Heavenly Ever After (2025)

Strong Start, Dipped Toward Ending

I am a big fan of stories that delve between life, death and the in-between, or beyond in this case. So there were no second-guesses when I saw the trailer, read the summary and saw the comedic scenes - that I just HAD to start the drama. And I loved every bit of it - until the last 4 episodes. While the whole journey is fun but with some heavy, emotional commentary - I feel too much of anything can spoil the broth. And that is what happened in the last 4 episodes which was frankly unfortunate, a dip to what otherwise could have been a perfect drama. Let me break it down:

Pros:
➥ Inventive World-Building – The depiction of Heaven and Hell, their functions, and the backstories of those who ended up there was fascinating.
➥ Emotional Depth – Each character’s backstory carried a poignant message, making their struggles deeply relatable.
➥ Compelling Mystery – The suspense surrounding Som-i’s origins, Hae-Sook’s age dilemma, and Nak Jun’s accident kept me hooked.
➥ Heartfelt Moments – The pet/parent narratives and their life-and-death messages were undeniably moving, inspiring gratitude for relationships we often take for granted.
➥ Outstanding Performances – Every cast member shined—whether delivering emotional depth or embracing the drama’s exaggerated comedic style.
➥ Stunning Visuals – Solid CGI and effects enriched the storytelling, bringing the supernatural elements to life.

Cons:
➥ Repetitive Storytelling – Certain elements, like the pet-related arcs, followed a predictable formula, gradually losing their impact
➥ Underwhelming Resolution – Again predictable & unsatisfactory: Som-i’s existence, while emotional, felt rushed—more like a convenient wrap-up than a thoughtfully executed conclusion. Logical gaps left lingering questions, making the reveal feel unsatisfactory.
➥ Lost Focus on Love Story – Given its early emphasis on Hae-Sook’s relationship with her husband—an eternal love, transcending even death—the way this love storyline fizzled out in the second half felt abrupt and incomplete. It deserved more weight and screen-time.

Overall:
➥ Recommended? MAYBE - Watch it with Caution
Despite my frustrations with the ending, I acknowledge that this is a personal gripe rather than a universal flaw. Others might find merit in what I found lacking. And, truthfully, the drama’s initial episodes were so gripping that they make up for the missteps in its latter half. With that in mind, I’d still recommend to watch it—just with the awareness that the final stretch might not land as strongly as the beginning.

Read More

This needed 6eps max
Finishing this drama left a bigger gap than the drama, things were answered but those were already obvious what was left unanswered was more important



Adding the two new ppl at the end they’re saying “many people have past connections”
So these two new ppl are also past lovers that found each other again but who cares xD
What happened to their son, the mother in law, what will their connections be? Friends? Siblings?

As for haesuk and nakjun, she lived a full life, rich, kids, and all, then she died again and he comes for her, this time they can spend their life in heaven without any regrets and attachments

On the other hand, their connection of saying married couples reincarnate as parents kids was so icky…
Your kid is your next life’s spouse…. Your little baby, comes back as your husband or wife……….
Also, 23 times coming back as a married couple, but every time back in heaven and they don’t remember, so why did she recognize him
On the other hand, they showed the past lives connection for the MIL but not for her son or hers and her husband’s, we should’ve seen the past connections
Unless they’d say her husband was her son and his mom was his wife…………



halfway through and it’s already repetitive and has zero future “anticipation”
Like yeah fine, who is somi, but like does that deserve 12 episodes?
Especially since the first two theories are basically it

Tbh the dog stories are borrrriiinnng and unnecessary long, even mom said to skip it and she rarely skips
animals turning into humans is just ridiculous and they’d get therapy while the humans are ignored

I mean if this is heaven and beyond, they should’ve had ppl have different pets like dogs choosing to be wolves and cats becoming tigers
Birds becoming eagles, fish becoming sharks




Anyways the hate on mils is also ridiculous and double standards, why not hate the wife’s mom too make it fair
What’s the problem of her wanting to visit her son’s house?
was her biggest issue that the mil gave her the fish head? i mean it's petty, cuz if you want to give your son the best, buy 2 fishes and give both the best piece...
but still, it's hardly abuse..

lol her mother in law was her daughter in law in another life and she harassed her first
Haesuk made her dil kill herself, then got sulky her mil gave her the fish head








So my theories were the most basic one

I’ll be disappointed if it’s true (which it was)

Haesuk and somi are one, and they’re the mom of the pastor and this is a double test

I’m also guessing haesuk wanted her mother in law’s help with the kid cuz the husband got hurt but the mil abandoned the kid

Cuz it doesn’t make sense for haesuk to spend so much time with the pastor if he’s just “somi’s son” and it also doesn’t make sense for somi to spend so much quality time with “haesuk’s husband”
The pastor needs healing with his mom not any old lady

Ok 2nd theory
Somi is haesuk’s husbands first wife and the mom of the pastor, and Haesuk abandoned the kid after Somi died?

