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Healer: Episode 7

Is passive-aggressive Healer not the cutest thing or what? His disguise is both a handy tool and a hindrance, since he’s bound by his secret identity to behave in a certain Bong-soo-like way… which, on the flipside, allows him cover to act blissfully ignorant while getting to be petty and jealous. I could pretty much watch this dynamic forever, but I suppose if we must occasionally break from the cuteness to deal with plotular movement, it’s not a trial to get additional clues to the deepening mystery and some satisfying moments of payback and advancement.

SONG OF THE DAY

Kim Bum-soo – “Lonely”Download ]

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EPISODE 7 RECAP

Jung-hoo gets a rude awakening when Min-ja hacks in with a morning call and issues brisk instructions for the flight she’s booked him. Teacher Ki Young-jae has decided that the Healer should take a break and spend a year in Australia, which piques Jung-hoo’s curiosity for two reasons: One, Teacher’s back? And two, why is he being sent away so suddenly?

Min-ja tries to keep nonchalant, but Jung-hoo’s not about to agree without understanding the reasons. We know that Min-ja and Teacher Young-jae want to keep him in the dark about his father, but just shipping him off with vague instructions is hardly going to be persuasive. He’s made progress in his frame job investigation, honing in on mogul Kim Moon-shik, but Min-ja cuts him off to say that Teacher will take over that task.

Jung-hoo disregards her; he’s got a secret identity to maintain and an office job to get to. She bursts out that he’s long exceeded the three days he’d initially given himself, but Jung-hoo says hotly that she called him “Jung-hoo-ya”—it’s a slip of the tongue, more personal than the glib “Healer-ya”—and Teacher skipped out on him and cut off contact. Now they’re ordering him to leave? Nope, if they want to keep him from meeting Kim Moon-shik, then he’ll have to meet Kim Moon-shik. If the Teacher has anything to say about it, he can tell Jung-hoo face to face.

So Jung-hoo gets dressed in his nerdwear and heads out to the Someday News building, only to pause warily in front of it. His voiceover lets us know that his animal instinct is firing, warning him of a trap and urging him to run away.

But he remembers Young-shin’s giddy confession about the night courier she has a crush on. He thinks, “I really didn’t intend to even say a greeting—what’s the point, with people who’d never see each other again?” But his feet take him inside anyway, and he blames Teacher for driving him here (in ordering him away).

As Jung-hoo waits for the elevator, he sees Young-shin’s reflection as she tiptoes up wearing a gleeful face as she prepares to “surprise” him. Ha, I love the entirely unconvincing “Oh, you startled me” he manages to say.

Min-ja tells Teacher Young-jae “I told you so” about Jung-hoo not following blanket orders and asks what he’ll do next. As Teacher replies, we see that he’s actually watching Jung-hoo in person from across the floor—dressed as a cleaning lady, HA.

Teacher assesses Young-shin’s character and appearance with an approving eye, though he deems her above Jung-hoo’s reach. But he supposes that he can see the attraction, and decides that they really had better get Jung-hoo on that plane in short order. And then… well, he can step in next to Young-shin once the young whippersnapper is out of range. I’d make a gagging sound but ajumma’s got us covered on that front, making her disgust loudly known in Teacher’s earpiece.

We head inside, where Moon-ho makes his new status at the paper known to the team. This time we see through Jung-hoo’s eyes as he shoots a suspicious look at the new owner and wonders what Moon-ho’s up to.

Moon-shik receives the report that Moon-ho has sold off stock and bought the paper and the building it resides in. Moon-ho had informed hyung of his intentions so Moon-shik is already aware, but his secretary is worried nevertheless about acting without informing “the Elder” (our mysterious bartender grandpa). Moon-shik shuts the secretary down with one question: Even after twenty years of working for Moon-shik, is he still more loyal to the Elder?

Min-jae arrives for lunch with Moon-shik, at his request. She supposes that Moon-ho is the subject of hyung’s interest and asks for liquor over food; I’m not surprised that talking about Moon-ho would drive her to drink.

At the paper, Jung-hoo looks up in alarm when Young-shin starts closing the blinds to the copy room and fumbling with her pill bottle. It slips from her grasp so he quickly opens it and hands her two pills—oh no! The Healer knows she takes two pills, but he shouldn’t. (But oh yay! But oh no!)

She downs the pills and breathes hard, and grabs Jung-hoo’s arm as she slowly calms down. Apparently the spells usually hit harder, because she says in surprise, “I feel better. That’s strange.” He asks why she’s experiencing an episode when she’s not in a fearful situation, and she chalks it up to an accumulation of symptoms given all the recent excitement. She mutters about those gangsters and that utter trash President Hwang giving her nightmares, and Jung-hoo chimes in that her crush showing up at work probably added to the shock.

Young-shin levels a disapproving look at “Bong-sookie,” chiding him for bringing up something she admitted in a weak moment. But Jung-hoo pulls up a chair and says that he thinks Moon-ho came to Someday because of her. She says no way, but the idea makes her smile and reconsider: “Really?”

Jung-hoo asks whether she has any sort of intuition or feeling about Moon-ho’s motivations—she’s liked him for so long, perhaps she can read him somehow? Young-shin just supposes that Jung-hoo’s never had a one-sided crush, and he agrees, wondering why people have them. She replies that these one-sided crushes happen outside of your control.

He tries to imagine the feeling as she explains: One day she was watching the news, and inexplicably, she felt incredibly moved by Moon-ho. No reason, no control. And another day, somebody was talking about an errand runner who refuses to take on jobs that hurt people. She continues, “They say he’s always alone. He’s on his own in the dark. Nobody can know who he is, because he has to be alone. That feeling—you probably can’t even imagine it, can you?”

Jung-hoo hides his surprise as she explains experiencing a similar thing as a child: “Wanting to be seen by nobody, known by nobody, being alone.”

She recalls herself with a start, grumbling about getting off-track and heading out. She pauses to ask how he knew how many pills to give her, and Jung-hoo stammers that most pills are two per dose. She lets it slide, and he gets to breathe a sigh of relief this time.

Over wine with Moon-shik, Min-jae shares what she knows of Young-shin, which isn’t much. She admits to not wanting to know about the young, pretty woman Moon-ho’s taken an interest in, even if he’s driven more by obligation than anything else. She asks Moon-shik about Moon-ho’s “first woman” and how his recent actions are motivated by repaying his debt to her.

Moon-shik’s gaze sharpens at that, but he doesn’t know any more than she does. He chuckles lightly that they’re not brothers who share those kind of thoughts, but as soon as he leaves the meeting he puts his secretary to the task of looking into Young-shin’s background. He’s already got an inkling as to who she may be, considering Moon-ho’s recent comments about Ji-an’s coffin being empty all these years, and asks specifically about whether she was adopted.

The Someday offices are a whirl of activity, as Moon-ho wastes no time with pleasantries and gets busy directing his new staff. This has the harried Editor Jang in fits, but Moon-ho disregards his ineffectual protests and gives each reporter a research assignment related to the President Hwang/Assemblyman Kim story.

He gives Jung-hoo an assignment too, which he rescinds when Jung-hoo hesitates. But the job is to hunt down President Hwang’s favorite bars and hostess clubs and Jung-hoo claims it before Young-shin is given the task… which frees her to work with Moon-ho. Oh, I love his disgruntlement at that.

Jung-hoo makes a point to shove his way between them, using his meek facade to feign innocence as he asks for Moon-ho’s phone number. Then he pointedly shoves his way between them again… and then “remembers” that he’s headed the other way and shoves his way one last time. Muahaha, I love this. I want him to be petty and passive-aggressively shove-y all drama long.

