'Heavenly Ever After' Praised for Captivating Performances and Unique Afterlife Tale

Apr 23, 2025

'Heavenly Ever After' actors captivated viewers with beautiful passionate performances.

JTBC's Saturday-Sunday drama 「Beautiful Than Heaven」 (directed by Nam-kyu, Kim Soo-jin, Kim Seok-yoon) opened the prelude to a modern transcendent romance with warm emotion beyond a pleasant laugh. The subject of death, which no one has ever experienced, and the afterlife, which encompasses heaven and hell, was interesting in itself. It is a story that can be heavy and dark, but it has been newly solved by putting on wit and sensibility unique to director Kim Seok-yoon, writers Lee Nam-gyu, and Kim Soo-jin. In particular, favorable reviews poured in on the performances of actors who added persuasiveness and immersion to 'Heaven's Worldview' as they traveled between the real and imaginary worlds.

Kim Hye-ja's return was dazzling. As director Kim Seok-yoon, who described this work as the `Kim Hye-ja Project' at the previous production presentation, Kim Hye-ja led the story by wearing the character 'Lee Hae-sook' like a customized suit. In this world, she was a tough worker who overcame the hardships of time and was strong, and she was still a lovely wife like a girl for her husband who had been with her for 60 years, and in the other world, she became a new resident of heaven with an honest and wild charm and showed off her colorful face. Attention is focusing on what kind of story will unfold in the future for Lee Hae-sook, who began a dynamic life in heaven with the appearance of Somyi (Han Ji-min), a mysterious woman who visited her after reuniting with her husband in his 30s in heaven.

Son Seok-gu played the role of a couple with Kim Hye-ja, completing the chemistry of 'That World'. He gave a laugh with delicious reactions from his first appearance at the end of the first episode, and started acting by erasing the intense image of his previous work. He freely crossed comic and melodrama and perfectly digested the character. It was Go Nak-jun himself who treated his wife Lee Hae-sook, who arrived in heaven at the age of 80, in a friendly, slick, and slick manner. On the other hand, at the end of the second inning, Han Ji-min started the start-up, raising expectations. The appearance of 'Somi', which caused another wind of crisis between Lee Hae-sook and the late Nak-jun couple, instantly reversed the atmosphere of the play. Han Ji-min's innocent eyes and bright smile further highlighted the mystery of the character. I'm curious about his secret story, which will gradually reveal his identity by taking off the veil.

Lee Jung-eun was the first contributor to making viewers laugh and cry from the first broadcast. Playing 'Lee Young-ae', he stole the attention with his unique style and unconventional visual transformation, and made Lee Hae-sook's heart throb with her tearful acting that conveyed more than her family's affection in the play. Above all, while the past narrative, in which the relationship between the two began, was touching, Lee Young-ae's last appearance of running away without forgetting Lee Hae-sook, who passed away, sparked curiosity about future developments. In the second episode, when the story of heaven unfolded in earnest, Cheon Ho-jin, who plays the role of 'center director', showed off his presence. In the play filled with infinite imagination, he played an important role in guiding viewers to heaven, showing a comic performance of a reversal in serious charisma, making him realize his experience and inner workings again.

Meanwhile, at the end of the second episode, which aired on the 20th, Ryu Deok-hwan, who plays a pastor, predicted his first appearance, raising expectations. In the released trailer, "You're coming very slowly, the saints" and waiting for Lee Hae-sook added questions about their first meeting.

JTBC's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Heavenly Ever After' airs every Saturday night at 10:40 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 p.m.

soulhn1220@sportschosun.com