THIS SHOW IS HONESTLY AT THE LEVEL OF MASTER'S SUN, YWCFTS, AND HEALER. It is one of the best so far for 2015.
At a first glance, this show may seem like a mess. When I began watching this show I had VERY low expectations because of the description -- rich chaebol with memory lapses and 7 different personalities falling in love with a docto......... it sounded like a recipe for disaster.
But, don't worry because the writing and production team turned KMHM into a masterpiece with the help of main actor Ji Sung. ALSO, the title Kill Me, Heal Me is beautifully illustrated in the show--I cried tears of happiness when I saw the meaning.
Not only is the show itself well-written, it is CONSISTENTLY GOOD. Where many other dramas slowly fall apart half-way through the series, this show managed to keep delivering quality episodes from start to finish. the actors also flesh out their characters and fill the show with meaningful symbolism.
ACTING: Ji Sung is, hands down, the BEST ACTOR I have ever seen in a Korean drama. (My opinion only--pls don't be offended) He makes me laugh with him and then immediately cry a few seconds later. If that isn't superb acting ability, I don't know what is. The screen romantic chemistry between the two leads are also OFF THE CHARTS. They are amazing together because this is the 2nd time they've acted together! :-) Anyhow, I have only praise for the acting in this drama.
MUSIC: 1/3 of the reason why I cry every episode is the music. The main OST, Auditory Hallucination, is a perfect mixture of rap and soft singing, and this contrast between soft and rough reminds me of the doctor's healing and the main character's tragic anger. After watching the first two episodes, I've been listening to this song every single day for the past 2 months. In fact, tears are rolling as I write this--I'm listening to it right now. The other songs are also perfectly timed, although they didn't leave as heavy of an impact on me.
PLOT:
Multiple-personality disorder is a sensitive and controversial issue that can easily be misrepresented or shown with a lack of seriousness. KMHM manages to avoid this problem despite its hilarity. The plot successfully transitions from comedy to tragedy in mere seconds, and this is the reason for its success: by having light comedy first, it then forces us to look at the sad situation of personality disorders without us looking away.
Many people, including me, dislike pure melodrama--and KMHM did a great job of softening the blow while maintaining its seriousness. I promise you there ARE hilarious situations every episode, but overall the show leaves you wondering about what the main character had to go through in his life. This show makes us feel pity for the characters without using cheap tricks.
An evidence of this show's success would be when fans of this show fundraised over $3000 in a week (american dollars) for a cause after watching the show.
REWATCH: YES YES YES. I personally watched this 2 times before writing a review. I plan on watching it again in a couple of months.
NOW, time for my CRITICISMS:
- One thing this show overdid was its flashbacks. This can get a bit annoying after 14 episodes, so make sure to skip ahead if you ever get tired of it. (skipping some flashbacks will help you have a good experience with this drama)
- The main female lead's high pitched screaming can be very loud and irritating---especially for people with sensitive ears. Be careful with the volume control, guys and girls. I personally got used to it, but I know some people who couldn't stand her voice.
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If you had to summarize the story of this show, it'd be pretty simple, could be done in a few lines. To have given a lifelong worth of depth to those few lines, to have brought alive the events in the life of the characters, to have made us feel what what the characters were going through with such beautiful narratives, the writers need to be commended. The plots could have easily gone awry in so many places, but EVERY plot, every character, every loose end - have all been taken care of with remarkable finesse. There are zero complaints or unsatisfied worms lingering in my head, none.
