Healer (2014)

The “ Healing” Approach To A Drama...

Healer revolves around Jeong- Hu ( Ji Chang- Wook), a courier who goes under the mysterious alias “ Healer”. Carrying out numerous errands for his clients with the help of “ Hacker Ahjumma” ( Kim Mi Kyung), Jeong- Hu is determined to be able to put together enough money to leave Korea and spend the rest of his days in luxury on his own island, away from the problems of civilisation. His dreams to leave the country seem to be put on hold, however, when he attracts famous news anchor Kim Moon Ho ( Yoo Ji Tae) to use his services in order to protect aspiring journalist Chae Young Shin ( Park Min Young). Going undercover as an unnoticeable intern, Jeong- Hu finds himself torn between his mission and his personal feelings when he realises a connection between Young Shin and what happened to his biological parents nearly twenty years ago.

It can’t be denied that the Healer takes on so many action tropes it’s untrue . From Bourne Identity violence to the Clark Kent setup seen later in the drama as well as some downright strange plot moments, Healer may seem a waste of time, however, what the show certainly doesn’t lose out upon is a well- written plot , a developed male lead and female characters who felt flawed and most importantly human. This is undeniably all thanks to Chang Wook’s portrayal of Jeong- Hu’s contrasting personas throughout the show ; a fairly mind blowing moment of acting in regards to watching Chang Wook going from a stuttering intern to a confident and brazen fighter several minutes into a scene, away from the preying eyes of Young Shin. As a character, I’ll be honest in saying that there was a lot more which could have been fleshed- out with Jeong Hu, not least dropping a gradual build - up to his past from almost episode one rather than rushing this crucial storyline in a matter of a few episodes instead. On the other hand, one of the most impressive features of Jeong- Hu was undeniably crossing the “ moral grey hero” threshold for drama leads; typically sugarcoated by writers to be the heroic moral citizen, rather than beating up corrupt figures( even after they have begged for mercy) , going against the police ( let’s not forget even breaking into a police headquarters as well) numerous times and the shocking scene in the
last episode as well. This really helped to solidify Jeong- Hu as not merely a plot device, but flawed and more importantly, an individual who makes mistakes and possesses a conscience.

Of course, Park Min Young easily matches Chang Wook within her portrayal of Young Shin. Min Young plays the role with a level of comical brilliance as well as heartache, something not entirely to any Korean drama, but certainly refreshing within her character’s mould. In regards to Young Shin as a character, it’s easy to say that Young Shin is the perfect archetype of the “ fleshed- out” female lead, quick to speak her mind and having grown up in an environment of ex- convicts, more than “street- smart ‘’ especially as she grows to becoming accustomed to Jeong- Hu. Whilst the show undeniably relies upon the classical tropes of Korean dramas within the traumas and romantic setups between Shin and Jeong Hu, the one thing which I must give the show credit for with Young Shin, is that she isn’t overly blinded by love to deny her individuality and sense of duty as a journalist, something which I’d certainly hope Korean dramas will do more within portrayals of female characters in more recent portrayals of women in similar shows with strong female leads, such as Hotel Del Luna and Its Okay, Not To Ne Okay.

Last but not least, it cannot be forgotten the comical brilliance of Mi Kyung as “ Ajumma” within her talks to Jeong Hu and her surprisingly touching moments when we begin to learn more about her past as well. On that side note, the one character who you actually grow to adore a lot more than you originally intended to do so, was undeniably Moon Ho. Ji Tae was brilliant in his portrayal as a seemingly minor and somewhat creepy news anchor; one of Young Shin’s crushes ( besides Healer) and who shares an intriguing link to the pasts of Jeong Hu and Young Shin.

It came to my fears at first when Moon Ho was introduced properly in the series when he began working with Young Shin, that the scriptwriters would write him off as either a second Male lead or destroy his characterisation in seconds flat , but, his surprising redemption within his fraternal relationship with Jeong Hu, added to some brilliantly light- hearted and touching moments in the show, something which I valued a lot within bringing out the other characters’ humanity as we saw vulnerable moments between the leftover members of the original gang as well as Jeong- Hu. Overall, the show is trapped in cliches which aren’t entirely new to Korean dramas , but, it easily surpasses these faults through strong characterisation and moments as well to add The extent of the individual humanity to these characters.

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