Alias: Healer (2014)

Just finished watching this amazing drama that is highly recommended by most viewers of Kdrama. It is really good, full of action and complicated back story that keeps things interesting to watch and at the edge of your seats until the very end. It's pretty much like City Hunter in my opinion, maybe because Park Min Young is here. The male lead, Ji Chang Wook is so handsome so that is a plus in this show. One thing that was just not good on this show is that, you have to endure the maybe 4-5 episodes at the start that I found boring and had to endure. It's because they are still establishing the back story on those episodes and as I've said, its quite deep and complicated. But good, because its just not some shallow plot. The sweet moments of the male and female lead were also just right, not too mushy or overdone. Just enough light moments to rest from the serious moments of the drama. Action scenes, fight scenes were awesome. I give this a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rate and its not just because everyone says so. Almost everything in this drama was done perfectly.

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Healer has a special place in my heart. It was the second drama I ever saw and it opened the door for me to explore the world of kdramas. It has everything and plenty of it - well developed story, amazing cast, great music and a unique charm that will keep you coming back for more to notice those little hints you did not register during the first viewing.

The only negative thing that I can say about Healer is that it takes the first two-three episodes for it to find the proper groove. At the beginning it feels quite off because the story is very comprehensive and you just need to pay attention to grasp it. On the other hand, the plot is well intertwined with flashbacks and emotionally rewarding.

The cast is just excellent. Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young are out of this world. What a great match of acting ability and chemistry. They both suit their roles so well. I loved Yoo Ji Tae as well, he was a joy to watch. The secondary characters are not lacking at all. Kim Mi Kyung was particularly amazing and her comedic ability took the drama up a notch.

I return to Healer regularly, and I think that I will for a long time. It really is that good.

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How do I describe Healer? It's an action/romance/career oriented (the focus on journalism) drama that succeeds on all those counts. The male lead Seo Jung Ho (aka Healer) is a superhero with no superpowers, who comes complete with a cowardly public identity and a secret life as a kick ass "night errand boy." Female lead Chae Young Shin is a spirited journalist who struggles to do what is right and eventually gets caught up in a scandal involving corrupt individuals. Second male lead Kim Moon Ho is an older news anchor, whose longevity in the business hasn't hampered his drive to fight for justice and for the oppressed, and who early on finds a connection between himself and both Jung Ho and Young Shin- a connection that starts more than a decade ago, which involves their parents, who were also employed as journalists fighting for a just cause.



While this drama delt with serious issues such as the corruption of high ranking officials, a master puppeteer behind it all and a mystery/tragedy regarding Jung Ho and Young Shin's parents, it never felt like a heavy watch. This really worked for me, even if I am a fan of heavier melodramas. The fight scenes reminded me a bit of the Bourne series but they were graceful and acrobatic as opposed to brutal/gritty. The romance is what I'd call squeal inducing and the chemistry between the actor and actress playing Jung Ho and Young Shin is one of the best I 've seen. I really enjoyed watching him slowly fall for her. Initially, he'd thought her strange and annoying but once he got to know her it all changes and fans of the romance genre will enjoy the sweetness of their moments together.



Side characters such as master hacker Jo Mina and Young Shin's (adoptive) lawyer father Chae Chi Soo were also a delight to watch- their interactions with the main leads added a lot to the lightness of the series. Another thing I liked about Healer is that the main characters aren't always overwhelmed by the villains' actions. I've watched a handful of kdramas now and I've noticed that in the heavier ones I've seen they often write it in such a way that the villains seem to always be one step ahead of the heroes. I guess they do that to make the story more suspensful and aggravating for the viewers but this has always been a hit or miss for me. I'm glad they took a different approach with Healer. I wouldn't say that the villains didn't give the leads substantial difficulties to overcome- they certainly did. But the leads always came back fighting and then we'd get another round of challenges. This didn't make it any less exciting.



Overall, this was a fun, fast paced (romantic! action filled! hilarious!) watch and I can easily see myself rewatching this, even over many of my other favorites :)

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My point of view might be totally subjective , but i watched a lot of dramas , and this one is still my favorite .
It is a perfect mix of what i enjoy the most : action, love , "broken but still trying-hard in life" characters, sweetness, suspense, and even funny moments.

The plot is interesting in itself but also mainstream among dramas, the journalistic aspect brought an original side to the other shows mainly related to politics and business.
But to me, what really made this drama a total hit is the acting.

