Making Sense of Ha-yul's Candies [Hospital Playlist Season 2 WinterGarden Theory]

In Episode 3 of Season 2, we are treated to a scene featuring this cute, little girl Ha-yul. Two objects appear in this scene that triggered some speculations: the hairpin and the stick. However, we are not going to discuss them in this article. We will instead focus on our theory regarding Ha-yul's candies.

So, Ha-yul has three flavors of candies at home. What are they? Repeat after me: strawberry, orange, and toasted rice. The show makes it a point to emphasize the importance of these three flavors by making Ha-yul repeat them twice, as if telling us, viewers, to pay attention, remember them, and watch out. First, it was in the elevator:

The second instance follows immediately in Jeong-won's consultation room. However, there is a slight difference. In front of Jeong-won, she forgets the third flavor...:

So what's so important about these candy flavors? Our answer: STRAWBERRY, ORANGE and TOASTED RICE represent three things that are hidden. In other words, three SECRETS.

Why do we say so? One, because they are flavors that Ha-yul has at home, so they are basically hidden from us. But most importantly, it's because Ha-yul's behavior in the scene is suspicious. When her mom proceeds to update Jeong-won about her condition, she keeps interrupting, stopping her mom from revealing these details. Let's look at these two instances and compare:

First time Ha-yul stops her mom:

Second time she interrupts:

We can observe from the two instances that her words change when stopping her mom. While in the first instance, she seems only concerned about not letting Jeong-won know, in the second one, she has a stronger objection and expresses fear.

How do we connect these reactions to the candy flavors? These two different reactions offer insight to the emotions evoked by each secret. Now, we should remember that at that point, Ha-yul has only told Jeong-won 2 flavors: STRAWBERRY (connects to Ha-yul's first reaction) and ORANGE (connects to Ha-yul's second reaction). So what do they represent?

STRAWBERRY:

This flavor represents Jeong-won and Gyeo-ul's romantic relationship. In Episode 2 of Season 2, we see Jeong-won revealing to his friends that he and Gyeo-ul have already been dating for a month. In this scene, he shares strawberries with his friends, sweet strawberries that remind him of springtime.

They still make it a point, nonetheless, to hide their relationship in the hospital.

It would be worth noting that the showrunners have been gracious in showing us the strawberry scene in Episode 2, earlier than Ha-yul's scene which appeared in Episode 3, so that we may be able to make sense of the map we're given before a clue on the next secret is revealed. Are we being invited on an Easter Egg Hunt?

ORANGE:

At this point, we can only speculate based on the clues that Episode 5 laid down for us. Why, Episode 5? It's because of the bottled orange juice that the abusive husband offers Gyeo-ul, which could represent a bottled up fear that Gyeo-ul has. We have good reason to believe that this 2nd secret might have to do with her home and family, but we have yet to know the details as Gyeo-ul still seems hesitant to talk about it. With this orange juice, the show seems to hint that whatever secret Gyeo-ul has that might trigger fear in her could be connected to domestic violence or to an abusive male figure which could be her Dad. What an irony considering that this is Gyeo-ul, the only daughter doted on by 13 Dads.

Interestingly, the color of the ER bed curtains is also orange, which could be a reassurance that Jeong-won will be there for Gyeo-ul when she starts to confront and process whatever fear it is that she is keeping secret.

Now, let's go back to Ha-Yul. Before she leaves, she remembers the 3rd flavor. It is interesting how, instead of announcing it out loud, Ha-Yul chooses to whisper it to Jeong-won, as if signifying that the 3rd secret is something much more intimate than the first and the second.

Also, based on the fact that Ha-yul whispers it just as she is about to leave, we think that this 3rd secret is going to be revealed nearer to the finale episode.

TOASTED RICE:

So what secret does toasted rice represent? We don't know yet, and again, we can only speculate - but one possibility could have to do with parenthood. Why do we say this? It's because rice is emphasized by the camera only during scenes in Yangpyeong between Jeong-won and Rosa. Jeong-won even enjoys it with the best perilla leaves he's ever had in Episode 3 of Season 2.

Although not zoomed in, we see rice on a flatlay shot being enjoyed by our two contrasting parents in Episode 5:

It is also worth noting that in Episode 5, the show seems to have intentionally made Jeong-won cover the rice he gives to Gyeo-ul with his hand. Or is it mere coincidence?

Additional thoughts:

Aside from representing secrets, we think that the three flavors could also possibly mark three phases of Gyeo-ul and Jeong-won's relationship that we are going to witness.

Strawberry, indicating the phase when their relationship is sweet (honeymoon phase)

Orange, indicating the phase when their relationship is sometimes sweet, and is sometimes sour, meaning challenges that shake them might now appear (after the 1-year time jump), and likely in connection with Gyeo-ul's family. UPDATE (07/22/2021): We believe that this phase is preparatory for marriage.

Toasted rice, indicating a phase of...prosperity? fertility? (We're just taking a really wild guess on this one, and it makes us wonder too if we're going to see another time jump.) Whatever this is, we feel positive that this is going to bring good news.

And we'll stop here, lest we be the biggest clowns in the end. But remember, Strawberry, Orange and Toasted Rice. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!