The phone bit was so that Jung-hoo could plant a program in Moon-ho’s cell phone, and he directs Min-ja to give him access to its contents. Ajumma tries once more to persuade him into making his flight to Australia, but Jung-hoo just tells her to be sure to convey his message to Teacher: He’d better get in touch by the end of the day, or he’ll never call him Teacher again.

Next he heads out in a car driven by sidekick Dae-yong, who wonders why he’s heading out on a job in the middle of the day. He replies that after dropping by “that house” the last time, he’s felt unsettled.

Min-ja calls after hacking into Moon-ho’s phone, which has turned up some very interesting details. First off, the emails confirm that he is indeed the client who paid the Healer to get Young-shin’s DNA. But on top of that, he’s put in a new request: to protect Young-shin, particularly from his brother’s people and the SS henchmen.

Moon-ho begins his first training session with Young-shin on interviewing subjects. She starts to boast of her veteran experience, but he cuts through the bluster and strips her experience down to the bleak essentials: paparazzi stalking, lurking around hoping for photo ops, being so low on the media totem pole that she can’t even score interviews.

In her defense, Young-shin retorts that the people these days care more about entertainment news than politics or current events, and makes a pretty solid case for her line of work. It would be quite convincing, in fact, if we didn’t already know the truth of her higher aspirations.

Moon-ho appeals to those by informing her of Assemblyman Kim’s press conference slated for this week—and he’s thinking to send Young-shin. She should use the opportunity to ask him directly about the whole Hwang/Yeon-hee business, in plain view of all the media. He’ll teach her how to pull it off—if she’s up to it. Which, of course, she is.

Dad goes over the case with Yeon-hee, not that things look any better for them than they did the last time. She’s ready to put herself out there and testify, and adds that there’s proof in President Hwang’s home—he recorded the room salon visits he forced his ladies to comply with, using the videos as blackmail. But Dad knows that they need grounds and a warrant to seize evidence from Hwang, and her testimony alone isn’t sufficient.

Pickpocket Ajusshi interrupts to tell Dad that he had put out a request for some backup, per Young-shin’s instructions to keep Yeon-hee safe. Word got out amongst their circle, and now a whole cadre of ex-cons has shown up, all devoted to Dad for helping them in the past. Aw, it’s adorable how the tough guys all stand at attention and bow to “hyungnim” like he’s their mob boss.

Jung-hoo drives up to President Hwang’s mansion, using a simple distraction (dropping a toy on the ground) to get past the front line of SS bodyguards. It’s a pretty low-tech method for our hi-tech Healer, but I’m not getting the sense these SS goons are all that sharp. Approaching the house, he climbs up to the second floor, enters via an unlocked door, and makes his way inside.

He slips by the inhabitants and strolls right into Hwang’s study, who’s so agog at the stranger’s unexplained presence that he just stares as Jung-hoo picks up a penknife and looks around at Hwang’s collection of antiques. When Hwang doesn’t heed his warning to keep quiet, Healer slashes the priceless painting with nary a second thought, sending Hwang into a rage.

Jung-hoo easily sidesteps his swings, grabs a golf club, and says menacingly that Hwang sure likes hitting people, but probably doesn’t know what it feels like being on the receiving end. He delivers a few hard blows, and Hwang’s screams bring his bodyguards running, though they’re locked out by the heavy doors.

Hwang begs for mercy and promises to give him anything he wants. Jung-hoo asks him what room salons he frequents and gets a name, and advises Hwang not to go around beating women anymore now that he knows how much it hurts. Then he demands the room salon videos and finds a safe hidden behind the painting, which he proceeds to break into with little difficulty.

By the time the SS guards break into the room, the safe has been raided and the Healer is gone. Hwang screams in impotent rage at his lax security while Jung-hoo exits smoothly, not even breaking a sweat. He thumps his chest with satisfaction, saying that the troublesome feeling has worked itself out.

Moon-shik calls in Moon-ho’s jovial hoobae from the broadcast station, Jong-soo, and asks a favor. Jong-soo is utterly gobsmacked when Moon-shik asks him to resign his position and join Moon-ho at his new internet paper, because that’s like asking someone to give up his hard-earned New York Times post to go to a trash news blog. But Moon-shik offers him a position as a deputy director at his own paper and a doubled salary, all in exchange for a few months’ work spying on Moon-ho.

Back at the paper, Moon-ho prompts Young-shin to try a mock interview using him as the subject. The question at hand is simple—why did he leave his job to end up here?—but he picks apart each of her attempts at asking it. Too know-it-all-y, too roundabout, too timid. She flounders for a tactic, and he prods her to do something to keep his attention, even if she has to throw her shoe at him.

That leads into a flashback, where a child Young-shin (Ji-an then) asks teenage “Uncle” Moon-ho to fix her broken toy. But he’s fixated on his schoolwork and doesn’t stop studying—and so, Ji-an starts throwing toy blocks at him. He finds her so cute that he calls her Little Peanut and ends up chasing her around the room. When her parents come home to put her to bed, Ji-an insists on Uncle Moon-ho doing it instead, which he’s happy to do. They’re so freaking cute.

Young-shin finds Moon-ho staring at her with oddly intent eyes, so he forces himself back to the present, swallowing back all that emotion.

Moon-shik receives the report about the theft of Hwang’s video recordings. Assemblyman Kim’s footage doesn’t sound too damning—mostly him drinking with Yeon-hee—but Moon-shik says he knows Kim’s “dirty habits,” suggesting that the videos are a liability.

Moon-shik sees his wife outside and joins her with a warm smile, inquiring after her day and seeing to her comfort. Myung-hee motions at him to look off into the distance with her, sighing contentedly at the thought of the sunset that’ll happen later. At his impatience to see it now, she laughs about the old days, taking us back to their student days.

Young Myung-hee sits with Young Moon-shik at a junkyard (apparently his family’s business) while their friends goof off, saying happily that she’d like time to stop right now. Moon-shik counters that he doesn’t want to stay stuck in this time of uncertainty, preferring to move on. He notes that the other friends intend to pursue jobs at the same newspaper, but Moon-shik isn’t particularly moved by dreams of journalism.

Their bike-riding friend (now Teacher) adds that Moon-shik’s only concern is to stay next to Myung-hee, pointing out that Moon-shik should just tell her that he likes her. Even if he gets rejected, at least it’ll be a course of action. “If you drag it out, it’ll eat away at all five of us,” he says.

He’s outed the elephant in the room but still Moon-shik doesn’t say anything, and Myung-hee looks uncomfortable, making the moment taut with awkwardness. But it dispels as Myung-hee looks up at the sunset in awe.

Young-shin nods off while watching videos of old interviews, when a message pings her phone. The contents have her jolting awake at once: “Now. On the roof. Alone. –Healer.

She arrives on the rooftop and finds a trail of arrows marked on the ground, which leads her to an envelope containing a hard drive. She checks her phone and finds a new message: “A gift — from Hwang Jae-gook’s safe.

She can’t see any sign of the Healer but calls out to him all the same, deducing that he’d still be nearby. She asks him to talk to her, and hurriedly blindfolds herself with her scarf to induce him to stay.

Around the corner, Jung-hoo steps out to join her on the roof. He asks—in his normal voice, since it’s his Bong-soo voice that tends to be at a higher pitch—what she wants to know.

She asks if he’s the Healer, and if he saved her in the alley. And took her bag and clipped her fingernail. Now he gives her this gift—why?

Silently, Jung-hoo walks right up to her as she says she’s got a hunch. Jung-hoo smiles when she guesses that the nail clipping was for DNA purposes, and that he’s been watching her ever since, which is how he saved her from the gangsters. But again—why?