The characters were great, funny, appealing , struggling with life but mainly very well acted, even second leads were amazing (special mention to Kim Mi-Kyung who totally stole the show)!
The love story totally worked out with the suspense/action side of the show, and was overloaded with chemistry and cuteness, but also hardship for those two main characters who both had a very rough life.
I think it played a perfect role of balance ( in addition to funny moments) in this dramatic plot.

The action part was thrilling to me , and unlike lots of other dramas, it didn't get too long or boring towards the end. (which is extremely rare)
The OSTs were great (and stuck in my head for a month).
I really went through all different types of emotions watching this drama, and was so devastated when i finished it, i even wish i was able to erase it from my memory and discover it again!

Anyway, to me , it was an excellant show, who gave me a very bittersweet kind of feeling and i strongly recommend it.

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Healer was a drama I have avoided for a long time. I finally came to watch it due to my friend's insistence and I have never felt a drama was so perfectly composed. The drama is spunky, romantic and at the same time takes a deep dive into the minds of people who have little to no redeeming qualities. All the cast acts fantastically and even if one did act badly they were there too short to remember.

The acting itself was phenomenal and so evened out. Every single member in the cast seems to fully absorb their character. There are very few dramas where you can say everyone did well. There was no cartoonish villain, overly naive female lead and a cold hard to get male lead. The female lead was naive in some sense however she was comfortable with herself. She was quirky yet serious and obviously cared about her job. Very few dramas have a female lead that is well written yet Healer is one of these amazing dramas. You always understand her intentions and generally just come to like her. The male lead is also not a typical ice-cold lead that somehow changes into this fluffy boy in the last episode. Instead, he is lonely and longs for company yet doesn't know it. Him being courageous or brave is shown as a bad thing sometimes as it ruins certain parts of the story yet sometimes save him. Him actively pursuing the female lead is also something that makes the story so much better. All the other members of the cast also acted perfectly like Kim Mun Ho as a passionate reporter who's struggling to undo his past faults, Kim Mun Sik the almost obsessively attached husband who'll do anything to stay with his wife and Boss who actually believes he's doing good to the world.

The story of this drama was extremely interesting as we don't learn the full story in one go rather in bits and pieces. The unravelling of a case in 1992 which was a betrayal of friendship and a devastating event that changed many lives was interesting as you can see how each person is affected by the "farmers". I personally loved how they kept on showing how each person was affected by the case as it was refreshing to not only just see shock or anger. The case was well written and engaging throughout. How they connected all the dots felt natural and though there might've been a few inconsistencies it was mostly perfect.

Healer is a very interesting drama with lots of positives that will make it hard for you to not enjoy it. Its entertaining, thrilling and just makes you happy while you watch it. The drama is consistent throughout and you will be spoilt for taste after watching this.

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My expectations may have been too high because I was underwhelmed by this drama. I think that the ending focused too much on the charming, but very predictable romance, at the expense of the other story lines. The “surprise” was not a surprise because the happily-ever-after ending was such a foregone conclusion that I assumed immediately that the shooting was a setup. What I liked instead throughout the drama were the flashes of humor, such as when Moon Ho pushed Jung Hoo’s “dying” face down. Or when Min Ja paused during her escape from her lair to stare longingly at all of her knitting projects.

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This is hands down the best drama I’ve ever seen. I rarely write reviews but this one definitely deserves it. The story, acting and chemistry between the lead couple was just amazing. Park Min-young was really adorable and did a really good job as well as other actors in this drama, but I enjoyed the most how Ji Chan-wook was able to change his personality throught the whole series. He was sweet and innocent and suddenly turned into a badass. I think this guy is every girl’s dream. There was also a perfect amount of romance and action. I often get bored during romantic dramas but every episode of this one makes you excited for another one. I wish I could unsee it and watch it all over again. Really loved it!

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Why not a 10?

First of all, I love this drama.
It has everything I cherish and want in a drama. Good cast, interesting story, balanced mix of genres and a catchy OST comes as a bonus.
Then why not a 10 rating? Let me try to explain (without much spoilers).

I had trouble getting into the story. It was a mixture of something in the past and the present and by the first couple of episodes I was lost with a lot of questions. They got answered but the beginning was still a bit of a struggle.
Things get revealed and the pace of that happening is good, well until the end. I think they rushed it a bit too much. We get to see the couple and hints for the other characters, telling us how their life might continue but it didn't feel enough.
I guess I was simply not ready to let go yet and by the second last episode I felt ready for a big coup, what I've got was a few minutes long and just didn't do the story justice.