Somi is haesuk’s “youth and memories” she lost
Calling for the same son, Somi thinks he was harming her
But he was trying to buy back infos and his son
And he wasn’t strangling her but he was trying to save her cuz she was trying to kill herself

Now that Somi is lashing out, he’s not angry like he was with the detective but he’s confused and scared, and they didn’t show his face when haesuk said she never had kids, he also keeps looking sadly at her


One could think he stole the kid for haesuk, but the pastor quality time, him thinking she’s his mom, the same kid name, the husband saving Somi
She can’t be an old wife or past life or a victim as she was going to hell
Also I’d guess his accident is “her fault”

Read More

A Soulful Meditation On Love, Guilt, and Afterlife

Heavenly Ever After enters the scene with an oddball premise: the recently deceased navigating the bureaucracy of the afterlife, tangled relationships, karmic payback, and even talking pets. On paper, it promises quirky charm and philosophical depth. In execution, however, it spends much of its runtime stumbling through tonal confusion, sluggish pacing, and scattered storytelling before finally finding its footing far too late.

The show begins on a shaky note, taking too long to even reach its premise. While themes of redemption and love are present from the start, the show struggles to settle on a tone. One moment it’s playing out as a tender human drama, the next it's filled with surreal pet politics or slapstick comedy in the heavenly realm. The result is disorienting rather than dynamic.

As the story progresses, the emotional core slowly takes shape. Characters like Hae-suk and Nak-jun are given time to breathe, and actors Kim Hye-ja and Son Suk-ku inject warmth and vulnerability into their otherwise clumsily written roles. Still, subplots often feel disconnected or half-formed, especially the reincarnation arcs involving pets or the vague romantic entanglements that appear and disappear with little warning. The show has big ideas but doesn’t quite know how to thread them into a compelling throughline.

The world-building, especially of Heaven and Hell, is visually inventive in places but undercut by budgetary limitations and repetitive exposition. Even the show’s more daring creative decisions, like the stylized punishments of Hell or Som-I’s identity crisis, are often presented twice or bloated with filler scenes that undercut their impact.

It’s not until the final stretch that the narrative gains real momentum. Connections between characters begin to reveal deeper karmic ties, past lives are reframed with emotional weight, and the mystery of Som-I finally takes center stage. Her reveal is the series’ most poignant twist. It’s clever and thematically rich. Unfortunately, by this point, the show has already damaged its emotional pacing, and the revelation doesn’t fully land due to earlier inconsistencies.

At its best, Heavenly Ever After is a soulful meditation on love, guilt, and the afterlife. At its worst, it’s a messy patchwork of half-developed ideas and filler content that squanders its unique premise. The show wants to be heartfelt, whimsical, profound, and funny, but rarely achieves more than one at a time.

Read More

I really enjoyed the series at the beginning. I came her for a love story that would transcend heaven and earth. For me a lot of the world building and inconsistencies in heaven especially in the latter episodes brought the show down. While I overall enjoyed the series, a lot of the subplots and side characters should have been left on the writer(s) room floor. What bothered me the most about the series though, is that the writer's made things so convenient for the characters just to move the plot along.

The best thing about the series for me is the acting. Son Suk Ku was absolute great in this. Emotional and believable. Kim Hye Ja too. I think both performances were stellar.

Episode 3 was a standout episode for me and the writing in that episode was top notch. Episode 5 was another favorite of mine and the best part were the Knetizens being typed to death!! Love, love, loved that scene.

The reincarnation stuff actually pissed me off b/c they basically imply that you are doomed to have the same experiences every single life time. Like WTF is that??? Why would anyone ever want to be reincarnated?

5/25/25

Read More

Heavenly Ever After (2025) – A Beautiful Start Full of Emotions and Charm

I’m already loving *Heavenly Ever After*! After waiting for months, it finally aired—and it was totally worth it. The story is off to a touching, emotional, and hilarious start.

The legendary *ajumma* (the older actress) never disappoints! Her acting is always so cute and heartwarming. I’ve loved her ever since I watched the movie *Mother*, and seeing her again feels like a warm hug. I was especially happy to see her reunited with Han Ji Min ,they were amazing together in *The Light in Your Eyes*, and I’m hoping for more of that beautiful bond in this drama too.

