The thread is now open for comments, analyses, and nuggets of wisdom.
It’s the ten-second pitch that sold me on this kdrama rather than the visuals of the actors. Facing the garbage…errr…the personal effects left by the deceased, the hero humbly introduces himself, “My name is Han Geuru from “Move to Heaven.” I’m here to clean up your belongings. I will now begin your final move.”
Here’s the official trailer of the show.
Let’s enjoy the show.
Hey @Packmule3!
I have to say that April and May are the best k-drama months so far!
There are so many things to watch! I am really invested in these series too!
Let us enjoy this!
I know, right? It’ll be hard to keep up.
I may have to delegate some threads to others here because May and June are my busiest months. Que sera sera.
@Packmule3,
Since I am in my first year watching k-dramas it is new for me too.
Everything will be okay I am pretty sure!
P.S. If you want any help with one of the threads, count me in! 🙂
@pkml3 Thanks! Gosh, is it Move to Heaven time already?!? Yes, how to keep up??? I’m so invested in more than 2 shows!!! I’m going to end up burying myself under.
@Cleo, which show’s thread would you like to hang out in more?
“Burying yourself under.”
As long as it’s not 6 feet deep, @GB, you’re still alive. hahaha.
(Okay, it might be different in other countries, but here in the US, the standard depth of graves is 6 feet.)
My lovely @GB,
I am currently watching the ongoings:
1. Taxi Driver
2. Doom at your service
and I plan to watch
3. Move to Heaven
(+ Navillera and Vincenzo that are already covered over here.)
I will be active on #Doom and #Move, since the TD is not covered here.
Hi @Cleo, OK, then we can come to this thread to chat more about this show and keep it running for BOD. If there’s much to say, we can ask for more threads to be added.
We’re already going strong for the “Doom” thread and @pkml3 should be adding more new posts on that show, so that one’s already ‘taken care’ of. 😉
@GB,
OK!
@GB @Cleo – I will join you on this thread as well as the HP rewatch and Throwback posts. Will watch MTH tonight! Excited to start the weekend… 7.5hrs to go and fully celebrate TGIF!!!
That’s great @Janey! So far I’ve not see the undubbed episodes up yet. It’s interesting that 4 episodes were put up but they are dubbed in another language whereas I prefer to hear the actors’ real voices in Korean. They are all subbed in English though. I will wait a while and see if the undubbed episodes come along.
I’ve just watched the first ep. of MTH. Tissue alert. 😭😢😭
If I may be the first to say it, the dad, played by Ji Jin Hee, is lovely in all ways.
I really liked the god’s eye view of the city at the beginning. All of the buildings, apartment blocks and houses reduced to little cubes and tiny divisions, like an exposed colony of ants. The dormitory room of the deceased was shown in its rectangular simplicity by the overhead camera as the cleaners emptied it out bit by bit until it was just an empty box. They even stripped the wallpaper, which I didn’t expect.
