Move to Heaven: Spoiler-Free Mini Review
Updated: Sep 24
Title: | Move to Heaven (2021) |
Platform: | Netflix |
MDL & IMBD Rating: | |
Genre: | Slice of Life, Family |
Episode Count: | 10 |
Parental Guidance Rating: | TV-14: Language, Smoking. More mild for an MA. |
Starring: | Lee Je Hoon (Taxi Driver) Tang Jun Sang (Navillera) Hong Seung Hee (Heroes Next Door) Jung Suk Yong (Cashero) |
RBTS Rating: | 6.8/10 Stars: Amazing performances and a stellar, thought provoking concept make Move to Heaven worth the watch, but the lack of character development and emotional follow through stop it from becoming a masterpiece.  |
Cast From Left to Right: #LeeJeHoon, #TangJunSang, #HongSeungHee, #JungSukYong, #JungYoungJoo
Synopsis:
Han Geu Ru is an autistic 20-year-old guy. He works for his father’s business “Move To Heaven,” a company that specializes in crime scene cleanup, where they also collect and arrange items left by deceased people, and deliver them to the bereaved family. When Geu Ru's father dies, Geu Ru's guardianship passes to his uncle, ex-convict Cho Sang Gu, who is a martial arts fighter in underground matches. Per the father's will, Sang Gu must care for and work with Geu Ru in “Move To Heaven” for three months to gain full guardianship and claim the inheritance. Eyeing money, Sang Gu agrees to the conditions and moves in. @MDL
Spoiler-Free Mini Review:
The concept of Move to Heaven was so thought provoking. The drama explores the challenges of independence, grief, and moving forward. Each episode details a different "cleaning" to help the deceased with their final "move", and even though the drama isn't a fantasy, the dead manage to speak. With each treasured item that is collected into a box to memorialize an individual, we learn about the lives of the deceased, and Cho Sang Gu and Han Geu Ru grow and bond in the process. It really made me think about what objects sum up my life.
The relationship between the Uncle and Nephew unfolded realistically, and became the heart of the drama. Both characters grew so much, and Tang Jun Sang absolutely nailed the role and gave a career defining performance. I'm glad his character was portrayed as capable, and the drama took a compassionate look at autism. It's been nice to see K-Dramas becoming more diverse with depictions of autism, with shows such as Good Doctor, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and It's Okay Not to Be Okay. I loved Hong Seung Hee as the supportive neighbor and best friend, and I wish we had gotten to see more of Ji Jin-hee. He really impressed me in the brief time we had with his character.
Move to Heaven is one of those dramas that is objectively good, but it didn't make me feel as much as the accolades and acclaim say it should. It was solid and I shed a tear in every episode, but after it was done, I was done. I think it's because the story had great build up in emotion and narrative, but never quite followed through. I also wanted more character development for Han Geu Ru, but maybe they were saving that for the alleged Season 2. And the end was confusing.
Overall, Move to Heaven is a good watch, if for the concept alone. If you are worried about the content, this is MA lite.
Story=4, Acting=5, Production Quality=4.5, Ending= 1.5, Enjoyability= 3, Would I rewatch= No
Trailer:
Director: #KimSungHo (Bad Prosecutor)
Screenwriter: #YoonJiRyun (Boys Over Flowers)
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