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Healer: Episode 18

Strap yourselves in, folks, it’s a roller coaster of an episode, running the entire emotional gamut—there’s plenty of cuteness and laughs, but with only one more week left, we can’t rest too assured in momentary comforts. We’re never far from the undercurrent of unease that runs throughout, reminding us that there’s just enough time for one more big fight. And that’s sure to be a doozy.

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EPISODE 18 RECAP

Backing up a bit, we see how the tape made its way to Moon-ho’s broadcast, rather than into the Elder’s hand. Aha, so it was Dae-yong who got to the charnel vault first, and she finds a box tucked in the back containing the real tape. She swaps it for a decoy, then takes it to Moon-ho directly.

Moon-ho listens right away, then calls Jung-hoo to inform him of its contents. As they’d known, Seo Joon-seok wasn’t guilty, but moreover, he wasn’t even initially a suspect. He’d gone to the police to report Gil-han’s murder, with photos as proof. Thus the tape isn’t a suspect statement but a witness statement.

Jung-hoo has to pull over the car to process the good news, and he and Young-shin smile at each other.

Moon-ho thinks the tape is enough to take to broadcast, and tells Jung-hoo to come back. Jung-hoo asks Young-shin what she thinks, and she’s of the same mind as him: They’ll see through the original plan.

So now we resume with Jung-hoo capturing the Elder’s face on camera for all the nation to see. A bodyguard blocks the Elder from view, but Jung-hoo jumps into reporter mode (with some of Bong-soo’s demeanor) and starts asking a question. It goes ignored as the Elder leaves the room.

Jung-hoo has a few seconds of broadcast time before the guards close in on him, and calls out, “These people must work for the Elder! I’ll ask you a question! Surely you wouldn’t use violence and beat the reporter who came to interview the Elder during a live broadcast?”

His glasses and wallet are confiscated, and then the Elder returns to the room. Upon confirmation that this guy is a reporter named Park Bong-soo, he asks, “Didn’t you say you were the Healer?”

Jung-hoo laugh-stutters, “I-if I said that, ha ha, I was told you’d meet with me.” Gah, I am so glad Bong-soo is not real, because he would not be long for this world. The Elder says he’d talk if Bong-soo were the Healer, but if not… Jung-hoo guesses, “You’d k-kill me? But I don’t wanna die.”

He asks if “Grandpa” really is the Elder, and the Elder replies that he didn’t need to broadcast his face in order to ask that. But Jung-hoo counters that Gramps kills people who bother him, and he couldn’t have that—this is their way of posting a “Beware of dog” type warning sign.

The Elder crouches to meet Jung-hoo’s eye level and calls him child, asking who he is. Jung-hoo replies that there’s a man named Seo Joon-seok among the people Grandpa’s killed: “I am his son, Seo Jung-hoo. Grandpa, when you kill people in the future, you ought to think of their sons or daughters.”

Outside the house, Young-shin waits impatiently with a camera, trying to urge the police officers with her to intervene. But the police can’t do anything without proper authorization, so Young-shin just starts filming right there. There’s not much to see, but it’s enough to show police officers stationed outside the Elder’s house, and Moon-ho turns over the broadcast to show the scene. Within moments of it airing, the guards restraining Jung-hoo inside back off.

The Elder invites Jung-hoo to sit, offering Jung-hoo a drink that gets refused, and lighting an incense stick like this is some kind of polite visit. Jung-hoo has dropped the wimpy act and faces the old man defiantly, sneering at the Elder’s description of his side as “working to save people.”

The Elder explains that there’s the “us” who protect people, and the “them” who receive their protection: “Young man, which side do you want to be on?”

Jung-hoo is unimpressed with the Elder’s talk, but… wait, why are you fading and your senses dulling? Gah, it’s the incense, isn’t it? The Elder starts to blur in his eyes as the old man says he quite likes Jung-hoo but won’t wait long for his decision.

Jung-hoo tries to clear his head through the smoke, and then sees the stick and puts it out. Oh thank goodness. But the drugs have done their trick and he falls over, unconscious. The Elder leaves him in slumped in the room.

Back to Seo Joon-seok’s witness statement, which we see in flashback. Joon-seok sits dully in front of the detectives, emotionally traumatized from Gil-han’s death, and explains that “they” call themselves Farmers. As a trio, he and Gil-han and Moon-shik had been chasing the story for the past year when they received information about a planned truck shipment, which they took to mean slush fund movement.

Joon-seok describes the “farming” that this group does: They view the country as their field for the plowing, sowing money around to reap all sorts of benefits—political, legal, financial.

Young-shin finally gets tired of waiting and bursts onto the Elder’s property. She finds Jung-hoo starting to stir, trying to shake off his drug-induced stupor. She asks worriedly, “Why are you always sleeping when I see you?” He replies, “You always wake me.” Pause to aww.

She offers to take him to the hospital, but he asks to sleep a bit, resting against her shoulder and holding her arm. He asks, “Our fathers were very close, weren’t they?” Since he didn’t get to see the broadcast, Young-shin says that their fathers were loyal to the end, and recounts the events that we see in flashback.

1992. Moon-shik drives the car as the three friends follow the truck in question, and the mood is lighthearted with bickering and laughs. They think the task will be a simple matter of snapping a few photos showing the money handoff.

Upon arrival, it becomes evident that the situation is more serious than they’d anticipated. One truck contains large metal paint canisters, and another is filled with apple boxes containing massive sums of cash.

