tsuyoi_hikari

Thank you! :D I actually quite baffled with some of the comments that I read regarding this drama. Most of them seemed didnt get that both Seo Jin & Robin are the same person and said that Hana settled for Seo Jin which wasnt the case at all. And while many didnt bat eyes to all Seo Jin's harsh words and actions towards Hana, Hana is the bad guy since she just happen to fall in love with the good guy. They failed to see the bigger picture that it was her who cure Seo Jin's illness when she made both Seo Jin & Robin the same person. She didnt want to hurt either one's feelings so she did the best she could so both of them could be happy.

I actually did watched Kill Me Heal Me when it was airing years ago but abandoned it half way. I actually quite excited to watch the drama as I like the leads and considered that their drama 'Secret' is the best drama of 2013 but didnt really like the writing and how Hwang Jung Eum played her character. While I thought she did a fantastic job in Secret, I found her very unconvincing as a doctor. And I cant relate to the story either as I was puzzled why Se Gi falls for her when he just see her a few times haha. And since you said it had better plot and writing, it makes me more keen to pick up the drama again.

Robin didnt die. He just merge with Seo Jin. Seo Jin created the 'super 2d fake guy' with qualities that he wished he had out of his guilt, self-blame and cowardice -- which explain why Robin is such a perfect & nice guy . But later, he realised that he after all Robin and gradually change in term of attitude and outlook in life as he started to get Robin's memories as well as feelings.

I so agree with you. The drama is great and just because the ending didnt satisfy many, it seemed like it is a horrible drama by many viewers which kind of sadden me as the drama itself is hella interesting and innovative than the normal kdramas that we used to watch. I mean, I adore the writing since it was done in creative way that purposely make you ask questions. The writer is great at engaging the audiences with her story but because of her inability to get more clear with the explanation (which I admit), the whole other creative writings that she possessed was overshadow by that.

Regarding how Jin Woo can use the 'instance dungeon' feature, I guess it is because he was asked by the game. Remember, everything in the game was being lead on one by one by the instruction? 'Do you want to use the watch?' 'Do you want to form an allies?' So once Jin Woo become the Game Master, and before Emma deleting the game, Jin Woo was asked by the game whether he wants to use the 'instance dungeon' feature as that is his reward from winning the game.

The other users can see Jin Woo now as they are playing the game and wearing the lenses. All game users can see Jin Woo if he made an appearance that is why the guy at the restaurant insisted that Jin Woo is not NPC but an advanced user. ‘Instance Dungeon’ is to make one become invisible from the enemies and hide themselves. Se Joo did hide himself for 1 year as Marco is there to hunt him so he keep using the instance dungeon feature to remain safe. Jin Woo in the other hand just use the feature to save himself from getting deleted by Emma. So if he didn't use the instant dungeon feature, other game users can see him.

But I have to disagree with you regarding the romance part. I thought it was done very tastefully and slowly. You could see why Hee Joo falls fo Jin Woo. The mixture of Jin Woo kindness (still giving her the full amount of the contract), to him touching her soft spot (playing guitar), to him still taking care of his ex-wife (despite he didnt need to), to him facing real & death situation when he falls at her hostel, to her taking care of him and Jin Woo asking her to stay... And later when she realised the length Jin Woo went through to find Se Joo. I mean, lets be honest -- anyone would when a man like Jin Woo appear in front of our eyes (good looking, rich, successful, respectful). Heck, we will fall for Jin Woo even if he is just sitting there reading a dictionary lol! 8D

And as for Jin Woo, its obvious that he falls for Hee Joo's kindness and strength. He was impressed with her ability to feed her family and was also taken back by her kindness (the length she is willing to go to help him either in interpreting to taking care of him when he's sick), to her quirkiness on how she explodes when she's mad. Plus, the most important of all is how her presence made him feels safe -- even when Hyeong Seok NPC is in front of him (during the rain scene). Hee Joo is like a buffer between the game and Jin Woo. He just unintentionally ask her to stay by his side since he is just too scared to be alone. He didnt understand it either but later, he realised that he likes her for her sincerity -- the one he never get from Su Jin or Yu Ra. And he actually smile and laugh when she is around him which he never did the whole 1 year after their last meeting at Granada when the game make him questioning his sanity. That is why he had the urge to see her before he completed the final mission since she is someone important in his life. IMO, the romance part was dealt with many minor details and mature way thats why I ended up really liking how their relationship grows despite the horrible situation they're in -- its not too much nor too little. When you are deal with real life and death situation, your feelings intensifies which explain their relationship perfectly.

