Perfect Balance Between Romance and Thriller

When I started looking into popular Kdrama romances, Healer was one of the most popular and recommended shows. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy a show released almost ten years ago. I figured the production value, acting quality, and storyline would be outdated and problematic. I am so happy to report I was absolutely dead wrong! This show stands the test of time with an outstanding cast and story expertly balancing between an intense plot and epic romance.

Let’s first talk about the chemistry - all of the actors worked well together, but the romantic relationship between So Jung-hoo and Chae Young-shin sizzled on screen. Although secrets kept them apart for much of the first half of the show, the second half more than makes up for that distance with plenty of skinship between the two (hugs, cuddles, kisses, etc.). I appreciated the time spent developing their emotional connection to one another, particularly when unveiled secrets threatened their burgeoning romance. The secondary characters were also memorable, particularly Kim Mi-kyung as Jo Min-Ja. Her character had a surprising amount of depth despite being regulated to working at the computer most of the show’s run.

The action sequences were intense and well-done. I know Ji Chang-wook is know for his action work, and it is on showcase in Healer. I did find the storyline to be rather confusing, although I think it worked perfectly well for the mystery aspects of the show. Mystery is not my genre of choice so I tend to miss red hearings and clues other sleuths may pick up. The show tied up lose ends well, although I do wish some more closure was given regarding the role of the Healer in the future.

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Lots of Issues

Dear gentle reader, I pretty much hated it. Let me count the ways.

❤ I will never take sound production for granted again. I could hear almost every little rustle coming from the actors moving around the set or the noise generated from an outdoor scene. And, my god, the cicadas were incredibly loud in the outside shots. I don't mind a certain amount of background noise as I think it makes scenes feel more real than fiction, but it took me completely out of the narrative to be trying to hear the actors over all of the other noise.

❤ I wasn't a fan of the OST. While the tunes were lighthearted and happy, I didn't fell like they reflected the show for some reason. The show is pretty lighthearted so I'm not sure why the songs didn't click, but they didn't.

❤ The side characters were one-dimensional with little making them integral to the story. I also felt like some of the performances were lacking. However, perhaps they were lacking because they were given so very little depth and breadth. The only side character I absolutely adored was Hyeon Jin. Give me a fierce best friend any day of the week! I wish her and her later love interest would have been given more screen time and character development.

❤ This show would have benefited from a shorter number of episodes. My number one pet peeve is when shows insert entire scenes or clips from previous episodes to pad out current episodes. This had so much padding, particularly episode 8 (with 15 minutes of a montage sequence featuring the main couple in a 40 minutes episode). Perhaps if I had loved the characters more this would not have bothered me so much.

❤ While I think the romance had potential, it didn't work for me. Part of it was Lee Jae In's physical manhandling of Kim Da Hyeon. Every scene where he was touching her felt like him pushing her around. He would either have his hand wrapped around her wrist dragging her behind him or he would be pushing her around to get her where he wanted her. I don't think it was intended to look that way, but it did.

❤ If this show got one thing right, it was what a realistic romance would look like between two working adults. Both of them have to make concessions or compromises in order to see each other. There are also times when they had to make phone calls or texts count because they couldn't physical see each other. These scenes back-to-back felt a little choppy, but I do think it was realistic.

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Conflicted About Story's Message

I feel a bit conflicted about Oh My Venus. While the two leads had great chemistry, I'm not sure the overall story worked for me.

❤ While I love a good story where a woman takes control of her life and destiny, I'm a little concerned about the portrayal that a "sexy" and "healthy" woman's ideal body type is thin. Hmmm. I do appreciate the male lead talking several times about "health" rather than "thinness" as the best indicator for wellbeing, but it still feels a little too on the nose that the female lead loses tons of weight and turns "pretty" (so to speak).

❤ The two leads have amazing chemistry together. Their romance was built slowly as they dealt with their developing personal feelings. However, I was not a fan of their ending. It may be an HEA, but the actions leading to it felt problematic.

❤ The makeup was spot on for this show. The fat suits used for the main female lead and the second lead were outstanding.

❤ I loved Kim Young-ho's boys, Jan Joon-Sung and Kim Ji-Woong. Who doesn't love a found family trope? Not me!