Haveen’t watched Move T Heaven yet but will do a quick catch up this week. Netflix is offering the whole series in the US, so it will be available. As some of you know I’m interested in portrayals of those on the autism spectrum so you’ll get a critique as my son who is now an adult is there. I hope theperformance is as good as the Baeksang Award winning Oh Jung Se performance in It’s Okay to Be Not Okay. I thought he did a great job. Also remember autism/Aspergers is a spectrum with a rainbow of different characteristics,behaviors, emotional issues. Before I watch this, given that it’s a drama, there will be at least one meltdown. Unfortunate, but it has become a trope. Also, one of the newer concepts is that we, neurotypicals,can’tbegin to fathom some of the superpowers of the ASD community(even innonverbal people).So I’ll definitely be diving in here. I also amcurious to see how these cleaners handle giving away the possessions of the deceased. I know that the surrogates court in my state goes into people’s homes without apparent family and ,iquidated the property, with funds going to the state and other entities until families/heirs are found.So any property that may have sentimental value is notavailable once heirs are found. I happened to be found by an heir search company that also found other first cousins. I represented us all at a court hearing that established our bona fides. It was a very interesting experience becauwe I was questioned by a table full of attorneys representing various interests in the deceased’-s estate,including the state attorney general, reps from other government entities and a few not forbprofits that the deceased gave to. My testimony helped to getthe remaining money but none if us got photos of livedvones that our relative had or other keepsakes. For me, this part of the drama also piques my interest. This is another example of how K Dramas incorporate jobs we would notbitherwise know about. So count me in…
I’ve read this article way back and remembered it with the MTH trailer. The death circumstances and country may be different but the clean up job seems to be the same. They strip and sanitize the whole apartment. Very sad… but much respect for the people who do this job.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/lonely-deaths-japan-die-alone-clean-apartments-japanese-industry-next-homes-clear-a8182861.html
Not bad for first Ep. My only gripe is that I can’t imagine how a fit man like JJH could die of a heart attack just like that. 😂. And I guess the people just walking past his collapsed body (on a pedestrian crossing 😳) was an indictment on people being callous in general? It was just sad to see our first death but I was heartened to see how much care and thought they put into the deceased’s “final move”. The actor playing the autistic son GeuRu is good. I loved the aquarium scene. His own little world. Serene. JJH is just beautiful as a man – inside and out. Pity he only appeared for 1 ep. Maybe we will get flashbacks. Wonder what happened to the mom?
The drama is inspired by a book that was written by a man who did this job in Korea. So he knows what he’s talking about.
I need to show it to my mum, she works with kids on the autism spectrum i school.
@nrllee, I think that the dad knew that he had a heart condition. As soon as he started speaking about how Geu Ru should learn how to fry an egg if he wasn’t there, or the fact that he went to an attorney, it seemed to be in the cards. It’s a pity his death happened so soon in the story.
Yeah it looked like it @Fern. 🙂. I was just having a rant. 😂 I like JJH. He’s my kind of Ahjussi.
Sigh Ep2 had me in tears. I love all the characters. GeuRu has my heart. And his gutsy protective bestie (granddaughter in Navillera) has me in her corner straight up. Sigh JJH flashbacks as he teaches his son…❤️😍. Felon Uncle with a bad attitude is the perfect foil. I had read about trauma cleaners before and the portrayal is very real. Especially of the forgotten. Those who died weeks, months, years before they are found. 😢. My utmost respect to people who are in this line of work.
I just watched first ep and noticed that they dropped 10 episodes in Netflix today! So 10/16 are available – quite different for a new series. This story is not really binge-able as it can be very emotionally taxing. It was a good start, reflecting on first ep and will share my thoughts tomorrow. Ciao!!!
@Janey, yes there are 10 episodes out. They were at first dubbed in another language, but I’ve checked Ep 3 and now it’s in Korean with Eng subs.
Geu Ru’s Shoes
Show has an artistic touch to it which sometimes makes shows obscure, but not this show which is very accessible. I like the little details like Geu Ru’s shoes left pointing outwards, so that he’s always ready to go, and in spite of having ASD, he is not in his own little world but faces outwards towards others.
The interspersing of the scenes of Dad having the heart attack and Geu Ru trying to find him highlighted the connection between father and son. Both experienced difficulties at the same in their effort to reach each other, and neither could move. Geu Ru would continue to do as his dad had done, keeping things the same. By the end of this show, we hope to see that he is able to move forward as the position of his shoes suggest.
The Embrace
It’s supremely touching that Geu Ru who had difficulty accepting hugs even from his dad, embraced his father’s urn and refused to let it leave the home.
We see the care that the Hans bestow upon a deceased person’s personal effects, and how they seek to observe what is left behind and to understand the deceased as a person, and not just as a number or a job. This is in stark contrast with the attitude of the relatives of Ms Lee Yeong Sun, the dementia lady, who would not visit her or touch her things to clean her room, but were prepared to handle her cash, that had been tainted by the bodily fluids of a corpse.
The Hans put aside each time, personal articles of each person’s life in a yellow box, to give the surviving family members a chance to at least bid farewell with something to hold on to. In a loving family, the yellow box is embraced, in lieu of the embrace that they did not get to bestow upon their beloved deceased.
