kyung finds Yi-young’s forgotten phone, and later that night, Yi-young calls from another number to ask about it. When she comes to retrieve it, she notices a message from Do-won asking her to meet.

They end up waiting for a bus together, and Yi-young wonders why he hasn’t gone home yet. Unbeknownst to her, Do-won is already in deep—his feelings for her are growing by the day. As they sit at the stop, a romantic couple walks by, and Yi-young casually remarks that she wants to do what they’re doing. Do-won, flustered, assumes she means hugging or holding hands. But she simply meant sitting on the bench.

They sit side-by-side, and in the silence, his smartwatch begins beeping—his heart rate spiking. She notices, and their eyes meet. The moment lingers. Both of their heartbeats quicken in sync as they sit quietly, feeling something shift between them. The episode ends there, leaving us with a sweet, fluttery sense that romance is finally in the air.

Resident Playbook Episode 8 Review

This episode particularly has quiet sparks of romance, especially between Sa-bi and Jae-il. With Sa-bi undergoing surgery for a fibroid and insisting Jae-il be her emergency contact, we’re already seeing just how much she trusts him. And though he grumbles, he’s there—signing forms, quietly worrying, and later assisting her as she returns to work. The way they banter, look out for each other, and remember little personal details feels less like coincidence and more like chemistry brewing just beneath the surface. If Jae-il was too heartbroken over his first love to notice, this episode might just be his wake-up call.

On the other side of the hospital halls, Yi-young and Do-won continue their slow-burn dance of feelings. From misread signals at a bus stop to sky-high heart rates thanks to a brush of closeness, it’s clear these two are falling for each other—even if they’re not quite ready to say it out loud. But what makes this episode truly special is how it celebrates emotional growth. Whether it’s Yi-young handling a heartbreaking patient moment with grace or Nam-kyung quietly breaking down for her mother, everyone is learning to open their hearts a little more. And with subtle romance blossoming, especially between Sa-bi and Jae-il, love might just be around every hospital corner.

Resident Playbook is streaming on Netflix.

Also read: All Reviews and Recaps of Resident Playbook

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