I finished Healer long ago but I got busy with many other things. So here I am writing my review more than a month and half after completed it. It’s fine because a month or six won’t make me loose things to say about that drama. Certainly not.
Dangerous. This' how one of my friend described Healer. And indeed the drama can be resumed with this single ‘cause the drama is excitedly dangerous and highly addictive! You’ve been warned.
There’s a drama or two that still need to be reviewed, but Healer walked on my mind like a disease. I couldn’t just stay quiet or write anything else.
(Ben:You & Michael Learn The Rock: Eternal Love- OST)
I have to
talk about it but I don’t even know where to start. Healer became a reference in my drama’s universe. Naturally the
drama had his flaws. And flaws are still flaws you’d say (I agree), but when those
flaws are so few they’re almost unnoticeable, it doesn’t really matter anymore.
Healer was an intense, stressful but
also gorgeous and entertaining. The drama had many ingredients, genres and aspects.
It’s always a risk to have so many elements only in the description. Some
dramas aren’t capable to be just good with only one genre involved so having
action, thriller, romance and comedy all mixed isn’t exactly what I’d call an
easy way. But surprise, Healer managed to bring us something
coherent and perfectly balanced. Not the kind of recurrent schema in dramas where
you know you’ll laugh for a couple of episodes before becoming besties with
your handkerchiefs till the end of the show. Each episode of Healer, no matter the degree of
intensity (and God knows that sometimes it was almost unbearable), we had sweet
instants, out laugh moments and romantic interludes. Talking about romance, let
start with that.
The Romance
Ji
Chang-Wook
and Park Min-Young had an
unbelievable alchemy. I swear there was something in the air they were breathing
because I believed every of their single word. I believed in their sadness,
their pain, their romance and their fears. I rooted for them like rarely I
rooted for two leads before. They were natural, involved and credible. Sincerity
is the key when you’re an actor. Just believe in what you do, in your character
and we, watchers, will be sold in no time. They were great, cute and…in love,
which was they were asking for actually. Their chemistry was real either in
front of or behind the cameras. The several BTS’ videos showed that they got along
well! Watching them together was like eating you favorite meal with the cutie
of your dreams: you just don’t want that to end. Ever.
If I liked that couple I lot, I liked Ji Chang-Wook’s character more. Maybe I
should say his character as he played Healer, Seo Jung Hoo and Park Bong Soo.
He portrayed the three perfectly consider the fact that despite being one person
the three personalities were different as well. Healer is a professional night
errand boy who can take care of any job as long as it’s well paid. Seo Jung Hoo
is a lonely young man, who’s somehow lost his place in these society. He’s only
concerned by the money that’s entering his bank account. Park Bong Soo could merely
be seen as an undercover character but there’s more than that. He’s a character
who will discover that being social and interact with others (and actually having
a regular job) isn’t a bad thing! All of his personalities make Seo Jung Hoo
someone special and so far one my all-time favorite’s character in dramaland! Full
of flaws, he’s arrogant in one scene and completely disarmed in the next one,
fragile and strong at the same time, combative and then totally lost. He’s
without contest the one who made me fell so hardly in love with Healer.
Seo Jung Hoo was human in all his ways. He started as a night
errand boy only preoccupied by the deserted island he planned to buy to end up
being shaken up by people he wouldn’t even look at before.
You definitely can’t buy an island with a smile. You
need money. And in order to gain enough cash, you’d better not be emotionally
involved in your missions. Basically Healer does the jobs he’s calling for, the
rest is not his business. What happens after is anybody’s guess, as long as
he’s paid. No attach means no complications. His politic in work worked for
several years, until the day he’s framed for a murder. He’s everything you want
him to be but certainly not a killer! He’ll try to prove his innocence with the
help of Ahjumma. Time-out! Is it ok
for me to say right now how much I loved that Ahjumma? I know I’m probably
getting too fast ahead and I’m mixing things but I really loved her. All right,
I got it, I’ll wait. Following evidences, Seo Jung Hoo will met that one person
who’ll change him irreversibly: Chae Young Shin (Park Min Young).
He will then
realize that life is more than a deserted island, more than any of his selfish
goals, more than money and more than the solitude he found comfort in. He will
fall in love, will discover feelings he wasn’t aware of, will fight for his
life and for his loved ones. And his ride for justice and love became one of my
most precious one so far.
Ji Chang Wook’s acting and the natural way he had to
express all he was going through captivated me, completely won me. And the fact
that he’s absolutely hot has nothing to do with that. All right maybe is it a
bit related but not totally!
His characters were without any doubt well written
and God knows how much it’s important ‘cause sometimes a good idea can turn
into something lame all because of a bad written. On the other hand if the
leads aren’t able to express a large ranges of emotions or are simply
emotionless then we have a problem, the drama has a problem.
Seo Jung Hoo literally bloomed in front of us, he changed and
redefined his priorities. And I think the drama won points in showing us that
process. We travelled and discovered everything with Seo Jung Hoo. I’m quite
sure he was the first to be surprised by his own emotions. But Seo Jung Hoo
will figure out his feeling later as he need to clear his name for the moment
and mostly found out who’s trying to frame him. While fighting against the villains
Seo Jung Hoo will learn more than expecting. To win that fierce battle, he’ll
have to give up a lot in the process and the will shake him and his beliefs up
completely.
