Hospital Playlist | Song-hwa breaks camp
*SEASON 01 SPOILERS ALERT*
Remember you can find all the Hospital Playlist reviews/analysis filed in “hospital playlist reviews” tag at the end of the post.
I had a really hard time writing this analysis. Not because I didn’t have things to say about Song-hwa but because I feel everything related to her was so subtly done, I haven’t truly grasped her character yet. Jeon Mi Do gave an impressive nuance performance that makes me doubt about everything I *think* I know about this character. And, yes, we had moments centered around her but have we ever seen her POV about all the things that were happening? Looking back, I’m not sure.
Song-hwa is truly a “ghost”. She was everywhere, all the time, knew everything going on with her friends, residents and patients; and quietly looked after them. Let everyone resolve their problems on their own, at their own pace, watching over from afar but close enough to give them a push if they needed it.
At the same time, Song-hwa is perhaps the character that had it together from beginning to end. She has been very clear about what she wants, and conducted herself with nothing but friendliness and professionalism to everyone around her, yet people seem bend over backwards to make it difficult for her.
Do I think part of the reason she decided to leave for a year to work at Sokcho was because she didn’t like the attention she was getting at the hospital? Yes. I do. It wasn’t only her physical health, like she said, I believe it was also her mental and emotional health that needed a break. All this is conjecture, of course, but I honestly believe she needed to separate herself from having to spend a year rejecting unwanted advances and, also, from what was coming. Because, yes, Song-hwa saw Ik-jun’s confession coming from miles away.
Does Song-hwa have a weak spot for Ik-jun? Yes, that is more than clear. When he makes a statement about his feelings for her -subtly or directly- she can’t look him in the eye. Does Song-hwa love Ik-jun? Yes, he is one of her closest friends. Is Song-hwa in love with Ik-jun? I don’t know.
I feel like I’m still waiting to see her side of the story about what happened in 99 because so far we have only been told Ik-jun’s and, from what I am gathering by Song-hwa’s reaction at his confession, is that this heartbreak was brutal for her. It shaped her in more than one way, not only because they never were, but they also remained close friends for many years after. But life moves on and she did too, and became someone she’s happy to be, someone other people admire and like. Only for him to confesses 20 years later? I am kinda mad at that. I get why he’s doing it (more on that in another analysis) but what about her feelings?
I want to respect and support Song-hwa’s explicit desire to be single, and I welcome it because YAS! Writer Lee and Shin PD gave us a well rounded female character that it’s not defined by a romantic relationship but by her own personal and professional achievements. But that final scene made it clear things are going to shift for her in the next season and that moving, trying to avoid what was coming, didn’t work because it literally followed her all the way to Sokcho.
The season 1 finale of Hospital Playlist it’s actually the start of Song-hwa’s journey. True to herself, Song-hwa will keep on moving forward, the question is if it will be to reconnect with those old buried feelings or make a clean break. And for good this time.
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