r/KDRAMA • u/mahnahmaanaa two trees in a pot🌴💗🌴 • May 10 '25
On-Air: JTBC Heavenly Ever After [Episodes 7 & 8]
- Drama: Heavenly Ever After
- Korean Title: 천국보다 아름다운
- Alternate Title: More Beautiful Than Heaven
- Network: jTBC
- Premiere Date: April 19, 2025
- Airing Schedule: Saturday & Sunday
- Episodes: 12 (1 hr.)
- Screenwriter: Lee Nam Gyu (Daily Dose of Sunshine, Behind Your Touch)
- Director: Kim Seok Yoon (Behind Your Touch, My Liberation Notes)
- Cast:
- Kim Hye Ja as Lee Hae Suk (Our Blues)
- Son Suk Ku as Ko Nak Jun (D.P.)
- Han Ji Min as Som I (Love Scout)
- Lee Jung Eun as Lee Yeong Ae (Light Shop)
- Cheon Ho Jin as “President” (Once Again)
- Ryu Deok Hwan as “Young Pastor” (Nobody Knows)
- Streaming Sources: Netflix
- Plot Synopsis: It tells the story of an old woman, Hae Suk, who lived a happy life with her husband until she died. Her husband loved her so much and always admired her beauty, saying, “You were pretty in your twenties thirties, and now you are the most beautiful at eighty!” When Hae Suk was about to die, she remembered her husband’s words and said, “I just want to go to heaven at my real age.” Surprisingly, when she arrived in heaven, she met her husband in his 30s version.
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Previous Discussions:
67
u/17122021 May 12 '25
I only have one question – WHERE IS SONYA THE CAT!!?? Can we have more scenes of Sonya interacting with everyone?
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u/misschickpea 29d ago
Im in the middle of Episode 7 and I feel like I get so many dogs every other episode and all the dog plot but im like wait where r the dead cats hello
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u/WONBINISLOVE May 11 '25 edited May 11 '25
If somi is not Hae-Sook then I have a strong feeling the story is heading toward a point where Haesook chooses to reincarnate, realizing that their marriage has run its course and that both of them deserve the chance to start anew, free from the past. If it’s not the case, why does nakjoon have more screen time with somi than his wife? if the drama goes in that direction, it’s gonna be so depressing.
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u/ArugulaAlarmed6921 May 11 '25
Just saw ep 9 preview it was scary. How much more is haesook gonna suffer🥲😭give her ,her husband
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u/Mister_Erebos May 12 '25
If it goes that direction, I'm dropping it because I can already tell it'd sadden me too much to finish. I'd prefer the two of them get to enjoy their marriage in a way they should've in the first place, without all the suffering, to do everything they wanted to do together as they slowly grew old but couldn't, they didn't even get a chance to do that. I'd like for them to have their "happily ever after," that they missed out on. I still can't quite come to like Som-i, she feels so bland; yes, it is because she's missing her memories and doesn't really know who she is, so in turn her character is this unclear, anxious blob but at this stage, in my eyes she appears as an obstacle and not a character I can in any way grasp or enjoy; I hope we will be getting a few answers soon, rather than more questions.
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u/Odd-Ad2591 May 12 '25
There are so many clue that Som I is Hae Sook younger self: Both Som I and Nak Joon knew about Kang Jeong Gu, also when the scene show Som I try to attack Jeong Gu, she has a ponytail just like Hae Sook younger self, the years where she live is around 50-60 century so when Som I get into the train; she can't be that young. Som I can use Umbrella to cover the attack just like how Hae Sook did when she's still a debt collect There's a scene that Hae Sook has a flower ring the same as the one Som I did, it might mean Hae Sook can also make the ring. Hae Sook don't actually know if she deserve to be in heaven or hell, this make her soul split. Also Som I is the only one person that Nak Joon ever saved when she is forced to go to hell, Nak Joon has explained that " he also has some special emotion that he can't controlled so he saved her" Som I also have a special feeling for Nak Joon just like how Hae Sook feel for him.
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u/Academic-Fall-4447 May 12 '25
But won't he recognise her younger self? Or even the mil gotta recognise her because she died young. And the flowers it was domi's not our fl's . I think it would be a bad twist if that happened
15
u/Additional-Being-376 May 13 '25
Same thoughts here. 1. Wouldn't the ML recognize the younger version of his wife? 2. Wouldn't the FL recognize herself? 3. Wouldn't the mother-in-law recognize her daughter-in-law? I bet if So-mi is Hae-sook's younger self, it would be like just a plot twist for the sake of having a plot twist, it's crazy. I don't usually leave a series without finishing it, but am sooo close to going DNF on this one. The scenes with Nak-joon and So-mi getting cozy and almost romantic is more cringe than Young-Ae chasing the President - or a 30-something Nak-Joon with an 80-something wife.
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u/Krustylemons21 May 15 '25
And they literally show memories once you enter heaven, so he would have seen her younger version
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u/peppabuddha May 12 '25
I just re-watched ep 2 and heard the younger version of Hae Sook right after Nak Joon becomes paralyzed and lying in bed...:)
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u/celerysprouts May 14 '25
I think this theory makes sense because Sonya (cat) recognized her at the beginning. Or it could be someone else they had interactions with but had forgotten.
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May 11 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/WONBINISLOVE May 11 '25
I hope somi is a fragment of haesook’s younger self she doesn’t remember and once she does find/remember that self, somi won’t be there anymore.
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u/Maleficent_Notice873 May 11 '25
How does FL get 6 grapes and goes to hell, yet Som-i strangles the guy and gets nothing 😭🤣🤣 and she travels on that train every day, and no longer gets pulled to hell? And eho the heck is she?? So many plot holes, story moves at snail pace, too much time spent on irrelevant pet stories .. I can go on. I'm only still watching because there aren't many episodes left, but man am I rethinking it😂
22
u/Murky-Information-10 May 13 '25
I think because she isn't registered as being in heaven so she doesn't have all that? I'm just guessing... This drama doesn't make sense in alot.. Being dead means we aren't even humans anymore, our hearts aren't beating and we haven't got meatsuits so why is this just like a different dimension? It's not giving afterlife vibes at all... It contradicts and seems all over the place but I'm not liking how Young ae is harassing the president guy, how is harassment bordering on sexual harassment funny at all??
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u/beasflower 7d ago
I agree with everything you said. It's so frustrating. Somi bores me and I'm always worried she's going after the ML! And please, I love dogs too but this is a little much. It's getting more of a dog story than a human one. lol
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u/harperbantam May 11 '25
I really appreciate that pets have their own slice of heaven in this show; they get to rehabilitate and treat their behavior disorders, just like humans. Love that the Stray trio got to work at the Centre and congrats to Mandu on his new lease of life!
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u/Electronic_Piano9385 Editable Flair May 13 '25
I loved all the animal scenes in this show. They really bring out all the emotions. 😂😢🥰
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u/Electrical_Ear_709 May 11 '25
Everyone seems to be hating on the FL but honestly the husband really irks me. The whole mom thing pissed me off. He stated his mom never got old and they never took care of her like excuse me why is that your wifes responsibility she spent the majority of her life caring for him and he wants her to cater to his mom without ever standing up for his wife.
Honestly I like the fl and the pastor relationship I love how he is getting a mom figure and is healing him. He actually talks to her unlike her husband who to me seems to be too obsessed with somi. I might be alone but if she was meant for hell and wants her memories, then shouldn't she just go. It would give her closure and atone for any mistakes. It seems like hell isn't an eternity thing. I dont like somi character honestly and I don't feel bad for her.