She asks haltingly, “Are you… my biological father?” HAHA, the incredulous look on his face. She adds, “Or maybe… my biological brother?” There goes another look. I’m sure it’s not just my imagination (or my wishful thinking) that he’s staring extra intently at her lips, given that it’s all that he can see of her face right now…

Young-shin’s hands graze his jacket, and she only now realizes that he’s standing right there. She reaches a halting hand out to touch his chest, and asks, “Who are you? And who am I?”

The air is full of tension and Jung-hoo’s a bit rattled, but he takes her hand in his. He leans in closer (omg*#$@!%# feeeeelings) and drops his voice: “I told you—don’t go following random people fearlessly. And be careful of people who come near and act nice to you.”

Confused and all mixed up, she wonders, “W-why?”

Her hand still in his, he lowers it back to her side… and then he’s gone. She feels around in the empty air and pulls off the scarf—she’s alone.

Teacher Young-jae is joined at a cafe by Min-ja—and my, don’t these two clean up nice, like something out of a period romance. She notes that the day’s coming to an end—if he doesn’t call Jung-hoo soon, he’ll risk his continued wrath.

Teacher still calls her Detective Jo, since that’s who she was when they first met after his arrest. He was quite the handful with the cops, but he says he believed he could save his four friends if he only kept his mouth shut. Ah, the pirate broadcasting spree must’ve caught up to them.

He served eleven years, but upon release he found two of his friends dead, one half-paralyzed, and one a massive success. Min-ja reminds Teacher that he’d found the circumstances suspicious and wonders why he didn’t dig into it. Teacher says that finding the truth wouldn’t have brought happiness. They laugh sardonically at the word happiness, which Min-ja scoffs as being bullcrap.

Teacher replies that bullcrap and truth can be similar—and that a bullcrappy truth can be one’s fate, which has a way of pulling people in. That’s what’s happening to Jung-hoo. Min-ja: “You don’t always find happiness at the end of the truth. It could be hell.” Teacher: “But you can’t help it, since it’s fate.” They toast.

Young-shin dives into the hard drive of video footage, though her thoughts remain fixated on her encounter with the Healer, just as his are. He nearly runs a red light in his distraction, while she cuts her finger on a pop-top can (proving her father’s warnings about cans true).

Closing her eyes, she relives the moment of being in touching range of the Healer, and at the same time, Jung-hoo replays her words about understanding the Healer’s loneliness.

Moon-shik steps into his study and is startled when his hidden compartment opens up of its own accord. A voice warns him that his security cameras will be displaying dummy footage, warning him not to call for help and cause a scene. Moon-shik guesses that it’s the Healer, and Jung-hoo confirms.

Jung-hoo directs Moon-shik to sit and watch the screen, which plays footage familiar to him—it’s the file he tasked the now-dead Go Sung-chul with delivering to the Healer… and also the reason Moon-shik killed Go and framed the Healer.

Moon-shik feigns ignorance, but Jung-hoo says that this is footage he killed to protect, which makes it very interesting. With his excellent hacking skills, it would be the easiest thing to insert that footage into the evening news broadcast. That threat has Moon-shik concerned, probably because of the face we can recognize in the video—our enigmatic Elder.

Moon-shik reminds him that the Healer is known for carrying out his customers’ orders without stealing or blackmailing. Jung-hoo replies that it’s true, until somebody tries to frame him for murder. Moon-shik asks how much money he wants, but Jung-hoo sighs that people always resort to money, which he’s rather tired of.

So what does he want? “The real killer,” Jung-hoo answers. He gives Moon-shik three days to turn over the culprit to the police if he wants to keep the video private. Moon-shik scoffs that he can’t trust him to honor that, but Jung-hoo points out that business would tank if news leaked of the Healer intercepting a client’s delivery and blackmailing him with it. Jung-hoo flicks off the lights and reaches for the doorknob… which twists open before he reaches it.

The door swings open on a startled Myung-hee, who gets a completely unobstructed glimpse of his face. Jung-hoo quickly turns away, but she’s already gotten a look and exclaims, “Joon-seok-ah!”

He looks at her in surprise—as does Moon-shik, who recognizes the name. Far from afraid, she looks happy to see him, repeating, “You’re Joon-seokie, aren’t you?”

 
COMMENTS

Ooh, so Jung-hoo is a dead ringer for his dad, is he? (I had to look it up, since Jung-hoo’s father hasn’t been mentioned much, but yes, Seo Joon-seok is his father.) It’s a great moment to go out on, because the encounter means something different to each of the three people, and sets them up for major discoveries. Moon-shik isn’t the type of man to shrug off coincidences so he’s bound to look deeper into the Healer’s identity, and Myung-hee, while oblivious till now, is not a dummy. I don’t expect her to see the extent of Moon-shik’s dark side, which he hides so well behind his doting care, but I do want to see her start wondering. And Jung-hoo’s already suspicious of his Teacher’s connection to this whole thing and sensing secrets being kept from him.

It’s gratifying to hear that Teacher is totally aware of the fishiness of what happened with his friends, even though he’s chosen to willfully ignore the truth. I can see how he might have arrived at that conclusion—it’s frustrating for the sake of those wronged friends, but given that he couldn’t revive the dead or fight those in positions of power, I understand his decision to go underground and take long vacations to Pacific islands.

In this way, it feels like you do really need a new-generation Healer to take the investigation to the next level, because the ones with direct knowledge of the incident aren’t willing to pursue it. Jung-hoo has that thirst and curiosity to follow his accursed “fate,” as Teacher calls it, even if he doesn’t even know quite what he’s chasing. It’s akin to pulling a piece of string and unraveling a whole sweater. It makes Moon-ho something of a pitiable character too, being caught in between the two worlds (and times) as he is—unable to move on, but needing to move on if he is to get anything done.

The show still makes me the giddiest when we’re dealing with Jung-hoo and Young-shin, but I do also find the handling of the past storyline to be deft and compelling. First off, they’re rooted in characters and relationships, which is a surefire way to induce us to care about things that are long over. And Healer in particular makes a strong case for intertwining the timelines, because you can see how the past has a direct consequence in the present, which prevents characters like Moon-shik and particularly Moon-ho from feeling lost in their pasts.

I loved that moment when Moon-ho thinks back to Li’l Peanut and comes back to the present moment, his eyes so full of feeling that he can’t quite hide it. He seems to have conflated his guilt and love for Myung-hee with Young-shin, and I wonder if he’s able to see either woman for herself, or if his grief and guilt have just grown so big so as to become one huge tangled mass of feeling. It can’t be healthy, but that’s why he’s so determined to right this ship, after all.

But above all, I’m just super happy that the drama’s making sure to give us at least one good meaty scene of Jung-hoo/Young-shin development in every episode. The progress is significant enough to satisfy the craving, but not the overall addiction—just enough to keep you on the hook for the next dose. Evil, crack-peddling producers.

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Thank you so much for the recap! So much happened inthis ep. Can I just say that when Hacker Ajumma cleans up, she looks “Hot!, and she cleans up really nicely?” I did not expect her to look like that, maybe b/c I got used to seeing her in her cave, with her socks and winter clothes on. So nice to be reminded that there is a hot mama under her house clothes.

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Did you watch Master's Sun? Kim Mi Kyung played a rich lady in that show and got to dress up to the nines. She looked rly elegant. This veteran actors can be anything that their role asks of them.

