Kdrama Review: Healer (AKA Rank-Wrecker-Awesomeness)

There are a select few Korean TV shows that I consider in my All Time Favorites, those dramas which warmed my soul with realistic romance, pulled at my feels with heart-wrenching sacrifice, kept me from sleep with unpredictable plotlines – those dramas that I feel confident recommending to my non-drama-watching friends, knowing it’s only matter of time before they also become addicted. Among such glorious kdramas, I listed Lee Min Ho’s “CityHunter,” the only non-cop-show I’d seen that combined action and romance.

But then I watched “Healer,” wrecking my rankings and superseding my beloved “City Hunter” in a flurry of kick-butt action, compelling back story, passionate kisses, and good-guy criminals.

I love this drama.

Not sure why this image has "skip" on it, but skipping this drama is not something you want to do.

“Healer” depicts two worlds. One, the life of a night courier, code name Healer, the best in his field at delivering top secret documents, escorting hunted persons, and stealing even the most secure items. Two, the life of journalists: a famous news anchor, always intent on uncovering injustice, and a member of the paparazzi who has yet to get her big break.

Of course, all three characters are connected in a complex back story that takes the whole drama to fully discover. Things get interesting as Healer is framed for murder after a job goes awry, News Anchor Guy keeps pushing boundaries during live broadcasts, and Paparazzi Girl stumbles upon a story bigger than any celebrity gossip.

I’m a sucker for adventure. And this drama was perfect, an ideal blend of Healer racing on rooftops and taking out gangs of thugs while News Anchor hunts for clues to solve the mysteries of his family’s painful past and Female Lead risks her job to help another, unknowingly becoming Healer’s next target and… I should probably stop with the plot description. Take it from me, the story is solid.

What did I like about this drama? What didn’t I like about this drama! The romantic tension was tangible, comparable to the magic of “Coffee Prince” and “Lie to Me.” Excellent kisses. "City Hunter" also did action/mysterious back story well, but "Healer" totally wins in the fulfilling romance department - by a long shot.

The cliff hangers in "Healer" were so well-written, effectively inducing all the symptoms of fangirling, including (but not limited to) gasping, squealing, yelling, grinning and incessantly clicking “next episode.” The feels, oh, the feels!

The acting was STELLAR. Ji Chang Wook (Healer) was phenomenal. (He and Lee Seung Gi have got to be the two best actors in kdrama land). At one point Healer disguises himself and for almost a whole scene I didn’t even recognize him, his mannerisms and personality were so different from Healer. I was all, “Weird, why are they so focused on this new character? Wait a minute… That’s Healer undercover!!” Female Lead Park Min Young was also excellent.

This drama was 20 episodes long, but I didn’t want it to end. There were no drawbacks for me. “Healer” was flawless, absolutely wonderful Korean TV.

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