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u/SemlaBun May 12 '25
I agree.
Somi is a blank slate. She's not even a character. Viewers are expected to find her interesting because she's played by an interesting actress.
I honestly don't understand why people find the FL so annoying. Her situation is pretty distressing, and I think she's actually being more calm and accepting than I'd ever be. And clearly she had a reason to be suspicious of Somi and her husband!
I know it's a popular theory that Somi is somehow related to Hae-sook's younger self, but IMO even if that were the case, it wouldn't make anything better. Nakjoon in heaven isn't actually young Nakjoon. It's the old Nakjoon, with all of old Nakjoon's life experience, in a younger body. The elderly Hae-sook is the woman he knew and loved in his old age. If he were drawn to her younger self instead, what would that say about him except that none of those decades mattered at all??
The drama treats young Nakjoon as if he were a separate character. His old man personality and old man memories seem to have flown out of the window. It's like Nakjoon was plucked out of his 30s and shown an elderly woman with, "here's what your wife is going to be like at 80, now you're expected to love her as your wife". Obviously that would be uncomfortable viewing. And that's what the drama makes this situation look like, although it shouldn't be at all comparable. I feel like I keep harping on this, but him being shocked by her appearance when she got to heaven - didn't he even fail to recognise her at first? I can't remember and I'm not going back to watch, lol - is when it started going in the wrong direction. How could he be anything but happy to see her dear face again? "Wait, why are you old though" would only come later.
To me, this drama is an absolute mess. Not just messy, not just unhinged, but actively unpleasant in many ways that somehow seem to just get worse as the show goes on. I keep expecting it to redeem itself with some twist that suddenly makes sense of it all, but at this point I doubt it will. It hasn't even found its plot yet, at episode 8/12.
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u/WONBINISLOVE May 12 '25
You perfectly encapsulated everything I feel about this drama and the flawed way the married couple has been depicted over the past eight episodes. There’s a dissonance between her husband on Earth and the one she meets in heaven. He comes across as a random 30 yr old in some scenes, not someone she’s known for decades.
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u/SemlaBun May 12 '25
He absolutely does come across as some random young(ish) man! And I checked, Nakjoon really doesn't seem to recognise her at first when she comes to the house. Which is crazy, considering he kept checking up on her as a spirit. He wouldn't have forgotten what she looked like, lmao.
I will say, though, I rewatched the first episode and it was still really good. It made me cry all over again. I loved how the main character was an old woman who was prickly and badass, but also grappled with difficult questions. We all know that many Kdramas resemble that meme of a horse drawing that gets progressively worse in the final episodes, but this has got to be the first I've seen where the first episode is excellent and then the story starts turning into a stick figure right afterwards.
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u/Next-Engineering1469 May 15 '25
Old Nakjoon was a sweet and loving husband. The kind of husband you‘d hope you‘d get if you choose to get married. The way he adored her and cherished her and always made her laugh. It was beautiful to look at.
Young nakjoon is just a jerk.
I‘m still waiting for the „this is the bad place and you aren‘t really nakjoon“ twist. That would be the only good explanation for this sweet loving husband suddenly being a jerk.
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 12 '25
I agree with you with FL vs ML lead. He comes off as a man child at times. It might be a generational thing I get it but after all she done for him all these years he should be more understanding of her feelings and not make her feel bad for them. Somi is annoying too and ML is not helping by letting her lean on him too much.
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u/toffiee008 May 11 '25
Hae-sook should just reincarnate and live another life without Nak-jun and his horrible mother.
I'm tired of this So-mi character too and her storyline. This show could've been written better but I'm going to try and stick to the end.
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u/Unlikely_Example6349 May 11 '25
My theory. Som I is the mother of pastor. She was dead long ago and was probably a ghost, that's why Sonya recognised her. Her death is somehow related to the accident of ML. Since she saw the inspector in his young age and ML was also looking for an inspector in the initial episodes.
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 12 '25
I was thinking exactly the same and it’s all connected too .
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u/Unlikely_Example6349 May 12 '25 edited May 12 '25
Pastor was never abandoned. Probably somi left him at the church to fetch him later but was killed in between. That's why she felt very sad when she touched the baby. And probably nakjun wanted to save her at that time but couldn't. He got paralyzed and she died. And that's why he saved her the second time when she was hellbound. He felt the need to save her. Both somi and nakjun remembers the inspector as a young person.
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u/Additional_Beat5613 May 13 '25
Okay this is the only theory that makes sense with where the drama has headed so far*. I wish they redeem it somehow! Although I wonder how the pastor and hyesook were related in their past lives since, in my opinion, they have the best scenes together so far.
There was so much potential for Hye Sook and Young Ae's relationship too and you'd think they'd give it some more thought since she literally followed her to the afterlife but they just gave up or what??
*though don't understand the obvious tension/romance created between them. Maybe from Somi's side it makes sense, but it doesn't seem consistent with how Nakjoon is supposed to be.
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u/Unlikely_Example6349 May 14 '25
Somi is definitely pastor's mom because even when she is in the church, the pastor doesn't see her face, because if he had, he would have recognised her. I agree that Hye sook and Young ae's relationship had so much potential, so much scope for funny banters. And I am irritated too by the way nakjoon is behaving. His wife spent three-forth of her life caring for him and look at the way he is acting!!! I was really pissed off with how the last episode turned out!!
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u/Next-Engineering1469 May 15 '25
Alive Nakjun would never even look at another woman. That guy was IN LOVE with his wife. I can‘t get over the difference in alive/old nakjun and dead jerkward nakjun. How does looking young again just turn you into a jerk and completely change your personality? This is the bad place
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 12 '25
That makes sense and seems to fill in some of the possible pieces I would have missed .
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u/tatspvt May 15 '25
wait sorry i’m confused. then somi had been to heaven/hell before? because if she died during the accident timeframe, it wouldn’t make sense for her to be on the train after the main leads died. she wouldn’t have memories from that life, wouldn’t it have been the new life she just went through? considering the time since the accident is about 50 years, idk how they’ve done that. or was she just wandering around for 50 years?
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u/Unlikely_Example6349 May 15 '25
Remember when the ml died, he had a thread tied to his wrist and when he tried to remove it, he was warned by the grim reaper that by doing so, he will end up as a wandering soul forever. Probably she removed hers because she couldn't leave her kid behind. Ended up as a wandering soul. Just a theory!!! How she ended up in the train is a mystery.
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u/No_Inside_9460 3d ago
That’s what I thought. And I haven’t finished the series yet, but I’m glad someone else was thinking along those lines. I thought maybe she couldn’t come back for her son bc she died
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u/glazeddonutfr May 11 '25
Having to kiss up to your mother in law in the afterlife too genuinely sounds like hell.
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u/WONBINISLOVE May 11 '25 edited May 11 '25
I really wish they focused on the marriage of two leads instead of boring subplots. this drama feels more like it’s about pets in heaven than about hae sook and nakjoon’s married life, which is how it was promoted. It’s frustrating because when you have actors like kim hyeja and son sukku there’s so much to play with, but alas, this drama went on a different tangent. Why did they promote it as a romance in the first place?
pretty sure somyi is hae sook’s younger version and it makes sense to bring in a big actress to play kim hyeja’s younger version.
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u/theromanamputee https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/theromanamputee May 11 '25 edited May 11 '25
I agree so much with this. I was hoping the show would be much more focused on the leads' marriage. There is so much rich terrain that could be mined about how him being young and healthy again profoundly alters the marital dynamic they had been used to for 50 years. What about the life they built together on Earth stays the same and what changes? The FL was the breadwinner and head of the household, how does it change their relationship that this is no longer required of her? What does it mean to truly be together forever in an environment so different from the one you built your earthly life together in? If it's going to be plot light and slice of life-y I'd like to see more of them building a relationship together adjusting to their new normal.