Now regarding the criticisms that Hana is getting from many viewer, Hana has always like Seo Jin -- she will never go that length to protect him just out of pure compassion and she definitely didn't settle for him. Like Seo Jin said, she is in love with Robin but she also love him as well which she didnt deny. The writer go through a great length to prove that Hana is also attracted to Seo Jin so I really wonder why many people seemed to missed that fact. I find it absolutely ridiculous how people said she is greedy and selfish. She is actually the opposite of that and she handle the 2 personalities with such class and kindness. How is she undeserving of Seo Jin when she practically protect him since they are kids (heck, she watched over him for 1 whole year afraid that he might commit suicide), she risk her life to save him plenty of times, she overcome her fears to help Seo Jin find Dr. Kang, she suffers multiply abusive words from him, she cares for him when he's sick, she cooked for him, she stopped Robin from going public, she stopped Seo Jin from destroying his life, she's mad at him for deciding not to cure his illness and the list go on. I mean, she literally an angel that cure his DID -- the one that made him realise that he and Robin is one person. Yet, she get all of this shit just because he happen to fall in love with the good guy (first time in Kdramas that a girl actually fall for the nice guy). I find it absolutely ridiculous that some viewers mad at her for being a loyal and kind just because she didnt happen to fall head over hills with the main guy. However, despite she is in love with the other personality, not even once she allowed Robin to compromise Seo Jin's life and position knowing Seo Jin is the main personality. And the writer cant make her having a relationship with both Robin & Seo Jin cause that will make her a player. And she only decided to love Seo Jin in the end because she realised that Robin & Seo Jin is the same person. She didnt know that they started to become one after the warehouse incident and she only know it when Seo Jin told her that he has all Robin's memories. For Seo Jin to have Robin's memories, talents as well as feelings (as Seo Jin even feels what Robin is feeling -- his love, fears & sadness), it means that he is Robin as well. She loved both of them. And at the end, she got the best of both world when they become one person. The writer was very adamant in letting us know this so I really wonder why many people seemed to missed that.

Both Seo Jin & Robin is the same person. The writer keep highlighting in the ending note in each episode on how the two of them will become one;

'The silent moment when I become you, and you become me.'
'The more I keep trying, the more 'me' I end up discovering.'
'Somehow, you and I have become us.'

Even Seo Jin realised that Robin is after all him when he saved Hana at the warehouse. Noticed that usually, all DID related movies/dramas just removing/letting go all the different personalities at the end and but this one it combined them together because they are the same person. Seo Jin created Robin as a defense mechanism to cope with his self-blame and cowardice. And for years, he hated and wanted to destroy Robin. But it later changed when he realised that Robin is after all him. Aside from getting Robin memories one by one, Seo Jin's mannerism changed and he become happier and gentler just like Robin as he is receiving his feelings as well. Robin is just like a dream that he cant remember. And Hana is the cure of that when she made him remember all those dream when he was Robin (like he described in the end).

The dissatisfaction that many people have towards the different treatment between Seo Jin and Robin should not exist as they are one person at the end. The way to see this drama is that you should not be jealous of one part of yourself as you are the same person. That is what Seo Jin decided to do at the end. He accepted Robin as he knew Robin is after all him -- noticed how he no longer sabotaged Robin & Hana's relationship because he knew that Robin is after all him. Memories is what makes a person. Without memories, a person will be empty. Seo Jin having all Robin's memories and feelings (notice how he even tear up suddenly at the bridge) at the end is indicate that he is after all Robin. Robin is Seo Jin and Seo Jin is Robin. They are the same person.

Such a fun and fantastic drama! Hyun Bin is exceptionally well at playing this dual characters to perfection. It seemed that both Seo Jin & Robin is played by 2 different actors -- thats how good he is.

Now regarding the issues that many people have problem with this drama. I personally thought many people seemed to misunderstand the message that the writer trying to tell us:

Jin Woo is a bug as he play the game when the game was in error state. Had he not be in a duel with Dr. Cha and didnt kill him, he will not be a bug but a normal user like other testers of the game. Had other testers also make a duel and killing their opponents, they will also become a bug (abnormalities in the game).

