Move to Heaven is a Korean drama released by Netflix on May 14, 2021. The episodes of the series, which was broadcast with the first season consisting of 10 episodes in total, consist of an average of 50 minutes. While the drama was directed by Kim Sung Ho, Yoon Ji-Ryeon wrote the script. The show is host to many award-winning famous actors such as Lee Je-hoon from Taxi Driver, Lee Moon-Sik from Empress Ki and Rooftop Prince, and Ji Jin-Hee from Dong Yi and Blood. Also, Sooyoung from Girl’s Generation, one of the most famous K-Pop girl bands, takes action in the drama. The series received impressive ratings from the audience. The production has a score of 9.3 on Mydramalist and 8.4 on IMDB. In addition, 96% of Netflix users stated that they liked this show. Move to Heaven is the first Netflix show that follows the life of a person with Asperger’s syndrome and that of his protector. The drama is an adaptation of the non-fiction composition “The Things We Leave Behind” also known as “Ddeonan Hooe Namgyeojin Geotdeul” by Kim Sae-Byul. Kim Sae-Byul is the first person in Korea to work on editing the writings left by the deceased.
P.S.: Asperger syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. They like routine and dislike change.
South Korea’s famous Hallyu wave, which means the global popularity of South Korea’s cultural economy exporting pop culture, entertainment, music, T.V. dramas, and movies, has taken the global entertainment industry by storm. The country has proven its artistic prowess with outstanding songs, dramas, and films such as Gangnam Style and Parasite.
What has happened so far and what is the next in Move to Heaven?
The story begins with the interesting dialogue of a young man named Geu-ru with the fish. He stands in front of a giant fishbowl and spends time as if chatting with the fish. In addition to knowing the name of each, he shares information about his diseases or characteristic features as a result of his observations. The following minutes indicate that he has Asperger’s syndrome. Geu-ru’s family runs a ‘trauma cleaning business’, after which the series gets its English name. Geu-ru spends his life with his father, Jeong-u. They work with their father in a job they call Move to Heaven. They clean the places where people who passed away. They honor the deceased with various speeches. Although it seems like a kind of crime scene cleaning, the work of the father and son; is more emotional and deeper. Their respect and love for each deceased individual are endless. The father and son help their deceased relatives with this action. But Geu-ru’s beloved father, Jeong-u, dies.
Geu-ru and his uncle, who is an ex-convict, begin to work together after the funeral and tell the unknown stories about the lives of the deceased to their surviving relatives. Going to the room of a trainee who died in the accident at the factory, Han Jeong-u, and Han Geu-ru reveal her future goals and her love for her family. Cho Sang-gu moves in with Geu-ru as his legal guardian and new colleague. Geu-ru searches for the truth hidden among a mother’s stash of cash and withdrawal receipts. The owner of a suit store explains a mother’s wish. Sang-gu is reminded of a heavy promise he made in the past. The cleaners go to a bloody crime scene. The fact that the device belonging to the user manual he saw was not found at the crime scene disturbs Geu-ru. Sang-gu has to pay off his loan debt in cash or by fighting.
In the second season of Move to Heaven, we can expect Joo Young to return as the villain. His goal can be taking revenge on the nephew and uncle, who led to the decline of the playing circle. Geu-ru’s struggle with Asperger’s syndrome was splendidly captured in season 1, and his growth is remarkable. It remains to be seen how his character develops from there. When he and his loved ones face new challenges and enemies, we can see the other side of his personality. Also, as Na-mu has feelings for him, it should be developed in the next season. The conflict caused by their relationship will be very interesting.
Will there be a Second Season of Move to Heaven?
Korean dramas are usually one season, and there are no second seasons or more. Many Korean dramas are produced as a limited series. However, in the finale of this season, the audience saw Joo Young escape the clutches of law enforcement agencies and is likely to want revenge due to the fall of the empire. In addition, at the end of the pilot season, we also learned that Na-mu has a crush on Geu-ru, which may lead to many conflicts. Therefore, the update of “Move to Heaven” seems to be only a matter of time.
Unfortunately, Netflix has not commented on the possibility of a second season for Move To Heaven yet. However, given the context in which the drama ended, the narrative of Geu-ru and his uncle Jo Sang-gu will continue into a second season.
In a recent interview obtained by a local outlet, screenwriter Yoon Ji Ryun mentioned that they are overwhelmed with the public’s response and support from viewers. Moreover, Yoon also shared that there has been discussion about the possibility of having a sequel by saying, “There were some stories about season 2” and “There were many discussions on saving it for season 2 while working on season 1”. Although the future plans for “Move to heaven” are still up in the air, Yoon promised to “introduce a better episode” for a brand-new season.
When is the release date of ‘Move to Heaven Season 2’?
If the series is renewed for a second season, given the timeline of the first one, we can assume Move to Heaven Season 2 to reach our screens sometime in mid-2022. But first, we need to see a confirmation by Netflix. We will be following the developments and will inform you here. Stay tuned.