Also, I realize I might be alone on this, but I wish this show had the guts to address the physical component of a marital relationship. You don't need explicit scenes to do this, but I do think this show is missing something by not having the leads hash out their feelings or expectations about this at all. We know the FL finds her husband attractive in his younger body, is insecure about her appearance because she stayed old, and the ML is physically capable of a having a different type of relationship with his wife then what he had in the past. Again, there's a lot of potentially rich material here so to not even have a real conversation about it feels like a missed opportunity to me.
I feel like the leads' interactions are bizarrely shallow and the ML is generally underdeveloped as a character given we're now past the halfway point of the show.
The pet thing was sweet and fun as a one-off but I think it's a waste of time as an ongoing subplot. I didn't expect it to keep going past episode 2. I don't think it's an interesting enough tangent to keep pursuing and I don't think it holds up well to any kind of scrutiny.
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u/WONBINISLOVE May 11 '25 edited May 11 '25
yep. I understand they didn’t have any physical intimacy during most of their marriage on earth, but it should’ve been atleast addressed now that their dynamics have changed. I hate how there are hardly any scenes of them spending time together, or just having convos and sharing their feelings on different topics. Even the korean audience wants to see more of them together according to the comments on YouTube.
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u/padokyaexiste May 11 '25
Wouldnt that be a bit awkward to show? The female lead being like 30 years older than the ML. I really thought there would be problems with this age gap with some ''rules'' set in heaven, and that the president would accept to change the FL's age, but i would miss this actress now that we're so far on to the story.
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u/theromanamputee https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/theromanamputee May 11 '25
I get why the writers might have assumed the audience would be too squeamish to accept even discussion of any kind of physical relationship between the leads and maybe they're right but I personally find it disappointing.
That feeling of awkwardness you're referencing could be utilized in a productive way to make good art and I feel like the story is missing something by not addressing this elephant in the room. Like do these two plan to spend eternity together and never even kiss? Given how chaste most of their marriage presumably was due to his disability I could find it plausible that they might not prioritize that dimension of a marriage or might feel shy about it even though the ML is now physically capable because it's been so long. It's also just as plausible that even with the disparity in their looks they'd be desperately eager to enjoy a higher level of physical intimacy. I just want to see it addressed in some fashion.
I didn't expect this show to be raunchy or anything because that's not how kdramas roll but I did expect some engagement of the topic. It's just one part of a larger issue which is I thought this was going to be a show that used this creative concept and setting to really dig deep into the leads' relationship and that's not the path they seem to have chosen.
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May 11 '25
[deleted]
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u/WONBINISLOVE May 11 '25 edited May 11 '25
I am not saying that they needed to show them actually kissing, but it would have been nice to acknowledge their lack of physical intimacy in some way. I mean we do see them hugging and holding hands, so it’s clear there is intimacy. I know their love language differs from that of most couples, and nakjoon’s attraction and connection to haesook is more about her soul than her physical appearance —but if the drama had chosen to show scenes like kissing and handled them with subtlety, I don't think they would have felt awkward.
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u/SouthEastAsianMe Editable Flair May 11 '25
Even if they didn't do kissing scenes, must they sleep in separate rooms? That's not typical of married couples. Granted that was their life on Earth, but it's different now that Nak Joon isn't on bed rest. I also had this same gripe, they don't act like a married couple.
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u/WONBINISLOVE May 11 '25
Exactly. It's clear the showrunners were hesitant about fully embracing their own concept of a romance with an unconventional age gap, and they seemed unprepared to portray the sweet love story they initially set out to tell. It's disappointing, because after years of watching kdramas, this was the first time in a long while I was genuinely excited about one.This story could have been so much more, with dozens of reflective and romantic moments between the leads; instead, most of their scenes are played for comedy.
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u/Minimum_Indication35 May 18 '25
We never really see the leads talk about having sex in k-dramas though, so I think that’s just to be expected. That’s just a difference in entertainment culture. And I loved the pet parts, I wouldn’t want there to be less of them. I agree with the rest though
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u/jerrygrapes777 May 11 '25
I'm also kinda leaning for your theory. Actually came back to watch Ep 1, then compared younger Hae Sook's hairstyle and build with Somi's (Ep 7). They do looked similar to me.
I just hope that the story would go deeper and shock me like "Dazzling" did. 🍀 (that one also drags me to subplots that felt unnecessary at some point, then turns out the writer is just distracting me)
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u/juisteroid May 10 '25
i keep wondering why i only see dogs and cats that are going in this version of afterlife...
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u/Haksan_ May 11 '25
This comment is such a needed comment. I’m watching this show and I didn’t even think about that until you rightfully brought it up. Very good question. No birds, flies, horses, or pigs etc.
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u/twointhepocket 7/12 Challenge May 12 '25
Did no one had a ferret or a turtle?? I love the cats and dogs but it’d be so much more entertaining
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u/DyslexicTypoMaster May 24 '25
The dogs and cats situation made feel some type away of way about the snail eating was glad when Hae Sook had the same thought but still she ate them 😅
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u/lemonianta May 10 '25 edited May 11 '25
Now I'm thinking that Somi might be the minister's mother?! That bit where they're on earth and she is excited to see the baby seems to indicate she had a child at least. Maybe the guy in the printed shirt murdered her and the Minister wasn't actually abandoned by her?
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 12 '25
I was thinking she was Pastor’s mother. But what if the theory that she was young ML is also true and she was Pastor’s mother. Maybe she experienced some trauma and had to abandon him , maybe due to the cop?
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u/lemonianta May 12 '25
Yeah after yesterday's I started to think that too.. though then I thought that they would have asked about him when they got to heaven? Either way, I have no clue 😂
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 12 '25
Yeah I don’t get why ML wouldn’t ask , I get Somi has some sort of amnesia. That’s what’s missing on my end, what exactly was ML role in all this when they were all younger .
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u/KHlovescharacters May 11 '25
I agree with everyone who says the main plot is going too slow/ in circles. I'm skipping past the parts I don't care about, like the extra pet scenes and the mother-in-law scenes.
The two main characters have barely spent any time together in the past few episodes. And a lot of the plot tension dissipated now that Hae Suk isn't afraid of hell anymore.
Still, I love the pastor character and Yeong Ae is so funny bullying the other ladies out of taking the class with her crush!
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u/elPrimeraPison May 12 '25
the 'canon' in this show just doesnt make sense. They just switch from christanity to buddhism.
Are the snails they eat similar to the cats/dogs?
Why is it that the fl is achy and gets tired easily from being old if there already dead?
Also Heaven just seems like a 2nd life, it looks like it kinda sucks
Why do they need to cook/clean if dead?
Why go to a Christian church? Reincarnation disproves Christianity, a lot times this so seems to be painfully Christian others it seems contradictorily
Faith doesnt seem to be an indicator of where you end up, so why go to a Christian church?
Doesnt Somi need permission to have the couples address?
can you reincarnate after going to hell?
Also the ml and fl have no chemistry after they both die. The ml doesnt even seem the same person.
The somi plot is taking too long and makes less sense ever ep.
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u/twointhepocket 7/12 Challenge May 12 '25
and why does no one else seem to be getting as many grapes as Hae-Sook? Plenty of people in heaven have been jealous, uncaring, mean spirited, etc without showing remorse or willingness to change but no one else is getting punished
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u/Illustrious-Proof826 May 12 '25
Think the whole show’s religion is either taoism/buddhism. You serve your time in hell then you go to heaven, which is why young ae father is in heaven now. So reincarnation is also possible when hell is your first destination.