**Spoilers** That Urushin (Choi Jong-Won), that
crazy Elder who orchestrates most everything from behind, was scary. Urushin here’s my sincere request to you:
I won’t stand seeing you playing again that old crack grand-pa who’s only
pleasure in life is bossing everyone around and ordering murders. It really
must be tiring arabuji, so please be
kind in your next role. Just be a grand-pa everyone would love.
I’ve said it a zillion times already but I still have
to say it: it’s always a good to have growing characters, you dramas! It won’t
ever be a wrong idea. Healer understood
it and made a beautiful demonstration of that. The drama is the quintessence of
what to do with your characters to erase any dullness and to keep us alert of
everything. A door was open and the screenwriter didn’t only stayed in front of
it, trying to decide to go or not. She just went. She pushed her characters,
especially Seo Jung Hoo, to the point of letting go in order to gain more. Seo
Jung Hoo realized that sometimes relying on others and receiving help isn’t a
sign of weakness, on the contrary. And that’s where Seo Jung Hoo grew up the
most. He was reluctant to work with and trust Kim Moon Ho (Yoo Ji- tae) in the first place but ended up realizing how vital it
was not only for him but for everyone.
**Spoilers** Even after Seo Jung Hoo revealed
himself to Kim Moon Ho, even if he knew he hadn’t a million options, even if he
knew he need Kim Moon Ho’s help, Seo Jung Hoo stubbornly kept playing solo. I’m
fine on my own, I’ll make all these bastards fall and I will clean my father’s
name. Nice plan except that’s it’s easier said than done my dearest Healer. **End spoilers**
Of course he
had Ahjumma (is it now time to talk about her? Aarrrghhh), by his side, but at some
points you have to learn to ask for help and that’s he hopefully did. That’s a
sign of maturity my dear Seo Jung Hoon!
Song Ji Na, the writer has that incredible ability
to describe and show all the emotions exacerbate. That’s what she previously
did with What’s Up. The drama met a
relatively modest success but it stayed one of my favorite one. The characters
were tortured, at difficult crossroads, wounded but still enjoying every
moment. They were simply realistic and human. They changed and as Seo Jung Hoon
they learned to rely on each other. Have I already said that it’s the kind of
drama I love the most? Yeah a billion times. But what, I love to say it, I can’t
help it. And who knows, if someone in this scary and crazy fast century isn’t
busy developing a machine that can read thoughts. Mine could be read by a writer
or two...I got it, no comment. Let’s go back to reality now.
Chae Young Shin (Park Min-Young) is bubbly, fun but
also determinate and fearless. How much I would like to see more female leads
of that calibre. Chae Young Shin keeps going ahead no matter the critics, she fights
and stand firm on her ground. No need for a female lead to scream for hours and
cry to remind everyone that she’s a weak and fragile thing that need
protection. Chae Young Shin’s tough side reminded me a lot of her character of
Kim Nana in City Hunter (2011).
Actually Healer has, as I see it, some
common points with City Hunter. A
hero in quest of revenge, who at some point understand that revenge isn’t
everything. His life and perspectives change as he discovers real love.
Chae Young Shin quite quickly created a strange but sweet connection with Seo Jung Hoo/Healer/Park Bong Soo. I use strange because honestly their bond happened before my eyes but still it was so subtle and not intrusive that it feels like they’ve always been connected. Their connection worked and no doubt their onscreen alchemy played a big part in it. You take two capable actors with zero chemistry on screen and you’ve just completely ruined your drama.
Chae Young Shin and Seo Jung Hoo got close so quickly like they never grew up apart. It’s probably because there’s much more than what we see. Their own personal’s history is a bit more complex and complicate. They’re connected and basically what will make the connection between them is two pictures. On is few days old while the other is twenty years old!
For
someone who successfully hid his identity and face for eight years what a
surprise to found a photo of him hung on Chae Young Shin’s wall. A perfect
stranger, his photo, a wall? Of course that asked for an investigation. And
what a better way to found the bottom of the story than to get hire undercover into
the web journal where your number one suspects (Chae Young Shin) works? Welcome
to Park Bong Soo, the other self of Seo Jung Hoo! Park Bong Soo will become
Chae Young Shin’s hoobae, confident
and friend. Working with the one you’re investigating is surely the best way to
learn more and that surely helps to create bonds.
The
second picture is the one that lead to the whole intrigue.
The Plot
Decisions
you made all through your life can decide what you’ll do, the path you’ll
choose and in the most extent who you are. You better decide carefully and not
regret any of your choices. And Kim Moon Ho (Yoo Ji-Tae) knows it better than anyone else.
We discover Kim Moon Ho as a journalist at the
top of his career. He has everything: fame, respect, recognition, sympathy of
the public, sense of ethics, talent and looks. What more could you ask for? But
being eating up by a secret doesn’t make you really enjoy all this celebrity.