Where do I begin with the actors? Where? I've been blown away, drowned, burned, buried, shocked - you name it - by every actor in this wonderful show. Ji Sung left me begging for more of him, even when he was present in 90% of the scenes, I just wanted more. "I wish that the time would stop, and that I could be with you forever", that's all that I felt every time he appeared. This guy can ACT, and he did a bloody brilliant job in this show. To have portrayed 7 personalities, is commendable. To have played 7 personalities with such absolute perfection, is downright worth worshiping him for. There wasn't a moment went he faltered in his performances, never a flaw, never a single crack in his portrayal. Be it the grumpy, violent, protective, dashing and charming Shin Se Gi; the middle-aged, goofy, bomb-making, beer-loving, accented Perry Park; the quite, calm, suicidal teen-genius Ahn Yo Sub; the foul-mouthed, oppa-crazy, troublemaker twin sister of Ahn Yo Sub, Ahn Yo Na; and the less frequently appearing 7-year old Nana, or Mysterious Mr. X; Ji Sung has lived and brought to life each of them. I didn't know it was even possible to be able to do such a thing! I had to literally pause the episodes and look at his face to believe in the changes. His eyes changed, how does one do that. Just with his expressions, his gaze, his very demeanor it was obvious as to which personality it was. He wasn't just Cha Do Hyun behaving like someone else, he WAS someone else. And it was one of the best performances by any actor that I've seen. My opinion of Ji Sung has reached the Sun.
The lead lady Hwng Jung Eum came as a surprise to me. I've ever seen her works before and I'm glad I began with this show. She handled every scene so well. She was goofy and loud and cute and serious and mature and terrified and depressed - and every emotion was conveyed very nicely. I'm looking forward to seeing her other works. Park Seo Joon was a delight to watch, that guy made me laugh and cry with equal flare. His character was simply brilliant, very heart touching. It would be unfair to the others if I focused on a few actors more than the other but these three deserved the mentions, the rest of the cast did a pretty great job as well. They're the ones who were able to make the script, story and direction work.
I don't know what I had in mind when I began the show, what it was that I had expected it would turn out to be, but whatever it was, it was nothing compared to what I actually got. The stories of each personality, their traits, the personality itself grows on you so much that it's hard to let them go. I found myself hoping for them to come out sometimes. I grew to love every facet, every broken piece of Cha Do Hyun. I was sobbing harder with every farewell. It felt as if you're losing a person rather than a personality. The story of each character in this show is going to be in my heart for a long, long time.
I'm really glad I picked up this show, it is one of the best I have seen. The level of brilliance is more than worth watching. I'm already looking forward to rewatching it in the near future. I don't think I've had enough of the characters yet.
The kind of show that Kill Me Heal Me is, you don't need any reasons to watch it, all you have to do it watch the first episode for a couple of minutes and you'll be irrevocably hooked, just as I was. It's everything you want in a drama of this genre. Everything and more. Don't miss out on this one, you'll be passing on a masterpiece.
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Ji Sung- I have so much love for this man. He captures my soul every time he comes on-screen. He has always been one of my two most favorite actors and will always remain that way. I can sing odes in way of his acting and it still wouldn't be enough. In this drama he plays a Chaebol with 7 different personalities and his transitions are so real and vivid, that each of the seven personalities seem like entirely different people.
Shin Se Gi= The over dramatic bad boy who made me giggle, swoon, cry and fall in love.
Yona= The side-throbbingly hilarious and bratty mean girl who I wished I was friends with.
Ah Sub= The genius and serious teenager who had a penchant for suicide.
Perry Park= The ahjussi who shined so brightly and tinkered with bombs for fun.
Nana= The child without a voice.
Mr. X= The man who brought forth reason and rationale when Do Hyun was truly ready to embrace himself.
Cha Do Hyeon= The beautiful and complex man who suffered so much and yet, never stopped fighting.
I used to believe in the stupid "real men don't cry" stereotype that our society worships. I was so awful that if a hero in a show I was watching cried, I'd think him weak and turn away but Korean Dramas changed it for me. Korean characters often communicate with their tears, the feelings they don't verbalize, express themselves in the way of salty water. Tears are not a sign of weakness, they are a sign that you're alive. Cha Do Hyeon often had tears leaking from his eyes and every single time they moved me. Sometimes my heart hurt from all the pain, sometimes my lips hurt from smiling wide. His tears were gorgeous as was his struggle and will to become whole again.
Ji Sung deserved that Daesang and more.