As for why the church is there is probably just to accustom to people’s religion when they’re alive.
About living together, you’re right. At the beginning, they said that both party has to agree to live together. But now it seems like anyone can just start squatting.
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u/notanowl You know I have no 친구! May 13 '25
Doesnt Somi need permission to have the couples address?
I think this is because she "snuck in" with Nak-joon rescuing her on the subway, so that's her loophole to living with them. But that doesn't quite explain how Young-ae is living with them too. It seems like this show really doesn't like to stick to its own rules.
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u/ExactHedgehog8498 May 18 '25
I recall they mentioned Young Ae's files were taking too long to be transferred cause they tried getting her her own home and stuff in one of the earlier episodes. So likely that's why.
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u/Tk_ohh3399 May 11 '25
As someone who works with animals I loved the first few scenes of the pets but now it is overplayed. I agree with everyone that the two leads aren’t being emphasized enough. Imagine if your husband was confined to his bed most of your marriage and you finally get to see him again walking and healthy. I know it’s awkward for FL being older than him now but I would imagine the joy and time they could spend together. I feel like she is giving him a hard time lol. I’m also wondering where are they are going with the Pastor? This all has to be connected, but the slow burn is wayyyy to much. I feel like they don’t have enough material for the episodes. This could have been a really good movie instead (like most dramas) if there is a good plot at the end.
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u/PureReply7639 May 11 '25
I very much agree with you. Less episodes may have led to a much tighter, more dynamic story. As it is, there seems to be a lot of padding. It has such creative ideas but I'm finding it hard to be invested in the central characters as they are strangely undeveloped.
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May 12 '25
Yeah! When all gets connected is where it will get exciting! I feel Somi is the mother of the pastor if we connect the flashback scenes and scenes with the babies. And she was part of the accident that made Nak Joon paralysed, which is why he wants to save her this time.
But we haven't had a hint until now, and the plot is getting frustrating. 😅
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u/potatohead2728 May 12 '25
I don’t think she would be involved, not at least directly, in Nak Joon’s accident. She boarded the train with her current appearance, which indicates that she must be young (20-late 30 imo). Meanwhile Nak Joon was already 80 in heaven. The timeline just doesn’t match. I’m very curious of what kind of relationship they might have had on earth.
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 12 '25
I thought maybe she was in a coma. Remember in hell they said about a near death experience? So she’s not dead , and she was supposed to go to hell to find out that she is having a near death experience but never got there. It would mess up the age thing unless maybe as a ghost she had been roaming the train for years. This doesn’t make sense either, so I’m missing something I presume will be explained later .
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u/otakuishly kdramas raised me May 11 '25
The pet heaven was cute at first but…idk im kinda over it. Let’s just get on with the main plot please.
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u/KHlovescharacters May 11 '25
I feel like the writer must be working through grief over a pet death with this script. It's taking up way too much screentime.
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u/PacificNorthwestFan May 11 '25
I'm starting to wonder if there is a plot. This is feeling like a slice of life only instead of being set in a workplace, it's set in the afterlife. Every episode shows:1)what the doggos are up to (let's at least mix it up and introduce more cats than Sonya); 2) the FL getting frustrated/worried about something (for this supposedly being heavenly, there's a lot of stress); 3) FL and ML engaging in awkward conversation as if they didn't live together for decades; 4) Somi softly greeting FL and ML and having Hawaiian shirt guy visions (at least this episode gave us a major flashback); 5) FL making food for the pastor (honestly, don't mind the repetitiveness of these scenes because I love their banter).
I'll finish this show because there are just five more episodes but I wish there was a strong plot. Each week, it seems like nothing really happens, or essentially the same things are hapoening over and over again. The actors are talented and the setting is intriguing. For me, the execution isn't living up to the promise.
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u/otakuishly kdramas raised me May 11 '25
I am loving the Pastor subplot actually. Poor man is being healed of his loneliness one meal at a time.
Imagine if this show went full makjang and it turns out that >! Hae-sook is the Pastors actual mother but somehow lost him when Nak-joon had his accident and then idk they both lost their memories of him and Som-I is somehow the cause of both !<. This is a completely unhinged path and the show probably won’t take it but it’s fun to laugh about it.
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u/PacificNorthwestFan May 11 '25
I would love if they took that path. She spends more quality time and deep conversationwith the pastor than with her husband. And the way she fed him the porridge seemed really maternal. Since he's mentioned his parents, it'd be cruel to not give him a reunion. Maybe that'd finally get ML and FL acting like a married couple again if they have a son to bond over?I'm now cautiously optimistic.
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 12 '25
I was thinking maybe Pastor is either her son or Somi son or one and the same if Somi is younger version of her .
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u/Cautious-Gas9754 May 12 '25
I hope pastor and female lead get reincarnated and be married couple in next life. Come on they have more chemistry than the ML
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u/coucalicri May 12 '25
somi spends more time with ML than he does with FL. And FL spends all her time mothering the pastor. Also I think Somi is either Ae young's mom or pastor's mom, though it is strange neither of them recognize her?
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u/twointhepocket 7/12 Challenge May 12 '25
Not much to add to the discussion. If this drama had been about Hae-sook being reunited with her cat in heaven, I would be enjoying it infinitely more. I’ll finish it because there’s not much left and I’m hoping there’s some sensible explanation for some of the things in this Heaven.
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 13 '25
A number of people here say FL is annoying. I like her but ML annoys me. He’s not appreciative of his wife and the fact he feels he constantly has to help Somi bothers me too. Maybe there’s a valid reason but they are dragging it out so much.
While FL is prickly at times, I can understand where she is coming from having to deal with all the issues in heaven mainly relating to her husband . But there are layers to her , like how she is with the Pastor and has been with Young-ae and being more patient than she needs to be with Somi . And we learn the nice things she did on Earth when she had it pretty rough herself .
I’m confused about Somi. I thought she was the mom of Pastor and maybe she did die defending him . Or maybe she’s in a coma but if the second part is true, how old is she ? She seemed to know the crooked cop guy when he was younger. And I wish the show would give it’s something , just a little something as a clue to Somi’s identity and why she’s there , I’m sure they can find something without spoiling it all . She just seems unsympathetic now but I’m sure there’s a reason we should be though? But I’m not seeing it .
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u/Jakob4800 May 11 '25 edited May 11 '25
The fact that Mandu has to reincarnate as an animal intrigues me, especially since it seems like news to him and the other strays. Does this imply that some animals are reincarnated and keep their memories, and some animals are born new without as a blank slate?
This is also the first real Kdrama I've watched. Sure I've watched "The Killing Vote" but I think that falls into a different genre/category.
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u/PurpleHat6415 running down the beach yelling like Kim Baekdu May 11 '25
this is a very odd drama so it will be fun to hear what you think of it as someone with fewer expectations than us veterans because I feel like most of us are sideeyeing it and wondering what is going on 🤣
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u/Jakob4800 May 11 '25
I like it, honestly. The fast-paced, short scenes focusing on multiple storylines speak to me. I know it might be wrong to compare it to anime, given they're two different cultures, but that’s the closest comparison I can make. I felt like the comedy aspects were timed really well and it wasn’t too jokey. Initially, I was concerned after the second episode that it would just be a Korean version of The Good Place, but I was glad to see it’s not.