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@ KDaddict, Hello~

I must be one of the few who did not watch Master's Sun last year, and I have yet to watch it (not enough time in the day). I did read a lot about it though, and about its leads having crazy chemistry with each other. I do agree about KMK's acting, the woman is truly versatile, and always a delight to watch. I have seen her in 6 or so dramas so far, and she has not disappointed me once. She truly becomes the character, even in this drama, as Hacker Ajumma, and then looking mighty fine in this ep. It doesn't hurt (her) that she is a very attractive woman, to begin with.

Also, I am glad that this drama keeps being good, and I am truly keeping my fingers crossed that it will manage to stay this good until the very last ep. There is so much that I loved in this ep., and yet there are a few things that worry me as well. I love how comfortable CYS is with Healer, and with PBS. For example, the scene in the kitchen/lunch room, and how she held on to his arm, even though it was for a brief moment. It reminded me of the other times she had had skinship (that she initiated), with PBS. It also reminded me of the time when she buried her face in Healer’s chest, after he had given her her pills, when he had saved her.

Speaking of saving, I can’t help but wonder how many times Healer or PBS will have to save CYS. As a beanie pointed out in a past recap, if she wants to be a (real) reporter, who travels the world (to some rough and dangerous spots like KMH, her idol), she will have to take care of her anxiety attacks, b/c they would be hindering her performance, and I think how far she might be able to go, as a reporter. I appreciate that she is brave, in the face of danger and fearful situations however, with her anxiety attacks happening at any time, I am a little worried about her. Besides, I don’t want her to become someone who always needs saving.

I kind of love and find it interesting, the way that CYS affects the men in her life. Her dad and his ajussi friends love her, and feel protective of her, which is understandable. I really loved that reminiscing scene KMH had, and the fact that it left him with watery eyes. It helped me understand better why he feels so attached to CYS, to his noona, and why he is so protective of them. That explains a lot about his guilt as well (that, and the other scenes we have seen, so far). I wonder what KMH will do, when he finds out that CYS gets anxiety attacks, that were due to the traumas (and the abuse) she experienced as a child. He already feels guilty about keeping quiet about his brother’s (past, and maybe current) activities. Finding out more info about CYS emotional state (at times), will make him hurt more, I think.

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Hello Ivoire,
Master's Sun, I recommend it, if u have the time.
Yes, this show offers so much to love. I haven't been this crazy about a show since K2H, and haven fallen so hard for an actor, EVER. So if it disappoints at the end, I'll be so totally bumped out! Fingers n toes crosses!

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Do you think Moon Shik was the one who abused Young Shin?

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That's what I've been thinking as well.

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I think it was some foster father. Moon Shik doesn't seem like that kind of guy.

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Hi Ivoire
Ahjumma is one of my favourite senior characters in this show. I love that she has so many sides to her, that although she is cynical, she also cares about Jung Hoo. I thought before that I felt how Jung Hoo came to be with Ahjumma who keeps in touch with is Teacher was not by chance (anyway in kdramas hardly anythin is by by chance LOL! coincidences aplenty always!). He might have been 'placed' there as Healer so that she could keep on eye on him for Teacher.

In that original group of friends, Teacher is feeling responsible for the son of his dead friend, Joon Seok and maybe guilty for suspecting Moon Shik of having something to do with Joon Seok and Gil Han's deaths. I was surprised that he did not contact Myung Hee.

Maybe he was in jail etc, but he does not know that Ji An is alive or else surely he would have done something about her too. So far he does not seem to have figured out that Ji An is Young Shin, but he should do so soon.

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I literally just squeed out loud. I am way too excitable over this drama.

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This drama is perfect so far. So is Ji Chang Wook. His acting career is going to another level after this, isn't it? I hope he is seen and valued for all the effort and learning he has put in over the years, and for his excellent performance here. He deserves all the fame and success enjoyed by the top of the A-listers! But, he says he'll enlist at the end of this drama. Will that put a damper on his carer? Hope not. But I'm going to miss him so much for 21 months. Guess re-watching Empress Ki and Warrior BDW, and even Smile Dong Hae will be the way to go.

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NOOOOO , I JUST FOUND HIM

You know in my 4 years of drama watching, I don't know why the hell I never knew himmmm !!!!!!

HE IS SO HOT ! I got to admit, I haven't swooned this much over someone in such a LONGGG time !!!!

How old is he ?? Is he really going ???

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JCW is currently 27 and will be turning 28 on July next year. There's still a reasonably long enough time before he has to go but I guess he just wants to get it out of the way asap. Then again we can't really tell. Let's take Jaejoong as an example, I remember him saying that he'll go to military a while back but look at him now still filming for a new drama (Spy).

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I keep seeing Jaejoong when I watch Chang-Wook in Healers and I see Chang-Wook when I watch Jaejoong in Spys. Maybe they will both enlist at the same time...

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@Divyrus, if you love him, u've to watch Empress Ki. His acting shows a great range in it.

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Am bit scared of long running sageuks !

And I want to keep swooning over him !
Enough of those in empress ki to take all history and political stuff ???

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Absolutely. Don't think of it as a long running sageuk. Watch 1 ep at a time; b4 long, you'll want it to go on forever.

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While Empress Ki is a must-watch for anyone who wants to see more of JCW's acting chops, it is a bit of a daunting task to commit yourself to (51 loooong eps).

I actually have something to recommend though, in case you want something short, sweet, and will satisfy your JCW cravings in one neat little package. Check out the mini-drama he did with KARA's Park Gyuri, which only has 2 parts so watching it will be a breeze. You should be able to find this on Youtube with English subs (tip: search for 'KARA Secret Love Park Gyuri'). JCW played a cute yet crabby Guardian Angel who falls in love with the human he's assigned to. :)

Sorry for straying out of topic.

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OH MY GOD. Kara's Secret Love is my life. I love it a totally unreasonable amount but it's so good. Every single episode has great actors (Kim Young Kwang, Ji Chang Wook, Yeon Woo Jin, Kwang Soo, and Bae Soo Bin) and KARA. What more can you ask for??

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The first time I saw him was on Running Man, when he was partnered with Kwang Soo at the amusement park.

I looked up "Empress Ki" after that.

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It's funny how I think in real life he's closer to Bong Soo rather than Healer :P (from watching RM episode with him in it)

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I think so too ! He seems so adorable and VERY shy in real life ^^, cf. the following video of him and Do Ji-won (the actress playing Myung-hee here and his mother in "Smile Dong Hae") in Win Win show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf5Yktyq3u8

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He was totally adorable on Running Man. A newbie, shy, not sure what to do, couldn't quite keep up w Kwang Soo, but doing his best, and being a good sport about it. Their trying to eat that dried persimmon that was swinging at the end of a string had me in stitches the whole time!

Each of Kara's Secret Love eps was short and sweet. Ji Chang Wook playing an angel was swoon-worthy of course. But then it went by in the blink of an eye; you are left wanting more, and asking: Story? What story? ?

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How slow am I that I didn't even put that episode together with him! Sigh. I've seen all the RM episodes so admittedly I tend to forget a bunch...especially if at the time I don't know who the person is.

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2014 was an awesome year for a bunch of young'un actors which includes JCW!! He's killing it as Healer/PBS - so freakin' good!! I checked out his filmography which includes dailies, sageuks, and makjang dramas which I don't do. If he were to enlist after this show I'm glad to have watched him going all out with a bang.