Gil-han wants to see inside the paint canisters, while Joon-seok holds him back. Gil-han just quips, “What are they going to do, kill me? A reporter?” But they accidentally knock over a bin that alerts the others to their presence, and Gil-han offers to divert them while Joon-seok gets to the paint cans. Before his friend can protest, he runs off and is quickly followed.

Joon-seok grabs a canister and runs back to the car, where he alerts Moon-shik to the danger. He tells Moon-shik to prepare for getaway, then heads back to get his friend.

When Joon-seok makes it back, Gil-han is already prone on the ground, his head bloody. Moon-shik arrives just in time to grab him back from going after the Farmer guys, but Joon-seok wells up in righteous fury. He starts snapping photos openly, and Moon-shik forcibly drags him back to the car.

The car escapes, and Joon-seok explains in his statement that he was on the run for days, and eventually found out what was in the paint cans. He explains that it was chemicals used in construction projects to weaken steel, and as soon as he reveals this, men in suits burst in to stop the proceedings.

Young-shin wraps up the story, and Jung-hoo sighs, “It’s over. The homework. For Teacher, Father, and you.” He’s free to leave the Healer behind, and Young-shin praises him for a job well done, Jung-hoo rests his head in her lap (…but… the Elder’s house…) and asks, “Living like other people—is it hard?”

“Let’s try it, living like other people,” she says. He asks, “You’ll be with me, right?” And she replies, “Of course.” He sighs that that’s enough, and closes his eyes to sleep some more, taking her hand in his.

Myung-hee prepares a nice dinner for her and Moon-shik, and her outwardly pleasant attitude puts him in a good mood. It seems she’s watching for his reaction as she tells him of watching Moon-ho’s broadcast and asks about what he didn’t tell her. He answers that he hadn’t been holding back from her, admitting that he’d suspected Joon-seok all these years, and the broadcast has allowed him peace of mind knowing that wasn’t true.

Myung-hee doesn’t like that answer (well, it is a blatant lie), and I wonder if she’d been hoping he’d respond differently. She keeps her pleasant face on, but looks meaningfully over at Ji-an’s birthday spread nearby. I do hope her suspicion extends to that story too.

Moon-shik retires to his study after dinner, and his mind flashes back to his first encounter with the Elder. And now we see what happens next: Moon-shik accepts that deal, and gives a witness statement to the police that he saw Joon-seok killing Gil-han. Interestingly, the first statement is given while he’s bloody, terrified, and shaking. The second time, Moon-shik is resigned and dead-eyed.

But by the third time, he’s crisp and alert, confident in his lies as he says that the money triggered Joon-seok’s greed. When Gil-han refused to keep it, Joon-seok killed him.

In the present day, the memory doesn’t even stir a pang of regret as he sits there, idly eating Ji-an’s birthday cookies, soul unruffled. Or maybe absent.

In contrast, over at the cafe, Young-shin and her father eye that cookie with reverent anticipation, both bummed to see that it broke in transit. Young-shin feeds Dad the first bite, and they marvel at the taste. Then Dad asks when she’s bringing “that guy” over, and she initially feigns ignorance (“Which guy? I kinda have a lot of guys”).

Dad tells her to drag him over, then sighs that of all the men, she had to pick one so weak and frail, always ready to cry at the drop of a hat. She dies laughing.

When she gets to her room, she’s startled to find Jung-hoo already here, having climbed in through the window and all ready for his hugs. She pushes him back to arm’s length and lays down a few ground rules about how to live like other people, which includes using front doors. And meeting her father to get his permission to date, which makes him grimace. Also, on his girlfriend’s birthday, he should give her a gift.

She holds out her hands expectantly, and Jung-hoo fumbles to come up with something. He gives her the necklace from around his neck, and she points out that it would be nice to get gifts that are new and wrapped. He tries to make it better by pointing out that his necklace has a tracker in it, but that just sounds worse, lol.

Young-shin lets him fasten it around her neck, and he asks, “Can I hug you now?” He grabs her in a hug without waiting, and she kicks him. HA.

He looks hurt as he asks why she keeps pushing him away, and she reminds him that he wanted to live, and love, like other people. He asks what this is, and she says, “This is… a little different from other people.”

Jung-hoo decides he can do things in the proper order, and tells her to wait. She agrees, telling him not to take too long. He notes the key points—father, salary—and she heads to the door to show him how to use it properly, only to turn around to see that he’s already left via window. Siiiigh.

Adorably, Jung-hoo then barrels in through the cafe doors, psyching himself up to get this over with. But the longer Dad stares at him blankly, the more his nerves falter and Jung-hoo mutters to himself that he can’t do it. He stammers to Dad that he’ll come back next time, and I love that he’s really not too far off from wimpy Bong-sookie after all.

Pickpocket Ajusshi enters just then, blocking Jung-hoo’s exit, and Dad slowly wraps his hand in an apron like he’s getting ready to inflict some pain. Jung-hoo says nervously that he’s here to give his proper greeting and get permission.

Young-shin hears noise and hurries downstairs, where she finds Jung-hoo in the study with Dad and ajusshi. Jung-hoo sends her pathetic pleading looks while Dad warns her to stay out of this.

Dad starts with the cafe kiss a few days ago, and just thinking of it spurs violent impulses. Ajusshi intervenes: information first, then kill. Ajusshi takes over the interrogation and asks how far they’ve gone, and thankfully Dad shoves him aside because I’m not sure that’s an answer they want to hear.