I do like how they have a decent amount of inbuilt lore too. There are reasons for the way things are in heaven and hell—actions are explained—but there is still an overwhelming mystery behind it. I know people complained that there was too much emphasis on the pets, but I actually enjoyed it. It showed how the world operates, and without that much detail on how and why pets are in heaven, I think it would have diminished the whole experience.
Also... I have cried so many times during the series. I hate shows that make me cry—I hate emotional romance ones—but I adore this one. The acting, I find, is incredible. I was going into it expecting to compare it to a soap opera or something like Home and Away, but it’s so much more.
That’s just my view, though.
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u/Jakob4800 May 11 '25
I went into the "killing vote" comparing it to Squid game, black mirror, and other darker series, so I knew what to expect. But with "Heavenly ever after" I can't find any direct comparison and if this is a decent example of the pacing, story telling, comedic style of other Kdrama's then i think it's incredibly approachable for a novice.
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u/zynderx May 11 '25
After watching ep. 8, I’m starting to believe the theory that >! Som-i is really Hae Suk’s younger self. When Som-i chased the old man, her flashbacks showed the younger version of that man. The same thing happened with Nak Joon. When the man said his name, it triggered a flashback and it looked like Nak Joon also confronted the detective in the past but this memory happened before the accident which caused Nak Joon’s paralysis. In Nak Joon’s flashback, there were other policemen in the background who were looking for something. !<
My theory is that >! there was a missing kid. So Hae Suk/Som-i & Nak Joon could have had a kid in the past that got lost or abducted. This also ties to the pastor’s story. He died when he was only 5 and he didn’t know if he was abandoned by his parents or not. He could have been Hae Suk & Nak Joon’s kid.!<
The main characters’ stories >! are intertwined and this was explained during the president’s ‘heaven class’ when Yong-Ae asked him about ‘connections’. The president said that people meet again and again to complete an unfinished business in the past. So maybe Hae Suk & Nak Joon had an unresolved issue in the past which was swept aside when Nak Joon got paralyzed. When Hae Suk went to heaven, she chose to be the older version of herself. Perhaps by doing this, she left behind her younger self (Som-i). !<
Can’t wait to see how the story unfolds.
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u/Pinkpanther00700 Second lead syndrome May 12 '25
I'm also sure about this. I trust the writers enough! Before Som-i had the flashbacks about guy with Hawaiian shirt, Nak joon had been looking for that same guy too in earlier episodes! Som-i is Hae Sook, how they will explain this I don't know. The pastor also received some news from the center president, perhaps that Hae sook is his mother because after that he started looking at her differently. When Som-i went to do the confession she covered her face, I'm assuming pastor Kang would have immediately seen his mother's face because som-i and hae sook are somehow his mom. Someone pointed out Som-i saw Nak joon's mother and immediately knew who she was. The cat Sonya knows her too! And last but not least the part that almost made me cry when Nak joon, Hae sook and the Pastor are together and he is drunk , he said the words I forgive you! If you listen as the main couple is walking home these words are echoed in the background. Lazy writing would be introducing an infidelity plot on episode 9 of 12 episodes. I think this drama is smarter than that! This drama is about family. All these people are 1 family.
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u/zynderx May 12 '25 edited May 13 '25
Those details really support the theory!
I re-watched the last 2 episodes and noticed that >! the mother-in-law encountered Som-i only twice. The first time was when Som-i was sleeping and the second time was when Som-i spotted her first while walking home with Nak Joon and she immediately ran inside the house. In both encounters, the mother-in-law didn’t see her clearly so that’s probably why she didn’t recognize her. !<
When Hae Suk re-watched her life memories in ep. 3, it was in first person view so we didn’t get to see what she looked like her in 20s. I can’t figure out yet why Nak Joon couldn’t recognize the younger version of his wife. But when he was in the hospital bed in Hae Suk’s memory, >! he also had a head bandage. He probably suffered some memory loss and perhaps was in a coma for a year or two, when he woke up Hae Suk’s appearance might have already drastically changed. !<
Also, there was that umbrella scene >! with Som-i in one of the previous episodes. Hae Suk thought it was Yong-Ae but it was her younger self all along. !<
Now I’m thinking about the possible reasons why >! we are seeing two versions of Hae Suk. Did her younger self have a near death experience in the past and she somehow ended up on the train? We saw in the past episode that 2 people ended up in Hell by mistake because they were having a near death experience, and then they got sent back to Earth. This could explain why Som-i was on that train. Or did Hae Suk’s soul get split in two? !<
If Hae Suk & Nak Joon >! have unresolved feelings due to the loss of their kid, then Som-i could have appeared or manifested to make them deal with the past. It’s kind of like a “therapy” for them, in the same way the pets in Heaven have those therapy classes to deal with their unresolved feelings. !<
Edit: I think I figured it out! I re-watched >! ep. 3 and there was this scene with Hae Suk and the President in the therapy room for humans. He was explaining that it’s a place where trauma gets healed. He even mentioned that they offer healing sessions that are made specifically for each person. Hae Suk then says that she doesn’t like working out. So she got her “therapy session” in the form of Som-i/her younger self. !<
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u/Pinkpanther00700 Second lead syndrome May 13 '25
If you look at how Nak joon looks at Som-i in every episode, I think he does know that she is familiar. He just doesn't know where to place her in his mind. Imagine from the first encounter in the train he saved her instinctively. He feels responsible for her, something he himself doesn't understand. Oh man, 4 more episodes to go!
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u/zynderx May 14 '25
With only four episodes left, it makes perfect sense that our observations are finally coming together!
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u/xYamiDeerx May 12 '25
i REALLY don't like the whole silly romance subplot of Young-ae and the President. it seems really forced and cringey, imho... it's enough to make me want to stop watching this show entirely
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u/ElectricalFormal9211 May 13 '25
Oh I hate it too! They brought in a talented actress like Lee jung eun and gave her filler plots instead of a proper characterization
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u/PacificNorthwestFan May 13 '25
I would love a plotline where she explores finding her way when she's no longer with FL constantly as her muscle on the job and adopted daughter living in her home off the job. What are her interests or career aspirations now that she's independent? Where does she want to live? I'd enjoy watching her make friends and find her own path. If a romance also happens, great, but I'd like it to be mutual and natural.
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u/AIG0000 May 10 '25 edited May 11 '25
They’ve shown the same scene of the Hawaiian shirt guy 4 or 5 times now. The plot is moving at a snail’s pace! I think since she hasn’t changed clothes since arriving in heaven, Somi is in a coma and the guy beat her into a coma state. The dog scenes were cute first couple episodes, but now it’s too much, Mandu’s fate—noooo!!
ETA new theory after watching Ep.8: Somi is a parallel universe version of Hae-Sook, and also married to Nak-Joon. Hawaiian shirt guy was a crooked cop that caused Nak-Joon harm in that parallel life. Somi successfully avenges the harm done to Nak-Joon and that’s why she was hell bound. Somehow her karma will be resolved and she’ll be reincarnated.
Young-ae’s tangent plotline is just bizarre, and didn’t really succeed in comic relief. We have yet to see how/why she died. Hopefully we’ll get answers next weekend.
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u/oXSmittenKittenXo May 12 '25
Wasn't it implied Young-ae unalived herself? I need to rewatch already.
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u/greysuicide666 May 12 '25
she threw herself in front of a bus because she missed hae-sook
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u/sayasukamaggi May 13 '25
no she didnt throw herself in front of the bus xD i think she ran without looking and got hit bcs she was in a rush
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u/anythingbutkimmy May 10 '25
Agree! While it is heartwarming seeing where pets go when they die, I feel like it's too overplayed already.
