Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! Can you believe that we’re so near the end of our watch? I’m already feeling wistful about saying goodbye to our characters, Young Shin and Jung Hoo in particular. 🥲

SOME IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS, before we begin:

ZERO SPOILER POLICY

1. We will be adopting a ZERO SPOILER POLICY for this Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point.

We don’t want to spoil anyone’s watch experience with spoilers. The spoiler tags don’t work in email notifications, therefore, please take note that WE WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS FOR THIS OPEN THREAD. ANY AND ALL SPOILERS WILL BE REDACTED to protect first-time viewers in our midst (although, I’d appreciate it if you would save me the trouble of having to redact spoilers, heh 😅).

This includes, but is not limited to, how characters &/or relationships develop, later in the show.

We need to protect the innocent! 😉

SPOILER ZONE

2. HOWEVER!! If you’d like to discuss spoilers from a rewatcher’s point of view, I’ve created a SPOILER ZONE for you, where you can discuss all the spoilers you’d like, without the need for spoiler warnings. You can find it here!

Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! ❤️

Healer OST – What The Eyes Say

I realize that this is one of my favorite tracks on the OST, and I just really wanted to share it, before we get to the end of our group watch.

I love the soul in this, I love the groove of the song, and I love the lyrics as well. I realize that over the years, I understand so much more of the lyrics now, compared to when I first heard the song, back when Show first aired.

To listen to this on repeat, just right click on the video and select “Loop.”

My thoughts

Episode 17

My first watch of this show is faded enough in my memory, that I genuinely didn’t know what to expect, coming into this episode. All in all, I hafta say, this worked out to be a pretty great episode, given where we left off, last episode.

I’d been worried about the consequences of Jung Hoo being seen in a compromising position, in relation to Park Dong Chul, both by the police, and by Young Shin.

And while both Young Shin and Jung Hoo do angst over this for a bit, this episode, it doesn’t turn out to be a huge deal, after all. Just as we’ve seen before, Young Shin shows that she trusts Jung Hoo, and has faith in him.

Sure, I did feel a tad frustrated that Jung Hoo and Young Shin don’t speak on the phone, and that they miss doing so, by mere seconds, because Young Shin had hesitated to answer the call – and then she hadn’t called Jung Hoo back.

At first glance, this is such a simple problem to fix: you missed the call? Just call him back.

On further thought, though, I rationalize that this is a pretty complicated situation, and I’m sure that even though Young Shin trusts Jung Hoo, there’s always that off-chance, that Jung Hoo might have been responsible for Park Dong Chul’s death.

Given that possibility, I can imagine that Young Shin might be in a bit of hypothetical denial; as in, on the off-chance that this might be true, she doesn’t actually want to hear about it, and confirm her worst fears.

In that sense, I feel like Young Shin refraining from calling Jung Hoo back, has to do with her wanting to preserve her positive image of Jung Hoo – just in case it gets shattered.

As for Jung Hoo, I rationalize that he’s not all that good with this interpersonal relational stuff, and therefore, he takes it that Young Shin not picking up the call, equates that she doesn’t want to talk to him – or at least, isn’t ready to talk to him.

Backtracking a little bit, I’m actually kinda glad that Young Shin gets nudged by Moon Ho into telling Dad about the fact that Young Shin now knows who her bio mom is.

Even though I was a touch peeved at Moon Ho for pushing Young Shin into talking about it when she wasn’t sure that she was ready, the resulting hug between Dad and Young Shin is the sweetest, most tender thing, and I very quickly decided that it’s great that Young Shin tells him.

Gosh, I love Dad. His father’s heart is just so clear to see, and his gentleness and tenderheartedness towards Young Shin is the most precious thing. ❤️

I already luffed Dad, but now I luff him even more. LUFF.

On Jung Hoo’s side of things, I respect the fact that he chose to go to Park Dong Chul’s rented room, not because he thought he’d find the tape there, but because he wanted to pay his last respects to him, since he believed that this happened to Park Dong Chul because of him.

It’s awkward-bittercute, the way Ahjumma talks Jung Hoo through how to pour the soju, because even though this is common knowledge for most, Jung Hoo’s been so isolated most of his life, that he’s never actually had to do this before.

It feels so apt, somehow, that Ahjumma be the one to guide him through this basic etiquette lesson. I think I kinda see her as a mother figure to Jung Hoo, even though she says she doesn’t want to think of him as a son.