Dad asks if that soup was any good, and Jung-hoo answers that it was delicious. You’ll recall that Young-shin had called Dad for recipe instructions from Jung-hoo’s pad, and now Dad knows that Jung-hoo was the friend needing nursing all night long. Ajusshi has to hold him back while Jung-hoo darts around the room trying to avoid a beating while blurting, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Making this even better is the fact that while sounds of destruction come from the office, Young-shin listens from outside eating ice cream. As you do.

The mood takes a darker turn, however, when later that night Secretary Oh makes his way inside Moon-ho’s apartment. This can’t be good.

At the paper, Editor Jang alerts Moon-ho to postings on the Someday message board that offer information from witnesses who’ve met the Elder. It’s unclear whether these tips are legit, but Moon-ho instructs his staff to look into them, and they’ll follow up on anything that sounds promising. Editor Jang points out that they’ll be understaffed, which is Moon-ho’s cue to introduce their new employee: Jung-hoo, or rather, Bong-soo, who is heartily welcomed.

While the team congratulates him for his intrepid undercover work, Young-shin tells Moon-ho about Jung-hoo wanting to live like a regular person, which Moon-ho notes isn’t the easiest thing. Young-shin quips, “I think living like other people means not knowing what you’re doing. What’s so great about that?” She adds that Jung-hoo’s done being the Healer, laughing that she thinks he got fired. Yay for ajumma.

Moon-ho informs her that Myung-hee asked for an excuse to meet Young-shin again. As they talk cozily, Jung-hoo shoots Moon-ho the side-eye and steps right between them, just like old times. Aw, jealous Bong-sookie.

Young-shin starts to narrate an explanation about a friend reentering mainstream society, and we see Jung-hoo adapting to civilian life. He struggles to remain awake all day at work, which she compares to being a wildcat—awake for the hunt, sleeping otherwise.

When his first paycheck comes in, Jung-hoo calls in to ajumma to ask how much it was, shocked at the paltry sum (“But… I worked a whole month!”). He even wonders if he should pick up some side jobs, but ajumma reminds him that he quit being the Healer and wants her earset back. Then she screams at her screen—not at Jung-hoo, but at the hapless newbie who can’t do a simple task right. Ha, is she training the new Healer?

It’s Dae-yong, who’s in plain view of all the car black boxes around her. Dae-yong complains that there’s no street in Seoul without parked cars, and ajumma barks, “That’s why your hyungnim flew around on rooftops!”

Young-shin’s voiceover comes from her conversation with Myung-hee, and she laughingly describes how this guy is a teeny bit older but acts thirteen, which is why she has to look after him. Myung-hee guesses that she likes him, then leans right in to brush a crumb from Young-shin’s face and touch up her makeup, their rapport already comfortable.

The day arrives for Moon-shik’s live broadcast interview, and at the last minute, Moon-ho receives the alarming news that Moon-shik arrived at the station and announced that he’d be deviating from the script. This is equally disruptive to both the broadcaster and Someday, but it’s worse for Someday, who’ve lost their opportunity to counter Moon-shik’s interview replies in real time.

At the station, Moon-shik just tells Min-jae, who’s interviewing him, to ask whatever she wants. The Someday team gathers to watch, and Moon-shik starts by deftly fielding questions about whether he’s able to manage Seoul when he can’t even manage his brotherly relationship.

Moon-shik speaks openly of Moon-ho’s current activities opposing him, but invokes his own reporter past. He identifies himself as a member of the pirate broadcasts that have garnered Moon-ho so much popularity these days and even pulls out that photo to show on air.

Calling himself a journalist who once fought for the freedom of media, he says that he has to take his brother’s activities in stride—because that’s what he fought for. God, that’s infuriating. Moon-ho watches with a sour expression, and is forced to cancel their planned broadcast, given the direction of Moon-shik’s interview.

Myung-hee’s reaction is similar, full of impotent anger, and Young-shin takes her hand as they listen to Moon-shik talking about how the press frankly has too much freedom these days, and in order for that to happen, those in power have had to sacrifice a lot. Oh, boo-hoo for the rich and powerful.

Then he takes out the old suitcase full of cassette tapes belonging to Moon-ho—so that’s what Secretary Oh was doing lurking in his apartment. Jung-hoo has to jump in to keep Moon-ho from physically assaulting his television as Moon-shik proudly shows off the tapes and the old Healer zine as treasured memories. His smugness is maddening.

Myung-hee watches bitterly as Moon-shik explains the meaning behind Healer, proclaiming the press as a force that identifies and treats society’s pains, and he just takes credit for everything like a goddamned hero. Moon-shik turns to address the camera/the public, saying that he worked to protect the media, and will now turn those efforts to protecting the city of Seoul, “as well as this country’s freedom, democracy, and order.”

Myung-hee cries to Young-shin, “I’m sorry.” Young-shin doesn’t understand why, but holds her mother in her arms as she cries.

Sitting grimly after the broadcast, Jung-hoo offers to steal back the tapes, which shouldn’t be too difficult. Moon-ho points out that he’s given up his clandestine errand-running job, saying that he’d like for Jung-hoo to live normally. “But… are you okay?” Jung-hoo asks. He looks over at Moon-ho and says in joke-relief, “I was really scared you were crying.”

