As much as I enjoyed the plot and direction Kill me, Heal me took, it wouldn't have been as much of a enjoyable watch if it weren't for Ji Sung who acted for Cha Do Hyun and all seven of his personalities (Shin Se Gi, Perry Park, Ahn Yo-seob, Ahn Yo-na, Nana, Mr. X). His acting is just amazing and so diverse I just can't believe how good of an actor he is. The way he switches from personality to personality through the use of expression and body language, and of course my favorite personality is Ahn Yo Na because watching Ji Sung act like a girl is just about the funniest thing ever in drama land.
Hwang Jung Eum who acted as Oh Ri Jin, Cha Do Hyun's secret psychiatrist I can't give the same praise for. I feel she was all too expressive to the point her shock, anger, amazement seems overdone and fake. Even though Koreans believe good acting is in having expressive facial expression but too much can cause reviewers to feel like it's all an act which is sadly what occured here. She doesn't have the excuse of pretending to have 7 personalities so it makes very little sense to show such exaggerated expressions in the show such as screaming like a banshee, or jaw dropping so wide and so on.
The support cast in Kill Me Heal Me is sorely neglected because this drama spends most of its time focusing on Cha Do Hyun's mental disorder, he himself is 7 main characters. So we have some severely underdeveloped side characters whose motivation is very lacking and they are more often than not simply used as plot devices to move the story in some direction. Such as Cha Gi Jun (Cha Do Hyun's cousin) and his family who plots to secretly take over the company are cast in the role of 'villain' simply because it follows the standard of kdramas to do so. Even though the amount of impact they had on the overall story was next to zero. Also Han Chae Yeon - Cha Gi Jun's fiancee who actually likes Cha Do Hyun - is a person I would have personally liked to know more about being Cha Do Hyun's childhood love and it seems feelings run deep, but by the end of the drama she is simply ignored and it feels like the thread of plot that includes her was cut off leaving no trace of her in the ending. I won't go into detail of every support cast in this drama, but I will say the only support that got some attention is Oh Ri On (Park Seo Joon) - Oh Ri Jin's twin brother.
The music is fairly good with the title song Auditory Hallucination being such a high impact rap it featured in nearly all the emotional scenes in this drama and never failed to enhance the atmosphere, best of all it doesn't get boring even after listening to it 20 times on repeat. Honestly this is the first time i will say a song carried a drama, without this song i can't imagine Kill Me Heal Me to be as good.
A few things that eventually caused me to lower the rating of this show is the tear jerking quality which was really overdone. I didn't even feel 'sad' by the end because the drama did such a good job of crying for me that I personally didn't shed even a single tear, especially when the truth of what happened 21 years ago comes out it wasn't as shocking or severe as i imagined. Another problem is Cha Do Hyun's dad's role in the abuse did not feel convincing, the drama tried too hard to soften the blow of talking about child abuse by casting the primary villain in a good light, kind of like trying to brainwash the audience into Stockholm syndrome and actually find sympathy with the captor.
Overall I gave this drama a 8.5 because the two upstanding qualities were Ji Sung's acting and Auditory Hallucination. This drama is a must watch because of these two things, but at the same time there is quite many flaws in this drama and it's not perfect by any means.
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I finished watching this drama in 3 days, when the show is soooo good, i just cannot stop watching it. The story is so different. It's funny yet very sad, i cannot describe it. My emotion was like up and down when i was watching it. It's just wrecking my emotion, i understand now, how my friend has been tru. Coz i have a depressed friend who sometimes i cannot understand why she is acting like that, I thought she only wants to get attention from other people, but i now i can understand her better. People with mental illness cannot control their behavior, the illness just play with their life, and causing so much harms.
I really hope we and society think twice or thrice before we treat someone else, coz if we are not careful, someone might get hurt and they will be depressed. Anyway, i need to review this drama haha.
I have watched this drama 2 times, going to watch it again. Coz when i feel sad and if i want to relief my emotion, i will just watch this kind of drama. hufff... I like all do hyun's characters and i like shin se gi the most, coz this is a part of cha do hyun that needs to be healed. His characters are wonderful and Ju Sung can act really well, natural and convincing. When i watch it, i feel that the drama has absorb me into that world, and i forgot that it is just a movie. I really can feel all the emotion in this drama, wow, the acting is damn good. I LIKE JI SUNG!
I mean my life is not so boring anymore after i discover that a drama can be this satisfying and wonderful. Gonna watch other good drama soon, Thanks Ji Sung, Thanks kill me, heal me team for making this wonderful show. I really appreciate it.