I really loved seeing Young Shin meet Myung Hee; that was a very lovely to witness, although I do wish that Myung Hee could have known that this was Ji An, whom she was talking to.

It feels so unfair to Myung Hee, that she should be denied the knowledge that she’s meeting with the daughter whom she’s been longing for, all these years.

Yet, Myung Hee’s gentle, welcoming manner feels no less diluted, for the fact that she doesn’t realize that Young Shin is actually Ji An.

The way Myung Hee holds Young Shin’s hands is so motherly and so loving, that I feel as if this is how she would act too, if she had known this was her Ji An.

And, Young Shin’s instinctive tearful response to Myung Hee, is so beautifully heart-pinching. Guh. I just want this mother-daughter pair to get a proper reunion, and soon. 🥲

Not gonna lie; even though I know Jung Hoo’s being a bit reckless, in running to Moon Sik’s residence the moment he realizes that Young Shin’s headed there, I got a fair bit of a thrill, just knowing that Young Shin is that important to him.

The other thrill I got, is from Jung Hoo acting all intimidating towards Secretary Oh.

I mean, Secretary Oh is SUCH a weasel type of character – the way he smirked at Detective Yoon this episode was SO purposefully taunting! – that I actually WANT Jung Hoo to threaten him, and make him feel worried and frightened, for a change.

I don’t think Jung Hoo would have killed Secretary Oh if Ahjumma hadn’t stopped him, because Jung Hoo’s not the killing kind.

I feel like if Ahjumma hadn’t stepped in to intervene, perhaps Jung Hoo might have beaten Secretary Oh to within an inch of his life – and then stopped himself from actually killing him. At least, that’s how it goes in my head.

I’m so glad that Myung Hee tells Young Shin about what had happened that day that she’d gotten separated from Ji An.

And I’m so glad, that the first person Young Shin tells this to, is Jung Hoo, when she meets him on her way home from Moon Sik’s house.

It feels like such a huge and momentous thing, for Young Shin to finally realize that she hadn’t been abandoned by her mother – that she’d been lost, instead – and it feels quite perfect, that it would be Jung Hoo who’d get to hear this truth first.

It also feels like such a revelation, that Young Shin now realizes that the likely reason she’d stopped talking for a season, is because the last thing her mom had said to her, before leaving her, was to keep quiet and not make a sound.

Guh. That’s pretty heartbreaking, to think that scared little Young Shin, had been trying so hard, to abide by Mom’s last words to her. 😭💔

I’m glad that Young Shin asks Jung Hoo the big question that’s been on her mind – whether he’s ever killed anyone – and I’m glad that Jung Hoo answers her so readily, that he hasn’t. Even better, is how Young Shin remarks that it’s just as she’d guessed.

Aw. Jung Hoo’s pleased little smile, at her trust in him, is so precious.

I kinda love the fact that there’s no preamble to this deep, soul-baring conversation between Young Shin and Jung Hoo. No “Why didn’t you answer my call?” or “Why didn’t you call me back?”

They both dive straight into the most important things, and as they talk and listen, it’s really great, to see that they start walking closer to each other.

Also, it feels excellent and very fitting, that as Jung Hoo tells Young Shin about the things that he has to do next, like finding out who had framed him for murder, Young Shin simply tells him that she’ll help him.

YES. I love that they’ve re-established that she’s on his side, and they’re on the same side, even though it’s technically never changed.

I wasn’t completely clear at first, on the direction of the group mission at the close of the episode, but I was very clear, that I loved the idea of the entire group working together, and being connected on the same call.

It was very thrilling to me, that Ahjumma, Jung Hoo, Young Shin and Moon Ho are working in direct partnership now, to make things happen. What a team! 🤩

In the midst of the heist-like operation, I did really like the poignance of Jung Hoo introducing Young Shin to his dad, at the charnel house. I love how Show manages to give us these heartfelt beats, in the midst of the bigger action.

In the end, I love-love-LOVE how everything comes together, and Jung Hoo’s act, to get an audience with Elder, turns into Elder’s face being broadcast live, on Some Day’s big exposé episode.