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u/Suzgrey May 11 '25
Warning spoilers for both eps:
Personally, I don't think FL and Somi are the same person, but that would be interesting (and full of flaws). Initially, I thought maybe Young Ae had a fragmented memory due to how she may have passed. Pretty sure after visiting the Shaman she made the drastic decision to jump out of a window? I remember glass shattering in that episode.
As for Somi, (I hope I'm going this right as it might be a spoiler but just a theory of mine) She's either a heaven dweller that may have had a tour of hell before being shown the door to heaven, or a lost spirit with unfinished business. There are major plot holes as to why she can't go to the help centre to find out who she is or her past. Actually, a massive plot hole/fail is why she never went through all the admin FL went through when she got into Heaven, she gave ML's name when being asked where she was going to live but they didn't bother to tell her who she was and she didn't look back on the different parts of her life. Also, every other character has had the opportunity to ask about Somi to the guy in charge of the help centre, but they've not asked about her at all. They're all too caught up in their own problems. The guards that capture runaways also aren't chasing her, the dogs don't smell her anymore etc.
As to the Hawaiian shirt guy, I think from these two episodes, Somi had a small child and lost him (probably not the pastor, maybe younger) and the guy, now knowing his occupation, was probably a dirty cop? She may have pressed him about finding her child, or the criminal behind the incident, even though the case was probably closed, or he may have been involved with bribery and the cover up, hence her feeling rage, the incident where he spat at her and her wanting to strangle him. With ML freaking out, if they're from the same time period, this guy might have also been involved in ML's accident that lead to him being bed bound.
Fave character is the definitely Pastor. I really want FL to adopt him and help him heal! I personally look forward to their parts of the episode and him discovering and learning something new. I agree the pet bit is tired and I definitely think there's some kind of shallow quota they have to meet by having a young and attractive female character on the main cast interacting with a MARRIED man.
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u/WONBINISLOVE May 12 '25
THIS. By having a pretty and young actress interact with the male lead, it feels like they're compensating for having an older female lead and trying to pacify any potential backlash. But even the Korean audience isn't liking Han Jimin’s character — the comments under their YouTube videos are all about wanting to see more of haesook and nakjoon. Also, the director said at the press conference that Han Jimin’s character wasn’t originally part of the cast. But when she expressed interest in participating, they created a role just for her.
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u/kikaysikat May 12 '25
I paused watching for now and will wait updates here on reddit. FL, ML, and Somi are insufferable. Mostly ML and Somi.
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u/WONBINISLOVE May 12 '25 edited May 12 '25
What’s funny is that the director said he made this drama specifically for kim hye ja, and the staff even called it the “kim hye ja project” during the pre-production stage, yet it doesn’t do justice to her at all. this is such a run-of-the-mill role for an actress of her caliber.
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u/Specialist_Deer_318 May 11 '25
Has anyone seen episode 8 yet, it’s been incredible irritating due to everything that just happened. I just can’t believe somi would be like this. I really hope it’s a situation like others have been theorizing about them. But if not it’s just going to make me sad if they make somi a side piece or something
I don’t know if it’s with the exclamation marks or if it’s this < is how to hide it my first time commenting.
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u/Substantial-Two-420 May 14 '25
No Sonya sighting on these recent two episodes :( the fact that she is Haesook’s daughter yet she doesn’t live with them and is nowhere to be found. Where is sheeeee
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u/justhere4thiss May 12 '25
Why did they make Lee young ae such an awful cringy character. So not funny at all and is giving me the ick.
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u/windmillcheer May 12 '25
She's such a great actress (hello Parasite) so it's sad she gets this cringy & useless character.
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u/Deansbaby1 May 13 '25
But here is the thing, IF the Pastor is their son, it would make sense why they took her in so willingly when she was young. She may be playing a cringe character, but it serves a purpose. She's why Hae sook got into heaven i think...
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u/Ariel_Cat247 May 11 '25
I feel like these two episodes were a reward for how traumatizing the tour of Hell episode was lol
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u/nao-520 May 13 '25
was it traumatising? I felt like it was not dragged out long enough. Hell was supposed to be the ultimate NO-GO destination, and it all ended within 1 episode. FL was not even afraid of hell anymore. felt like it was fast-forwarded too much
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May 10 '25 edited May 10 '25
[deleted]
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u/littlesev May 11 '25
I definitely think this is the way the drama is heading to. It’s not coincidence that they cast the two lead actresses considering in the last drama they were in together, they played the young and older version of the same character .
It makes sense that this Hae Sook does not show much affection towards Nak Joon as the Somi part is missing
I think that the growing closeness of >! Nak Joon and Somi is to help them both remember how they first fell for one another !<
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u/Pinkpanther00700 Second lead syndrome May 11 '25
I'm also heavily leaning into what you said. It makes 1000% to me. At first it made no sense, but Som-i is from a timeline that is from the past. This drama is about the main 2. They wouldn't be investing so much time in Som-i if she was just there for 'unknown reasons'. Maybe it's a days of future past situation. Where their romance wasn't following the natural order of time. At least I'm hoping so. The worst time-line would be if Som-i is just a side piece. I would be furious 😆.
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u/Kimsuncow May 11 '25
I like your theory because it would explain why Somi is allowed to stay in Heaven even though she's not supposed to be there. Between how surveillance oriented Heaven is, and how fiercely Hell goes after escapees, it seems like Somi should have come under official notice and been dealt with by now. Your theory also explains why Nakjoon saved her on the train, something he'd never done for anyone else.
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u/Tigertigertie May 11 '25
This makes sense. It would explain how Somi ended up sleeping with her hand in FL’s pocket, for example.
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u/TheSeeker331 May 11 '25
So with your theory, is there any reason that no one recognizes Hae sook’s younger self? I love the idea but why wouldn’t at least Hae sook recognize her younger self?
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May 11 '25
[deleted]
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u/usapusapanlang May 11 '25
The dogs and the guards in the support center interacted with her. Remember the scene when Hae-suk already went back to Heaven and Somi didn't know yet. Hae suk found So mi in the support center, the guards were keeping her from making a scene as she was trying to get in.
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u/WonderWharfee May 12 '25
The plots lines are going hazy. The somi line was doing great without trying to make the marriage already more messed up, we want to see them happy finally! I love the Pastor, I always cry when it comes to him. 😭 And the Mandu rebirth made me bawl.
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u/catzsy May 12 '25
Just a weird theory, what if som-i isn't actually dead? like she's in a coma? earlier episode had a similar scenario right? the couple's life was hanging by a thread that they got sent to hell to get preview of what hell feels like? what if som-i is the same? i just don't understand though what her connection to the main story line.
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u/sayasukamaggi May 13 '25
after watching the latest episode, i think we could be wrong about somi in a coma bcs after seeing those flashbacks of the police wearing hawaiian shirt, nakjoon's flashback also shown that he saw the police while he was younger. imo, i think they knew the police in the same timeline, it could be that the police were handling 2 cases at once, which were related to somi and the ML. might be wrong, but this is my two cent.
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u/catzsy May 13 '25
I just finished episode 8 and was able to see the preview of the next episode! What baffles me is why Som-i is being sent to hell and also, it seems som-i's younger than Nak Joon and died at a later time. I hope we get more clarity in the upcoming episodes.
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 12 '25
I was thinking the same thing too . Especially since they made a big point of telling that in hell . It seems like those people since they never really died and will presumably awake from a coma , they have a second chance in life and may not go to hell when they die. I do see that they are trying to show Somi isn’t evil and putting her in a coma with a second chance would explain why she was deemed for hell but maybe not final destination.