❤ I disliked the second leads so much. Part of it had to do with their set-up - it truly felt like they had started a relationship prior to his breakup with Kang Joo-Un. Partly it had to do with how mean and vindictive Oh Soon-Jin was written. Seriously, she was the worst and I had a hard time having sympathy for her with how terrible she was to most of the others.

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Interesting Plot + Tepid Romance

This didn't work for me for several reasons.

❤ The romance was disappointing as I felt the two actors didn't have much chemistry or connection at the start of the series. Mid-season the two finally found a romantic vibe, and I did believe their love by the end of the series.

❤ The story itself was interesting. I'm not sure I found it all that plausible, but it certainly sucked me in to it. I couldn't stop watching to see what happened next.

❤ Probably the most interesting part is as Kang Chul becomes a fully realized character, the madness of Oh Sung-Moo grows. The performance of the actor playing the writer, Kim Eui-Sung, was amazing. He did an excellent job portraying this poor unraveling soul struggling between reality and fiction.

❤ I wish the side characters from the webtoon, Yoon So-Hee and Seo Do-Yoon, were given a bit more depth and interaction within the story. It would have made for nice layers for the two to be more integral to the plot rather than as side pieces for Kang Chul to use as needed.

❤ The cinematography and action sequences were really well done. Jee Jong Suk, playing Kang Chul, had some excellent and memorable moments.

❤ The biggest problem, or at least the one I noticed the most, was the sound production. It was somewhat hard to hear the actors when they were in crowded or outdoor scenes, particularly when they were on the phone. I noticed myself turning up the volume multiple times during those scenes, something I never thought about prior to other shows.

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Mood Boosting Fun Time

If you're looking for a mood boosting fun time, you've come to the right place!

❤ I'm pretty sure you will see a picture of Ahn Hyo Seop and Kim Se Jeong if you look up the word "chemistry" in the dictionary. Also probably Kim Min Gue and Seol In Ah. All of these actors had spades of chemistry with each other, and I was here for it.

❤ The friendships between the characters were literally everything. I loved how the best friends of the main characters have their own utterly beautiful romance.

❤ Kim Se Jeong as Shin Ha Ri was riveting. Someone likened her to Emma Stone, and I 100% agree. She played Ha-ri with such charm and vulnerability that I couldn't help but fall in love with the actress and the character.

❤ The supporting cast was absolutely brilliant. Even the characters with little screen time somehow made their scenes shine.

❤ The last episode was a bit disappointing. I felt like the show back peddled on some of the smart decisions made by characters to make it seem more "drama" filled than it needed to be. I perhaps might have enjoyed it more if I had not been watching it live - I think my expectations became too big with the wait between episodes.

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Melodramatic and Campy

While I can see the appeal to this series, it had too much melodrama for my taste.

❤ The heart of this story is the romance between Yoon Se-ri and Ri Jeong-hyeok. The actors had phenomenal chemistry together and really sold the believability of their star crossed lovers romance.

❤ Who doesn't love a found family story? Not me! Captain Ri's Company Five stole the show (and my heart). I loved all of them so, so much - taciturn Pyo Chi-su, stoic (but handsome!) Park Kwang-beom, nerdy Yoo Su-bin, and the kid-like Geum Eun-Dog. I loved how they all adopted Se-ri, and she them. The relationships they build between each other, the love they feel for each other, it was the best part of the show.

❤ The ones to get shafted here are by far the second lead couple, Gu Seung-Jung and Seo Dan. The two had decent chemistry together, and their respective stories fit well for the romantic aspect of their relationship. All of their build up was for nothing and the ending to their storyline was incredibly unsatisfying.

❤ The first part of the story is set in North Korea, while the latter half is mostly spent in South Korea. It was fascinating learning about the Korean Demilitarize Zone (KDZ) and the differences between the two countries. However, I'm not sure on the accurately portrayed by the North Korean portions of the show.

❤ If the plot hadn't gone in such a dramatic direction, I probably would have rated it higher. It was just a little too campy and over-the-top for me.

