1
manicmuse
NYC!
This is one of those rare, practically perfect, dramas that make me go through withdrawal symptoms when it's over because I'll miss it so much. I would have never expected a drama about something as overdone as multiple personalities to be so engaging, and well done, but this drama nails it! It combines comedy, romance, melodrama, and suspense effortlessly. Multiple episodes left me crying, then laughing, then on the edge of my seat. The story is also supported by a superb cast, led by the incredibly impressive Ji Sung.
Ji Sung is absolutely amazing to watch in this drama. I've liked him in dramas in the past (like Protect the Boss), even when I wasn't really a fan of the drama itself (like "Secret", but umm... more on that later), but this role gave him the opportunity to really show his range. Each personality he played was a completely different, and believable, character. So many of the characters were so entertaining, that I looked forward (almost to the point of cheering) when they would return. It's clear that JI Sung has the skill to make me laugh, cry, or both, whether he's rocking guy-liner, or wearing a huge bow. He's definitely now on my top k-drama actors list.
Hwang Jung Eum also deserves a lot of praise for her portrayal of Oh Ri Jin. Fans of "Secret" should get a kick out of these two reuniting, but as a non-fan, I wasn't expecting much. Much to my surprise, I loved every moment they shared on screen. She played such a pitiful character in "Secret", that it was really hard for me to root for her, or their semi-abusive romance. Oh Ri Jin, however, is completely different from her doormat character in "Secret". She's smart, super silly, vulnerable, but still able to take defend herself confidently. It also helps that this show is so well written, and the characters are so multi-dimensional, that they have a much better vehicle to show their range. Their romantic chemistry is amazing and just gets stronger as the show continues, even during their silliest moments. I fell completely in love with their complicated love story. Park Seo Joon's charm is added to the mix, as Oh Ri On (2nd lead MVP), and you have an irresistible cast of main characters. The entire cast is great, but these 3 make the show addictive.
The appeal of "Kill Me, Heal Me" is not just about the cast. This story is extremely entertaining, and so well written. Many dramas get less exciting during the last episodes, as secrets are revealed, but this drama does the exact opposite. In the beginning, I was a little confused, but eventually, even the smallest details are explained and have great meaning. There is a lot of melodrama, and some moments are definitely over the top, but writer Jin Soo-Wan made all the elements work so that everything makes sense. There is also a great balance between hilarious moments and use a full tissue box cry-worthy moments. Even the sometimes excessively repeated flashbacks made sense to me because they helped illustrate the pain and confusion involved in trying to make sense of the past and reconcile with the present. No episode or moment seemed wasted. Director Kim Jin-Man deserves credit for that too.
It's really hard for me to think of anything I disliked about this drama (except the title, though it makes sense). I even loved the soundtrack, which I only subtracted half a point from, because of the number of times certain songs were repeated. I already want to watch this drama again, and I think knowing the plot would give it a different, but still entertaining perspective, especially because of the cast - and the one-man cast of characters that is Ji Sung. Of course, knowing how everything turns out would make it less suspenseful the second time around, but it would still be engaging, and you may even pick up things that you missed on the first viewing.
Honestly, I'm not sure how medically accurate their D.I.D. portrayal was, but I think they were respectful, while still being entertaining. It definitely left me dealing with a range of my own emotions.
I would definitely recommend this as having a little something for everyone, but also as one of the best romantic k-dramas I've seen so far. It's a completely original spin on the cliché chaebol who's family fights over power while hiding horrible secrets story. It's also much more than a story about a crazy guy with all these wacky personalities. Even the romance has more depth than your average k-drama romance. These are the reasons I'd suggest putting this on the top of your 'to watch' list. The 20 episodes will seem like they're over too soon, and In my opinion, this multiple personalities story is absolutely multiple views worthy. It may even give you a slightly different perspective on what's important in life...
Remember this time. Written today, at exactly 10:15 pm. That's when you read this review and decided to watch this drama. You're welcome.
Ji Sung is absolutely amazing to watch in this drama. I've liked him in dramas in the past (like Protect the Boss), even when I wasn't really a fan of the drama itself (like "Secret", but umm... more on that later), but this role gave him the opportunity to really show his range. Each personality he played was a completely different, and believable, character. So many of the characters were so entertaining, that I looked forward (almost to the point of cheering) when they would return. It's clear that JI Sung has the skill to make me laugh, cry, or both, whether he's rocking guy-liner, or wearing a huge bow. He's definitely now on my top k-drama actors list.
Hwang Jung Eum also deserves a lot of praise for her portrayal of Oh Ri Jin. Fans of "Secret" should get a kick out of these two reuniting, but as a non-fan, I wasn't expecting much. Much to my surprise, I loved every moment they shared on screen. She played such a pitiful character in "Secret", that it was really hard for me to root for her, or their semi-abusive romance. Oh Ri Jin, however, is completely different from her doormat character in "Secret". She's smart, super silly, vulnerable, but still able to take defend herself confidently. It also helps that this show is so well written, and the characters are so multi-dimensional, that they have a much better vehicle to show their range. Their romantic chemistry is amazing and just gets stronger as the show continues, even during their silliest moments. I fell completely in love with their complicated love story. Park Seo Joon's charm is added to the mix, as Oh Ri On (2nd lead MVP), and you have an irresistible cast of main characters. The entire cast is great, but these 3 make the show addictive.
The appeal of "Kill Me, Heal Me" is not just about the cast. This story is extremely entertaining, and so well written. Many dramas get less exciting during the last episodes, as secrets are revealed, but this drama does the exact opposite. In the beginning, I was a little confused, but eventually, even the smallest details are explained and have great meaning. There is a lot of melodrama, and some moments are definitely over the top, but writer Jin Soo-Wan made all the elements work so that everything makes sense. There is also a great balance between hilarious moments and use a full tissue box cry-worthy moments. Even the sometimes excessively repeated flashbacks made sense to me because they helped illustrate the pain and confusion involved in trying to make sense of the past and reconcile with the present. No episode or moment seemed wasted. Director Kim Jin-Man deserves credit for that too.
It's really hard for me to think of anything I disliked about this drama (except the title, though it makes sense). I even loved the soundtrack, which I only subtracted half a point from, because of the number of times certain songs were repeated. I already want to watch this drama again, and I think knowing the plot would give it a different, but still entertaining perspective, especially because of the cast - and the one-man cast of characters that is Ji Sung. Of course, knowing how everything turns out would make it less suspenseful the second time around, but it would still be engaging, and you may even pick up things that you missed on the first viewing.
Honestly, I'm not sure how medically accurate their D.I.D. portrayal was, but I think they were respectful, while still being entertaining. It definitely left me dealing with a range of my own emotions.
I would definitely recommend this as having a little something for everyone, but also as one of the best romantic k-dramas I've seen so far. It's a completely original spin on the cliché chaebol who's family fights over power while hiding horrible secrets story. It's also much more than a story about a crazy guy with all these wacky personalities. Even the romance has more depth than your average k-drama romance. These are the reasons I'd suggest putting this on the top of your 'to watch' list. The 20 episodes will seem like they're over too soon, and In my opinion, this multiple personalities story is absolutely multiple views worthy. It may even give you a slightly different perspective on what's important in life...
Remember this time. Written today, at exactly 10:15 pm. That's when you read this review and decided to watch this drama. You're welcome.
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