Healer (2014)

Overall I loved this drama. The story was interesting and was beautifully put together.
The only thing I didn't like was the ending, I need more! So many unfinished questions, this is why we need season 2!

Dislikes/ questions:
- What happened to Munsik and the boss, the left the story with too little detail about them. I know they got caught but I need to see them getting what they deserved... (Sorry I don't know how to explain that well)
- I need to see a better happy ending with the leads! The ending was cute though :)
- More scenes with Jian and her mom, I felt like their relationship wasnt strong enough
- What happened to MoonHo liking Jian, he didn't really have that much chemistry with her and wasn't much of a second male lead, (which is good cus i like Jian and healer scenes, lol)
- Master dying ????

Likes:
- Ajumma character, she is so funny and makes the series more up lifting
- The female lead doesn't create big problems from misunderstandings (unlike most kdramas )
- The healers bad ass character then cute Bosong
- The fight scenes
- Cute chemistry between leads
- Everything linking together

Lire davantage

One of the best kdrama, a must-see

Healer was the first Kdrama i watched.... Being not a fan of any Asian TV, i reluctantly watch it just to please my mum. Well, 3 months later i'm a kdrama addict and a huge Ji Chang Wook Fan... Never say never.

Healer has it all : great acting, great story with a superman vibe (no superpower), action, suspens, drama, love, humour, family. The story is well paced, and nicely done, with flashbacks helping understand the relationships between the charaters of the past and our heroes.. and helping us understand what went wrong all those years ago.
I love how the relationships between all the main characters developps, especially between the couple, the journalist and the hacker.
The romance is wonderful, full of very romantic moments, it's magic..
I don't know how many times I watched it but it was a lot...
The only negative thing i could say is that the end is a little rushed... Apart from that, it's a perfect kdrama!!!

Lire davantage

It usually takes me three episodes before I commit to a drama. This one had me hooked by 5 minutes. And I never wavered. Not once.

The male lead's character was written perfectly. He's why women have trouble with real men...they can't measure up to this guy. Add to that the actor's skill and, you're in danger, girl! Honestly the writing was perfection as well. The double life aspect of the male lead was perfectly done.

Tying the past of the two leads together was done with precision and cleverness. The show runners gave you just enough to want more without being stingy with information. It slowly comes together for us as it does for the main leads. Their friendship developing into something more happens slowly and sweetly with only hints of sadness as they struggle with their pasts.

The supporting cast was STELLAR. Adjumma...I salute you! You are the perfect foil to healer. I would watch this drama over and over again if there weren't so many others in my "to watch" list. :D

Lire davantage

Absolutely to watch

I read a lot of over enthusiastic reviews, so I decided to give it a try. I usually prefer romantic dramas, completely centered on the main couple, so I was a bit skeptical and then...bam! "Healer" hits you right in the face and in the heart. I think it's one of the best dramas that I ever watched and, believe me, I really watch a lot.
I usually feel the need to skip or FF some boring scenes, but truth is there is none.
First of all, actors (both main and secondary) are absolutely stunning and their performances are excellent, really superb. Very good chemistry among everyone so every scene of love, friendship, hate, jokes...everythink looked perfectly natural.
I really like both ML and FL as actors and I really enjoyed seeing how well they performed, once again.
Music is very enticing and in harmony with what happens. Quality is really high and the songs are never annoying.
Last, but not least, the story is amazing. I usually hate flashbacks, but here are placed in a time and place that helps building suspence, releasing a lot of emotions and the make you understand every character in a better way. The complexity is perfect and never forced, I found no missing pieces of the puzzle, no plotholes, and I simply had to binge-watch the show, as I was so eager to know more and more.
The only thing I'm not so sure about is the rewatch value: once you know everything about the story and you have no suspence, I'm not so sure it would give the same feeling.

Lire davantage

this series was amazing, the suspense, mystery, and action kept it very interesting. The ultra-cute couple was amazing and added so much to the show. I loved the character arc of the main characters and especially liked how badass Jeong Hoo was, but at the same time, he was very cute!!!! loved ittt
ML was protective afff!. watching over her at night, spying, tells ppl to keep her safe when he can't. Fighting the bad guys so they don't hurt her, etc

Their families' backstory was also very interesting to watch and every single actor played his/her part to perfection
I recommend watching it.

Lire davantage

This drama is a full 10/10.
Perfection.

Healer is a perfect combination of romance, mystery and action.

When i watched healer’s last episode, i felt numb. Why? Because i understood that i had just finished one of the best dramas i have ever seen.

Healer gets it’s unique parts from the actors. Their chemistry wasn’t the best i’ve seen but it was still cute and interesting!

The things i like,
Ji Chang Wook, Interesting plot, romance that is in balance, funny scenes and the mystery in this drama that makes you wanna watch all the episodes in one night.

The things i dislike,
Everything that keeps me away from those things.

Lire davantage

Lived up to the hype!

Healer was lighter than expected! I don’t know why I though it was going to be a heavy dark drama, but I couldn’t be happier when I found out I was wrong! I mean it wasn't a comedy but it managed to balance all of it's genres well with out one overpowering the other.