People call Ji Sung the king of Kill Me, Heal Me and he no doubt is but what many don't say is that Hwang Jung-Eum was also undeniably the queen. I've heard many complaints about how Jung-Eum screams too much, how her obnoxious loud voice is unbearable, how she over acts and tries hard and frankly, I think all these people are just tripping. True, she does shout more than is necessary and she'll probably rupture your ear drum with all the noise she makes, yet there is not a single other actress who can even dream to properly pull off the roles she has executed.
She always grows on you and makes it work. She is the Empress of expressions and I don't know why but whenever she cries ( and she cries a lot and it's rather ugly) I always cry too. I don't even know why. I love her so much and to this day, she's one of my favorite actresses. The roles she plays, whether it's the self-sacrificing woman in Secret or the scarred psychiatrist in KMHM, always show inner strength. Oh Ri JIn is a brilliant, full of light and empathetic woman whose strength knows no bounds.
Ji Sung and Hwang Jung-Eum are undoubtedly the Korean industry's most powerful pairing. They are both excellent actors in their own right and together they are undeniably magic. Their chemistry is off the fucking charts. They move in sync and it's apparent how much they understand each other. Secret had left an impression on me and yet, KMHM without being influenced by that, made its own indent in my heart. Usually, in K-dramas the female character is overshadowed by the male's but Ji Sung and Hwang Jung-Eum exhibit equality of the sexes. They are both formidable players at their game and they play effortlessly together and bring the victory home, every single time. Despite the fact that Ji Sung's role was very powerful, Jung-Eum held her own and due to that, they co-existed beautifully.
Then comes Oh Ri On. Ah, my baby. He was also one of the best characters in the show and literally the best brother ever. He loves her but he let's her go. Park Seo Joon couldn't have done a better job in my opinion.
Every single actor from top to bottom brought their greatest to this drama and made it the masterpiece it was. I think it's rightfully one of the best Korean productions ever made. It had me bawling and heaving at one point and clutching my stomach laughing and gasping for breath at another. It made me feel bittersweet melancholy, made my heart fill with warmth and made me be so unwilling to let it go that despite dying with curiosity, I wanted to prolong it in some way so that it wouldn't end. This drama has pain yet joy, tears yet laughter, incredible heartbreak yet so much love. Not a single second is filler, it's filled to the brim with powerful dialogues and the suspense element is excellently done. You simply cannot get better than KMHM.
The OST (Auditory Hallucination) is definitely one of the best ever made. It always played on the perfect time and made the already soul stirring scenes a thousand times more impactful.
Yes, there were some medical errors in the drama but despite that, mental illness and trauma have been wonderfully explored to their core. It offered a peek in the life of a man waging war against his own mind and how an equally scarred woman became his sword and together they were conquerors.
This drama showed everything that makes Asian dramas so raw and poignant. If you haven't watched this and you call yourself a K-drama fan, I say you need to check your priorities.
Rewatch value is worth more than can be described. The moment I even begin to forget it (which will be hard) I'll watch it again because I never want to lose all that I felt while I was on the journey of watching Kill Me, Heal Me. I am sincerely thankful to Jin Soo-wan for writing this gem.
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1) the flashbacks. OMG SO. MANY. FLASHBACKS. I ended up skipping ahead often during last few episodes but I think it didn't detract from my experience as an audience. *happy face*
2) The female lead's screaming tendencies. My friend thought she was comedy gold and loved her hilarious screams, but it personally hurt my ears. I had to turn down the volume every time she looked like she was about to yell or shout---SHE IS HILARIOUS THOUGH I ADMIT.
3) The long kisses. ... Honestly, they just need to kiss already. THEY SPENT 30 SECONDS STARING AT EACH OTHER BEFORE FINALLY TOUCHING LIPS. Wth? But anyways, that's the editor's fault. The male lead Cha Do Hyun is actually an AMAZING kisser---I blushed several times during this drama. kekeke.
4) Episodes 16--20. Let me explain: the first half of the drama were mostly comedy with some sadness hiding behind it, but the melodrama poured through starting in ep. 16. It was lined with sadness after sadness, and I literally cried until I just couldn't shed tears anymore. LUCKILY, there are still quite a bit of comedy relief in those 4 episodes---so I was able to survive and come to love it.