The mysterious and elusive Elder, with his face revealed for all to see? What a coup! 🤩

Of course, now I’m a little worried about how Elder is going to respond to this, and what might happen to Jung Hoo, but I’m keeping the faith, that Healer will have the plan and the skills, to keep himself safe. 🤞🏻

Episode 18

We start this episode with a look at how Team Healer worked their magic, and I’m pleased to see Dae Yong play a key role, in getting that tape to Moon Ho, and placing a decoy in its place, for Jung Hoo and Young Shin to retrieve, as part of their diversion “show.”

I like Dae Yong, and it’s just nice to see her do something important and momentous, for once, instead of just being a bit of comic relief, and occasionally being useful to Healer &/or Ahjumma, but paling in comparison to her sunbae.

What a reveal, that Jung Hoo’s father hadn’t actually been a murder suspect, but a witness to Gil Han’s murder!

Gah. The truth is really pretty horrible, once it comes together as Show lays everything out. I hate that Moon Sik had been persuaded to made a false testimony against Jung Hoo’s father Joon Seok, in order to create a cover-up for Elder.

I mean, I understand that Moon Sik had been coerced into it, and the wounds on his face indicate that he’d been beaten up pretty badly, as part of that coercion.

Plus, Show had indicated to us before, that one of the key reasons he’d agreed, was because he’d wanted to do something to save Myung Hee.

It’s still horrible though, and it’s pretty disturbing to see that the more Moon Sik had made his false testimony, the more he’d come to believe it, over time. It’s as Moon Ho has said; Moon Sik’s mind is so sick, that he literally doesn’t realize that his version of the truth is warped.

This does make me feel somewhat sorry for Moon Sik, because honestly, Elder never really gave him much of a choice. If Moon Sik had persisted in saying no, I’m guessing that Elder would have had him disposed of too, for being an inconvenient witness.

Put in that position, where he has the choice of lying, and getting to live, and getting to give Myung Hee the best medical care possible, or telling the truth, and dying, and leaving Myung Hee all alone and vulnerable in the world, I can actually see why Moon Sik had said yes.

Certainly, that doesn’t excuse all the terrible things he’s done. I just.. feel like I understand him better, on this viewing.

Importantly, I really like the moment where Jung Hoo and Young Shin hear from Moon Ho, that Jung Hoo’s dad had definitively had nothing to do with Young Shin’s death. You can literally see a load lift from their shoulders.

I mean, I don’t think that either of them believed that Jung Hoo’s dad had killed Young Shin’s dad, but I suppose there’s always the shadow of a doubt, that just maybe, that horrible thing could be true.

The way they look at each other, as the truth sinks in, feels so quietly joyful and relieved, and so free. I love it.

On the other hand, I have to say that compared to the lead-up to Jung Hoo coming face to face with Elder, the actual meeting between them wasn’t very exciting.

I find it a bit hard to believe that Elder would go so easy on Jung Hoo, after Jung Hoo has revealed Elder’s face on live broadcast. Or.. hm.. maybe that IS the reason Elder went easy on Jung Hoo?

Coz if something had happened to Jung Hoo after meeting with Elder like this, everything would point to Elder as being the culprit? Ok, I’ll buy that.

I’ll also buy the idea that Elder is interested enough in Jung Hoo’s talent as Healer, to actually have a genuine desire to have Healer on his side. That could be another reason why Elder goes easy on Jung Hoo.

On my first two watches, I have to say, I was very uncomfortable at the sight of Jung Hoo sleeping in Elder’s house, and I desperately wanted Young Shin to just get him out of there, instead of just sitting with him in such a relaxed fashion.

On this viewing, however, I realized that first of all, Elder’s vacated the house, and wouldn’t be in a hurry to come back, for fear of revealing his identity to more people. In that sense, the house itself is not a danger zone, at this moment.

The other thing is, Jung Hoo’s been drugged, and because those police officers conveniently disappear from the scene, Young Shin can’t actually lug Jung Hoo out of there, on her own.

Sure, Show could have had the police officers assist Young Shin to get Jung Hoo outta there, but I guess the whole reason writer-nim had them disappear, was so that we could have that scene of Young Shin comforting a sleepy Jung Hoo. Which, ok, is pretty sweet.

Also, it’s a pretty important milestone moment, that Jung Hoo articulates that he’s finished his “homework,” with regards to Sabu, his father, and Young Shin, and can now start thinking about living like a normal person.

The way he asks Young Shin if she’ll be there with him, as he tries to do that, and the way he only needs Young Shin’s confirmation that she will be there with him, to then nestle back down contentedly, is really endearing.