After finishing the drama I totally understand the hype around Ji Chang Wook, totally swoon worthy! (This is the first drama of his I watch) His swifts between badass healer and awkward clumsy reporter were seamless and amazing (although the more I watched the more I was convinced that that this goofy-clumsy awkward guy is his real personality-he just happens to have a badass job).

One of the things that pleasantly surprised me, were that we got to see a three-dimensional FL that was not a damsel in distressed and fought for what she wanted and was not a cry baby! Another pleasant surprise was the fact that the two Main Leads actually communicated. Who would have thought that something like this can happen in a Kdrama! Where do the writers come up with this staff? Ground-breaking!

Also, the chemistry between them was on point! Although I felt that the feelings were a bit sudden, out of the blue and there wasn’t enough build-up to them, they totally made it work!

Although I did feel that the drama got a little bit draggy towards the middle it wasn’t to the point that made you get bored or took you out of the action. One think that also worked here and usually is a drama's downfall was the flashbacks, they really used the well and weren't overwhelming! One of the few occasions where I did not feel that 20 episodes were too much!

All in all I have to say that Healer for me really lived up to the hype, something that never really happens, since I am often disappointed by hyped/ high rating / highly acclaimed dramas!

Lire davantage

Good Mix of Genres

So, I have a tendency to "save" dramas - to hold off watching them in fear that once I watch them, my expectations will be set way too high and it will ruin all other dramas for me. And Healer was the #1 drama I was saving - this drama was so hyped up I was so convinced that once I watched it, I would never be able to move on from it (as so many posts all over this site show). And now I finally watched it. How do I feel? Really, yes, it is a really good drama and I completely understand the hype (especially considering the time) but because the expectations for this drama are set up impossibly high, they are well, a little impossible to meet.
It is a good story. One thing this drama does well is it's mixing of genres - spy, action, comedy, romance. The story, for the most part, was pretty well laid out with no glaring plot holes. I mean, there is some suspension of disbelief given it's premise but things generally flow well.
The actors all did a good job in their roles and their was good cast chemistry. There was a wide range of enjoyable characters aside from the main case - the hacker ajumma, the FL's dad, the Someday News gang, the detective and even the SS guard guy - that kept the story entertaining. The main trio, of course, did an excellent job and had a fresh set-up. The romance was really very sweet and I can totally see why this drama is the standard used when asking for good romance or couple chemistry recommendations on the forums. I have a thing for super-devoted male leads with a puppyish side to them so I loved the male lead. While the female lead wasn't as dynamic as the male lead, I though they did a pretty good job with her. While I do appreciate the shift these days to write strong female characters, a lot of dramas are so focused on giving the FL ultra kung-fu skills or whatnot, they fail to write an actual character or make that character have an influence on the plot. CYS is a well-rounded character with likes, dislikes, goals, quirky traits, strength, flaws and is it her actions that help move the plot forward.
The music helped, a LOT. The OSTs on their own were hits but they complimented and enhanced the drama really well - I probably would not like it as much if not for the music (which typically does not affect my drama watching experience that much).
Overall, this is a very good drama that I highly recommend, especially if you want a cute romance. Just take all that astronomically, unrealistically high hype with a little bit of salt.

Lire davantage

The chemistry man, can't get over on episode 17.
-Honestly I drop this series long back as I got bored on episode 1, but yeah I've read some comments that it was good so I gave it a second chance.
-And my verdict for this second chance is GREAT. Someone had already mentioned it, but I also almost miss one of the most GREAT kdrama out there being released.
-Ji Chang Wook is such a great actor especially when he's Park Bong Soo, which also reminds me about his weakling role in Empress Ki.
-It's like a realistic version of Super man and that's damn good. At first you'll thought that the leading lady will be the usual damsel in distress, but she's not. She's weak yes, but she's not DAMSEL IN DISTRESS.
-The plot is also well written, and I think what got me bored when I first tried this series is that the first two episodes were very plot driven that they weren't able to focus on main characters, but after going further I then understand why it has to be that way. They build the story so people will understand the roots of the main charas, and then when they collide all of them, the mixture was PERFECTION.
-Honestly I haven't completed my TOP 5 Best Korean Drama yet, but this series just snatched my Top 4. I'll just let you know which are they in not particular order, Goblin, Reply 1988 (watched this 6 times already), and Signal.
-And so yeah, Healer was next.
-Lesson learned: Sometimes it's really good take second chances.

Lire davantage

Action-Romance Blend Done Right

Healer is a uniquely, well-executed blend of action and romance that you should definitely check out. I think this show will stand the test of time and continue to be a beloved series for years to come.

Story: Although there are some Kdrama tropes in here, the plot is really well-done. Many Kdramas suffer from a lack of story consistency where the narrative might contradict itself or even forget about story lines that they have setup, but Healer is not one of these. It starts off crafting a mystery between characters in the past and present, and then slowly unravels the connections between everyone. While this plot is unfolding, the show develops the relationships between all the characters, whether that be a love interest, a mentor, an enemy, or an ally. I found all the protagonists likeable and all the villains' motivations sensical. This is a rare show that establishes a complex plot and fully takes it to the end with a satisfying conclusion. My main, minor complaint about the story is the action -- I just feel that Kdramas can't execute action sequences that well because the fighting never looks clear and has a small element of the "shaky cam" phenomenon. However, if I had to pick a drama for the best sequences I've seen so far, it would be Healer, so it is only a minor complaint.