The acting was really good and there's nothing to complain about since we're talking about well-known actors here who were part of many dramas. I especially enjoyed the chemistry between Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young and with Yoo Ji Tae. Kim Mi Kyung is a goddess, she made it to my top favorites within a couple minutes. xD
But also the support characters stood out. Gosh, Jung Gyoo Soo gave his character a creepy aura while Park Sang Myun and Woo Hyun were such a heartwarming and funny duo.

I still have the theme song of the drama in my mind. The OST is really catchy.

Rewatch value for me is middle. I probably won't come back to watch the whole thing but I surely want to rewatch the cute couple moments, action scenes and funny moments.

Overall I enjoyed the drama and just think they could've done better at the beginning and end. Maybe give the end a whole episode and not just like 10 minutes to wrap everything up. Then it would've been perfect.
I certainly recommend it though.

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One of the best Koream Action/Romance

I loved JCW in lovestruck in the city and came here to see if he is actually capable.... and damn he surprises me yet again ! I have no words to describe his performance . He can easily slip into any character , here he quickly transforms from a frivolous fighter to a cute reporter in training !

I will not talk about plot holes , since they are there in every drama ,... the main thing is how much you enjoyed it !!
The character sketches of all the cast is written in a very special way ! You can watch them grow together. The main thing is the characters grow on you and you don't find any of them annoying ! The FL is definitely fragile physically , but she is very strong mentally ! Not all men and women are made of steel. People should learn to accept weak characters as well , and here its only physical weakness !

Other characters are also very well written , the flashbacks are placed perfectly . There is no reason to not binge this series .

One of the best K drama series I have seen so far , and believe me i have watched more than 50 now !! ;)

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Healer was a good drama. The story was solid. The female lead was strong. The male lead was hot. The directing was slick. I didn't love it, but I thought it was pretty good. If you like action romcoms with a solid couple and a heavy plot, I would recommend this.

Things I loved:
The Music: Eternal love is on my "favorites" playlist. The ost elevated the drama.
Ji Chang Wook's hotness and acting: No need for explanation.
Lack of pointless relationship drama: BLESS.
The plot: Have to admit, the plot was great.
Pacing: Timing was on.
Kisses: Those were some good kdrama kisses.
Minja: My favorite character. She was badass.
Bong Sookie/Healer: Loyal and badass. Awkward and clumsy. Suave and intelligent. Lonely but loving. Brilliant.
Villains: Clever and realistic way of showing the corruption in political circles.
Her dad: He was a really good dad. Very supportive and just.
Action sequences: THOSE WERE SO FUN!

Things I was meh about:
The Romance: I'm sorry. It just didn't make me swoon. The whole secret identity thing made it feel less authentic. I can't say more without giving spoilers.
The main lead actress and her character: Tried to make her seem relatable by giving her "quirks" but I NEVER connected with her on an emotional level. The actress's performance was flat and forced. I didn't hate her acting, but it didn't do anything for me either. She was kind of boring to watch at times. You may love her, this is just my opinion.
Moon Ho: Coward character. Lied a bunch. Even though he had his reasons for keeping secrets, they weren't good enough. Didn't like the scenes with him.
Politics: I don't like politics lol, and I got confused quite a bit so I had to rewatch certain scenes. Still, it kept me engaged. I don't blame the drama.

Overall: Really good drama. I really don't know why I didn't love it as much as others. Probably the romance and the main girl. The other aspects of it are great though. Worth watching for sure! It was still exciting and I was hardly ever bored??.

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I can't fault it. There's nothing I can say that's negative about this show. Pure magic! Ji Chang wook just owns the show with his acting skills in this. He's just so gorgeous and his kickass character made him all the more attractive. The female lead was spunky, confident, smart and brave - she wasnt whiny or weak. She was easy to relate to and root for. The plot was fast, it kept moving a nice pace so I didn't get bored. The music was good, there are a few songs from this drama that I love and listen to often. I could easily rewatch this, like a million times or more. It's never going to get old. Its a classic and a top fav of mine. If you're considering watching this, I beg you to stop reading these reviews and just do it. Do it now!...you won't regret it! I promise!

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