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Beautiful Star Crossed Love Story

Guys, this show absolutely, completely, and totally wrecked me. WRECKED ME. It is sure to satisfy the most die hard romantic with dynamic leads, stunning cinematography, and angsty romance. Let me count all the ways this show had me falling in love.

❤ I wasn’t 100% invested in the romance between charming Lee Gon and pragmatic Jeong Tae Eul initially. Their chemistry increased the more time they spent together, each of their moments one more step toward building an epic romance. I felt their ending fit with the overall narrative of the story.

❤ I loved Lee Gon so much. He was smart, charming, and incredibly nerdy. It never felt like he looked down on anyone despite him being pretty much the smartest person in the room.

❤ The visuals and cinematography are breathtaking. The production set a romantic and intriguing tone with beautiful twinkling lights, seductive fog, an endlessly array of cozy sweaters. Like, seriously, I just need the catalog they used to buy all those sweaters. The CGI wasn’t always great, but it was probably the best I’ve seen in a long time.

❤ The supporting cast gave me all the feels. I could not be happier with the secondary characters in this series, particularly Kang Shin Jae and Jo Yeong. Honestly, Jo Yeon was MVP for this series. While all of the actors did some sort of double duty as characters existing in multiple universes, Woo Do-hwan’s performance was phenomenal no matter his character.

❤ I couldn’t resist the story. Typically, I hate time travel and parallel universe stories. Trying to keep track of all the threads over multiple universes and time lines can be a bit exhausting. I found this story to be utterly fascinating as it threaded together elements of mystery, science fiction, and romance.

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Bewitching & Bittersweet Romance

If someone were to ask me to describe this series, I’m not sure I could do it justice. It’s about life and loss; joy and grief; hope and despair. It’s about letting go of the past to embrace the present and future; building a friendship with a rival; falling in love for the first time. It is, as Eun-tak says, a “sad love” story. Yet despite this show being an absolutely bewitching and bittersweet story, it didn’t quite work for me.

❤ This show works best when it focuses on the four main leads - Kim Shin, Grim Reaper, Ji Eun-tak, and Sunny. Kim Shin and the Grim Reaper shine whether they are bickering or bantering.

❤ It took me some time to get invested in the love story considering an immortal is attempting to romance a high school senior. I embraced their romance eventually, but it took me some time to get past the circumstances. Eun-tak’s sunny personality mixed with Kim Shin’s awakening emotions were the perfect mixture between silly and sweet.

❤ It’s too long for such a short story. Whole scenes from previous episodes we’re inserted into later episodes to pad it out to sixteen episodes, but it dragged down the pacing dramatically. I think it could have been well executed with half the run time.

❤ The person training to be the next assistant to Kim Shin, Yoo Duk-hwa, was only used as a plot device or the comic relief. The CGI was also pretty terrible, particularly in the earlier episodes.

❤ Be prepared for a bittersweet ending. This is a show that talks a lot about depression, loss, and grief. If you’re looking for a fun and feel good show, you might not enjoy this experience right now.

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Romances Couldn't Hold My Attention

I'm not a fan of medical or police dramas, but I had heard the romances were cute in this show. I can get through almost anything if it has a romance I enjoy. However, it became increasingly obvious the more time I spent watching that the romances did almost nothing for me. The main leads were certainly cute together in the beginning, but their romance quickly fizzled out as their relationship grew. It felt like I was watching two friends, not romantic partners, in the later episodes. While the second lead couple started off promising in the "opposites attract" category, they quickly turned into the worst part of the show for me. Ruan Qing Xia had too many red flags and boundary issues for me to root for her in a relationship; likewise with Shu Wen Bo, who was too cut off and removed from his emotions. I enjoyed the romance between the third leads, but they do not get much screen time until the later half of the season.

While the romance is an important aspect of the show, I would say their individual careers truly make up the bulk of the story. If you are squirmish or violence is a trigger for you, please skip this show. It doesn't shy away from the realities of these two people’s professions. The action sequences and medical emergencies were well-done if that is important to you.