Moon-ho returns, “I almost cried.” Jung-hoo asks if that’s because of the stolen tapes, and Moon-ho just tells him to buy some more beer and come over, because he’s got a lot of things he wants to tell him and Young-shin.

Our Double S Guards make a reappearance, although it’s to get shoved to the side as the operation gets taken over by Jeil Newspaper’s Manager Ahn. I suppose he IS more effective than Sang-soo, who finds his office taken over by the brusque newcomer.

Min-ja has her eye on Double S and notices the movement, as does Dae-yong, who’s staking out the building. They watch the Jeil team leaving the office, and Dae-yong wonders why they’re here. Ajumma merely replies that she’s making the Healer a retirement fund, and it involves the thugs who followed him after the ex-cop died. It’s likely that one of them was the killer—but why would they be affiliated with Double S?

Dae-yong photographs the Jeil team, and the closeup of Manager Ahn’s face niggles at ajumma’s memory. Where has she seen him before?

The Someday staff stays late working their way through the Elder tips, which are mostly duds. Moon-ho looks exhausted, but rather than take a break he’s preparing for things to start soon (…more things?). He’s not sure when or how they’ll come at them, but he knows to expect something.

While the staffers doze, Moon-ho finds Young-shin sleeping in Jung-hoo’s lap, clutching his arm. He notes that the couple is being pretty blatant, and Jung-hoo informs Moon-ho that she can’t sleep around just anyone. “What about you?” Moon-ho asks. “I’m not just anyone,” Jung-hoo replies.

Jung-hoo asks about Moon-ho fighting the Elder now, and wonders if that puts Young-shin in danger. Moon-ho doesn’t know, and asks if Jung-hoo would like to take her away someplace far, where it’ll be easier to live as a normal person. Jung-hoo admits that he’s hesitating over the idea: “I think it’s because of you. Leaving you on your own and going away just the two of us doesn’t feel right.”

Moon-ho touches hand to heart and half-teases that he’s touched. But Jung-hoo says seriously, “I can’t be without her now. So if it’s for her, I could throw you away.”

“That’s okay,” Moon-ho says readily, smiling. Ack! Stop doing things that make me scared for you!

In the morning, the attack begins. In a flurry of activity, Moon-ho is hit with legal documents, including a summons by the prosecutors’ office. Then a team is sent from the National Tax Service, acting on the report that misuse of funds were used to buy out Someday. Fuming, Moon-ho can do nothing while they confiscate everything.

It looks like they’re going after Someday big-time, and Editor Jang wonders to Jung-hoo whether his wife’s current business troubles could be related. Her restaurant was hit with a health inspection and enormous fine, and the timing makes him wonder if there’s any connection. But he shakes his head, telling himself there isn’t.

Later that evening, Moon-ho pulls into his parking garage, with Jung-hoo and Young-shin not far behind, armed with beer for a friendly visit. The second Moon-ho opens his car door, he’s ambushed—gack! Noooo, not Moon-ho!

His attackers drug him with chloroform. Their cars peel out moments later, just as Jung-hoo’s car drives in. That strikes Jung-hoo as odd, and the moment he sees the dropped camera in Moon-ho’s parking spot, his sense of alarm spikes.

Jung-hoo connects to ajumma right away, asking her to track Moon-ho, and gives Young-shin the choice: come with him or wait in Moon-ho’s apartment. She guesses that fighting is likely and quickly gets out of the car—better not hold him back. When he tries to escort her upstairs, she waves him off, and he’s pressed enough to hurry out after Moon-ho. Uh-oh. I have very bad feelings about all of this.

In the getaway car with an unconscious Moon-ho, the Elder’s minions find his cell phone and hand it off to a motorcyclist, who drives off in other direction. Crap crap crap.

Jung-hoo therefore follows ajumma’s instructions following the wrong vehicle, while Young-shin waits for the elevator to Moon-ho’s apartment. Someone joins her, and she nervously looks up… at a smiling, smarmy-faced Secretary Oh.

 
COMMENTS

Well that’s certainly not a face you ever want to see, especially when it’s looking so gleeful. Secretary Oh should never be happy, because only bad things happen when he’s happy.

What a great (and terrible!) episode of turnarounds, coming off last episode’s euphoria of Team Healer pulling a fast one on the bad guys with such aplomb. Then there was all that relationship cuteness, and moments of warm humor, and promises of the future… and bam! We slam into a wall of darkness and unease. Dramatically, it’s fantastic. It’s just, as a viewer, I don’t know how much my nerves can take. I just care too much about these people, so sue me. *cries into cornflakes*

I was a little surprised to see the Elder storyline settle down so quickly after the live broadcast ambush, because while I knew that he would regroup later, I didn’t expect him to just… vanish and let the characters be happy and safe. I suppose that lull just makes the attack more painful when it comes, but it also serves the purpose in giving us a glimpse of life after Healer-dom, which I didn’t realize I wanted to see so badly until we saw it.

That’s not just because I want to see Jung-hoo normal and happy, but because there’s a thread of sadness woven into this concept of being reintroduced to society that I really appreciate. It’s amusing in the moment to see Jung-hoo’s reintegration foibles in a comedic light, but it also hurts the heart a little when you consider just how much of an impact his isolated life has had on who he is as a person, and how he reacts to the most ordinary of circumstances. It’s funny to call him thirteen and laugh at how he goes through windows, but then he asks in a plaintive voice why Young-shin is keeping him away from herself, and the reality comes crashing in: He doesn’t actually know how to react. He doesn’t have social graces. He’s always tired because he’s never had to be a functional adult.

