Starting the Korean drama year of 2015 is a fun-filled, action drama taking us back to the days of waiting patiently each week for a new episode of City Hunter (2011).
Healer, starring Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young follows a young man working as a “night courier” and prides himself as the best in the field. Along with his hacker partner, “Healer” (Ji Chang Wook) asks no questions and gets the job done. That is, until he is tasked with the protection of a young reporter named Chae Young Shin (Park Min Young).
Reporter Chae is a piece in a bigger game, but she holds no memories from before her adoption, and has no idea of the intrigue and deceit from her past. Disguising himself as a newbie reporter, “Healer” becomes Chae’s partner, and together they start on a dangerous path, revolving freedom of the press and what truly happens behind the scenes of the high and mighty who run a country.
As the pieces of the puzzle unravel, connections appear between Chae, her role-model, reporter Kim Moon Ho, and “Healer” himself. In 1992, Chae’s birthmother and father were part of a rebelling news crew, reporting on the scandals and hidden agendas of the high and mighty. With them, were Healer’s own father and reporter Kim’s brother. While romance blossoms between the two youngsters, reporter Kim is revealed as the one who ordered her protection. He is carrying with him a dark secret, where in 1992 Healer’s father killed himself, after being charged with the murder of Chae’s father.
While reminiscent of 2011 success drama City Hunter, also with Park as a leading lady, Healer does not at any point feel like a repeat experience. It brings to the table intrigue and a strong storyline, and manages to keep the suspense going while also dealing with character development and a romance with more heat and conviction that what many are used to in their usual romance dramas.
Ji Chang Wook provides his character with a charming and playful personality, almost reminiscent of someone suffering from a hint of autism. His characters extreme trust and caring nature despite many let-downs and reasons of distrust does not make him distant and unapproachable, but rather endearing, and viewers will find themselves wishing for his happiness.
The strength of the show lies in the refreshing lack of romantic drama. We have gotten used to love triangles and on again-off again relationships which take focus from a main storyline, but Healer has managed to avoid this by inserting a level of trust and confidence in its characters. Both main characters hold a feeling of naivety and childish faith in each other. no matter how many others deceive them, and it makes its viewers fall in love with both as they pass test upon test but never let their faith waiver.
Yoo Ji Tae surprises in his role as a handsome and daring news reporter. When successful reporter Kim Moon Ho takes matters into his own hands and goes to war against his own brother, he knowingly takes on much more than what anyone else is aware of, but manages to keep his wits about him, and shows it was more than his good looks which brought him to becoming the nations favourite reporter. However, as his conscious weight upon him, his role requires a second level of human and emotional understanding, keeping a fine balance between cocky and vulnerable.
All in all a very enjoyable and well-balanced drama, Healer gives its viewers a mix of romance, humour and action and intrigue. It keeps its secrets close to the chest, only revealing its full story to the viewers in the finale episodes.
Thus, it must be mentioned, I left the drama feeling slightly let down. A great body is not enough to make up for a disappointing ending, as the drama could do with another episode to properly offer all its characters and multiple storylines with satisfying endings. Questions were left unanswered about characters future and many fans went to the source for more information. The director said during an online Q&A that the ending was not what she had hoped, but money and time restrictions prevented more.
All in all, Healer is a great drama, providing its audiences with a group of well-developed and explored characters. It took on a overwhelming range of topics and societal issues, and solved it all in a domineering way. A season two would certainly not be out-of-order.