Jin Woo is the key as Se Joo makes the rules of the game like that. Supposedly, if the game has no error, once Jin Woo got the key, he just give the key to Emma and win the game (becoming the Game Master). But, since Se Joo made one of Emma's feature to delete bugs and reset the game as well, Jin Woo unintentionally become the key for the error game to reset itself as he is a bug. But he doesnt need to kill Marco as Marco is Se Joo's bug and not him. Plus, he cant see Marco anyway unless Se Joo made an alliance with him. So Jin Woo only need to kill his bugs and himself in order to reset the game.

Unfortunately, while I love the show and happy for it to have a second season, I dont think its going to happen as the writer did end everything properly:
1) Jin Woo reset the game so the game is now free from error.
2) Jin Woo survived by hiding in Instant Dungeon.
3) Hee Joo knew that Jin Woo is still alive and will try to save him from the game.

I agree. The Kdrama version is the most heartbreaking story I have ever seen in my life. I still doesnt have courage to rewatch it no matter how itchy I was for a rewatch lol

The Korean version is one of the best Melodrama ever made imo. I was pretty much depressed and extremely sad when I first watch it back in 2005.

I agree! The direction of the script as purposely to make everyone become the suspect. I mean, the directing was literally perfect. The way the director focuses on certain scenes, it gave you clues and if you missed it, you wont understand whats happening later. I usually find Kdramas directors to be average in talent, but this one, I can acknowledge his skills. He did the same for Memories of the Alhambra -- lots of foreshadowing and his directing gives many clues on what to except in the futures episodes.

1) I personally think that the picture is a photoshopped picture that the Chairman of Human B purposely release to Bluebird as a bait to catch her.
2) Woo Jin wake up as Bluebird hacked the system and the medication they gave to put him in constant sleep stops as well. Its a total blackout.
3) Again, its due to Bluebird made a complete blackout of the facility so all doors open automatically.

Compelling, fascinating and brilliant from start to finish. Really rare for you to find dramas which has like twists in each episode. I ended each part with 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO' so many times lol.

I love the fact that the writers are very creative in coming up with this complex story that made you question about everything only to be proven wrong episodes later. The writers also love to tease/mislead the audiences with the way they structure the plots.

Simply the most compelling Kdramas I have ever watch and no doubt in my book as one of the greatest Kdramas ever made.

Even the final scene is brilliant as well. The solved everything at the end but to excite the audiences with the sci-fiction theme that they're going for, they put that little bit mystery at the end. It opens for future possibilities and made people speculate about what could happened after that.

Great movies / dramas always made people talk and speculate about the ending and this drama is exactly like that as well. Some people might dislike it but this is one aspect of creative writing and with the way everything is structured since in the beginning of the drama, we should expect the non-typical finish that the writers might give us at the end. They certainly didnt disappoint.

You are right on the writer love to twist the truth just when you think you got it right. There are many instances in the drama that you thought the writer made a mistake but later you found out that she purposely made that mistake to lead you. And just when you thought you are cleverer than the writer that you managed to read her writing, she fooled you again in the next scene. I love how intelligent her script was. Never experience this before in any other dramas.

I never give any drama a perfect 10 but this drama 100% deserved it. It is possibly the best written drama I have ever seen in any language.

This drama is seriously amazing. I have watch like gazillion of Kdramas for the past 15 years and I can safely said that the writing for this drama is the best that ever comes out from Korea. It is intelligent, excellently written and the clever details is just mind blowing. The writer is great at constructing plot without leaving any minor details. The script is tight, solid, complicated without plot holes and full of characters with great depth and personalities without including any questionable or dumb plot in its storyline. I have high expectation before watching the show but this drama truly exceeded my already high expectations. The writers made everyone, including the main character as the possible suspects and yet, she is still able to surprise us with the ending.

I feel like no other investigation dramas can hold a candle to this other than Signal. Other law or investigation dramas always bother me with the inaccurate technical practices and details but this drama have none of those and it didn't insult you intelligent either. It's simply a brilliant cat & mouse chase drama where both the good and the bad guys are clever.

SECRET FOREST IS PERFECT IN QUALITY SENSE -- I dont even know it is possible until I watch this drama. There's nothing to complain about the script, plot, directing and acting as it is that good.