It’s therefore just as saddening as it is amusing to see Jung-hoo struggling to adjust to mundane life, especially since this current life isn’t too different from what he did the first time as Park Bong-soo… it’s just that the first time, the job was the afterthought, the B-sides to Healer’s super-fly action movie A-story. This time, he has to live the B-sides as his main life, and the beauty of that is that this humdrum ordinariness is actually the goal he wants. Once he gets used to staying awake for a full workday and answering phone calls he doesn’t want to, that is. It might take a while, but thankfully, he’s got the rest of his life to figure it out.

I find myself flip-flopping on Moon-shik with every twist, and I suppose that indicates that he’s been very well-drawn on both sides of his character, because both of his extremes feel credible. Yesterday I saw him in a more sympathetic light, but today he went back to pissing me off, albeit in a good way because he’s showing more complexity and shades of his darkness, not just going back and forth between stark white and black. His interview was brilliant and infuriating in equal measure, and showed once more his gift in taking the truth and using it to shape the narrative he wants to present.

Nothing he said in the broadcast was false, and furthermore, you get the sense that Moon-shik truly believes his explanations of why he was acting for a good cause. He’s not just a good liar; he may be self-delusional about his motives, and that makes him a very dangerous character. It’s almost sociopathic, his ability to convey earnestness and truth in a way that’s just wrong. The Moon-shik of 1980 didn’t seem so bad, and the Moon-shik of 1992 (even after the accident) also appears well-intentioned and loyal. But there’s no getting around the fact that since then, he has made choices with his eyes wide open and is warping the past to bolster his actions in the present. That explains why Moon-ho and Myung-hee reacted with such frustrated rage, because he’s just too good at twisting facts into his version of the truth.

The explanation of the Farmers takes us in an interesting direction, shifting the story away from the personal injustices and into a darker well of institutionalized corruption. This is something Writer Song does particularly well (and reminds me of Story of a Man, in fact), and by the time we get to this part of the story we’re deeply invested because of the connection to our main characters. (As to the particulars of the case: I’m not 100 percent sure I’m understanding correctly, so correct me if I’m wrong, but the scene witnessed by Gil-han and Joon-seok showed the Farmers involved in a massive payoff that involved the willful use of bad construction materials. It turns this into a more dangerous issue than politicians merely stashing away illegal funds—that’s a bad enough thing, but at least not a direct threat to public safety.)

But on to Moon-ho, whose fate isn’t looking so good right about now. To be honest, I was never convinced he’d make it out of the drama alive, but the more he integrated with Team Healer, the more positive I thought his chances were for survival. On a symbolic level I argue with myself that it works better to keep him alive, as a survivor of this cyclical series of events that began in 1980; his internet broadcasts carry echoes of the old rebellious spirit, and because of his age he has always been smack-dab in the middle of the two generations, acting as a link but never quite belonging to either group. So he isn’t necessarily bound to the old tragedy, and I feel like an argument could be made for him being the way to break the cycle in the new generation.

On the other hand, recent episodes hint at his willingness to hurtle headlong into the fight without concern for coming out of it alive, and he might just go down fighting. It’s a lovely contrast to his earlier apathy, where he lived because he wasn’t dead, not because he had any great motivation to stay alive. Now that he’s discovered a passion to keep him going, surely the writer wouldn’t be so cruel as to snatch that away from us/him, would she? (Worried side note: She totally would be that cruel. It’s kind of why I love her writing, and also feel pain because of it.)

And perhaps viewed symbolically from the other side, it’s possible that the message for Moon-ho is that it’s more meaningful to live with purpose for a short time than to exist indefinitely without purpose. That links him closer to the older generation, most of whom met premature ends but whose lives were, as far as we can judge, well-lived and well-loved.

Aghhhh, basically I think this means that Moon-ho could live or die and either case is supported thematically and symbolically, and now I’m just scared. Don’t die, Moon-ho! Please?

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Sub-thread: Dreamingsnowflake2013's EPISODE 17 ANALYSIS - Part 5

~Healer’s Guide to Dating series #4 - Meet the Parents (Part 1)~

"This is my father. Father… this is Chae Young Shin." - JH

THAT is what viewers thought JH said, now THIS is what he really said:

"Dad, meet my girlfriend! I hooked up (read: I’ll be marrying) the daughter of your best mate. Am I not the best son in the whole world?!"

This is such a powerful moment - not only because the present-day generation figuratively meets the ghost of their past, but also because of the reverent and solemn way JH introduces YS to his father (it almost seems he is making a silent vow) and YS reciprocating in greeting the man with a respectful bow. While seeing them standing in front of SJS’s grave, it truly hit me for the first time how extraordinary and miraculous it’s that they found each other. It really is a fated reunion of two childhood sweetheart who have become lovers, a meeting of two children who has found each other despite the huge odds stacked against them.

The main reason why JH tells YS that funny story, even going that far as imitating his Teacher’s voice (kudos to JCW for his hilarious and spot-on rendition of Oh Kwang Rok’s voice and quirky facial expressions), despite being someone who doesn’t joke often, is to make her relax and smile, because he notices that she is trembling and worried.