A lovely, thoughtful show. May it make us more aware and considerate of the many people who live alone and may die alone.
It’s beautiful isn’t it @GB. The aquarium scenes are hypnotic. I can fully understand why GeuRu can stand there for hours and just watch every detail. Little details that are dropped about how much his father loved him are bittersweet. The cracked yolk. The hug – I liked that it was because dad was so proud that GeuRu picked up what was important in the situation, not because he achieved something noteworthy in the eyes of the world. The times spent together as father and son. The passing down of wisdom and decency. How he refused to let his Uncle sleep where his dad slept. I especially love JJH. How he spoke to GeuRu. Patiently. Sagely. I love how he still pops up in GeuRu’s life as a steadying force. Trauma cleaning really is stomach churning stuff. Everything that GeuRu reveals to Uncle is exactly as it is. Yet I love the dignity they afford the people that passed. They had stories to be told too. But I agree with @Janey. I was planning to just binge watch but I need to pace myself and just do one death at a time. It’s emotionally taxing.
Hello there!
I also watched the first Episode and it is going to be an emotional rollercoaster…
It is not a series that you can binge watch. You need to cherish one or two episodes at a time.
Yes @Cleo. I feel like if we binge watch we have missed the whole thrust of the drama? The trauma cleaners took time and effort to give dignity to those who passed. They were so careful in packing their belongings. Making deliberate intentional movements as they cleaned up. It would seem improper (?) for us to just breeze through all the eps instead of taking time to farewell them.
True @Cleo @nrllee @Janey, we need to take the time to savour each death, or life rather, I caught a bit of Ep 3 and am intrigued. I’m glad that we get to spend more time with Ms Lee Yeong Sun.
I feel pacing it at 2 or at the most 3 episodes at a time, to complete the little understanding that we can gain about each person is about right. 😔 😂
( `_ゝ´)
I was binge watching before I knew it. I wasn’t looking at the time and thought that the episodes might be combined, as sometimes happens in Chinese dramas. I’ve stopped now.
Yes, the father loved him so much. It looks like he learned sign language to aid their communication as well. It was a nice touch to show the intelligence and humanity of the deaf couple, when the employers were willing to think they could take advantage of them. I’m glad that he will continue to appear for a while, at least until Geu Ru is steadied by another or by himself.
I like @GB’s point that Geu Ru’s shoes are pointed outwards. It also shows that he is organised and like things streamlined so there is no faffing about – no additional thinking that must be done – when he goes out.
The actors are very good. I didn’t know that the actor who plays Geu-ru is so young; still only 17. He’s doing so well.
@nrllee, @GB, @Janey, @Fern
I think we need to realize that there are parts of our society we have neglected because of the fast forward our societies has embraced.
When things were simpler in structure, the whole tribe was there in the birth and in the passing of a member.
So in that context, I will enjoy the journey and the lessons given…
Someone mentioned the actor playing GeuRu was in CLoY?
I have in another thread @nrllee!
He is great here indeed!
@nrllee,
@Cleopatra is correct. He was the very youngest of Captain Ri’s soldiers; the teenager. The one who got teary when the South Korean army showed him aerial photos of his village and he could only think of his mother and siblings and the pretty azaelea hill above his village. He was the first to run and hug Capt. Ri when they met him in SK.
There is something beautiful about this drama that you’ve all captured so well. I only watched the first episode and I was a bowl of mush. The father son relationship tore me up.ThrbDaf was such a caring person who tried so hard to teach his ASD so life skills. The egg breakfast was so lovely. The hug killed me. The reverence for those who passed and their loved ones was so affecting. Geu’s friendship with his young girl neighbor was so heartening. And the incredibly beautiful aquarium scene where Gei diagnosed the sea creatures’ ailments gave me hope for Geu who I’m his own way could see what neurotypicals could not
It only wish that we could have gotten more time with Dad. I’ll won’t binge watch this drama. It is to be savored and thought about. I look forward to our horrible relative’s transformation and the journey including the bumps on the road. I hope that the production remains understated. Safe travels everyone.