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It's sad but sometimes there are really lovely young actors who really never get back in the groove professionally after the army. :(

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His enlisting at the end of 'Healer' is all conjecture and supposition at this point. He told us in his speech after the special "Muyeong Night" performance of 'The Days' last Saturday that "he will work very hard until that time comes," which leads me to believe that he has more projects lined up for all of 2015. So until I see My Precious with his head shaved and dressed in Army fatigues, I ain't believing any enlistment rumours at all. So there. :P

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You said everything I wanted to say about Ji Chang wook. The feeeeels are too much.
Empress ki doesn't feel like a 51hr drama it feels like 8 coz it's soo good. The best Ive watched this year. Watched all of it 3 days straight on like 2hrs of sleep in between and as soon as it was over I started episode 1 again.crazy.
He was also in Five fingers but I have to say Empress ki is his breakout role. Sometimes I feel bad for jang seuk for turning down this role it may have broken his streak of bad drama's but at the same time happy Ji Chang wook took it.
Back to healer the Ost is awesome, increases the feels speaking of which, the female lead has a nag for saying the most inappropriate things at appropriate times,what, appa? brother? Lol.
I was kind of hoping for a song jae rim eun soo moment where she can tell healers hands just by touching bong soo

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I'm so happy that Ji Chang Wook (now I'm such a fangirl that I enjoy typing out his name in full, dear me) walked away from the title role in Mr. Back and took up this one instead. The script for Mr. Back got to be strange n made no sense in the end, whereas this role for him is all kinds of awesome! He seems to have a good judgement on which roles are challenging and can show case his acting ability. Kudos!

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ohmygod more YS/JH scenes! MOAR!

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Of the 5 college friends in the photo:
1 is Healer's teacher;
2 is his father, who killed himself;
3 was killed by Healer's father, acc to ajumma;
4 is Moon S;
5 is Myung Hee, YS's mother.
So Moon S engineered an "incident" that did away w all his friends and made MH so helpless that he could worm his way into her life? I want to see Healer (and YS) tear his life into shreds.

Moon S also has been the front man for the real boss, who owns the powerful media outlet, and who put his driver/sec there as spy 22 years ago. In other words, MS made a deal w the devil, just to be rich and successful enough to ruin his friends and keep MH. I hope there is more to the story than that, otherwise that 'love' of his is too scary, too evil.

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' just to be rich and successful enough to ruin his friends' -

I don't think that's MS' motivation, his main purpose. MS wants to do good, to make changes for the better and he's scornful of the fools running for public office - that much I gather from his conversation with Myung-he, episodes past. He just learned that he needs power to make those changes, to do those good. His is 'the end justifies the means' - even if it means manipulating the media or murdering even, so long as that will place an approved person in office or achieve some other objective deemed 'good' by him or the Elder.

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Right now, I don't believe one word that guy says.

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oh man he reminds me of Light in Death Note.

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I'm sure MS has sthg to do with the tragedy that has befallen the lot of them, but he may not be the sore cause, given the Old Bartender's looming presence.

MS's one-sided obsession for MH must have been one motivation for his actions, but I hope it is not the only one, or else this story would be too simple, too pathetic.

As the writer has a resume of scripts w political backgd, I'm confident there is more to the story than meets the eye so far.

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The only thing I've seen in the flashback scenes is that - in his world - all roads did lead to MH. To me that's not strange since he was a very young man when he made those pivotal choices. And they haven't shown him to be a person who was entirely healthy from a psychological standpoint.

I thought they've told us he was a bitter, loner, jealous sidekick who was oddly fitted into a well-adjusted group of friends. The friends kept trying to draw him in, but he held them at arm's length. The only connection he wanted was with the object of his obsessive one-sided love.

From the standpoint of family support, his parents seem to be missing. He was responsible for raising his very young brother. And the scene where we learned that he told is brother never to cry, suggests that his way of coping with pain was to internalize it.

What I'd be interested in seeing is how he got THAT way. What was the source of the pain that made him so angry, insecure and detached? How did he come to feel so victimized that he thought justice would be served by betraying his friends? There must be a backstory.

And from a writing standpoint, I like the way this would juxtapose JH, MS and YS. They all had tragic backgrounds. MS shows what happens when you let your tragic background consume your life in distrust. Living life in an insecure isolated way, and cynically protecting yourself from the 1 in 50 who will hurt you. YS shows the results of overcoming your tragic background and having the courage to love and trust again. Living life confidently, and open to the 49 in 50 who will treat you well. JH stands at the crossroads of those choices.

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Gah. Just noticed that this was posted on the old thread I had open in a different tab. Re-posting...

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Great observations.

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LMAO javabean comment crack me up "He leans in closer (omg*#$@!%# feeeeelings)...."
Okay we are in same situation

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It's always extra fun when Javabeans starts squeeing ! :D :D
Correct me if am wrong, there hasnt been many dramas recently where she squeed this much right ??
GF was all over Ha Woo Jin :P

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The only other time I remember Javabeans squeeing over a drama is Queen In Hyun's Man. It was in a comment on one of the episode's recaps. She was first to comment and the only thing she wrote were a bunch of lovehearts!! Haha. I love Queen In Hyuns Man a lot. It was a great romantic historical time jump drama <3

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Lot's of squee's during City Hunter! Wasn't that Javabeans too?

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Now that you mentioned it, yes City Hunter too of course!! Haha. I haven't read recaps for City Hunter since I've watched the series in 2013 instead of 2011. And I didn't know dramabeans existed until this year lol. Now I'm gonna head off and read CH recaps hehe

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Poor Uncle Moon Ho! He looks so sad, so protectively paternal when he is with YS.

I was captivated by A Star's Lover and wondered why, cos it was a simple story, w no surprises. I kept watching it until I got red eyes, and couldn't let go. Now I know, it was cos of YooJT's magical acting. It's a privilege to watch him at work.

My heart aches for Healer in this ep. Things r coming to a head for him. Forces on all sides r closing in. A hurricane is forming in his emotions.

I wonder why his teacher just upped and left him 2 years ago w/o a word, and w/o contact since. What happened there?

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YJT's soooo good at expressing emotions with just his eyes alone. That scene with him and YS made me tear up a bit, I actually paused to stare at his glassy eyes.

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yup , watched stars lover for his magical acting and my endless love for choi ji woo

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The young actor who plays the young Moon S looks a little bit like Song Joong Ki to me. Every time the camera pans on his face, I do a double take, n I've to tell myself that is Not SJK.

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Oh, it's not just me! I thought so too.

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How crazy that a simple gesture such as hand-holding (albeit an intimate type of hand-holding) sent me up the wall screaming like a lunatic fangirl. I'm definitely falling towards the deep end for this otp. The low, sexy tone that JCW used during that scene also sent shivers down my spine. Hnnngggg.

I don't wanna be all analytical about the plot right now since so I'm so full with feelings (a kiss-tease scene in the preview omg) so here are just a couple of moments I loved:

1. It was so gratifying to see Hwang get a dose of his own medicine. I'm not all for violence, but that pathetic excuse for a human being deserved to be taught a lesson. (Healer's blows weren't all that hard anyway. Hwang will recover soon enough.)

2. Ahjumma all dressed up! Now that's a sight to see.

3. Like teacher, like student. They both don the cleaning lady get-up so well. Lol.

4. Healer getting busted so early? Oooooh. Okay, this is certainly intriguing. Wonder who'll make the first move this time? Moon-shik, Myung-hee, or Healer?

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I totally agree with you. Great episode.

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Moments #1, #2, #3, & #4...thought so too.

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Currently reading the recaps as internet speed makes streaming the episode a hard task.

Thank you dramabeans for working so hard in this holiday season! You make many people very happy.

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The drama is becoming better every episode. The OTP scene also very romantic. And at the end of the episode is very surprising that Junghoo identity will be found soon .. and kiss at the end is just awwwww.. Really addicted with this show!!

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Thanks a lot guys, for this wonderful recap!
Only wish that u were a bit faster!!!
But still, u r doin a great job!