I’ve noticed SJN likes to makes use of a seemingly outdated and obsolete technology, which most people would deem antique and abandon it, while her protagonists keep it because it does have sentimental and nostalgic value for them. (First it was YS’s phone, now the cassette tape and the cassette recorder and everyone still remembers her previous drama Faith). Only for these objects to become a deciding factor later and tip the scales of the fate in their favour or even, reverse their fate altogether. It’s really a deep and well thought-out idea from SJN because past holds the key to our present and future, and without the past there can be no present nor future. This show gives the phrase “take the truth to the grave” a completely literal meaning! How epic and symbolic is it that JH’s father has been guarding the truth, his truth, the whole time?! The fact that it’s recordered on an audio tape makes it into a genuine echo from the past - it’s Seo Jung Seok’s and PDC’s last will and testimony from the grave. (To be more specific, the place where the urn with SJS’s remain is stored is not a charnel house, but a columbarium - a charnel house is where the bones are kept, whereas a columbarium is a place where the ashes are kept.)

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(Cont...)

"Young Shin, close your eyes." - JH

MY FEELS! I love the moment when JH starts calling YS’s name sans the surname - she calls him JH so it seems only fair. He constantly bears in mind YS’s PTSD and reaction to violence and his first priority is to protect her and spare her any pain; by now, it’s competely instinctive and visceral to protect her - you can notice it even on his body language when he is leading her away from the goons he is acting as her shield. On the other hand, we can see YS’s complete trust in him when she closes her eyes without asking the moment he tells her to do so.

[Credits to @dreamingsnowflake2013, Tumblr]
http://dreamingsnowflake2013.tumblr.com/post/110502509974/healers-guide-to-dating-meet-the-parents-part

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Sub-thread: Dreamingsnowflake2013's Predictions for Finale Episode

As usual for all spoilerphobes, stay away from this link because it obvious contains spoilers for episode 20. This is for those interested in DSF's predictions and ramblings based on both text and video preview. Her questions are rather funny haha

Here's the link, it's your choice if you wanna click on it. :)

http://dreamingsnowflake2013.tumblr.com/post/110558682464/quick-extremely-emotional-and-unintelligible

As usual refrain from commenting on any spoilers (well you know the drill)... Have a good night all ♥

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@AnnaAkana

Yes, you're right. It's my choice.

And I choose to click it............hihihihi.....^_^

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Ahhh I am so excited to watch ep. 19. Wow Viki was lightning speed today with the subs.

I still have a few more hours to kill before I can get home and station in front of my computer so I'll just share a little story of the Healer effect.

I usually share with my mom whenever I really like a drama after I've seen it. I've been holding off on telling her about Healer until I had seen it completely to make sure the ending didn't ruins it. I feel secure enough to trust SJN by this point that it'll end well so I told my mom to watch two days ago.

At first her reaction was pretty lackluster because she was still just casually watching. I came home yesterday expecting that she would have marathon-ed all the episodes already since she was home but instead found her watching some other drama. Hilariously I felt myself feeling offended that she didn't listen to my recommendation and thought it was her lost if she ignored Healer.

Then later in the evening she started watching again, getting deeper into the story with ep 2 and ep 3. By this morning, as she was getting ready for work, she was on her way into ep 4 and needless to say, have been constantly clutching her ipad to her side and sitting down every minute she gets to continue watching lol.

I wonder if the audience in SK had patiently stuck with it to ep 3-4 then ratings might have been higher.

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Awww good story @goo. And it's so nice that you can share that with your mom!

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I am not going to spoil anything for the sake of the policy

but please please please writer - nim give our OTP a happy ending cause from the look of things now :(
Please don't do it writer - nim (:-( 
Or this ending is going to haunt after my after life and beyond T○T

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All eyes on JB now. What wisdom of her smart brain and youthful take (ever fresh) on k entertainment will she serve us now? Can't quite sort out what i think about this episode -- going into the finale. Except that in any good story telling, you hold out til the end. Woe to the weaker hearts who cannot see it thru.

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I cant even...

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JCW's Instagram update:

Translation by JCWKITCHEN

"End of filming..."

http://instagram.com/p/y5Z--7uJhX/

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"End of filming"

Poor Wookie must be so tired after all the action scenes, and continuous filming concurrent with his musical.

Perhaps he can escape to an atoll in Maldives for some sun and sea.

But then Maldives is not much fun if u go alone. So take CYS, I mean PMY, w our blessing, and have a good time, you two!

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Pls, just nobody die in the end!

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Second that

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I know a lot of us are sad about the ratings for Healer but this might cheer you up:

http://tv.sohu.com/s2014/hjhealer/

播放数:101459322

Over 101 million plays for Healer on Sohu!

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Over 101 million plays for healer on Sohu, and counting!

Which means it'll translate into billions of won for the sale of broadcasting rights to China, and lots fan-meetings around the country, and lots and lots of CF invitations, and lots and lots and lots of international (Chinese-Korean coproduction) film offers to our Ji Chang Wookie, so that he will become very well off, soon to be the richest Korean film star.
(Currently Kim Soo Hyun is being listed as the richest K star, after all the cash that poured in after YFAS. Nothing wrong w KSH being the richest, but I want JCW to get his turn to be the richest too).