Dear @OAL, I’m glad you’re with us on this trip. We’ll keep it slow. 2 episodes or so a week feels about right.
Did the rendition of ASD look convincing to you? It looked OK to me, but I only have a fleeting contact with my intern who has Aspergers and is neurodiverse, and he’s of course not exactly the same. But there are similarities, definitely.
Hi@GB, I’m enjoying this drama and crying through it.Have stopped at episode 3. The young actor playing our ASD young man is doing a wonderful job.He has the speech cadence down and dies the panic and sensory discomfort so well. Having spent a lot of time around these lovely people, I can say that he gets this perfectly. Some observations-watch h line up the food in the fridge, obsess pm tj My one quibble is that the houses of the deceasedinjured ray, not want to hug, be an stringent about rules, want an orderly house-all ASD behaviors. My one quibble is that he’s going into homes that are disordered and smelly.A lot of ASD people have heightened senses and would surely be experiencing great discomfort here. The assumption is that by wearing protective clothing and listening to music, our character is desensitized to foul stimuli. And also remember that ASD is a spectrum so behaviors can run from perceiveably “normal’to extremely impaired. So far MTH is doing a fine job here and by so doing, educating viewers too.
I agree @OAL with your assessment about ASD. It’s a spectrum and no one case is exactly the same as another. My nephew has ASD and whilst he was very particular about certain senses (he hates plane rides because of the “smell”, and he refuse to walk on the beach because of the sand between his toes), he didn’t mind being hugged (he welcomed it) and he wasn’t averse to just picking up poop with his bare hands 😬.
I find it fascinating how GR processes grief with the loss of his father. He must’ve seen it so many times because his job is inextricably linked to death and partings. There’s the full range from inconsolable sorrow (the deaf/mute couple) to callous indifference (the initial reaction of the son and his wife to the death of his mom). How does he process it because it didn’t look like his father prepared him for it? He didn’t know his father was ill? It’s plainly obvious that he misses his father but the poor boy just looks confused and disoriented. His grief comes out in different ways – his refusal to let go of his father’s ashes, his return to the aquarium and being overly concerned that the sick StingRay (?) would die, his refusal to let Uncle sleep in his father’s room, or let him use his father’s cup. He still made breakfast (?) for his dad?
@nrllee,What is so paradoxical about people with ASD is that they’re not unfeeling. Thesevpeople feel deeply but don’t express feelings like neurotypical people. GR is in deep mourning and he so misses his Dad. You can feel it viscerally. Oh Jung Se won a Baeksang for his performance in It’s Okay To Be Not Okay in a supporting role. But the young actor playing GR deserves the same kind of kudos for, what I think, is a much wider rolevinterpreting what it’s like on the spectrum. And my instincts as a mom would tell me he needs the kindbof comforting that he can stand. I’m so glad that the writer also gave the Dad comfort when GR consented to give him a hug.
On another note, when I was a young woman, my first “professional” job out of college was as a social services welfare worker in a New Jersey welfare office. When a c,ient passed away, because s/he was accepting public assistance, the welfare department was designated tocollect the property of the deceased to pay back the money spent by government on these needy people. Part of my job was to go into their homes (with a partner to prevent us from stealing) and inventory and collect their property. I only had to do this a couple of times and found that part of the job to be ghoulish. We didn’t bow our heads in prayer and had no contact with the family but we did go through people’s belongings. The people whose hmes I wentbto were impoverished andbhad little to nothing if any monetary value. We sortbofvwere like mini MTH workers. But my feeling was that I was being too intrusive. One if the homes I sent to was a single room occupancy hotel room that had been iccupied by an older man. When we opened hisclothes closet and drawers, we found mostly women’s clothing. His toiletries mainly consisted if women’s cosmetics and he owned a few wigs. Needless to say our late client had a great secret that we, as welfare workers, knew nothing about. I am so impressed by Mived To Heaven because GR and his Dad showed so much respect and bhonor to these deceased people. I wish I had known about this when I actually did this sort of work.This is another reason why I am so youched by this drama.
