Why was Resident Playbook Season 2 cancelled after four episodes? Hospital Playlist universe faces another letdown

Despite high ratings, the popular medical drama was axed after four episodes

Last updated:
Lakshana N Palat (Assistant Features Editor)
2 MIN READ
The show rose to an average nationwide rating of 7.5 percent ahead of its final week, marking an impressive 1.3 percent jump from the previous night
The show rose to an average nationwide rating of 7.5 percent ahead of its final week, marking an impressive 1.3 percent jump from the previous night

What went wrong? Resident Playbook, the wholesome spin-off of Hospital Playlist, won’t be returning for a Season 2. And for fans still holding out hope for a Season 3 of the original series, it’s a double disappointment.

Resident Playbook has been slapped with Netflix's “limited series” label, —meaning after its 12-episode run, already shorter than the usual 16 to 22 episodes most K-dramas enjoy), there won't be a second season. While there’s been no official word from the creators, the message is clear: Netflix isn’t betting on a sequel.

Why was it cancelled?

What’s puzzling, though, is the timing. The show has been riding a wave of success, clocking 2.8 million views in one week, and owning No. 3 on Netflix’s Global Non-English TV chart. It previously held the top spot for two consecutive weeks and is currently ranked No. 1 in six countries, including India. It also made the top 10 in 14 others, from Hong Kong and Indonesia to Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

Furthermore, Nielsen Korea reported that show rose to an average nationwide rating of 7.5 percent ahead of its final week, marking an impressive 1.3 percent jump from the previous night. For the first time since its premiere, the Hospital Playlist spin-off was the most-watched cable program of the entire day, according to Soompi.

Among viewers aged 20 to 49, the series is reportedly the most-watched. Still, its buzz was slightly dimmed by the debut of Heavenly Ever After, the unconventional new K-drama starring Son Suk Ku and Kim Hye Ja, which premiered with an even stronger 6.1% rating and topped its time slot across cable networks.

Why the delay?

Part of Resident Playbook’s bumpy rollout may have had less to do with scheduling and more with politics. The show’s premiere was reportedly delayed multiple times, likely due to its sensitive theme overlapping with a real-life crisis in South Korea’s healthcare system, according to Korea Times. In 2024, doctors and residents took to the streets to protest a government push to increase medical school admissions. The backlash led to mass resignations, public outcry, and growing fears that the quality of education and working conditions for doctors would deteriorate.

The conversation is far from over. Some critics argue that Resident Playbook risks romanticising resident life during a time when the medical community is still reeling.

What the show is all about 

The series follows four Gen Z interns stepping into Yulje Hospital’s OB-GYN department, one of the most understaffed and debated departments in South Korea, as the nation grapples with a falling birth rate. Through every episode, we see these young doctors navigating emotional and professional minefields: burnout, breakdowns, late-night shifts, and the constant tug-of-war between quitting and pushing through. They speak up, they break down, and they challenge the toxic hustle culture head-on.

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