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@Lucifer @kdaddict omgggggg DAEBAEK , sooooo amazing. I actually went ahead and clicked on every episode video, just to contribute to the number of views lol. ;)

But your so absolutely right, Ji Chang Wook deserves fame and fortune really, I hope he gets the attention he deserves. Kim so hyun, in my personal opinion, is over rated. But I do know many love him, so it's fine. I just feel everyone needs a chance under the spotlight, and not hog it for a long time. ;)

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i hope it does translate into that
I really want him to get more CFs this year

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@nutella same here sweety, I hope HEALER, at least internationally garners him the much needed attention he isn't receiving in his home land

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@turkishrose
i actually think Healer gave him a lot of recognition in Korea. Ratings are meh but his fancafe gained over 15k new followers. His musical performance sold out in a few minutes,crashing the servers. I think he is getting way more recognition after Healer. But yes I want him to be more recognize as a good actor which is what he wants to be known as

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@nutella great news, I really hope your right sweety thank you :)

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@kaddict
@turkishrose
@nutella

I totally agree with you, JCW deserves all the fame and fortune. He has worked very hard this past two years, he is passionate about his craft, he should be on top now???

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@Rigby,
Hi there. Not to be picky or egoistic or anything like that, I'm KDaddict, NOT Kaddict.

Kaddict is someone who is spamming this site w invitations to visit his/her Facebook page, which, for all we know, Could be garnering your personal info If you visit. So I'm keen to make that distinction. Hope you understand.

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@KDaddict

Oh i am sorry terribly sorry my fault, not minding my typing :(

And thank you for giving the info on that kaddict...

Sorry again :(

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@Rigby hoping for the best for our Ji Chang Wook , he is an astounding actor for his age. ♡ ♥ ღ

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@Turkishrose, ikr, been a silent fan of him since his Smile Donghae days, and i am so happy he has come this far, thank you to Healer and I should say Empress Ki as well...:)

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@Rigby, I've never heard of him actuality before Healer, but truly a fan now :)

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daebak!!!! I want more good dramas from JCW! One with lots of love and good story line like Healer. I just watched Empress Ki and sad of the ending, I want more happy ending, lots of hugging, lots of kissing, he seems very good on those :D

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@dani lol he is PERFECT at those ;) haven't watched Empress ki, but I want to watch it just to get jcw fix

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Hi gals! Happy 3000+! :D

Last night was DAEBAK for a penultimate episode! I have no idea how are they gonna wrap up everything with just one more ep though. *bites nails*

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@omomo **more nail biting** I know I'm really wondering what will happen, but it's only a few hours away, the suspense is a killer. Not sure if I'll be able to sleep tonight.

Hoping for the best.

HEALER FIGHTING

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I woke up at 6am this morning for no reason. But the min. I opened my eyes, I walked over to the computer and started watching ep 19 again. So maybe I didn't wake up for no reason.

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@kdaddict lol loved your reasoning, ;) at least you accomplished something right? ;) can't wait for episode 20 :)

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Still watching ep 19 on viki. Paused a lot to savor the moments (and multitask! Got tons of work & chores!) If only I have one of those Healer glasses, so I could watch Healer on the lens and do something else at the same time!

Viki's sub is 100% already. Daebak!
Thanks subbers, you're the best.

#suppressedemotionswaitingforep19recap#

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@pastmidnite , oh how I would love to have those glasses as well. That would be so cool, imagine the endless of things we can accomplish and still watch our favorite shows ?lol :) :)

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Yeah, I seriously do want a pair of those glasses! My kdrama watching would be soooo much easier hahaha Kdramas on the go!
But of course we can't use them while driving! Imagine driving with JCW in front of your eyes! Playing tennis! Dangerous! Very very dangerous...

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But then you could be bumping into things, missing steps, twist your ankle, and getting hurt, that is if you are not driving! So better not.

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@pastmidnite @@kdaddict lol I think driving and watching won't be so bad, remember bong sooki did it just fine, you just can't be watching an intense scene or a cliffhanger at the time, defiantly no watching healer otp at all while driving lol ;)

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*Spoilers*((sorry I'm a bad beanie))
Seriously everythings hinting at JH' s death
from the preview of him recording a good bye message, to the preview title,to the gun, and then to one of the soundtracks "eternal memory"
Hopefully not of Jung Hoo, and the lines"Though I cry by myself, it’s alright"
No it is not alright to cry by yourself YS
Thinking about death and Healer ending
TT-TT
TT-TT
TT-TT
TT-TT
TT-TT
(Sobs)(sobs) Can't Stop the tears

Ps:Someone posted on YouTube that the song Tum Hi Ho Meri Aashiqui
Suits the OTP a lot but the drama also has the main lead commiting suicide :(

Definitely not a good omen

But I'm holding on to hope 'cause of JCW's island pic on instagram
T○T T○T
T○T T○T
You better not mess with me Insta :( :( :(

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@premillusion, omg horrible horrible theories, please don't say that, that just tore my heart into pieces. Let's not expect angst please, let's think only happy thoughts please, because that would be A horrible ENDING :( :( :( :( :(

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Second that..................................

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@TurkishRose

I'm the most pessimistic person I know. However, the preview snippets all point a PLAN.

When has JH ever used a gun? I'm hoping Healer isn't going to fake his own death. Too many people already know Healer=JH. Think of the loose ends!

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@snickers you know I haven't even watched the preview, but they simply cannot kill off junghoo, that would be a perfectly wasted time I spent watching this show seriously.. I hate tragic endings unless they actually make sense. Healer situation, DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, ugh I swear I won't be able to hold my rage and tears tomorrow if that would take place. Please don't disappoint us healer, we've watched loyally for the past couple of month. Ahh my heart :( :( :(

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@TurkishRose

Healer dies (faked, of course) and JH starts over actually make sense when only a few trusted people know the link between the two. When too many people know, can't shut them all up. All depends on how many things the plan is supposed to accomplish.