@OAL Thank you for sharing your experiences of mini MTH work. Yes, it is intrusive and one feels uncomfortable in that role. I imagine how I’d feel if strangers went through my personal things. I’d like to have a certain degree of respect accorded to me as well, even if I couldn’t see it. I feel that the respect given actually helps the ones who give it, rather than the ones who receive.
@OAL I know. People with ASD just don’t process feelings like neurotypicals. His head banging/melt down response is on point. Yes it’s easier by far to dehumanise the people who died if you’re a Trauma cleaner? Going through all their personal belongings would be much easier if you detach yourself? And just view them as “things” or “trash to be disposed of”? Imbuing the items with memories, as parts of a big jigsaw in a person’s life so that you “get to know them” would be emotionally exhausting? Yet they (JeungU – the dad) must think it’s a worthwhile endeavor. It gives their job meaning and purpose. They aren’t just “cleaners”. They are there to help a real person with their final move heavenward. Just like you would want removalists to be careful with the items in your home move in life, you would expect your treasured possessions to be treated just as well in death (your final move to your heavenly abode). So I applaud them for that.
The topic Sanditon being closed for comments, I will post here : they renewed it for seasons 2 and 3.
Hello all, it’s nice to read all your comments.
Especially @OAL: thank you for sharing your story when you’ve worked as trauma cleaners. It must have been a quite experience for you..
Well, I didn’t realize that I already watch the whole episodes. I’m on leave so I kinda binge watching everything hahaha. I just stopped at the 5th episode, and when the next days I continued, I finished all of them 🤭
I really like episode 1 and 2. I cried a lot in the first episode, made me hesitate to continue because it was too sad for me. But I was glad that the second episode and the third gave me a balance feeling, so I can continue.
I am appreciating how they do the work as trauma cleaners, right from they take off their hats, introduced themselves and asking permissions to help the deceased with their final move. I’m so touched how they try to figure out the messages of the deceased like solving the puzzle, and how they try so hard to deliver those messages to the ones that left behind.
I got a connection from watching move to heaven and sell your haunted house. In SYYH: the mother said to Hong Ji Ah that exorcism of the unrested spirit is actually also for helping the ones that left behind to continue with their life. I think that move to heaven – trauma cleaners also obtained this purpose through delivering the messages of the deceased to the ones who deserve them. So that they could process their grief properly, saying goodbye, and moving on with their life.
@nrllee, cleopatra
Yes Han Geu Ru is one of the captain Ri’s comrades: I’m glad that all of the comrades are “shining” on their own way now. Han Geu Ru (Tan Joon Sang) will also play in Racket Boys which I’ve been waiting for too. Racket Boys writer is the same as Prison Playbook, my one of the all time favorites. And seeing him so well portraying Han Geu Ru even made me can’t wait for Racket Boys to air sooon.
I also appreciate the acting of Na Mu here. I saw her soft sides on Navillera and she gives another vibe here, she has potentials too and I’m looking forward to see her more..
Unfortunately that this kind of series only have short episodes (10 instead of the usual 16), I think it deserves more episodes thoo 😅😅
Even though I watched the whole episodes, I hope you don’t mind If I join you all in the next threads. I love watching every episode that I want to read all your comments and going thru the details you’ll describe later which I might have missed on my first watch. Oh and I also want to know what are your most favorite “final move” so far and why..
🥺
Sure @moonstar512 just comment when something strikes you. Doesn’t NaMu mean Tree? I agree about the actress who plays NaMu and also the granddaughter in Navillera. I like her. She has potential.
Apparently every story is based on a true story? Which is sadder still to a certain extent.
Kalimera from my part of the world!
@AOL @nrlee Thank you for sharing your stories with us. I had an aunt that is not alive any longer and I believe that she was in the spectrum but when she was born back then, people didn’t even know what that was. As a child I remember her mostly, she always had a habit to drink coffee at a specific time.
