Healer

I decided to watch Healer because of my friend. She was absolutely crazy about it at the time it aired, and it was hard not to be interested while listening to her talking about it.

I suppose I should mention that I wasn't quite sure about the main leads at first. I watched Park Min Young in two dramas before (City Hunter and Sungkyunkwan Scandal), and although I didn't dislike her, I wouldn't plan to go out of my way to watch her. My first encounter with Ji Chang Wook was when he guested in Running Man, during which although he was handsome, he hardly appeared as attractive.

Good for me, I tried to keep being open-minded. Apart from letting myself be affected by my friend's suggestion, I also watched a cut from an episode to see the chemistry between the two main leads. It didn't completely convince me, but enough to sense a certain level of their chemistry together - which I actually liked.

So at a certain point, I kind of felt it was time and gave it a go. I kept my pace of one episode a day at first, not quite know what to expect. The first struck of emotion for me was in episode 6, then it bloomed in episode 8, and from then on it was pretty much an one-way street, I couldn't go back anymore. Some days I watched two, or even three episodes at a time. My friend said, "Well, that sounds about right".

The thing I liked the most about Healer, surprisingly or not at all, was the chemistry between Seo Jung Hoo/Park Bong Soo (Ji Chang Wook) and Chae Young Shin (Park Min Young) in the drama. They gave me lots of feels. I forgot them in real life and immersed myself completely into that fantasy world. It was rare since I hadn't been able to totally get into the mood of any Korean dramas as of late, let alone feel the romance and believe it was real. This pair broke the stuffy and frustrating air I was feeling for the past 3 years about Korean dramas in general. It was lovely, adorable, light, trusting. When you see those two, you simply genuinely want them to be together, not because they went through a lot and they needed to be together just for the sake of it, but because they deserve each other. Whenever I saw them, it made me all light up inside. Fluttering. Happy.

Apart from the OTP (one true pairing), it appeared to me that everyone who took part in the project was putting their all in it, and they worked so amazing in harmony together that it also reflected on screen. Both Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young were passionate about their parts, they gave lots of suggestions and really tried to understand their characters. For Ji Chang Wook's character - Seo Jung Hoo/Park Bong Soo, I think we're bound to love him. It was a guy who was strong and intelligent and brave, and at the same time had this dorky and awkward side to social interactions (especially to Young Shin's father) that was super duper cute. For Park Min Young's character - Chae Young Shin, she did this type of character before but for the first time ever, something was different. She had a certain depth and comfort that made it easy and pleasant to watch. It felt like something just clicked. I get annoyed easily with unnecessarily silly and naive characters, but this time I actually liked Chae Young Shin a lot, simply because it wasn't that type. It was true she needed to be protected, yet to me it seemed that you didn't need to be strong all the time. If something was out of your reach and ability, it would be better to leave it to people who could handle it instead of fighting blindly no matter what. What would be wrong with receiving help when needed? Young Shin was brave whenever the situation called for. It led me to believe that the script was written logically after much thought. I'm pretty sure many people will have withdrawal symptoms after watching Healer, so I would recommend you to find what the writer Song Ji Na as well as the assistant writers had to say about it, plus listen to dramabeans podcast about Healer too. Also for the first time since forever, Healer managed to get my brain working on the insights it provided. What a feast.

Now when I listen to Healer main theme song, it makes me want to go run through the rooftops. And when the first line in Eternal Love by Michael Learns to Rock turns up, I can't help but agree, yes, "It's a beautiful feeling"...

I highly recommend you to keep aside all your negative ideas of k dramas and watch this show - this isn't just a good Korean show, it's a GOOD SHOW IN GENERAL!

I confess, I initially started watching this show solely because I loved Ji Chang Wook. But it took just 2 episodes for me to get completely sucked in. This show is so beautifully made - the characters are solid and well developed, with proper back stories and logical, reasonable attitudes. I usually do not like bubbly, naive, dainty female characters but this female lead truly blew me away. Her weird dancing and singing, her optimism, her sense of rationality in the face of adversities - all of this make her a lovable, strong female lead. She can't fight, and needs protection - but NOT because she needs a guy to protect her all the time, but because it's simply illogical to fight when you don't know how to fight. The male lead is jaw droppingly charming, and Ji Chang Wook offers a stellar performance; he handles the transitions between the character of a fighter and a weak commoner effortlessly. I think the character that stood out for me was Ms Jo, the female hacker. I love how bizarre, blunt and brutal she was - unapologetically herself. The best thing about this show is the fact that it has the least amount of the typical TV show cliches, and the romance is just the right amount - enough to make you want more of it, but not overhshadow the plot. The characters are consistent and develop well throughout the course of the show. The mystery itself is super intriguing. The soundtrack is quite strange at times, but you'll get used to it.

I watched city hunter, My Love from Another A Star, and a couple more Korean Drama based on ratings that I see. Healer to me, is the best of all the ones I've seen so far. Again, Because Korean drama is so long, I do not want to waste time watching so so one. So I always read reviews and ratings first before I watch the drama.

Healer has everything. Great casts, great story line, with funny, romantic and action scenes combined equally. If you are looking for a good Korean drama and haven't watch this movie, watch this. You won't be disappointed. When I watched City Hunter, I literally got bored with some of Lee Min Ho's scenes that I fast forwarded a bunch of episodes. This movie kept me hooked and wanted more. It is No cliché, very down to earth.

Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young are meant for each other. I will watch another movie if they are both paired again in it. You just want to cheer them and be happy for them.

If there is a perfect KDrams in every aspect, this one's it: intrigue, mystery, action, suspense with a powerful love story.

I've seen over 150 KDramas so far, and this one continues to outshine virtually all the rest.

Well written, directed and acted with a fabulous OST, there's not one plot point missed, overlooked, or useless in this FASCINATING story of the best-in-his-field covert operative whose assignment brings across his path a unique woman with whom he will ultimately fall in love.

There are incredible twists and turns along the way, plenty of action for guys (this one kept my subtitle unloving husband engaged and on the edge of his seat), with a powerful romance along the way.

This has pieces of so many other stories like Superman, Three Days of the Condor and the Bourne Trilogy, but I think this one outshines them all. I really don't want to say more, because I don't want to give any of the story away.

Ji Chang Wook excelled at this role which required him to be a kind of superman physically, while at the same time having the ability to don many "faces" and comport himself in multiple different ways including sweet, nerdy, hesitant, covert, resourceful, cagey, intelligent, capable, protective - all while taking a hard fall into love.

Park Min Young perfectly executes her role of the one girl who is the perfect fit for Healer in oh so many as well as some unique ways that are brilliantly written and executed, but totally unforeseen by us, the audience. All you can do is watch and marvel while understanding how perfect for him she truly is.

There are tense moments, moments of seeing true evil being done by those with no conscience for their actions, there are plot twists taking us in a direction we could not foresee, there is a hidden tie between the leads that comes to light, there are touching, sweet and even painful moments, there's a scrumptious romance, and there are some hysterically funny LOL moments, such as the first time Healer goes into Chae Young-Shin's father's café in episode two, as well as Healer revealing who he truly is to her father in episode 20.

This is one that can be watched multiple times, and more pieces will click as you do.

This one is NOT to be missed!

Just watch it.

You won't regret it.

I promise.

End was really unsatisfactory and somewhat childish, more because of the build up which was so great. If ACTION, CRIME, DRAMA is your genre, this show is amazing. For a heads up, there is some good ROMANCE too. It's a BINGE WATCH if you like that or not.