This is me lol. I failed to find anything interesting regarding the plot. It just seemed not important. Esp when you watched it together with Memories of Alhambra, the adrenaline level is just like heaven and earth. :((((

LOL!!

But Bogum are more known for his innocent roles though. :)

LOL!!

But Bogum are more known for his innocent roles though. :)

Its actually missing interesting plot. I mean, nothing really happen for 16 episodes. Why Bogum picked this for his comeback drama! :P

- The different between the original game and the new game is that there is no more Emma. Se Joo makes one of Emma's features is to delete the bugs and reset the game. No Emma, there will be no bugs, there will be no errors and the game wont reset itself back. Plus, once the game was reset by Jin Woo, it has become new game without error / bug so unlike Jin Woo, the one who is going to save him not going to get stuck.
- About why cant people return once they become a Master, I personally think its a mistake by the writer in trying to be clever with her ending lol. She obviously wanted to be creative but kind of backfired. She supposed to make Jin Woo return back to normal once Emma stab and delete Zinu. Zinu is the bug and not Jin Woo so Jin Woo was not supposed to be deleted from the world. But of course, it seemed to much on her part to give such a sad character a clear happy end. It seemed like we appreciate Jin Woo more than her which kind of made me mad as a writer supposed to have a certain emotional attachment towards her main characters but since she is so adamant in making Jin Woo tragic till the end, it make me sad.. But in the other hand, Jin Woo probably cant return to the real world as Emma has reset the game and there's no medium for him to make himself appear. Thus, he only appear 1 year later when they on back the server when the new game is released. :P
- I understand regarding the explanation on certain things. If you read my review, it is also one of the concerns I had. But since this is a fantasy drama, the writer just lump it up as part of 'fantasy' element of the story that all of these things happened. We know the start is Emma when she combine the game and real world together when Se Joo was stabbed with real knife. The error start there and everything become haywire after that. That is why Se Joo is also afraid for his life as he didnt know what to expect once the game has glitch. But good thing that despite the glitch, it still follow the game rules thus they can play around with it to save themselves aka 'instant dungeon' feature that Se Joo created. I think just like Harry Potter where we have this magical world that existed where all the magical stuffs happen, the writer aimed for all the sinister part of the game was caused by the new world that Emma created. Like Jin Woo, he also explore that 'world' and learn the rules of the game to make himself survive.
- Regarding when things are real or when it is just game, it got to do with the attack by the NPCs whether it cause you real pain or not. What we know is that real pain is only caused by Dr. Cha NPC (bug). But its all changed when Jin Woo got to Granada to accomplished the final mission. After that, all attack has become real that even his limps cured. That is why he said; 'After all, Granada is indeed a City of Magic' as he predicted. As Jin Woo is learning the new rules of the error caused by Emma, we are also learning it together with him. Just like anyone who form an alliance with him will share the same fate as him -- Jin Woo only knew this after 1 year.
- Jin Woo also didnt know that he need to be stabbed for the game to end. He thought he just passed the key for it to end but when the first time Emma stabbed him, he figured out that 'Zinu' is also a bug and must be destroyed.
- Regarding why he cant start with a clean version of the game, then he will never find Se Joo as Se Joo was stucked in the error game created by Emma. And he can only restart the game once Emma killed all the bugs. Note that he always said 'I dont know', 'I dont know' to everyone because he really didnt know. What he know is that completing the mission could be the answer to find Se Joo thus he did exactly that. Plus, Dr. Cha NPC is there to kill him everyday thus he needed a closure not running away and start everything anew when the past will keep haunting him everyday.
- Agreed on your last part. Se Joo is undeniably slow. I mean, he only told anyone that Jin Woo could be stuck in the dungeon one year after the event. I mean, he is the creator, he should have known this earlier lol.
- Like I said, the writer obviously trying to be 'groundbreaking' in her ending but backfired. But it doesnt mean that she didnt aim for a happy end and my original post is to highlight that as I noticed many viewers didnt really understand her ending.

haha no prob! :D I only manage to get it after I watched the last episode for the 2nd time. It was obviously that the writer aimed for a happy end and Jin Woo act of killing low-level NPCs just days after the game was released speaks volume. And the writer made it clear that the sinister part of the game was buried once and for all when Jin Woo sacrificing himself at the end. The game was reset back to zero, no more Emma and no more bad cycle repeating themselves.