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Aside from fangirling, n thinking about what the story has told us so far, I super love the dynamic when the 3 of them are interacting. Moon Ho being all doting and paternal but trying to hide it; poor samchun has loved her from the moment he set eyes on her for the 1st time on the day of her birth. BS being jealous, annoyed, and disruptive, all the while pretending to be clumsy n stupid! I'm going to rewind and watch it till sundown.

Also love the scene where all the supposed baddies stand up and bow 90 degrees to YS's dad, like he is the Godfather. Hilarious and touching.

Hwang is given a taste of his own medicine by getting beaten up. Who but Healer could have accomplished that?

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Well said, KDaddict!

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I LOVED that daddy lawyer has his team of baddies ready to fight for him. There were hints that this could happen from the beginning but now I'm excited to see it in action.

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Love this so much. Story of a man's writer indeed :)
And Ji Chang Wook <3

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Awwwww this show is so good! I'm just crossing my fingers that they kiss in the next episodeeeeee. I'll confess to skipping through to all of the romantic scenes and then going back to watch the full episode. I'm so glad that there's a real reason that keeps them apart as oppose to noble idiocy.

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Oh my God, I've never watch a drama raw, but I cannot wait for subs of Healer...

I'm in danger right now because I'm literally crazy about this drama.. this OTP ...and especially... about JCW: sexy is the word that describes this guy...that voice...Lord help me...

The guy is gorgeous and to top it off: Dude CAN ACT.

Now...that a lethal combo!

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Does anybody know of a site that already has subs?

The distribution is weird. Viki has the show on a delayed schedule. Dramafever has suddenly become ridiculously slow. Apparently they don't work on the weekends, which backlogs everything.

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Viki's subs for ep7 are up. Kudos to the team! :)

But yeah, it IS weird. Viki's been inconsistent so far (sometimes fast; sometimes awfully slow) and DF takes roughly two days to translate. Idk why, I've never encountered this kind of situation in another drama before.

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koreandrama.com has the viki version already subbed.
dramabay.com has it subbed too.
everywhere else is delayed by either a day or more.

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Thanks Omomo and Minihaha!

I think Viki is having issues. Their IPad ap only sYs 3 episodes are available. The website has all 7 up, but says episode 7 isn't available in my region (in the US.)

I'll try the other suggestions. Dying to see this episode. ?

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I downloaded the subs separately from http://www.subscene.com so that I could watch with the subs today, instead of waiting for tomorrow or whenever. Those subs are supposed to be from the team@ Viki.

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Myasiantv always has everything. I feel better when I watch things on Viki but it keeps giving me the 'We don't have this in your region'. I live in the US. I've seen other people in the US get it. Ugh it makes me so mad.

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I usually always watch on Viki but for some reason the episodes are not available on mobile devices past episode 4. I actually found them on youtube! I think the name of the channel is Healer film. While the subs can be a tad off sometimes (such as instead of writing noona they write in the person's name), they have it up to episode 8!

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I don't think dramafever is ridiculously slow. I mean it used to come out same day but one day later isn't the end of the world.

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Indeed so true, no words to describe JCW but sexy☺️☺️☺️. My first crush ever aince i got addicted with kdrama. Watched him in SmileAgain Donghae. Watched him as as well in Kara's short story (not exactly sure ) but in one of the episodw he was an angel, a super sexy angel would you believe! But he is gorgeous, cute, and not to mention adorable!

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You are AMAZING! Thank you for your recap.

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Thank the dramagods for Ji Chang Wook! I've always loved him since Bachelor's Vegetable store (although the drama itself wasn't great) and watching him here just rekindles my love for him. I don't think I've swooned so hard over an actor/character in such a long time. JCW is perfect as Healer, PMY's Young Shin is so refreshing and OTP moments get me giddy with pleasure! Ugh, I want more. Can't wait for episode 8! :D

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That flashback scene in which the original Healer revealed that all Moon S wanted was the place beside MH, and told Moon S to come clean on his love for MH, to either get accepted or kicked out before those hidden emotions fester to a point to poison all their friendships!
That's the pivot of this story, isn't it?

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Good point! Could it be?

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@ KDaddict and Ivoire
Hi there! Glad to read you.

Yes, that is definitely a very important point. There is a hint given to us here that what started festering all those years ago would go a long way to explain the current situation. It is true that the friendship seems to have disintegrated between the guys and even affected their children, just as the original Healer warned.

Instead of being companions now after being together years ago, the young ones of the group are all strangers to each other and the 2 living 'boys' of the original group are not in contact with each other.

On the other hand, if Moon Shik had confessed to Myung Hee in the past and been rejected (as he probably would have been), would we still have the current situation, or would Moon Shik have moved on? As in all 'What ifs', we'll never know the answer. ;)

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I think so. Lots of bits woven into this episode:

Teacher's observation that the two friends died and he suddenly rose to career success and wealth. Placed alongside his own comments in that conversation: That he had no interest in pursuing a career as a journalist. And his insecurity that she wouldn't be interested in marrying the son-of-a-junkyard-owner.

All of this gives new meaning to this:
"She asks about his day, and he says that he met yet more sorry types who guard their greed like bugs and their eggs, and wondered again whether the country would be okay left in hands like those."...."Moon-shik tells her that he hasn’t changed from his younger days. He may have only been the driver while the others were off in pursuit of justice, “But I still did it. Saying that what’s not right isn’t right. I still want to do that. But in order to do that, I’ve learned that I need power, that’s all.”

I like that it they're writing this character so realistically. In real life, 'respectable' people who do really bad things to get what they want, will often cover it via crafting a public persona of picture-perfect benevolence. They start believing that's who they are; and that their present bad deeds are just unfortunate necessities to doing the greater good.

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Oh... duh... can't believe I missed this the first time: The setup makes the drama's title really 'punny'.

MS is a covert 'Heeler' for a political boss, the so-called 'Old Man'. The story is Heeler vs Healer.

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@ Gidget
You mean as in heeler dogs (dogs who nip animals heels) help to herd sheep kind of heeler? Hmmm interesting.

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Yep. That's at the root of the phrase, 'Ward Heeler'. It was used in the early 20th century to describe people given responsibility for influencing the vote of a target population.

Though the phrase relates to early 20th century politics, the practice is very much alive and well.

Being a Ward Herler is essentially what MS does via his role as the head of a news bureau. But his 'Ward' is the nation.

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Your Heeler vs. Healer theory is interesting indeed. Thanks!

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I too have been converted to a JCW fan.. he is AMAZING in this role. HE was most definitely staring at YS lips the entire time on the roof...

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This shooooowwww. Darling Young Shin, who has a life that is so full--a loving father, doting ex-cons, dreams to aspire to, women to save and avenge--and who always seems so sure of who she is, asks Healer, "Who am I?" And Healer, who deliberately leads a life totally stripped of companionship and all those other things Young Shin has, doesn't totally know who he is either. They're both on this journey of discovery, of self and of one another, and like, the way they protect each other??? How Young Shin protects and helps Bong Soo and healer protects and helps Young Shin?? GAH.

Just. My heart.

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The question of identity rings out throughout this story. We may know names, but the who of each name is defined by their relationships. Who was Joon Seok that he died (and was framed?). We are finally getting to know more about Ahjumma, that she was a detective and that she's been partners with the 2 Healers for 10 years, but how did she get to play this role? Who is the Elder?

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That's so true! Jung Hoo has deliberately crafted a persona in Boong Soo, one to trick Young Shin with, but many of the other characters in the drama have personas they take on or facades they put on for the public, too. Moon Ho with his quick smile and wry humor, Moon Shik and his calm, good-member-of-society-exterior, etc. I love that out of our primary players, Young Shin is the one who doesn't put up a front about who she is, but is still the one who asks the question, "Who am I?"

