‘Heavenly Ever After’ K-Drama Episode Recap: Love, Loss, and Second Chances in the Afterlife

What happens after you die? In Netflix's K-drama Heavenly Ever After, you have the choice between a gloomy hell or the light of heaven accessed through a subway train. Packed with a talented cast and a beautiful plot, the story weaves together an emotional narrative with a spark of futuristic imagination. With just two episodes released, this drama is already touching hearts and bringing tears to viewers' eyes.

Here’s everything you need to know about Heavenly Ever After starring Kim Hye Ja and Son Suk Ku, including the cast, plot, a brief episode recap, and more.

Ko Nak-joon (Son Suk Ku) comforts his wife Lee Hae Sook (Kim Hye Ja) in heaven. (Photo from: @jtbcdrama)

Heavenly Ever After: trailer and plot

Heavenly Ever After follows the story of 80-year-old Lee Hae Sook (played by Kim Hye Ja), who spends her life caring for her bedridden husband and working as a loan shark to local shop owners. After her death, she meets her husband, Ko Nak-joon (played by Son Suk Ku), in Heaven, only to discover that he has returned to his 30-year-old self. Meanwhile, she remains at 80 due to a misunderstanding that caused her to choose old age instead of a younger version of herself, like those around her.

Directed by Kim Suk-yoon, the drama features Son Suk Ku, with whom Suk-yoon previously collaborated on the acclaimed My Liberation Notes. The series is penned by veteran writer Lee Nam-kyu, who has partnered with Suk-yoon on five K-dramas since their initial project, Old Miss Diary, in 2004. They also collaborated on all three Detective K period action-comedy films.

Heavenly Ever After recap: Episodes 1 & 2

Lee Hae Sook is adjusting to heaven with the help of her husband, Ko Nak-joon. (Photo from: @jtbcdrama)

Elderly loan shark Lee Hae-sook spends her days collecting debts and caring for her paralysed husband, Ko Nak-joon. After Nak-joon dies, Hae-sook follows not too long after that. Guided by a Grim Reaper, Hae-sook boards a train to the afterlife, where half the passengers descend into hell while the others, including her, reach heaven, stripped of their worldly possessions.

In heaven, Hae-sook chooses to appear as her 80-year-old self and reunites with a younger Nak-joon, played by Son Suk-ku. However, she soon faces challenges in their relationship with the arrival of So-mi, a woman from Nak-joon’s past, portrayed by Han Ji-min.

This heartfelt series explores love, ageing, and the mysteries of the afterlife. In the second episode, the series also shows us where our pets go after we pass. Spoiler alert: they’re in heaven waiting for us. The series portrayed these pets as humans, eagerly waiting to be reunited with their owners. Clips of dogs reuniting with their owners in heaven and even Hae-sook meeting the human version of her cat Sonya have been making rounds all over TikTok.

Meet the Heavenly Ever After cast

Son Suk Ku and Kim Hye Ja are the cutest K-drama lead couple in Heavenly Ever After. (Photo from: @netflixkr)

Veteran actress Kim Hye-ja takes on the role of Lee Hae-sook. She’s been in the game for decades and has delivered some unforgettable performances in shows like The Light in Your Eyes, Dear My Friends, and What a Woman Lives For. Everyone knows she has a knack for bringing real emotion and presence to her roles.

Opposite her is the talented Son Suk Ku, playing Go Nak-joon. He has a solid lineup of roles in A Killer Paradox, My Liberation Notes, and Designated Survivor: 60 Days. His charismatic presence is likely to add a new vibe to this unique love story.

Other cast members include Han Ji-min, Lee Jung-eun, Chun Ho-jin, and Ryu Deok-hwan.