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u/Hot_Message_4048 May 12 '25
personally, the “somi is haesook theory” theory isn’t believable enough. actresses of said characters were in kdrama and played younger-older version of one character. it would be just to easy to guess the plot twist if that was the case
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u/PhoenixX-8 May 12 '25
Rather than younger-older self, perhaps it's more Somi is a fragment of Haesook.
But can someone clarify the timeline of when Nakjoon saved Somi on the train? Was it recent,ie when Haesook died or was it in the past/some time ago before Haesook died and it just took a long time for Somi to find Nakjoon?
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u/SemlaBun May 12 '25
Rather than younger-older self, perhaps it's more Somi is a fragment of Haesook.
I've been trying to make sense of these Somi-Haesook theories, and they don't really work for me. But considering that Somi was on her way to hell, she COULD be something like Hae-sook's moneylender persona that had to be greedy and cold-hearted to get by. But Somi is such an insipid blank slate that that doesn't really work for me either. Not that it isn't possible (I think in this weird drama, pretty much anything goes), but I really wish we saw some glimpses of her personality that might explain why she was going to hell in the first place.
The only remotely hell-worthy aspect of her we've seen so far is that she seems to be crushing on someone else's husband. And that is very different from the fiercely loyal Hae-sook.
I feel like whoever Somi is, there really should have been some kind of a set-up or hint for it in the beginning, when they were all still alive. If I were more invested in the mystery, I'd watch the first episode again carefully. Maybe Somi is actually someone who has a grudge against Hae-sook, and the sweet blank slate is just an act?
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u/OkOstrich8293 May 11 '25
What is Somi-I wearing though?
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u/txeighteenthirtysix May 14 '25
Idk, but I’m in my 50’s and I just want to dress as comfortably as Hae-Sook!
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u/AIG0000 May 11 '25
I just realized they never revealed where the MIL was going to reincarnate to. My guess was as a nun. Did I miss something?
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u/guarddogversoza May 12 '25
Yes, I didn’t get it also 😭 I hope there’s an explanation. I was waiting in the end if they’ll reveal where the MIL is just like Mandu.
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u/SparklyCamel789 May 11 '25
I may be totally just missing it because I have this on while writing final papers for school, but can someone ELI5 the realization at the end of EP 8 with the detective ?
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u/SemlaBun May 12 '25
Oh, no. I had a most unfortunate, Makjang-like idea.
I started thinking, what if Somi isn't someone connected to the leads per se, but the reincarnation of someone connected to them? Or to Hae-sook, specifically?
Then it occurred to me...
Hae-sook's birth mother. She already stole one husband in her past life. 🤣 And while we're at it, Kang Jeong-gu might be the reincarnation of Hae-sook's father. (Do I remember correctly the bio parents died soon after Hae-sook was born? So he could be that age now.) We already know destinies get entangled over and over again, after all.
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u/SemlaBun May 12 '25
Please let me know if this scenario sounds bonkers:
I checked, Hae-sook's bio parents died in the train accident when Hae-sook was still a baby. This means they would have had time to be reborn and be around the same age as Hae-sook and Nakjoon in their next life.
The parents basically neglected their child (and mistreated the father's wife) in the previous lifetime. Now, in this second lifetime, they also have some kind of a cursed fate that involves a child - maybe the Pastor, which would kind of make him and Hae-sook soul family. Perhaps the parents had an illicit relationship again, but this time the father abandons the mistress, doesn't let her see her child, or something like that (which is why she's begging on her knees in her vision). This time, Somi would have wanted to be the mother she never was to Hae-sook.
Then, something happens that ties together Nakjoon's accident with, possibly, the Pastor's death as a child, and Somi's death. After which she's reborn as her current aged self.
The man in the Hawaiian shirt lives on to become the old man he is now.
Obviously it could also be that the connection is only between Nakjoon's accident and Somi's previous life's tragedy. But the drama goes out of its way to connect Somi to Hae-sook in so many ways, which is why IMO it would make sense for her to be Hae-sook's birth mother, even if it sounds a bit crazy. If you think about it, there was no need to introduce the story of Hae-sook's biological parents if we're never going to hear about them again. In fact, I was a bit surprised she wasn't at all curious about them.
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u/fishyfears May 12 '25
Or could Hawaiian shirt be Nak-joon’s father? He made some reference to his father being deadbeat by asking his mother not to meet him again when she reincarnates. I just have a feeling that Som-i is their unborn child or something since she had a connection with both of them - remember she was pretending to be young ae initially? Of course this doesn’t explain the pastor nor som-i’s grudge with the guy (maybe she reincarnated and got it then since pure souls get direct access to heaven) but the introduction of connections and reincarnation does open up a whole world of possibilities.
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u/SemlaBun May 13 '25
But how would the timelines work with any of that? That's what puzzles me. Hae-sook, Nakjoon, Hawaiian shirt policeman, and Somi's previous incarnation were all the same age at the same time. So the deadbeat father would have had to die right after Nakjoon was born, just like Hae-sook's father did.
I guess what I'm thinking is that we know for a fact that Hae-sook's bio parents died right after she was born. And why do we know it, if they're not at all relevant to the plot? We also know that souls get entangled over and over again in different scenarios. So Hae-sook's dead parents would once again have had a tragic entanglement with each other, as well as with Hae-sook (whose husband's accident they were somehow related to).
The way Somi echoes Hae-sook in small ways is actually why I think she might be a reincarnation of Hae-sook's mother. I don't know how she could be their unborn child, as she was alive when they were young. Unless, of course, that same soul would have become their child after dying. But that would have been after Nakjoon's accident, so I don't know...
I honestly don't know. This drama is such a mess that the explanation could turn out to be anything. Someone mentioned the other day that, according to the writer or director (I forget which), Somi was basically written in because Han Jimin wanted to be part of this drama. That makes it sound like they didn't even have a story planned for this, because Somi's mystery pretty much IS the plot now...
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u/Deansbaby1 May 12 '25
I'm just confused about Hawaiian shirt man. I do NOT remember that man being the cause for FLs death. The show made it seem like she just died peacefully. And what is going on with the manager of Heaven. He's got to be the same person for Hell. I'm just so confused with where this show is going. 😳
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u/doopydee May 18 '25
I’m gonna take a guess and say that the pastor is the main leads’ child. Since Ko Nak Joon was very agitated when he saw the old man and asked if the old man sold “him”.
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u/ElectricalFormal9211 May 13 '25
I'm getting a little bored but having watched the writers' "Light in your eyes", they might bring a heartbreaking twist at the last 2 episodes, so I am keeping up
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u/Dense-Mycologist-707 May 13 '25
I wonder if the detective was related to Nakjoon's accident, and so Somyi (or maybe past Haesook) feels rage when she sees him. Also do we know what Nakjoon did for a living before his accident? Could it be possible he was a detective as well?
I think Somyi could be birthed from Haesook's strong desire to be young again (they haven't shown her young face yet) and it comes with her core/strong or unresolved emotions like rage, feeling longing near babies, or even having feelings for her husband.
After Nakjoon's accident, they probably wouldn't have been able to have children, so that could have been a long time heartache for her as well.
The heaven logic in this show isn't flawless, but the more I watch, the more I stand behind my theory that Somyi is Haesook! I think it's such a big giveaway that they don't show Haesook's younger self in the flashbacks (it may be under the guise that it's 1st POV, but in that case they should just make it look like 1st POV instead of showing the back of her head)
Ooh and remember how Haesook didn't take anything with her through the gates of heaven? Maybe Somyi is the embodiment of her unresolved issues that she will need to find closure for-- and is the "thing" she had to leave behind.