I also love love love that Moon Ho is helping Young Shin to achieve her dream of becoming a reporter of substance--so great to see her have a mentor! And of course I love how Jung Hoo figures out what Young Shin needs from his position as Bong Soo, and then delivers it to her from his position as Healer! It actually makes me laugh out loud. He's a goner.

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@ ladida
Agreed. And in addition to the question of identity is how Young Shin and Jung Hoo have adapted to their pasts.

Young Shin was taken from her mother and abandoned/treated as an orphan. She was violently abused until she found a home with her adoptive lawyer dad. Instead of those circumstances making her into a person who is insecure, she has defied being beaten into submission and become a person true to herself, willing to care for others and face her fears, and enter into relationships. So much of this must be due to her great dad. Faced with the mystery of the Healer who cares without showing himself, she is able to ask who he is and, "Who am I?", that someone should bother about her.

Jung Hoo was abandoned by his mother, and also seemingly by his Teacher and has no sense of family with Ahjumma who relates to him only for work (who only once has called him by his name, to his surprise).

His response to abandonment is to be a little warped in his thinking that he needs no one and no meaningful relationship. He thinks he knows what he wants and who he is, but he has not really shown himself. Faced with the care, openness and the enigma that is Young Shin, he has to ask why she should bother about Bong Soo, when he wouldn't. He has to reconsider what he has thought was true.

The warm coming together of these 2 broken kids and how they will help each other to heal and grow is the real story I (we) want to see.

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Wow another layer to the word Healer!

How many characters need to be healed in this story and by whom?

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I'm tearing up; they're so precious.

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Lol park bong soo's profile page does exist lol

http://profeel.me/pbs1004

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I just looked at that, interesting! Talk about attention to details. Thank you for posting this.

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Trying hard to spread this drama to my friends. this drama is superb! i'm into this drama more than pinocchio. i think its all because of Ji Chang Wook ^^

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right now the big question is: who is the real jung-hoo!
one part of me just wants young-shin to fall in love with the real jung-hoo :) not the sexy/cool Healer, not the dorky/cute Park Bong Soo, but the real jung hoo. the junghoo that eats pabingsoo with his mom, the junghoo that we know can be whiny, the junghoo that is teasing, a bedhead and a lot more that we haven't seen!

maybe it's just because I find that young-shin needs someone equal to her - to Bong Soo, she's a bit like an unni; to Healer, he's like a crush that is seemingly unreal. so I'm looking forward to junghoo discovering and revealing his true self without any facades/personas. :)

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@ Kimmy
I second that! :)

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I'm looking forward to that, too. I love how even as she only knows him through these 2 very different personas, she identifies with him on both (she gets scared, just like Bong Soo, and she understands what wanting to be alone and unacknowledged is) and it's the real Jung Hoo who's affected.

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Thank you so much for summarizing everything. The subs took so long to go out so I ended up looking for recaps. This helped out a lot. I'm an English teacher to Koreans, and I'm doing my best to push them to watch this. It gives me that City Hunter feeling. The chemistry between Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young is just too alluring... <3

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I'm enjoying this show better than City Hunter. Liked CH generally, but not so much the first episode and was kind of bummed at the ending; inconclusive, not nicely tied-up in a bow, ending to the love-line there. :-D

This show? Loved it from the word go! And PMY looks much fresher here! And JCW here is more badass than LMH there. (And I have the highest regard for LMH)

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I have also the highest appreciation for a hot lee min ho (even with his dreadful dress sense, the pink pants will forever be imprinted in my mind) but healer is rocking it. I had to pause my screen many times to squeeee. It's been a while!

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I just watched CH because everybody said Healer has the same feeling but I do like more Healer, CH it's great but give me JCW as a Healer over LMH City Hunter any time. Both badass but still... Maybe it's because I watch Healer first it's been pure love a the first sight.

Also PMY is great in this role. I like her in Sungkyunkwan Scandal and City Hunter but I do love her here :)

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*high five* I loved CH up to its ending. I was totally bummed out, actually…in my belief of Kdramaing, if you make me go through hardship after hardship, you'd better give me a really happy ending with glitters on it.

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The thing I like about JCW in Healer is his natural athleticism. The way he moves is so strong and fluid, it makes the character's capabilities believable.

He somehow even managed to make stumbling out of bed look kind of cool. With most actors, that scene would certainly have been re-shot. Loved that JCW simply caught himself each time he slipped and ad-libbed annoyance at the sheets. It didn't seem to break his concentration on his character or the scene.

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i watched the preview for next episode.. oh My God.. i cant waiiiiittt..

thank you so much Javabeans, i watched this episode without engsub.. so your recap is my 'healer', lols..

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Daebak episode! Daebak recap; funny! Thank you, JB. :-)

JH/BS's arm is Young Shin's 'smelly pillow' - her security blanket. That comforts and calms her, relieving her anxiety and stress, even if she's confused by it. I like their sub-conscious connection here. Cute and reassuring. I love how the love line is developing between them.

Me thinks it was Dae-yong dressed to look like Healer, who drove past the SS goons dropping the water-gun as bait to draw out the goons from trash Hwang's compound. Healer began his entry into the house as soon as the goons went after his car.

Just HAVE to say it - Myung Hee, especially the present one - damn, she's beautiful!

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i agree with you, it was Dae young in the car.

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I just love jealous Boong Soo, so petty. ^^ and the rooftop scene, OMG!
Thank you JB for the fast recap.

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Is it only me who think young moon shik look like song jong ki?

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Thank you soooooo much for the lightning fast recap Jb
ofcourse jealous Bong Soo is just a treat to watch ^^

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I think this will be JCW breakout role. It's a pity abt the ratings, people are missing out!
Agree that the story telling is done well, characters are also fleshed out nicely.
I totally dig YS and Bongsoo! And I'm interested to know what happened to those friends in the past.
Almost halfway mark, show, continue to be good!!! Fingers crossed

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I really think Ji Changwook has a similar face of EXO's Baekhyun and BTS's Taehyung, like all mixed into. More Taehyung than Baekhyun, but looks like Baekhyun sometimes too.
Anyways, today's episode was so really great. Great recap too! THE FEELS WHEN THEY WERE SO CLOSE AND CLIFFHANGER, UGH!

+Also I have a question from episode 4, I think it was, when Healer/Jung-hoo and Young-shin were sleeping on the couch and then the Dad in the morning almost hit him with the chair, but he didn't. The show then flashbacked briefly of the scene when both of them were kids, but ok here's the question.

[!!!] What's Dad's relation? Who is Chae Chi Soo in relation to those 5 friends and how did he 'remember' that moment when Jung-hoo and Young-shin were kids? Apparently he shouldn't be any of the people in the picture. Plus he is the adoptive father of Young-shin so supposedly he shouldn't remember anything or stop midway from hitting Jung-hoo/Bong Soo with the chair.

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@Jaemini

i don't think lawyer dad has anything todo with the past 5 friends, he actually stopped, because he could sense that Young Shin felt safe and comfortable holding on to Bong Sook arm, he know his Young shin well, and knows she can't sleep with anyone next to her, so for her to be asleep with bong Sook makes bong sook a very special person, that's why dad stopped, the director panned back to them sleeping like that as youngsters just to prove that they were always meant to be together, that young shin held on to young Jung Hoo as a security blanket back then and he is also that now even under the guise of being Bong Sook.

hope this helps!

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Daddy Chi Soo did not 'remember' the moment.