I don't understand Korean. Still, assuming for the most part things resolve to viewers' satisfaction, that soundtrack "eternal memory" @Premillusion mentioned, still would apply- to the fathers and Teacher.

If I were betting, my money is on a "not sad" ending. Can never discount the possibility of an incomprehensible WTH ending.

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@turkishrose, yeah I agree with you, it does not make any sense if JH dies huhuhu...

tbh i am having weak and trembling knees already, i do not know if i can still drive later going home thinking of Healer's finale...huhuh....ottoke???

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@snickErs @rigby omg thank you for your beautiful analysis, because I loveddd the episode finally woohooo :)

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Oh no not please...........

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@Premillusion

I'm with you on THAT instagram pic of the Healer lair... I felt sadness all over with the neat, empty, dimly-lit room and all... even the picture of the island seems sad... *grab a tissue and blow my nose

Capturing that picture, I bet the cast and crew are as sad as we are of leaving that place... *still hoping for a happy ending! *sob *sob

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All the OSTs are released!!! Every single track is a masterpiece. "Healer", which is the highlight ost is my favourite but "Jung Hoo's Love" is too beautiful that it made me tear up.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfSoNEYn1qzofalBASuRVQ/videos

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@jov.ie omg thank you, dying to hear all of them. I know Highlight is a major one everyone wants.

**runs off to listen to them ** :)

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I'm in lurvvvvvvvv with "highlight' @TurkishRose
When the first time i heard it, i said to my self "wow, what's this, this is somethin like i never heard before" then i got to listen the "eternaly yours" and i said to my self again, "wow, this drama is good, they make a western OST" and after that i got Wowwing over and over again with the OST choices!This KDRAMA is totally broke all the old-school-lame pattern in everything!

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@@redsun you totally and royally said and described my feelings about this amazzzzzzing ost♥ ❤ ❥ ❣ ❦ :)

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@jov.ie

Thanks a lot for that link... downloading it now to complete my Healer OST playlist.

Oh... and did I say that may phone ring tone is "Highlight"?! One time a friend hear it and wonder why I'm not answering the call about 15 seconds.. but then she asked me if I can bluetooth that tone to her... kekeke!

I said, NO... not until she watch Healer first! :)

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@Polaris, I know I'm trying to complete my healer playlist too. Hope it ends well the show or else I'm deleting everything healer related. So many people are pessimistic and it's seriously making me depressed :(

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"Highlight" is indeed captivating! I was planning to make it my alarm but in my defense, it would make me feel so nostalgic. I'll stick to my generic iphone alarm tone for now until all my longing dissipates.

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@ jov.ie

I'm not musically inclined but yes, 'Highlight' is indeed captivating. Liked it from the opening of ep 1 itself. I find it very fluid and airy. Smoothly flowing. And the change in tempo is seamless.

Don't know if I'm using the correct terms describing it. Not musically inclined as earlier declared.

Sawrry guys. :-( :-D

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@TurkishRose

Hush, hush... sweetie! Let's trust writer-nim that she won't disappoint us on the ending... after all, she surpassed our expectations and more from the start. *crossing.my.fingers.tight*

And I'm holding to the promise of the cast that this is a feel-good drama, so *rubbing my palm, looking above*... we WILL get our happy ending...

*and yes... I'll delete everything Healer related too, if they busted the ending! kekeke...

**except I'm going to keep JCW pics.. *wink *wink

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@Polaris your so positive I love you, and I'm happy it turned out wonderful :)

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Morning beanies ! Am up to watch subbed episode while waiting for Healer episode 19 recap !!

Bring it on JB!

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Hi Everyone!!! It's a Wednesday and the day of the last episode of Healer! Yes, it's sad, but I've got mixed feelings .... both full of anticipation and relief that the resolution is at hand and a sense of loss and rudderless-ness. The former has me all excited and the latter, I'm burying under plans to watch Peservere, Gu Hae Ra plus lots of RL to catch up on!!! :D

But what a great episode we had last night and I know we can expect tonight's to be equally good if not better. Writer-nim has not disappointed us yet!

After watching Ep 19, I'm tempted to write another email to Writer Song. I hear that the dealine became shorter ie, by 10pm S. Korea time tonight. So if you want to write in an email that is sorted under recipient, write now!! If not, I believe you can still write in later but no guarantees that the email will go to the recipient. :)

See you in Ep 20 recap, coming out soon!!!

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I am watching ep 20 live now, and can't wait to watch it again tomorrow with sub. See you all on recap ep 20

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I refreshed the page. Saw the new recap is up, with 21 comments. Hurried to click on it.

Turns out it's the recap for Heart to Heart.

Lately, I'm reading anything that starts w H as Healer. The mind plays tricks on us. Tricky bastard.

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Sorry, wrong place. (Meant to appear in recap of Ep 19, while waiting for recap of finale to be up).

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Healer ?????

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Yeh..I think it's time to rewatch

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I am on Mission Voting and I will make it POSSIBLE!!!! :D

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Still voting and watching the drama againnn
ohhh god helppp me to escape this obsession

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What's the point in getting scared of the elder just run into his house with a camera and called the police. Seriously I thought going into the elder's house will be thrilling, and after that they just sleep in the elder's house?!?!

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