But despite the flaws of Kill Me Heal Me, I loved it for it's sensitivity to D.I.D., and for its array of top notched actors who slayed the drama. *v*
Ji Sung is absolutely amazing in this drama. According to what ppl have said, HE ONLY SLEPT ONE TO TWO HOURS to film this. That's true dedication. Also, you have to understand that it's very hard to portray 7 different characters, but Ji Sung managed to nail the role. The female lead was also amazing. Everybody was amazing, tbh.
I personally loved the melodrama in the end because it was realistic. DID is not meant to be funny. Childhood tragedies are also not meant to be glossed over. I'm glad this drama actually took the time to show how horrible both things are--That alone gives this drama a high score.
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The writing can be structurally erratic, but it’s always balanced and humane in its portrayal of both its heroes and its demons. This is a show driven by the “Heal Me” part of its title, emphasizing not vengeance for past wrongs, but reconciliation and re-integration for future happiness. Some plot threads are left hanging, but its exploration of how people are broken and put back together, medically implausible as it may be, is metaphorically lovely. It’s fiction, but it’s a show that knows that the stories we tell have the power to reshape our lives.
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+ Ji Sung: If there was one positive thing that I got out this experience, it was having the pleasure of experiencing the versatility of Ji Sung's acting ability. He was the needle in the haystack in a pile of mediocre talent. In my opinion, he was the only cast member that stood out and wasn't completely forgettable. However a badly written character is still a badly written character no matter how good the acting. The personality factor was messy and used as a background for a generic love-line therefore mostly just used a convenient plot filler. Like I said, you're looking for a well written drama about mental illness (+ child abuse) this isn't what you should be watching.
- Hwang Jung Eum: Hwang Jung Eum can act. Hwang Jung Eum just can't pick her roles well. Because if you're someone like me, you've probably seen her in Secret (2013) and the difference just may shock you. I was incredibly let down seeing her talent being wasted in this drama. You've got this great and talented actress and the best possible role that they can give her is one that makes it seem like she can't act at all;you've got a loud, exaggerated, cringe worthy woman who goes around speaking and acting like she's a child despite being fully grown. If you're not a fan of screaming and high pitched/fake voices, don't read any further because you're going to have suffer through that for an entire twenty episodes. Oh Ri Jin had a lot of potential to be an amazing and inspiring character for women but ended up getting lost in transition from bad writing.
- Park Seo Joon: I've never been a big fan of the 'faux' incest plot-line. I don't see why you'd want to ruin a perfectly good 'sibling' relationship but throwing in a romantic aspect of it and because of that I found Oh Ri On to be rather obnoxious. I found him manipulate as well and the show never even tries to address it. Nope. Instead he's portrayed as a sweet and caring brother and not the obsessive and manipulative creep that he actually is.
- Han Chae Yeon & Cha Ki Joon: In short, they were completely useless to the plot and the drama was a waste to both their talents. Their characters were written halfheartedly and kind of just ditched in the end, making you wonder what their purposes were in the first place. Oh, wait. If your crappy plot-line can't make it to twenty episodes, drag it on with unnecessary side characters because the main leads weren't annoying/badly handed enough!
Overall. if you're looking comedic relief and don't actually care about medical accuracy and the actual well-being of the main leads...watch it! You'll love it. But don't expect anything new or exciting. Don't get well thought out writing or consistent acting. Don't expect any realist portrayal about mental illness or abuse. This isn't that kind of drama.
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I think this story was simply genius. It was flawed but the way it was executed and the way they tied up everything made perfect sense. This is why the story gets a full 10. I love the broken and complex characters and the leads really put the screen on fire while playing their roles. I think Ji Sung especially outdid himself and now I'm really hoping he does similar projects in the future as well. Hwang Jung Eum is a good actress but for me she was kind of annoying in the beginning. Both her character and acting didn't really kick in till the very end.