That photo of young JH and YS sleeping together relates back to JH's mom's flashback - i.e during her house warming party, Mom and friends looked for the missing YS (Ji- An, then) and found her asleep, cradling JH's arm. A photo of them like that was taken then, by JH's dad I think. It wasn't Daddy Chi Soo's memory. That photo just showed us how far back JH and YS's relationship went.

I think Daddy Chi Soo was stopped short of bashing JH's head with the stool by his sudden realisation that YS is actually sleeping on JH's arm. YS has trouble sleeping when there are others in the room, as disclosed by her to JH and yet, come morning, she's fast asleep, peacefully, cradling JH's arm.

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its getting harder and harder for Jung Hoo to separate his feelings for young shin, from the task of being unattached, unemotionally invested Healer. initially he was curious as to why she had his picture on her wall, then he couldn't help himself by getting involved with the SS thugs to save her from witnessing violence (at that moment he felt a little guilt and responsibility for her safety), then he couldn't stomach her distress in the copy room, so sort out President scumbag Hwang to teach a lesson in never beating women and handing over much needed video evidence to help Young Shins help Jun Hee case. He is jealous but can't understand why he is so bothered over Moon Ho being near YS (he thinks its because he doesn't trust Moon Ho) but we viewers can see its all about being the 'Man' that YS has a crush on for so long and it bothers Healer.

Young shin understands the Healer too well,his hidden self, she also has that kindred spirit connection with Park Bong Sook, thats why she can rely on his arm to reassure her or his sympathetic ear to voice all her doubts, concerns and secrets crushes.

Jung Hoo is a combination of all his persona, but which one will ultimately win Young Shin heart?

jung hoo is in love but has yet to realized or acknowledge this momentous emotion, she affects him on all levels just being her true self, and she isn't a hapless girl, nor is she pitiful or candy type, she is so unique that he is fascinated by her.

i love her character and i love all the persona that is Jung Hoo. can't wait to see the development in their relationships. Young Shin with Healer, Young Shin with Bong Sook, Young Shin with Jung Hoo! all will have different interactions, defferent level of closeness, but ultimately hard on Jung Hoo who can't reveal his true self to her.

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Omg I so love this drama and my new found crush ji chang wook ..squeee

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I wonder if Moon-shik will turn out to be another Chief Kang of You're All Surrounded drama, a character who thinks he is getting closer to his idealistic youth dream, while blindingly abuse morale principles along the way. That would be a lot better character development, rather than just making him a one dimensional psychopath who kills his close friends in the name of love (or lust?). Too Hannibal Lecter, writer-nim. Bad move.

And Ji Chang Wook oppa, rawr you are the epitome of hotness. Those lips and bods! (Help! I'm hyperventilating here!)

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When Young Shin asked Jung Hoo (Healer) if he was her brother, that actually made me think that that would have been a cool story too. If a brother tries to protect his long-lost sister by being her mysterious helper and going undercover.

Anyway, Healer is definitely my favorite on-air drama and if it keeps on getting better (inclusive the ending), it's definitely one of my favorite dramas!

Thanks for the recap ^^

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I love this show!
I wish i had a (super)hero like healer who will always be there to protect me . Sounds cheesy but who doesn't want it? :")
Thanks for the recap JB!

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Yay, thanks so much!

I'm not really sure what this drama is doing to me. Like, I'm already having a hard time dealing the fact that there's only one episode left to watch this week. I'm so addicted!

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i've not yet watched this episode, but i've been loving this drama so far<3
just like javabeans mentioned in one of her previous recaps, i'm really liking the dynamics of their two relationships, and how the power dynamic is switched when he's "bong-soo"- it's so satisfying, even if it's mostly acting on his part for her sake. one of the reasons why i like noona romances so much, but that's another story, i guess.
i keep on thinking about how similar the plot elements are to pinocchio- two brothers, reporters, a slightly quirky heroine, childhood history of the main characters, and a plot that relies on coincidence- tbh i think the healer pulls it off better, and i prefer it by far to pinocchio, but i can't help but think that the two dramas are too similar for it to be a coincidence. i wonder which drama stole from which. but maybe i don't want to know, not when i'm loving this drama so far. hope its quality carries on to the very end. can't wait to watch this episode^^ i'll probably rewatch everything from ep 1 haha

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After being in the Misaeng world for 10 weeks this show is perfect for its humour, action, and heart. Ji Chang Woooooooook - an awesome find to end 2014. Loved that lil smile when CYS tells PBS that Healer doesn't do anything that hurts people. I absolutely adore PBS - his stutter, the number of times he mentioned 'two pills' w/in a span of a few seconds, and his laugh 'hahaaa' - goshhh, he cracks me up! And, Healer's smolderrrr and that low pitch voice - hnngggggg!! This show is a squeeee fest, eh?! *_*

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Can't agree more saima! You describe it perfectly hehehe

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Thanks very much DB!

I've found that reading your recap, followed by downloading the subs and watching the show, at last makes catching up with Healer comments possible.

The show is doing a good job of giving us enough back story to assuage our curiosity, and yet not too much so that we run out of questions. I also like it that the boy they cast to play the young Moon Ho actually looks a bit like him as an adult!!

And I was laughing at that scene where Healer threw out the toy gun. What the heck, it wasn't even a mechanical, moving toy or a toy that emitted sound, but just a plastic dead gun!!! And the SS guys could get distracted by it? LOL!

I really like the progression of Young Shin's crush over Healer and his growing interest as well. It was understated yet evident and totally natural. In comparing the chemistry between OTPs, theirs vies with Pinocchio's.... seems like they are neck to neck to me, which is good for both shows! Both OTPs give off the right vibes and feels and makes each episode even more addictive, as if the mysteries and the action are not enough! :)

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That toy gun - water gun, actually - is associated with the Healer by the SS goons.

The first time water guns appeared, Boss SS ended up handcuffed to his own steering wheel, humiliated. By a lone operator they've been ordered to capture, aggravating their animosity towards the Healer, making them jump at any chance to get back at him. Thus, when Dae Yong threw the gun out, most of the SS goons ran after the car, thinking it was the Healer driving. Simple but effective distracting ploy, works especially well on not so bright goons! :-D

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@ patinalee
Oh, I missed that. Thanks. Must look it up.

But really it was so funny, so much brawn but so little brains between that lot of guys. :D

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@ Growingbeautifully

Goons are goons for their brawn, not brain. Won't you agree? :-D

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Agree that could be in the definition of goons.... but .... so little brains aigoo!!!!

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Thank you so much Javabeans! I new this drama would be good since you're subbing it and it did not disappoint. Can't wait for eps 8 today!

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I can't get over how awesome, cute, wonderful this show is. Healernim fighting.

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While watching, I always wonder where all the young actors came from. If never seen them before, but they make the flashbacks really enjoyable.

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Thank you!

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Yeah, so I watched episode 8. And gah, you guys....this is officially becoming one of my favorite dramas. I'm just completely and utterly in love.

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AAAAAAAAAAH EP 8. Omo omo omo. I can't wait for JB's recap. *squeeeeeee* <3 <3 <3 You guys are gonna looooove the ending for this one. <3 <3 <3

(As you can probably see, this show is robbing me off all my sanity.)

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oh you phrased it so well, "Evil, crack-peddling producers."

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I watched ep 8 too and it's so awesome DAEBAKKK! ♥♥♥
I'll wait your recap JB ^^

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Does anyone know the name of the actor who plays young Moon-Shik?? Please let me know. Thanks.

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Son Seung Won. :)

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haha, our healer/bong-soo was at mbc drama awards last night to present some award ^^

http://i.imgur.com/bOxblRh.gif
http://i.imgur.com/2L4sjMC.gif

his smile <3

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Thanks!!! Such an un-Bong Sooki and un-Healerish smile but so beautiful. :)

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