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Adorable Contemporary Romance

My Little Happiness is an adorable romantic comedy with charming characters and sweet romances. The leads have amazing chemistry together, and their romance was meticulously built over the twenty-eight episode run. While the two encountered their fair share of drama, it came across as relatable considering it being their very first romantic relationship. Other romantic partners pop up from time to time, but the two leads are end game from the very first episode. The secondary leads also sizzled on screen despite their more tumultuous relationship. I love to watch a romance with tons of skinship, and this show delivered big time. Expect lots of hugs, hand holding, and kissing once relationships move toward romance. While the romance is the main focus of the story, all of the characters had interesting and dynamic lives. I enjoyed all of their multifaceted dynamics with one another - as individuals, as romantic partners, and as friends.

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Interesting Premise With Problematic Execution

I feel so conflicted about this show. While it featured an amazing cast and an interesting premise, it was riddled with plot holes and shallow world building. I adored the main cast. Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, and Shin Seung-ho provided some of the best performances as Jang Uk, Mu Deok-i, and Go Won. I loved all of their interaction as well as their general character arcs. Much of this first season is a blend of comedy and tragedy, which they effortlessly managed with skill and talent. The other actors were fine in their roles - not particularly memorable, but fine as an ensemble cast.

While I overall enjoyed the performances, the general mystery and worldbuilding left a lot to be desired. Despite it having an expansive and complex world of magic, I felt I barely understood any of it after twenty episodes. Considering this magic system is important to character development, it should have been easier to understand and articulate to the audience. Additionally, the murky worldbuilding put up road block between organic character development. It felt like the characters stagnated or had to wait to move in a certain direction in order for the plot to catch up. To give credit where credit is due, the special effects and overall cinematography were beautifully executed and well shot. This show obviously had money and backing behind the production.

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Excellent Chemistry Yet Overly Dramatic

While I liked the main romance between Mi So and Young Joon, I felt ambivalent about most of the other parts of the story.

❤ I absolutely adored Park Seo Joon as Lee Young Joo. Am I surprised? No, of course not. It was a difficult role to nail as he had to be equal parts egotistical asshole and vulnerable romantic lead. I wasn't as sold on Park Min Young as Kim Mi So. Her character wasn't all that interesting despite the intriguing premise. I wanted to love her, but I didn't. That said, the two leads had amazing chemistry and heart melting moments together.

❤ While the secondary characters were played by some of my favorite character actors (looking at you Kang Ki Young!), I didn't like any of their romances. While they all had potential, none of them were given the time and attention needed to make them a viable, interesting foil to the main lead's romance. When I compare this to Hometown Cha Cha Cha, which did an excellent job layering the ensemble cast's stories without overwhelming the main romantic story, it just doesn't hold up.

❤ The brother's storyline was by far the worst part of this show as it was overly convoluted and added nothing of value to their characters. It reminded me of the worst parts of a soap opera. Then again, rarely do I enjoy love triangles so perhaps that aspect tinged my engagement of it.

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Heartwarming Story

If you haven’t heard about Extraordinary Attorney Woo, then you have been living under a rock. I honestly don’t know what more I can add to the conversation that hasn’t already been said. Park Eu-bin shines as Woo Young-woo, portraying her as a multi-faceted and dynamic woman experiencing the challenges and joys of a young career woman (as well as first love). Many people have commented on the actress' thoughtful portrayal of a woman on the spectrum. Whether you think she succeeds or fails in that performance, it does seem like the actress and the writing team attempted to be as authentic and genuine as possible.

It’s a joy watching Young-Woo interact with the secondary characters on the show, particularly her love interest Lee Joon-ho (played by Kang Tae-ho) and her boss Jung Myung-seok (played by Kang Ki-young). I have seen Kang Ki-young in several roles over the years, and he always manages to bring so much depth and nuance to his performances. Luckily, Jung Myung-seok is a complex character dealing with many challenges as a mentor to his team and the demands of his job on his health. He was the right actor to take on such an intricate role.

Much love is also given to the romance between Young-woo and Joon-ho, and rightfully so. It’s refreshing to watch a woman on the spectrum have such a beautiful and slowly built romance with a sweetheart of a guy. The two actors had chemistry in spades - I could literarily watch any scene with them over and over again. However, I felt a bit unsatisfied by the end of the series with Joon-ho’s character. In many ways, he felt one-dimensional. Much of his character development is through the lens as a love interest, not as an individual. As a show balancing between a love story, a legal drama, and an individual introspection, I suspect his character just didn’t have the opportunity to be given the same amount of attention as Young-woo and Jung Myung-seok.