Also, it’s such a joy to see Son Suk Ku again! His chemistry with the *ajumma* as her younger husband is surprisingly sweet and refreshing. It’s a pairing I didn’t expect to love this much, but their scenes really shine.

These first two episodes are a perfect mix of emotions and laughter. I cried, I laughed, and I’m already looking forward to what’s next. This drama feels like it’s going to be something really special.


Edit:(ep 8/12)

I wrote the above review after watching just 2 episodes, but now that I’ve seen more…

The story has started to lose its charm. While the beginning felt emotional and fresh, the recent episodes feel repetitive and a bit dragged. Some plot points don’t add up, and a few scenes feel like fillers rather than real progress.

I was hoping Han Ji Min would have a strong presence, but sadly, her role feels more like a side character. She’s not getting the impactful screen time I expected, which is disappointing.

Overall, the drama had a beautiful start, but now it feels like it’s slowly going downhill. I’m still watching, hoping it picks up again—but it’s definitely not living up to the initial excitement.


Edit:(ep 12/12)
Not good as i expected 😕

Read More

Promising Beginning, Slows Down Midway

The drama starts off strong, with an intriguing premise and a visually captivating portrayal of the afterlife. The way Heaven and Hell are depicted is particularly impressive—creative, immersive, and emotionally resonant. The acting throughout is solid, and the storyline has moments of brilliance. However, as the series progresses, the pacing begins to drag. Episodes feel unnecessarily stretched, and the momentum that made the beginning so gripping begins to fade.

One lingering issue is the lack of clarity around the character of Hae-suk. While the final episodes reveal that Somi is actually a forgotten memory of Hae-suk, the show never properly explores or explains what the young Hae-suk was like. This creates a confusing gap, especially since Hae-suk and Nak-joon had lived together in the past. It's hard to believe that neither of them would recognize any resemblance between Somi and young Hae-suk. A deeper exploration of that connection could have added emotional weight and cohesion to the storyline.

Another point of emotional complexity comes in the final episode, when Nak-joon says he has “tied her down for way too long.” While it’s a touching moment, it raises questions. Each time he was reborn, he tried to do better—but if he didn't remember his past lives, how could he intentionally improve? Life is inherently full of ups and downs, and the burden of guilt seems unfairly placed on him. In contrast, Hae-suk lived a fulfilling life in one of her past incarnations, even finding happiness with a husband despite his paralysis. Meanwhile, Nak-joon silently grieved throughout his life for their lost son. His pain is portrayed quietly, almost overlooked, adding a layer of emotional imbalance to their stories. His silent suffering—carried alone across lifetimes—feels unresolved, especially when compared to the closure and peace Hae-suk seemingly finds.

In summary, while the drama offers a unique concept, impressive world-building, and strong performances, it falters in pacing and leaves some important emotional threads underdeveloped. The ending tries to be poignant, but instead raises more questions than it answers, especially regarding memory, identity, and the emotional consequences of past lives.

Read More

Why?

I really don't get it. There was a time when one fantastic K-drama followed another, and these days, all I get is really good starts for the first few episodes, only to find myself annoyed and disappointed at around episodes 5 and after.
Same here.

This started promising, with rather nice and heartwarming storytelling, an idea of what might happen after death, and it had some great takes on what might come.
I first liked the idea that the writers acknowledged that pets might go to heaven too. I started to be bothered though as they only ever showed dogs, just once or twice a cat too for 30 seconds but there was never a follow-up. When they showed the rainbow bridge there was also only dogs, no cats, no other loved pets either.

Now having watched up to episode 7, it gets nonsensical for me. So, as there is talk about heaven and hell, and in that heaven there is only what seems to be a Christian church with a priest ( but nothing for any other faiths like Buddhism (which would make sense particularly for a Korean heaven) or any other possible faiths people might have followed while alive). Yet now we hear something about reincarnation doors. Not only does that not make any sense for the Christian faith, it also doesn't make sense to me that pure souls like those of dogs or cats would have to reincarnate , and they are told that they have to do so to one day become humans on earth themselves. In my personal opinon that would be a regression actually.

I also didn't like the fact that the dogs and cats in heaven had adult human form. If at all in human form it would suit the spirit of dogs much better to be shown as little, carefree childen, if at all in human form. So while there were some few good messages to actual pet owners watching this drama about their responsibilities, it just didn't ad up for me where they lead that part of the story meanwhile. And why would dogs have to go to human therapy sessions to be taught that natural dog behaviour is a bad and wrong thing?