I was surprised by how the story managed to get me hooked after its initial episodes. The story seemed to go nowhere for a while and I had my doubts but the writer- wow. Slowly everything was thrown in the basement! Like, literally lol. I liked the thrill of watching this drama the first time. It's like your very first Kdrama- the thrill to know what happens next is omnipresent.
The music of the drama wasn't my most favourite. I liked only one song and the rest were meh to me.
What sets this drama apart is its continuous twists and turns. Something happens in every episode. Usually dramas run out by the end but even the last episode was as important and eventful as the rest. The ending and the premise was all tied up together really well.
Watch this drama if you're in for something different and if you are bored of the usual cliched dramas. I think one should not pass this up.
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(You'll only understand how deep this sentence is after you watch the drama yourself)
Honestly speaking, I was reluctant to watch this drama at first. Based on the trailer and summary, I half expected it to be an overwhelming drama, and not the good kind. I thought it will be a mess, and the plot would be all over the place because the theme of it sounded too complicated to be put together elegantly.
Boy oh boy was I wrong.
The drama not only captures you in, but makes you live as the characters. A lot of times, you will forget that you are a mere viewer. You will be so indulged into the story that it will make it hard not to think about the characters and feel sympathy or happiness for them. The fact that it is all an act will fly out the window. Why?
Hm.... where do I start?
Firstly, I must throw in a standing ovation for the cast. They played their role so believably that I'm still having a hard time not thinking this drama is actually their story. I am also mind-blown at how believable their crying is!! My heart would break into tiny little pieces and scatter all over the place just by seeing one of the characters cry. I would be surprised if they didn't end up with puffy eyes for a year after this drama. I would be surprised if I MYSELF didn't have puffy eyes for an entire year after this. (Nope, still hasn't checked the mirror. Not ready to face facts). You should also see the amount of folded napkins I have beside me right now. I am writing this review while my emotions are still fresh out of the oven.
Also, ji sung (CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS GUY IS 38???)... I have no words to describe this actor at the moment. I swear if he did not make the absolute amazing first impression on me, I would've shipped for the lead to end up with the other guy (whom I also fell in love with. But not saying who he is because I will spoil. You'll figure it out on your own and have your fair share of loving for him).
Seriously though, Ji sung's acting is so breathtakingly convincing. Every time his character took on a different personality, I completely believed it! I would no longer think "Oh this is just Cha do hyun doing this and that" Instead I'd be like "OH MY GOD WHAT IS THIS PERSON DOING" or "HAHAHA THIS IS JUST TOO PRECIOUS" or "LOL I JUST LOVE THIS PERSONALITY!" I fell inlove with Cha do hyun's different personalities as if they were played by other characters. I would view them as their own individuals, because the convincing acting made it obvious they were not the same person. Those different personalities will make you cry your eyes out, will make you laugh your head off and sometimes... even squeal at the utmost adorableness. Oh God I grin to myself just at the memory of certain situations.
Letting those personalities go..... it will kill you. Just for heads up.
The lead actress Hwang Jung-Eum is also amazing to say the least. She performed her part very very well. She's adorable really. You''ll instantly like her. It's hard not to! Her personality in the drama is downright DEABAK! (Meaning awesome haha). She's a strong willed, kind heart-ed person. And of course, she makes a good match for the lead. Sure, her screams can be deafening, but it just made her hilarious. She also handled the situations she was in really well. At least in my opinion.
As for Park Seo-Joon..... Oh my God that boy was just downright adorable. He would just kill me with personality. The problem with this person is, if I started stating my thoughts about his character, I will easily spoil a lot for you. And as much as I would LOVE to talk about him, I will restrain myself. However, I'm telling you for short. He is downright jaw-dropping.
The story, the characters, even the secondary ones are great. I am personally glad that although there was a bit of love triangles in this drama, they were handled good. They did not reach a point where you would absolutely hate a character for being annoying. Thankfully enough, there were no such complications.