While this is a character-driven story, much time is spent on the legal cases taken by the law firm. Some worked better than others in layering challenges Young-woo faces personally alongside her client's challenges. I enjoyed that all of the cases weren’t necessarily solved within the episode - it broke up some of the procedural moments into more manageable pieces. Not to be outdone, the OST and cinematography for the show was well-executed and memorable too.

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Excellent Pairing, Yet Odd Tone

You Are My Glory is an odd mixture between mellow contemplations about careers, and romantic comedy in an opposites attract situation. While I expected levels of upbeat romcom similar to My Little Happiness, I didn’t actually see these type of moments until the last third of the show. The first part is very much dedicated to Yu Tu pondering his career choices and Qia Jing-Jing securing her contract. Do you see the two falling in love slowly with each other? Sure, but it is certainly not the driving force I expected it be. Episode eight through ten even spent much time in the aerospace sphere as Yu Tu and his counterparts attempted to fix an issue with a satellite. Maybe these episodes would resonate with someone interested in the field or hobby, but I found them to be rather lackluster and boring.

Once the leads began a relationship with each other in the last third of the show, it more than made up for the slow start and mellow mood. Yu Tu and Quia Jing-Jing, as portrayed by Yang Yang and Dilraba Dilmurat, truly had some excellent chemistry together. Their romance felt genuine and authentic as it evolved from cautious strangers to long time lovers. Honestly, I love the time skips interjected into the series to see their relationship deepen and mature. The two actors played long time lovers really well with tons of skinship. Their ending, both as a couple and as career-minded individuals, was completely satisfying and heartwarming.

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Political Drama With Soulmates

Who Rules the World was my first foray into Wuxia storytelling. And, my friends, I learned one important lesson - Wuxia dramas are not my thing. While I find Xianxia romances to be fantastically beautiful, I find the martial art fantasy elements to be unrealistic. From my research, the elements featured in WRTW are pretty standard to the genre and were executed well so I can only assume it is a me, not the genre, issue.

The worldbuilding and setting were completely overwhelming during the first few episodes. I could not even begin to tell you the major players or overarching plot because so many names, nations, and locations were being rushed down the pipeline. It wasn’t until around the 5th episode I came to a clearer understanding of the general synopsis. Between the fifth and thirtieth episode, it found a well-balanced rhythm between political intrigue and character-driven moments of growth. Was some of it boring and tedious? Yes, for sure. Anyone who enjoys the political aspects will probably enjoy these parts more than me.

The last ten episodes were almost frenetic as the pacing attempted to push forward the plot and characters to wrap up the story. Don’t get me wrong - I actually loved a lot about these episodes. However, it would have been better had the story been more evenly split between the two types of tones and energy. I read that the director left the project midway through production, and it shows. A bit more editing would have made for a better blended story.

While the genre and story pacing may have kept me from enjoying the story as much as I wanted to, the actors by far made up for a lot of mistakes. I absolutely loved Bai Feng Xi, played by the every lovely and versatile actress Zhao Lusi, and Hei Feng Xi, played by the talented Yang Yang. Their friendship, which eventually moved toward romance, was beautifully executed. The two had loads of chemistry. Honestly, I would have loved to have seen more intimate moments between the two, but it is understandable the genre calls for a focus on plot over romance. Their characters arcs, particularly Bai Feng Xi, really made me root for them as individuals and as romantic partners. Typical romantic tropes are mostly avoided, which makes for a refreshing storyline.

I also have to commend the actors playing these roles. I’ve seen Yang Yang in several shows by this point (H2O and You Are More Glory). While I liked him in the contemporary romances, he excelled in this setting. He encapsulated the fine gentlemen traits of Hei Feng Xi flawlessly. His mannerisms, way of speaking, and overall aura really impressed me. Zhao Lusi’s performance was just as powerful as Yang Yang’s, especially toward the end of the show. She has a chameleon like ability to switch between mischievous prankster, royal lady, and martial arts master as she navigates between all the various facets of her character. Any way we can get these two to act opposite of each other in the future?

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