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Move to Heaven korean drama review
Completed
Move to Heaven
0 people found this review helpful
by wenshere
Jan 15, 2022
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers

Original but left me with questions

First of all, I find the concept very interesting, as I didn't know what trauma cleaners were at all before this. I like how even if this drama mostly features one character per episode and their story (the deceased I mean), it was still deep and engaging and managed to make me care about each character within a limited amount of time. This doesn't happen often for me at all so I applaud the writer for that, and also the director and actors for the execution.

The main cast was great and I think they all did a good job, but let me start with Ji Jin Hee as Jeong U.
Jeong U is so compassionate, patient and optimistic, and it was heartwarming to see how he managed to be such a strong and loving father to Geu Ru despite dealing with the fact that his wife died and that Geu Ru has Asperger's Syndrome. He encouraged Geu Ru a lot and embraced him for who he is without ever judging. He taught Geu Ru many things and how to be empathetic as well (or as close as it gets to being that) and I really appreciated that. Even after Jeong U dies, Geu Ru remembers the things his father said and taught him and he gets reminded of his encouragement when he is uncertain. It was touching to see how he ‘stayed’ with Geu Ru like that. I also like how the last episode really dives into Jeong U and how he adopted Geu Ru and it just added even more to his character for me.

Tang Jun Sang did a wonderful job portraying Geu Ru. I found Geu Ru interesting as a character. It may seem ‘robotic’, but I found it endearing whenever he tried to show his care in his own way to the other characters. Also, sometimes when decoding the deceased’s stories he’d act a bit like Sherlock Holmes, deducing and solving mysteries. He also has a photographic memory, and it’s funny how Sang Gu joked that he’s like an AI and a recorder at the same time (as Geu Ru can also recall conversations exactly how they went in the exact tone people talked).

As for Na Mu, I don’t have much to say because she’s more of a side character ish. But I do really find it commendable that she’s such a supportive and caring friend to Geu Ru and she even ends up working with Move to Heaven as well after Jeong U passes. Although I don’t like the way she’d act towards Sang Gu at times, I also think it’s understandable considering the way Sang Gu ‘introduced’ himself and all the shady things he seemed to be doing at the time.

Sang Gu, as one of the main characters, definitely had character development throughout the drama. He starts off indifferent and kinda rude and salty about the fact he has to take care of the kid of his brother who ‘abandoned’ him (to his assumption) and is ‘forced’ to work with Move to Heaven. But as time goes on, he starts to become more compassionate and he starts to genuinely care for Geu Ru.
However, I find it incredibly disappointing that some key things about him aren’t elaborated. For example, what happened to him when Jeong U couldn’t pick him up at the train station? How did he grow up and live all those years? How did he end up in the boxing field? When the drama elaborated the backstory of him and Su Cheol I was hoping to see how he ended up in the boxing field at least, but it was still not explained.
I also don’t think it’s convincing that Sang Gu didn’t want to see or talk to Jeong U only because he couldn’t pick him up that one time. Like yes it must have been hard as a kid to be left alone like that, but if he talked to Jeong U the misunderstandings could easily be resolved. I just find the writing here to be a bit lacking because I feel like there should have been other things that made Sang Gu feel so distanced and resentful, and not the mere fact that his brother didn't come to the train station as promised. Again, what did he actually have to go through alone all those years?
This is a big question mark for me and flaw since Sang Gu is one of the main characters, and that’s why I can’t empathize with Sang Gu on a deeper level even if I want to.
Another question I have is what led to Jeong U starting a trauma cleaning service? Is it because of his wife? Is it because of some other things he experienced or saw? Also unanswered.

Overall, I did enjoy this drama, but I hope that if there is going to be a S2 that these questions will be answered.
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