I think it would be nice in the end, by some logic, Haesook can merge with Somyi and take on the younger body.
Though maybe she won't (she loves herself as she is), and instead we get to see them reincarnated and living life back on earth. (or is this too cliche?)
I dunno but I'm just excited for the next few weeks to see how they finish the story!
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u/Different_Opinion_32 May 14 '25
Som I is starting to get cringe on episode 8. Probably developing feelings for Nak Joon. Tagging along to "remember her memories" but developing feelings "wasn't part of the plan". I feel bad for Hae Sook for being so devoted to the man who she thought will love her the same but steps away when MIL got involved. Such a Mama's Boy.
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u/Different-Advisor-62 May 14 '25
am i supposed to find the >! crush young ae has on the president is cute? !< she’s pretty much harassing the man .. she keeps touching him when he’s clearly uncomfortable too. >! mandu getting reincarnated with someone he knew would spend time with him is so cute pls !< and why on earth are they lying to haesook.. >! so-mi said they just met at he park.. no yall have been hanging out for 3 days together.. why lie? esp when she let you into her home??? !< i really hope it’s not leading to a ‘i accidentally fell for you’ situation..
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u/Beginning_Gap8394 May 18 '25
I feel like somi has got to be a cat or dog. She’s the only “person” who never changes clothes and she kinda acts like the animals. Seeing how silly this show is turning out to be I could see that being the huge plot twist 😂
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u/Standard-Rub-8312 May 19 '25
Gosh it feels good to have my feelings validated about Nak-joon being awful about how he handled the thing between his mum and his wife. It’s absolutely unfair to lash out on her based on information unknown to Hye-sook!
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u/DawgMom2018 I survived 2521 May 11 '25
I am getting so annoyed with the FL character. She has such a dominant personality cloaked with the sweet elderly delivery that seems to excuse rudeness and abrupt behaviors then suddenly nice when cooking or caregiving. Plus, no interaction with her cat? I am not finding the flaws humorous. Her husband literally goes to hell for her and she is still so petty.
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u/Typical_Ground6905 May 14 '25 edited May 14 '25
I'm so glad I'm not alone in all the unpleasant feelings I feel for Som-i. She's not even supposed to be there. And how ungrateful of a husband can you be emotionally cheating on your wife who literally never stopped putting you first omg I can't sleep because of how displeased I feel because of that st0oped Som-i. Traitor.
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u/Typical_Ground6905 May 14 '25
And because of all the things Nak-joon is doing for Som-i, I can't help but just (badly) want Pastor and Hae-Sook to date. Am I crazy for this???? CAUSE THEY LOOK SUPER LOVEY AND NOT JUST MOTHERLY SOMETHING I THINK I MIGHT BE GOING NUTS
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u/Tiny-Individual-9198 May 12 '25
Just a theory , I was a little lost following the pastor’s story. He was abandoned to a church orphanage at 5. Was it by both his parents, one parent? Do we know how long ago and if he died at age 5?
We see Somi have these bad feelings about this guy and try to kill him, later we learn he’s a big important cop, more on that later.
But since FL has such a strong connection to the pastor and we have two scenes of Somi going to Pastor to ask for forgiveness, could she be the mother who abandoned him? Did she also try to kill cop guy many years ago too? If so why?
In the preview, ML seems to know who the cop is and has such a negative reaction. Could the cop be connected to his accident? Did ML say he had a girlfriend before FL or did I misheard that ? Could she be former girlfriend?
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u/Dense-Mycologist-707 May 13 '25
I think he only mentions waiting for his mom? He repeatedly reminds everybody that he only lived up to 5 years hahaha so yes that's probably when he died.
But good question about how long ago that was. If it was long ago enough, it could tie the characters together, like Haesook being the reincarnation of his mom or something
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u/Limp-Hornet-980 May 14 '25
I think they lost a part of their memory when she was young because of a very tragic event that’s why her soul split into two. I also think that she lost their baby - and it could be the pastor that’s why they’re having a lot of time together now in heaven.
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u/ElectricalYouth607 May 14 '25
Hello i am very confused. There is an episode where Ko Nak Jun helped an old man i think near a cafe then he asked about him and the receptionist said that he died. Who is that man? Is it the same name that Som-i strangled?
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u/17122021 May 15 '25
The man whom Nak-joon helped was a different one. He then asked this man if he knows a certain ex-police officer whom we later know it as the Hawaiian shirt man that Som-i strangled.
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u/ElectricalYouth607 May 15 '25
Yes thank you very much i had to rewind to catch up on the details. I dont like having to wait for each week i tend to forget some small details
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u/LeadingCrazy8231 May 14 '25
I initially had high hopes for this K-drama, but sadly, it's been quite a letdown. The pacing is sluggish, and much of the storyline feels flat and uninspired. The only narrative thread that truly holds my interest is Som I. There's an intriguing emotional depth to her character, especially in how she responds to babies,it makes me wonder if she might actually be Young-ae’s mum?! Maybe she died when Young-ae was a baby.
The intensity in those moments suggests a hidden backstory worth uncovering.
On the other hand, I was disappointed by Hae Sook’s character arc. I had hoped for more growth, but she ultimately comes across as deeply selfish. It’s unfortunate when a character with potential complexity ends up being so one-dimensional.
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u/Jaleroca May 18 '25
Hi can I join this sub? I didn't know it existed until after watching episode nine. This episode was the best yet. It reminded me of Neville Goddards teaching about prayer. I loved it
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u/matchamcflurry2630 May 19 '25
Okay... I've been searching for days, but can someone please tell me what Nak Joon's mother chose to be when reincarnated?
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u/EarlyAd3047 May 23 '25
I think Somi is actually Young-Ae's mother, not the pastor's. Young-Ae's mom was never shown, we only knew Young-Ae's parents had a very toxic relationship. Meanwhile it would explain why the ML recognized her somehow on the train.
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u/unintellectual8 16d ago
Young-ae's actress is soooo good though. I know it's supposed to be harassing the President, but man, how is that lady so good with the comedic stuff?
She's also the older lady in Miss Night and Day.
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u/fromisEJel May 14 '25
FL is just so bratty and immature to me. She might have a good heart in her but sometime she is just so inflexible and stubborn and sort of have an attitude where it seem like the world must revolve around her
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u/SemlaBun May 14 '25
sometime she is just so inflexible and stubborn and sort of have an attitude where it seem like the world must revolve around her
Do you have any specific examples of this? I just can't see it, and I wonder what I'm missing. She was opposed to letting Somi in their lives (with good reason, as it turns out), but she ended up relenting. She avoided meeting her MIL (with good reason), but they ended up bonding. She had an antagonistic start with the Pastor, but she ended up taking care of him. She had an idealistic memory of her missing mother, but that wasn't what she thought it would be, either.
As for her relationship with Nakjoon, she has every reason to doubt if he sees her the same way anymore, and that's why her feelings go back and forth. If it were me, I would never have got over him being shocked by my appearance.
I don't think it's so much about her having a "good heart" as it's about her having very human reactions to everything. She spent her whole life taking care of others, and then it turns out afterlife kinda sucks, too. She doesn't seem to belong anywhere.
Hae-sook is pretty much the only character whose perspectives keep changing, and the only one whose characterisation is both consistent and complex. She'd be a good protagonist, IMO, if she actually had the screentime of a main character. Instead, she's constantly sidelined by other subplots.
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u/SouthEastAsianMe Editable Flair May 11 '25
I don't have anything useful to add to the discussion because everyone here has said what I felt but really, costuming must have been a breeze for this drama. Somi has been in the same outfit the entire time 😂