Also, I have to say, I fell in love with the OST of this drama. I don't think I hated any song or instrumental at all. That's completely a first! I already have 3 songs of the OST downloaded on my phone, because even without them having anything to do with this drama, they are amazing songs.
All in all, before you watch this drama, make sure you're buckled up tight because you're up for a quite a ride. Be careful not to watch this drama in public though. There's no guarantee you will not seem like a lunatic for suddenly laughing out loud. Just saying :)
Oh! One more thing: Don't forget to have napkins at arm's reach. Trust me. You'll need them.
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My first impression that this drama left on me was good.
The storyline is amazing. The writers did a great job. They really knew how to mess with a viewers mind. With this drama you will laugh and cry in the same time, and you won't be bored at all.
Well, for the acting it was good. I can surely say that, Ji Sung mastered this role, he played a high school girl, I mean even if I am a girl I couldn't do that like he did. Amazing!!!!
Hwang Jung Eum was good, I really like her, but the only thing that I didn't like is her yelling and screaming, it was a bit annoying.
I really like their chemistry in this drama. It was cute and romantic.
Oh, and the OST was amazing. Especially, Auditory Hallucination. That OST has a great power to cause outburst of emotion in the viewer.
I really miss all of the characters. They really growth on my heart.
I recommend this to everyone. Even if you are having some doubts, start it, maybe you will end up liking it. :D
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I was mesmerized by this drama, because the acting has just so raw and flawless, the cast truly complemented each other, they covered for each other flaws and blended seamlessly. It was a pleasure to watch them act, so if you really have reservation about watching this drama, throw them away because even if the story doesn't resonate with you, the acting will pull you in.
The Music was really soothing and beautiful, it got a 8.5 from me because well I was mostly only into two songs, the rest I just found them passable , but I think that they superposed them to the scene on screen pretty well.
I have to admit that has everyone was saying that the show brought them to tears, I did not cry one bit that is why it's not getting that 10 that would have established it has a masterpiece for me. I laughed at the right places, and got sad but I did not get to the heart-wrenching desperation that some viewers felt, and I think that his one of the flaw if this drama, it easily brought to tear criers but it did not try to reach the extra mile for those who don't cry easily.
I'm suspecting that the writers just lean too easily on the actors and director excepting them to do all the work to deliver her work.
Anyway do not let these things keep you away from good entertainment thought. Because I feel that these drama kind of prove that there is still hope for K-dramas actors and that we have actors out there that can act.
So I don't know if this will be helpful but I felt like I should say it . have fun watching.
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Story
A story that's great and when it unwraps it gets legendary and at the end you'll be crying and weeping that it ended too soon. The story is one of the best I've seen I'm keeping this section short so I won't spoil anything to the Kill me, Heal me virgins. What I do find lacking in the story is its underdevelopment of the side characters, but that's the only flaw I could find. :)
Acting/cast
Ji Sung is on my favorite actors of all time after this drama, I couldn't fathom someone acting 7 characters in one drama/film and that I could still take them serious but he pulled it off big time! Words can't describe how good he was and I don't think we can see a better performance from anyone after this. He needs to get awards every year only because of Kill me, Heal me! :)
Oh Ri Jin's character was weird at first and I didn't like her the first couple of episodes but she grew on me. Hwang Jung Eum for me is risky. I really liked her in Giant and the incarnation of money but some other shows of her I didn't like her at all.
Oh Ri Ohn was a great surprise for me. I never saw him in another show so I didn't have any expectations but he was great, and he was great throughout the whole drama, he had really funny scenes with Oh Ri Jin and Ahn Yo Na.
The rest from the cast was great too, there where a lot of famous actors and they filled their part within this drama.
Music
I saved a couple of songs from this drama onto my playlist on Youtube so it had great OST, I've seen better put it still upon par with other great OST's
Re watch Value
This is the kind of show you want to re watch so you can see all the great personality's again and to piece some broken puzzles you couldn't piece from watching it once. As of writing this review I re watched the first 10 episodes or so a couple of times and repeatedly re watched scenes from episodes including behind the scenes so it definitely had re watch value.
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