by Wiam Najjar, December 29, 2014
30

Currently Watching

Healer

Work, to-do lists and ''life'' limit our time of watching dramas. If you relate, raise your hand. Lately, I've had no time to watch the ongoing dramas, much less start new ones. I vowed (I always do) not to start anything before wrapping up the rest. But then I watched the 6-minute teaser (my drama eonnis are to be blamed for this), and I fell right into it without intending to. I didn't think twice or ask about it; I simply started it. And now that I have no internet connection at home (my dad is playing the bad guy) I had to watch episode 5 at work.

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The cast is tempting, yes, but it isn't really the cast that drew me in, it's the tension. In 5 episodes, I felt like I watched more than one drama. The plot is crazy, the characters are insanely and beautifully well-written and the fighting, jumping and chasing scenes are just stunning. Not that I'm into jumping between buildings or defeating 20 guys on one's own but I don't know why I totally love that here. While googling photos of the drama, I read the words ''healing time'', that's exactly what the drama is about; healing. The title of the drama which is the code name of the hero is perfectly chosen. The characters who have deep wounds that haven't been healed in ages are looking for healing. Even Healer himself needs healing. The drama is about people healing each other; in the most intensive, crazed and the deepest way ever.

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So our Healer (Ji Chang Wook), also known as Seo Jung Hoo or Park Bong Soo, is an errand boy on a different level. He carries out every mission assigned to him as long as it doesn't include murder. He's swift and skilled; a genius in a way. He never lets emotions get in his way. He has no friends and only contacts his employer Jo Min Ja (Kim Mi Kyung; one of my favourite ahjumma actresses out there) though he doesn't even know the way she looks. He believes people are all the same and he cares nothing about them. He has one dream he lives for; buying one abandoned island and building his own world there. His dream might look shallow and superficial to others and that's exactly what I love about it. We still don't know much about the secrets he hides, but he's certainly got many and they're connected in the most complicated way with other characters. I'm pretty through with all the fate stuff going on in dramas and the connection between characters from their childhood that goes so deep and stuff. But I won't allow this to affect the greatness of the drama. I've decided to just accept it. There's nothing I can do about it, is there?!    

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So our Healer lives in his own bubble, following exactly his life plan until he runs into Chae Yeong Shin (Park Min Young) and finds himself (and for the first time) getting personally involved in somebody else's life; and to the risk of his own.

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Ji Chang Wook is too unhealthy to watch. I had never watched him before I started Warrior Baek Dong Soo (for Yoo Seung Ho) and was amazed. Now I'm more amazed and completely and perfectly in love. His outfit here is a killer *swoons*.

Chae Yeong Shin is an ambitious reporter with no real education or experience to speak of. She has a passionate heart and an impulsive character which drives her to always dig deeper. As Healer describes her: ''She's not brave because she doesn't know fear. She's brave because she knows exactly how scared she is.'' She's outgoing, articulate, funny, social and bold. Because of a childhood trauma, she cannot tolerate violence but that doesn't stop her from seeking the truth. I love how human she is. She's nice but not unnecessarily and stupidly nice. She does hesitate before doing good things. She does put herself first at times and tries to ignore situations. She does calculate the risk and attempts escape. Yes, her conscience gets the better of her at the end. Still, the human her is just too real I'm worshipping her right now.

      

I fell for her in City Hunter (as many have done, I bet). And because I did I can feel how hard she's trying to get rid of her City Hunter image here. Acting similar roles is not easy. She's trying hard, and it's paying off. I'm loving her more here. Her hair style and her lovely personality are so adorable. Her relationship with her father is sooo cute I can't even. When she starts singing, I fall into bits of laughter I can't stop. I'm so glad she's acting in this drama. Time to forget A New Leaf!

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Now comes the most complicated and the most alluring character here; reporter Kim Moon Ho (Yoo Ji Tae). Kim Moon Ho is an outstanding reporter who chases the story till the end of the world and is feared by all the bad guys. He's Chae Yeong Shin's role model and people's image of justice. Hiding many secrets and suffering guilt, he avoids relationships and gets lost in stories. To find the truth behind all his pain, he might need to sacrifice everything and launch a war against his own brother, the villain in the story, Kim Moon Shik (Park Sang Won). He's mysterious, cynical, careless and blunt. He fears no one and stops at nothing. I still can't figure out how much of what he does is sincere and how ''good'' he is. I can only tell he's just too arresting he takes my breath away. His smirk is just; oh my god!! 

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I watched Yoo Ji Tae only once before in Hello Schoolgirl. When I read about him back then, I didn't understand what the fuss was about. The film was one of my first ever; I had no idea who was who or who was good or not, and the film wasn't challenging enough for any of the characters. Anyhow, I didn't check him out again. Well, I will after Healer. I know I will.

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The plot is so intriguing, and things are still blurry; I can see it's going to be a very beautiful journey. I cannot wait! It's just... awesome.

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