I love-love-love the scene where Young Shin shares that cookie that she took from Myung Hee’s kitchen, with Dad.

I mean, I know that Young Shin took that cookie without asking, but I am no doubt that Myung Hee would have given Young Shin that cookie – plus 10 more other treats – if Young Shin had thought to ask.

Plus, all of those treats were always meant for Young Shin anyway. I think it would have made Myung Hee really happy to know that her daughter had gotten to eat the cookie that she’d baked for her.

The way Young Shin and Dad treat the cookie so preciously, and speak in such awed tones about the cookie itself, and Myung Hee’s prowess in the kitchen, is just the sweetest thing.

I love that Dad is so supportive about Young Shin getting to know her mother, and that there’s no trace of jealousy or possessiveness, in him.

Also, HAHA, that Dad goes on and on about how his idea of an ideal mate for Young Shin was always someone stronger, and Bong Soo is too much of a weakling to protect her. The way Young Shin can’t help but burst into laughter, is pretty much how I feel about this.

If Dad only knew, that Bong Soo is more than capable of taking down a crowd of baddies, all on his own. 🤩

Show leans into the analogy of Jung Hoo as jungle cat a lot this episode, and at first glance, it feels rather heavy-handed, in the sense that Jung Hoo had never napped in the office like this before, while acting as Bong Soo.

However, I rationalize that as the time Jung Hoo’s spent trying to live like a normal person wears on, that it all starts to wear on him too. Which is why we see him behaving like a jungle cat, and napping at his desk in broad daylight.

The funniest part of this, to me, though, is how Jung Hoo thinks it’s natural to enter Young Shin’s bedroom via the window, and just lie in wait for her, for cozy-times.

I do think it’s played mostly for comedy, but I get the point, that Jung Hoo probably has a longer way to go in terms of human socialization, that we might first realize.

The very fact that Jung Hoo ends up giving that tracker necklace to Young Shin pings my drama senses, that Young Shin will soon be in trouble and actually need said tracker necklace, gah. I’m not looking forward to that, not gonna lie. 🙈

In the meantime, though, I like that she’s so pleased that it’s Jung Hoo’s first gift to her, and asks him to help her put it on, right away.

I’m also suitably tickled at how Jung Hoo nervously presents himself to Dad for his formal first meeting, and then gets into trouble right away, when he answers Dad’s trick question about the pollack stew. That was very shrewd questioning, Dad! (Dad’s a true lawyer, isn’t he? 😁)

I also really liked the scene that we get, of Young Shin telling Myung Hee about her “friend” who’s really Jung Hoo.

Even though Myung Hee doesn’t yet know that Young Shin is her long-lost daughter, it feels like a sight for sore eyes, for Young Shin to be able to tell her mom, about the boy that she likes. That feels so precious, and I just wish Myung Hee could fully appreciate this moment.

Gah. If only she knew! 😭

I hate that Moon Sik’s playing dirty and doing things like stealing those radio tapes and claiming that they’re evidence of his passion for freedom of the press, and even having Some Day’s offices audited by the National Tax Administration.

However, as perplexed as I am that he’s doing this, I’m not exactly surprised. After all, we’ve known for a long time, that Moon Sik will do whatever he deems necessary, in order to achieve his goals.

At the same time, I don’t think that Moon Sik’s behind Moon Ho’s kidnapping.

That’s clearly Elder’s doing, because Moon Sik wouldn’t go so far as to hurt Moon Ho, even though they’ve been circling each other as opponents for a long time.

It’s Elder who wants to get rid of Moon Sik’s weaknesses, and as Moon Sik himself has stated in an earlier episode, those weaknesses include Moon Ho and Ji An.

I hate the fact that where we end the episode, Jung Hoo’s following a decoy, who’s got Moon Ho’s phone, which means that he’s not on Moon Ho’s tail like he thinks he is.

What’s even worse, is that Young Shin’s all alone, with Secretary Oh, who clearly has nefarious designs on her. UGH. I wish I could wipe that smirk off his weasel-y face!

I have no idea how Show is going to resolve this and keep both Young Shin and Moon Ho safe, but I’m pretty darn sure that that tracker necklace is going to come in handy, for when Ahjumma needs to locate Young Shin for Jung Hoo.

Gooo Team Healer! I know you can do eet!