The music is also awesome. Thanks for the soundtrack team! Especially auditory hallucination, it brings up the soul and emotion of the scenes in this drama. I am gonna sleep while listening to this music :)) U GUYS DID A GOOD JOB!! THANK YOU!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
BEST show ever!!!!! I love this show sooooo so much. I wrote not one, but three blog posts about it on my blog. I mean. Whoa. Best drama. Will be watching it again and again and again. :)For my first, halfway post, check out:
https://shadowoftheoperaghost.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/kill-me-heal-me/?frame-nonce=44e32353ee
(I can't post here because sometimes there are spoilers)
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Acting/Characters: The acting was flawless and I loved the characters so much! Especially Shin Se Gi, Anh Yo Na and Oh Ri On! Wish they'd had more screen time.
Music: That one sad song that kept playing = it's so beautiful and so meaningful and great!
ReWatch? I don't normally rewatch KDramas but I think I'll probs will watch this again in 5/6 years time =]
Why did it lose 2 marks on the rating? I have five reasons:
1. I was expecting it to be a lot more comedic, if not, comedy central.
2. I wish it'd been about 5 episodes longer so we could've spent more time with the other personalities. And it ended a bit rushed I think.
3. Too much crying! I swear Cha Do Hyun is cried every 5 minutes! I mean I can completely understand why and can 100% sympathize why and it's amazing how the actors could produce so many tears in one episode (congrats to their acting skills!) but it really was too much.
4. My idea of what the 'past incident' was, was a lot more corrupt and juicy in my mind and it would've really messed up Do Hyun-Ri Jin-Ri On's relationship big style!
5. The MC female annoyed me quite a lot. When she was crying hard I was trying so hard not to die of laughter at how pathetic she sounded. And her constantly red upper lip and lip shape annoyed me. << but that's me getting picky xD
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This review may contain spoilers
7 Personalities, billionaires, a mysterious writer and a young psychatristSounds like a mess? Nope, it sounds like a FINALLY interesting story!
The music is catchy, I'm learnign korean to understand what it's about because Jang Jae Shins and NaShows " Auditory Hallucination" made me cry so much while watching.
And of course the other songs were great too... so 10/10.
I want to see it again, every single episode just to fall in love again and again with Cha Do Hyuns personalitys. If only I could! Every Episode is interesting and I watched this drama in one go because I couldn't stop myself from wanting t see another episode. Damn it.
The acting was great. The actor of Cha Do Hyun did a really good job! Every single personality was unique, even if I did not understand the purpose of having some of them... Well, I don't care, they were amazing, 10/10 for the actor of Cha Do Hyun but sometimes I could've killed Oh Ri Jin. and her brother...
Still, I think their ability to cry at every moment is hileriously great, so 10/10
And now the story... Watch it yourself. I don't want to spoiler, it was great, sometimes a mess but still unique and so interesting that I couldn't stop watching. The only thing they could've made better is the ending, for real. I wanted to detroy my tablet after seeing this unfullfilling ending. But I guess that's normal... so 9/10
I loved it, 10/10
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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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Unnecessary elements - skippable
The different personalities portrayed actually encapsulates the typical character behaviors in any kdrama - the embodiment of the tropes. This is why I feel like the family political strife was unnecessary to the plot and was just added to add more layer and give off a feeling of complexity and depth to the series. I'm tired of this trope and skipped over the scenes showing Korean chaebol problems for the sake of sanity.I enjoyed watching the MC deal with his situation. The family fued, not so much - too pedestrian to be forgettable - it's almost insulting to one's intelligence.
Contains the usual stale kdrama drama:
Workplace bullying
Assault
Child abuse
Dysfunctional family
Tragic past
Some Mexican drama elements
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I think I fell in love with the same person twice but with different personality.
The first episode got me hooked and I've spent the rest of the drama glued to my screen. This psychological and romance comedy easily stands out from other dramas of this genre. Even though this drama focused on a few psychological disorders, it was included and portrayed with such a fantastic approach . The psychology wasn't overbearing, the comedy wasn't to exaggerated and the romance was flowing nicely with the pace of the drama. I really enjoyed watching the two leads play together after Secret. They have a great chemistry. This is definitely a must watch and I highly recommend it!Was this review helpful to you?
Amazing story.
1.) The main highlight of this show is definitely the different split personalities. I was pretty hesitant about the male lead (Jisung.. I am so sorry about not knowing him before the drama) having 7 split personalities but the story definitely lead well to the backstory of the 7 personalities. I am also impressed by how the writer/s included character development and growth for the personalities making the story interesting and not stagnant.
2.) Romance is beautiful. I really want to talk more about the romance but I think it is impossible to do that without spilling any beans. This is the first drama that made me had second male lead syndrome for two of the characters (I am trying my best) and bromance is simply so natural.
3.) Suspense is the one that kept me going real hard. So many WOW factors in this drama. You will be sooooooo surprised at many point in time and will really expect more and more from the drama.
4.) I will not consider this drama as a medical drama though. I am no medical-expert but I can see that this drama does not really touch on the medical side. If you are going for medical/psychological, this won't be the one (watch It's Okay It's Love instead).
5.) This drama has one of the best ending, really. A nice closure and no possibility for season 2 (which I kind of appreciate as there are many season 2s becoming really forced) I must give credits to the writer/s for the wonderful story. JJANG!