Acting: I felt all the acting was top-notch and brought on a discrete style to all the characters. Kim Mi Kyung showed that she could go from being a mute, caring caretaker (Heirs) into a sassy, funny hacker sidekick in Healer. Yoo Ji Tae brought the caring smugness to life and you could really see his arrogance, yet understand that he was really concerned about his friends and family. Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young were stellar as the main leads and I think accolades have to be given to Ji Chang Wook's stunt double, too, who undoubtedly brought some of the action sequences to life.

Music: I found the production quality to be high and I think the main, instrumental theme deserves a shout out for being catchy and well-used inside the drama -- it starts off with this mysterious quality that develops into a phrenetic sound that always gets you pumped up during a scene. The rest of the songs were good, although I have to ding the soundtrack a bit for having some full-English songs -- as a native English speaker, I find full-English songs a little awkward when they appear in dramas.

Rewatch value: It is definitely a fun re-experience even if you know what happens already. Some of the earlier scenes can be framed in new light now that you know what happens at the end.

This is an excellent show -- don't hesitate to check it out!

Lire davantage

Take a Hike Batman - Healer has it Covered

10/10 is my rating. This is a 2014/2015 South Korean Drama with 20 episodes (~60 minutes/episode).Seo Jung-hoo/Park Bong-soo/Healer (Ji Chang-wook) does illegal jobs as a "night courier." Jung-hoo is an exceptional martial artist who utilizes cutting edge technology and a partner who specializing in computer technology and hacking. The night courier work is a way Jung-hoo plans to purchase an island off the coast of Panama to live on solo. One of his clients, Kim Moon-ho (Yoo Ji-tae) is a famous reporter who asks Healer to locate and protect a girl named Chae Young-shin/Oh Ji-an (Park Min-Young) from people that want to harm her. The three come together to discover the truth of a tragedy that occurred in 1992 which resulted in the crippling of one friend in a group of five best friends and the death of two. There are those who are determined to insure that past is not uncovered and who will harm anyone who gets in their way.

This show had everything I love in it. There was amazing action scenes, suspense, a sweet romance, love of family, good winning over evil - just all the elements were there. The characters were so compelling that I was sad when my time in "Healer" world was over. This one shoots right to the top of my favorites list.

Lire davantage

6 years have passed i still haven't moved on from this masterpiece

every time a friend or online acquaintance asks me for a kdrama recommendation... this is the go-to kdrama i would recommend - that is how good this drama is. i have watched it over 25 times and still am not bored of it. occasionally, i go onto youtube and watch the little cuts of the drama too and still squeal in amazement. 6 years have passed since i first saw the drama for the first time, and how i wish i could rewind time to watch it for the very first time again and again.

story: 9/10
the plot was GREAT. the story was so refreshing... a night courier? falling in love and protecting the girl he was supposed to investigate? it already sounded AMAZING right off the bat. subplots were super interesting as well, i cried at quite a few parts, it was really touching. i loved how they incorporated hacking and like those action scenes too... but this is the only category that didn't get a 10/10 for me because of certain parts i guess. the airport scene was pretty abrupt for me... but then again, i still enjoyed every moment of it.

acting/cast: 10/10
ji changwook's best work, imo. i've watched him in k2 and suspicious partner and backstreet rookie as well... but none of it quite matches up to his performance in this show. perhaps it's his role, or maybe his chemistry with park minyoung but it WORKED. it didn't just work, but it was truly an astounding execution on his part. i don't think anyone else in the industry could have executed his role quite as perfectly.
as for park minyoung, this was the first time i saw her act... and I LOVED IT. i think it's her role too, because i've watched her in other dramas as well like what's wrong with secretary kim and sungkyunkwan scandal but... her healer role just hits different. again, i think it could be the role or chemistry. the casting was truly perfect for this drama.

music: 10/10
i still have the songs in my spotify playlist. you by ben... omg. her voice is crazy, it sounds like chae youngshin is singing it because it's like from her pov you know what i mean?? plus the BGM they play when healer jumps from building to building... OUTSTANDING, truly. i get goosebumps EVERYTIME even when listening to it rn. eternal love too... urgh i have neverending praises for the bgm of this drama.

rewatch value: 10/10
i mean i watched it 25 times so... i don't think anyone is quite as obsessed about this drama as i am. ah, but if only i knew from the start exactly how good it was gonna be... i would have savoured every moment of my first watch. but then again, the rewatch value is still wayyyy up there. i still feel the same emotions or even more intensely with every watch.

overall: 9.5/10
not a single drama gets a 10/10 in my list, but if i ever had to give a 10/10, this drama would be it. YOU GUYS HAVE TO WATCH IT I SWEAR, PLEASE TRUST ME ON THIS I LITERALLY CREATED AN ACCOUNT JUST TO WRITE THIS REVIEW FINALLY AFTER 6 YEARS.

Lire davantage