I love Ji Chang Wook so much in empress ki that I want to bang my head for writing this somewhat cynical comment. hmm.. what to say? I usually don't have high expectations for a drama, nor do i nitpick on every single little thing, because honestly I'm not observant or intelligent enough i guess to see all the plot holes that a drama can possibly have. AND i went into this drama with so much expectation for Ji Chang Wook and Healer after reading so many good reviews of it. The beginning episodes were really really good and I was intrigued with the whole "healer" concept. It was definitely something new in the k-drama world and the action scenes are breath taking. I have to applaud for the great cinematography and how the actions scenes were choreographed as well as shot. And i mean what can go wrong with seeing JCW in an all black outfit jumping from one building to another. The main problem that I have with drama is that nothing is completely wrong and nothing is exceptional & earth shattering enough to turn my life upside down. I was hoping for a lasting effect and this drama doesn't give me a BANG. I was hoping and praying to the drama gods that I would see JCW giving me a really cool, unexpected, nicely choreographed climax scene but they never got around to it. Looking back, I feel like the writers failed in the build up of the climax and I have to say that the past background story of the 5 friends really intrigued me at first. I was hoping for a more noir and an unexpected,darker story of the parents because the story focus so heavily on that with all the flashbacks and all. Therefore I was expecting a crazier tale and I just realised that this story is not angsty enough for me unlike cruel city despite its imperfections. I wouldn't mind a few plotholes here and there, whatever you know, but i was hoping to be attached to main story line and I was DEEPLY disappointed by the major revelation of the past. I was also hoping that JCW and PMY past to be somewhat more significant but the writer decided to focus more on the parent's past. and what i get was a super expected revelation that has no plot twist whatsoever. Sorry to say, the romance part, despite the writers obvious intention of us loving the main OTP and showering us with cute,sweet, scenes and oh don't forget the kissing scene just doesn't feel completely right to me. I can't really pinpoint why because everybody is saying that the chemistry is amazing blahblahblah.. this is exactly what I feel about "you who came from the stars" and trust me healer is even more unsettling because i tried to love the main OTP for JCW. Secondly, I can't help but compare JCW's romance in empress ki and I grew an attachment for their OTP more despite how twisted, crazy, obsessive, borderline sociopath romance it is and the lack of "romantic" scenes. I feel like the OTP in healer is not natural enough despite how hard the actor/actress tried to make it seem natural, get what i mean? It's true that I think that they are cute and perhaps they have some chemistry, a few years back I would like this OTP. However, now I can't help but feel the lack of depth in their romance. Let me put it this way.. it's like how in high school you have to tell someone you love them constantly for them to feel love. I was hoping for a more mature, realistic, multi faceted romance but oh well perhaps this is counted more as an "idol drama". If it's someone else and not JCW who played "healer" i would probably drop it already in the middle. The writer's intention is so transparent in this drama that makes it seem a bit elementary, whether it is the romance part or the storyline that i thought would be more well developed, with plot twist and depth. I feel like I see more transparency of the writers wanting the viewers to be crazy about the romance especially towards the end. Despite all the sweet & romantic words interchange by the OTP, I just can't feel an attachment or feeling at least their love that i was hoping for. However, both of them are great but just not excellent despite its huge potential in the beginning. Although I would much prefer it if they do an excellent story line and the romance being so-so, or the other way around. Despite all these rants, I appreciate all the writers, producers, and actors/actresses' efforts to make this drama a somewhat enjoyable ride but unfortunately it's just not impactful enough for me :-(