Now for the humans: I get that this boss in heaven says that heaven is just a stage (which again contradicts that solely showing of this heaven being a Christian heaven) But our main FL having to meet her terrible mother-in-law again? How did an abusive mother-in-law get into heaven at all in the first place? Doesn't make sense to me. Also in the beginning they say that for meeting someone in heaven both parties have to consent to meeting each other prior, and our FL is now not asked and confronted with her terror-mother-in-law again even in that so called heaven and gets treated awful again? That is not heaven for sure. Also it totally contradicts the sequence in hell, where some schoolbully boys, (at least youngsters in their teens who, at least having the excuse of being very young and immature) go straight to hell for their bullying and burn in the everlasting fires, while a long adult, nasty bullying mother-in-law, who bullied her daughter-in-law all her adult life and enjoyed it, goes to heaven? Ok then ...Oo

Also the part of the story with Som-I? They drag it for way too long and now even start making it a potential cheating/affair story with the FL's husband? While before they say there is a special hell for adulterers? Also, how did Som-I get into heaven at all with no memory? How did she actually pass through that first office round where they ask everything (your name, your date of birth, and how old you want to appear in heaven) How did she get past that without answering anything? Who set her age for her if she didn't go through the first office? And she must have arrived there as the FL's husband was with her on the train, so she arrived at the very same spot all arrivals from the trains arrive. Some suggested Som-I is just a younger version of the FL - well, if so, why would her husband not have recognised her face in the train? Why would Sonya, the cat not have known immediately that Som-I is the very same person as the FL ? And so on... really sloppy writing from there already.

All in all though what I miss basically is the idea that in heaven (if there is such thing no matter for which faith) the souls, or spirits (or whatever you might call them) who go there should actually exist in some kind of elevated spiritual realm, where there is a higher conscience that frees them of human weaknesses and the miseries those weaknesses cause in humans' earthly lives.

But the way they show it there now is just no difference to earth at all, except for actual disadvantages in many aspects. Again, that would not be any kind of heaven I would imagine in any faith.
To me it seems they had some good initial ideas and started with those, maybe for the first few episodes, and then they started to just write along whatever came to them, maybe under time pressure, and not thinking about if it makes at all sense to what they set as frame in the first good few episodes.

I'll watch episode 8 tomorrow to see if they at least try to get back on any track with the storyline. If it gets even worse than episode 7 it'll be yet another drop for me.


Update: I drop this after episode 8. The storyline is totally ridiculous now. Christian churches and priests in heaven and then a boss of heaven who babbles about many lifetimes and reincarnation.

Not only that, the idea of reincarnation is showed so simplified and actually blames victims of any crime instead of the perpetrators. Following the logic of this show, it simply means (for example) that a 2-year-old girl who gets raped and brutally murdered by her own father is to blame herself because she did something bad in a prior life and so deserves this fate. I'm quite at a loss of words about this logic. Also this idea that blood-related families will have to meet over and over again in new life cycles - what a horrible thought for those children who have to endure careless, cruel, violent abusive and murdering parents. What a horrible thought that in this depicted 'heaven' they get only told that they have to meet these deranged foul souls over and over again, and there is no chance for them being reborn into good surroundings with DIFFERENT family member souls around them, an absolute, never-ending nightmare vision, that lacks any logic on top by the way. How should there be any possibility of progress in several life cycles, if a tortured child is reborn to the be the torturer instead? Which would mean, in the next life cycle the same soul would have to suffer terribly again for sinning in the last life and there would never be a possibility to break this negative cycle for anyone included.

This show should even have a severe trigger warning for people with PTSD, traumatic family histories and depression caused by family matters. What a load of....!

Read More

a heavenly ever after featuring hell and other confusing elements

This drama starts with a promising premise: a married couple dies and goes to heaven. Once there, they’re given the chance to choose how old they’d like to appear. The wife decides to remain as she is—80 years old, for some reason—while the husband chooses his 30s. This creates a mismatched pairing as they begin a new chapter of life in heaven, adjusting to its quirks and daily adventures.

The show presents a fictional take on what heaven might be like, but some parts felt a bit strange to me. In this version of heaven, there are rules you have to follow, and if you keep breaking them, you can actually be sent to hell. When you misbehave in heaven, you can repent by going to church or doing volunteer work to atone for it. Beings from hell can even sneak into heaven and live there until they’re caught. People who aren't clearly “heaven material” might be transferred to hell later. I mean… what?!

The story not only focuses on heaven but also dives into grim territory in hell. Maybe the creators wanted to highlight the contrast between heaven and hell, or maybe they just want to stretch out the series. Honestly, I’m not sure where this drama is headed, but since I’ve been so starved for good content lately, I’ll stick with it—for now.

Read More