Resident Playbook Episode 9 Review: Double the Romance, Double the Heartbeats

In Resident Playbook Episode 8, the focus shifts to personal struggles and budding romance as Sa-bi undergoes surgery for a uterine fibroid, Yi-young balances medical pressure with emotional growth, and Jae-il faces a reunion with his first love—who oddly mirrors Sa-bi. Nam-kyung’s tough exterior crumbles when her hospitalised mother reveals her vulnerable side, while Yi-young proves her growing empathy after gently breaking heartbreaking news to a long-term patient.

Romantic tension peaks when Dong-ho confesses his feelings, only to learn Yi-young’s heart belongs to Do-won. The episode closes on a tender note as Yi-young and Do-won share a quiet, meaningful moment at a bus stop, signalling a shift from friendship to something more.

Resident Playbook Episode 8 has a runtime of 70 minutes.

– Contains Spoilers –

Resident Playbook Episode 9 Recap

Episode 9 of Resident Playbook kicks off with the four first-year residents waiting for the elevator, where Nam-kyung grimly notes that their horoscopes predict a terrible week ahead. And as it turns out, the stars might be right. The tone is set when Yi-young meets a team of TV producers at the hospital—there to shoot a special in the OB-GYN department.

Before she can catch her breath, Dr. Myeong bursts in, pulling Yi-young into a case involving a patient brought in by ambulance. The cameras are rolling, and while Yi-young does all the actual work, Dr. Myeong basks in the limelight. She treats the patient with performative kindness, quickly becoming the face of the department on film, much to the dismay of anyone who knows the truth—especially Yi-young.

Meanwhile, Sa-bi’s patience is wearing thin with second-year Da-hye. Da-hye’s constant micromanaging and critical eye have Sa-bi convinced that she’s putting on an act to outshine her. The tension between them is thick, as Da-hye continues to nitpick and Sa-bi silently seethes. Nam-kyung, ever the no-nonsense type, throws herself into her routine but is clearly overwhelmed. The workload is mounting, and it’s taking a toll on her already weary spirit.

Jae-il, always the soft-hearted one, takes a different approach. Hoping to spare the intern from some of the gruelling tasks, he volunteers to take on part of the workload. Unfortunately, his attempt at kindness backfires when a mistake he makes lands his supervising resident in trouble. Instead of scolding him, she takes responsibility for not checking his work—an act of grace that motivates Jae-il to double down and make up for it. Later, a patient recognises him from his former idol days with the band Hi-boyz, and suddenly, he’s swarmed by fangirl energy. Sa-bi, watching from a distance, is less than amused.

Elsewhere, Yi-young’s sister is undergoing another round of IVF. Inspired and moved, Yi-young starts saving up for the baby, thinking ahead with cautious hope. When Do-won stops by with bread for Yi-young’s sister, Yi-young teasingly points out how he never takes her out. That’s the push he needs—he finally asks her to dinner, and she lights up like a lantern.

But of course, things don’t go as planned for our first-years. Sa-bi finds herself in hot water after bypassing Da-hye to report directly to a senior professor about a patient case—despite Da-hye having made the correct call. Her apology is met with silence as Da-hye walks away. Eventually, the two reconcile, and Sa-bi acknowledges the need to tread more carefully.

Jae-il has his own reckoning when he discovers that the intern has been taking advantage of his generosity. Guilt-ridden, the intern tries to apologise, but Jae-il stops him—not with anger, but with understanding. Overwhelmed, Jae-il breaks down, and it’s Do-won who comforts him, reminding him that his kindness is not weakness, but strength.

Back in the OB-GYN department, Dr. Myeong’s behaviour is reaching new levels of manipulation. Yi-young proposes an urgent surgery for a pregnant patient, which Dr. Myeong initially denies. But when the case escalates, she turns around, blames Yi-young for being slow to act, and steals the spotlight once again—all on camera. Despite doing the right thing, Yi-young is framed as the incompetent one. Devastated, she drafts a letter of resignation. Nam-kyung finds it, rips it in half, and gives her a tough-love pep talk. But just as Yi-young finds her resolve, she suffers another blow—her long-awaited dinner with Do-won is accidentally scheduled for the wrong day.

To blow off steam, the four residents hit up a karaoke bar. What begins as a fun night quickly turns into a drunken mess—complete with songs, laughter, and hidden truths. When Jae-il sings a Hi-boyz classic, Sa-bi stuns everyone by jumping in with the choreography. She confesses to being a fan, and something changes in Jae-il’s eyes. A spark? Definitely.

Later that night, Yi-young comes home to find Do-won waiting for her by the swings. He opens up, explaining how he planned every detail of their dinner—only to mess it up. Then, heart on sleeve, he confesses his feelings. Yi-young responds with a hug, warm and sure. As they walk home, they realise that Yi-young’s sister and Do-won’s brother are both out of town. Flustered, Do-won offers to sleep at the hospital instead. Yi-young follows him to the elevator, and there—finally—they share a sweet, long-awaited kiss.

The next morning, the TV special airs. As expected, Dr. Myeong is portrayed as the saviour of the OB-GYN department, while Yi-young is barely acknowledged. Their paths cross, and Dr. Myeong delivers a smug comment that nearly sends Yi-young over the edge. The question hangs in the air: how much more can Yi-young take?

Resident Playbook Episode 9 Review

From the moment the OB-GYN department is overtaken by TV cameras and Dr. Myeong’s theatrics, to the slow-burning tension between residents and mentors, the episode keeps its foot on the pedal. Yi-young faces perhaps her hardest week yet—watching others take credit for her work, wrestling with self-doubt, and almost handing in her resignation. Yet through heartbreak, missteps, and a hilariously botched dinner plan, we see her quietly evolve, finding strength in her vulnerability and warmth in her friendships. Nam-kyung’s tough love, Sa-bi’s grudging growth, and Jae-il’s quiet kindness all layer the story with emotional texture.

But the real charm lies in the softer, sweeter turns—especially the romantic developments that flutter in and out like a shy heartbeat. The karaoke scene is a delightful highlight, turning drunken chaos into a moment of unexpected confession and blooming affection between Jae-il and Sa-bi. To mention specifically, we all knew Hi-Boyz video had Yeonjun and Soobin from the famous boyband TXT!

Meanwhile, Do-won finally breaks his shell and confesses to Yi-young, leading to a kiss that’s been seasons in the making. The show handles these romantic beats with such tenderness, never rushing, always grounded in character growth. As the residents inch closer to each other (and their own professional truths), Episode 9 captures both the agony and ecstasy of life in medicine—and love.

Resident Playbook is streaming on Netflix.

Also read: All Reviews and Recaps of Resident Playbook