On the contrary. It can even become, somehow, a burden. Kim Moon Ho’s burden
isn’t only a terrible and old secret it’s also the path his big brother chose
to take long ago. Twenty years ago actually. For his own sake, in the name of a
so-called love, because he refused to fight and probably because it was easier
to do so, Kim Moon Shik (Park Sang-Won),
that big brother, sacrificed his friends, his integrity and his dreams. Or
maybe it never been his dreams but his friends’ dreams. And in my opinion that
changes everything here.
The protagonists on the pictures were all friends
in the early 90’s. They created a clandestine radio in favour of the people,
refusing government’s censorship. Despite the consequences and the police’s
threats, they lived in the name of telling another truth than the one dictated
by the authorities. That thirst of freedom will eventually lead them to tragic
events but at least they lived according to their ideals. That’s surely the
case for the whole band except probably for Kim Moon Shik. He’s the son of a
comfortable and comfortable business man. He hasn’t the biggest motives to be
part of that clandestine radio except maybe one reason that can defeat the others:
love!
He’s profoundly and badly in love with Choi Myung-hee (Do Ji-Won), the only girl of the band.
That latter is couple with Oh Gil Han, another pal of the band. In love, they’ll
eventually get married and a baby girl, Ji An, will seal their love. But we’re
not in a Disneyland’s fairy tale and things won’t stay quiet and happy for
long. Tragically Oh Gil Han will die five years later and Choi Myung-hee will
end up in a serious traffic accident that same night. Kim Moon Shik as a
faithful and fortunate lover, took care of Choi Myung-hee (hospital’s fees,
insuring she’s receiving the best treatment).
He
did everything for her but didn’t show the same devotion for Ji An. The little
girl's 5 years the moment she lost her father and her mother ended up on the
coma. She can rely on her uncles (the rest of the band). Kim Moon Shik isn’t
the most incline to take care of her but he will for Choi Myung-hee’s sake.
That was the plan in theory but then Ji An will get lost. Out one night with
Kim Moon Shik, traumatized and scared, the girl will followed a woman who
looked like her mom. At that precise moment, there’re three important truths
for Kim Moon Shik: 1. He’s in love with a girl who doesn’t exactly feel the
same but who actually cares when… 2. His rival died leaving him a huge open
road to turn the tables to his advantage? 3. The only obstacle to get the girl
is a little girl who just go lost. So he either go and look for Ji An or he
totally makes her disappear. Forever, the better.
Kim Moon Shik choose to literally bury Ji An. The price isn’t much to pay:
he spend happy 20 years next to the only woman he ever loved. No regrets then
(we’re clearly aware that Choi Myung-hee isn’t in love but she’s grateful for
everything Kim Moon Shik did and for his devoted love).
If the latter seems to
live quite well with his choice, Kim Moon Ho is devastated inside. Knowing the
truth and in a way having cover his brother’s actions repulses him. He’s not in
peace with himself, not in peace with the past, not in peace with his choices.
He’s resentful over his hyung and
he’s somehow obsessed with the idea of not ending up like him.
I can’t finish my short review without screaming all the love I have for the ahjumma! I liked her so much I swear she deserves
her own drama. Seriously that’s doable and that would be super funny I know it!
I’m so used to see Kim Mi Kyung in
familial dramas, in the role of the sweet mother or even in more serious
environment (Plus Nine Boys, The Heirs, Faith, Master’s Sun) that
her character of Jo Min Ja in Healer
took me by surprise. She was the exact opposite of anything I could have
imagine for her! I loved her!
I especially enjoyed her relationship with Seo
Jung Hoo. She cared for him like a sunbae,
like a friend, like a mother. It’s crazy how their grew up trusting and relying
on each other while they never met physically. I laughed my ass-off when they
saw each other for the first time. Epic! All right, I just changed my mind: I
want a drama of ahjumma and Seo Jung Hoo only! That would be more than awesome!
Overall Feeling
I barely
felt the twenty episodes as the ride was breath taking. So far, somehow, I
managed to survive without Seo Jung Hoo around, jumping from one rooftop to
another.
Healer devastated me and most of my
standards. It touched me in a way I can’t hardly explain. It’s beyond Ji Chang
Wook’s handsomeness, beyond his chemistry with Park Min-Young. It’s just that I
found human and honest characters that talked to me.
I liked the characters, the ton, the conspiracy,
the development, the connexion, the acting. Healer had basically everything all packed in twenty episodes! The drama gave us a logic and satisfying end
(I particularly liked the end of Kim Moon Shik) making every tiny seconds, every
word, every punch, every stab in the back, every breathless or freaking out
moment, every minute I thought I was going crazy worth the ride.
The drama was subtitle enough to equally balance all the genres involved. At least, smarter than those dramas that have everything in hand to be great but end up being beautiful and organized messes!
Healer is more than birth secrets, revenge,
betrayals, threats, quests of justice, repentance or power. It’s a compilation
of humans’ emotions and aspects sincerely portrayed. It’s scary, ugly, emotional,
sad, crazy, endearing and beautiful. And that’s finally what Healer was all about.
OR 