Next the acting...
Jisung handled the split personalities soooo good. He deserves the Daesung (Grand Prize) so so so so so much. There are many controversies about Hwang Jung Eum's acting (female lead) but I really don't find any problem with her acting. She may be exaggerating at times but I believe it is for the comedy effect and also she did displayed impressive emotional acting in the drama. All the casting is done really well and I have enjoyed the acting of all major/minor characters. ANOTHER JJANG!
Auditory Hallucination really gives me the suspense vibe for Kill Me Heal Me. You can feel the painful love with lots of secrets and suspense, with a hope for life and happiness. I totally don't understand the lyrics of the song but I feel it anyway. Its like a flashlight speed recap of the drama every time you listen to the song. There are other OSTs but unfortunately, is not as impactful as Auditory Hallucination.
All in all, go watch it! Because this is the drama that taught me what is a good drama in romance-comedy and suspense aspect (and I never thought that this two genre can go so well together). Heart wrenching back stories, beautiful yet painful romance, funny bromance/split personalities moments, heart warming family love, great acting and impactful music. All in one.
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Ji Sung as Cha Do Hyun was comendable. each personalily was perfectly potrayed. Every character was very well communicated with the actions and expressions and ofcourse fashion. He gave life to all the seven person with his powerful expression and performance. It makes you believe that its truely the other person just by the gaze.
Jung Eum as Oh Ri Jin was cute, comical, matured and contenance were just mindblowing. As a Psychiatrist she did a great job but as love interest she was remarkable healing every piece of cha do hyun. The farewell of each person seemed very agonizing and yes i cried with her.
Park seo joon as Oh Ri On was not just a brother but a friend and support who calmed her helped her whenever she is low. He was perfectly jaw dropping.
Now the ost, ofcouse auditory hallucination got into my playlist since after i finished the series. The rap and lyrics fit flawlessly to wherever it was tuned. It was actually hallucinating.
This drama is a trimph in the medical content drama. DID not just a psychiatric disorder but can be a tragedy too. This drama illustrates it delicately. The pains which make a person try to suicide, and then a person who is mad for idols and a person who loves deeply and violently. The HEAL ME was illustrated to all of these painful pieces flawlessly.
Rewatch hmmmm
You just try watching the first episode you will get addicted yourself.
Will watch again after a month till then absorbing the auditory hallucination.
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so...this is my opinion :
STORY : long...20 episodes is indeed very long journey for me, BUT...it worth my every minutes. it pack with a solid and worth watch storyline, every minute of it. flaw? i think i can't find a BIG flaws in it, and i'm in love with the comedy aspect in every scene (funnier than HEALER), even in a serious scene. a little bit comedy is important for me to keep me watching 20 episodes until FINISH. just like a general korean dramas, its a bit confusing at the beginning just watch it all the way until the end and you'll get the point. the story wasn't running in circle, not back and forth, but really really moving forward with a fast pace, so...i love it. this drama worth the rating.
CAST : good storyline but not so good interpretation (by the actors) is worthless...so, this great but complicated storyline was saved by Ji Sung. He really is an actor, he really is all his character in the drama (sorry, forget the name). even though there are 7 of Ji Sung, but all off them was different...yes they have the same face but the eyes in every one of them make me believe that they are different. The Eyes of Ji Sung. my favorite character is Yoo Na, so funny and girly with a muscular body and masculine face, and i love the romance (or should i call it bromance) between Yoo Na and Seo Joon. Hwang Jung Eum portraying of Oh Ri Jin can be irritating sometimes, and a little bit annoying but i think its an indication that her acting was believable, and she is really funny, i love her.
MUSIC : the intro was so familiar in my ears, i'm sure it was a song by STING but i dont know the name. when i google it, it is very similar to STING - SHAPE OF MY HEART. maybe a little bit copycat (sorry) but i think it what make the song give a great vibe to the drama. the intro maybe similar but the voice of the female singing part is the biggest poin in my ears, i'm drawn in it, i dont even know what she say, just like i dont understand Korean but how they incorporate the rap, the female voice and the intro was superb. so, the song itself was worth listening.
REWATCH : i will, Yoo Na part only because my favorite is when there's Yoo Na in it. its 20 episodes, its just impossible for me to watch it all over again when i have so many dramas and movies to watch, hahaha. but for those who have a lot of free time, this is one of the drama that worth for rewatch.
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MUST WATCH
This drama is hilarious, despite talking about a really deep and dark topic such as child abuse and the resulting PTSD. This drama captivated me. I feel bad for the brother, but at least you can watch them in "She was Pretty" (although that dramas not as good as this one). You'll laugh (really loud and hard) and you'll cry, and your heart will hurt, and at the end, you find strength and that boundaries are a good thing. Just be prepared, it's good enough that you'll want to binge watch, but your heart has to be ready for the rollercoaster.Was this review helpful to you?
