Doril
Action-Romance Blend Done Right
Healer is a uniquely, well-executed blend of action and romance that you should definitely check out. I think this show will stand the test of time and continue to be a beloved series for years to come.
Story: Although there are some Kdrama tropes in here, the plot is really well-done. Many Kdramas suffer from a lack of story consistency where the narrative might contradict itself or even forget about story lines that they have setup, but Healer is not one of these. It starts off crafting a mystery between characters in the past and present, and then slowly unravels the connections between everyone. While this plot is unfolding, the show develops the relationships between all the characters, whether that be a love interest, a mentor, an enemy, or an ally. I found all the protagonists likeable and all the villains' motivations sensical. This is a rare show that establishes a complex plot and fully takes it to the end with a satisfying conclusion. My main, minor complaint about the story is the action -- I just feel that Kdramas can't execute action sequences that well because the fighting never looks clear and has a small element of the "shaky cam" phenomenon. However, if I had to pick a drama for the best sequences I've seen so far, it would be Healer, so it is only a minor complaint.
Acting: I felt all the acting was top-notch and brought on a discrete style to all the characters. Kim Mi Kyung showed that she could go from being a mute, caring caretaker (Heirs) into a sassy, funny hacker sidekick in Healer. Yoo Ji Tae brought the caring smugness to life and you could really see his arrogance, yet understand that he was really concerned about his friends and family. Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young were stellar as the main leads and I think accolades have to be given to Ji Chang Wook's stunt double, too, who undoubtedly brought some of the action sequences to life.
Music: I found the production quality to be high and I think the main, instrumental theme deserves a shout out for being catchy and well-used inside the drama -- it starts off with this mysterious quality that develops into a phrenetic sound that always gets you pumped up during a scene. The rest of the songs were good, although I have to ding the soundtrack a bit for having some full-English songs -- as a native English speaker, I find full-English songs a little awkward when they appear in dramas.
Rewatch value: It is definitely a fun re-experience even if you know what happens already. Some of the earlier scenes can be framed in new light now that you know what happens at the end.
This is an excellent show -- don't hesitate to check it out!
Story: Although there are some Kdrama tropes in here, the plot is really well-done. Many Kdramas suffer from a lack of story consistency where the narrative might contradict itself or even forget about story lines that they have setup, but Healer is not one of these. It starts off crafting a mystery between characters in the past and present, and then slowly unravels the connections between everyone. While this plot is unfolding, the show develops the relationships between all the characters, whether that be a love interest, a mentor, an enemy, or an ally. I found all the protagonists likeable and all the villains' motivations sensical. This is a rare show that establishes a complex plot and fully takes it to the end with a satisfying conclusion. My main, minor complaint about the story is the action -- I just feel that Kdramas can't execute action sequences that well because the fighting never looks clear and has a small element of the "shaky cam" phenomenon. However, if I had to pick a drama for the best sequences I've seen so far, it would be Healer, so it is only a minor complaint.
Acting: I felt all the acting was top-notch and brought on a discrete style to all the characters. Kim Mi Kyung showed that she could go from being a mute, caring caretaker (Heirs) into a sassy, funny hacker sidekick in Healer. Yoo Ji Tae brought the caring smugness to life and you could really see his arrogance, yet understand that he was really concerned about his friends and family. Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young were stellar as the main leads and I think accolades have to be given to Ji Chang Wook's stunt double, too, who undoubtedly brought some of the action sequences to life.
Music: I found the production quality to be high and I think the main, instrumental theme deserves a shout out for being catchy and well-used inside the drama -- it starts off with this mysterious quality that develops into a phrenetic sound that always gets you pumped up during a scene. The rest of the songs were good, although I have to ding the soundtrack a bit for having some full-English songs -- as a native English speaker, I find full-English songs a little awkward when they appear in dramas.
Rewatch value: It is definitely a fun re-experience even if you know what happens already. Some of the earlier scenes can be framed in new light now that you know what happens at the end.
This is an excellent show -- don't hesitate to check it out!
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