@Moonstar512 I have commented about the actor Tang Joon-Sang. I was happy that this young man is portraying Geu-Ru. He is literally great. In the beginning his name didn’t ring a bell, until I watched the trailer. I wanted to watch it mostly for Lee Je-Hoon, who is great also in the “Taxi Driver”.
As for the series, during the weekend, I watched up until Episode 7. I really liked the story, not only with the trauma cleaning, but also we get feedback about the characters and especially about Cho Sang-Gu.
I stopped it for now, because it was too much for me, but it is one of the most beautiful series I have seen so far in 2021. Especially Episode 5 touched me in many ways. I will comment more when we all will be there…
Yes @nrllee NaMu means tree 😊
I didn’t know that every episode is based on the true story. Oh my 😢😢😢
@Cleo, yeah at first his name is unfamiliar for me. Many compliment his acting portraying someone with a spectrum.
I’m with you that this is one of the most beautiful series in 2021. I believe we will learn a lot from this stories.
My friend told me that JiJinHee died in MTH and I can’t watch that while watching him being a super cool husband, daddy and covert agent in Undercover. It will be traumatising 🤧🤧🤧 maybe later. Once I am done with Undercover.
I finished ep 1. A few teary moments but I really hope things like that don’t happen in real life! It would be too sad to get bullied at work, and cannot reach out for help (like HR or friends) and died alone like that. I hope there will be some justice for the parents later.
O good. I was waiting patiently to continue watching but stopped when the new MTH thread wasn’t created yet. But it’s now an Open thread so remaining eps here I come. 😬. I have my tissues handy.
I am getting Navillera dejavu? The lady ballet teacher showed up in Ep4? 😂. I am stopping now mid Ep5. Uncle’s backstory (and GR’s dad’s) was revealed. 😢. GR’s matter of factly replies have me in stitches. NaMu’s protective concern for him is touching and her sleuthing skill is something else. Gutsy. 👍.
Hey everyone,
@moonstar512 We will definitely learn a lot from these series!
I loved Episode 5 very much, but I think we are going to discuss Episodes 3+4 this time 🙂
@Viva good to know that you are around too!
@nrllee I haven’t seen Navillera yet. I want to finish MoV first!
Hi @Cleo and everyone!! Thanks for coming on to chat here about this lovely show. I feel we can discuss more than just Episodes 3-4, if we also include a SPOILER alert. Since all 10 episodes are out, some of us may have watched the entire series already, so we can cover more than just 2 episodes at a time. I was just suggesting 2 episodes because it’s not an easy series to sit through or binge watch.
I’ve watched up to Episode 5 and yes, this one really tugged at my heartstrings. This show with it’s multiple stories has me considering if I’m like Uncle Sang Gu and how I’d judge or want to be judged. It’s tough, (and even rage-inducing) to see the more sordid, unpleasant, but real reactions of characters to death and how they treat those who come into contact with it as ‘tainted’. And then, I have to ask myself how I’d react and what I’d be saying about a similar situation.
About Episodes 3 and 4 (MINOR SPOILERS BELOW) …
I’m pleased that show has given us a greater understanding of why Sang Gu was in jail and why in a way, he will still never be ‘free’. It’s great that although he has an attitude skewered towards some kinds of intolerance or lack of understanding, he still retains a code of honour, and has done nothing to disqualify him from being GR’s guardian. I believe I cheered for him when the death of Kindy Teacher Seon Yeong spurred him on to not let an abuser get away without a taste of his own medicine.
I’m concerned that the house has been put up for sale and that Na Mu didn’t appear to inform the lawyer about it. I expected her to. GR who cannot let anyone else touch or use his father’s things will be devastated if the house really got sold.
And I really like how show gives us the unexpected funny moments like how Sang Gu found the yellow box and expected Geu Ru to be happy and thank him or something, but how GR only had 1 aim in mind for that box and just took off with it. SG’s expression was so good. I like how he and NM sometimes just look at each other, non-plus-sed by what GR has gone on to do next and then take off after him.
I believe show will touch on different kinds of death, or death under various circumstances to give us a glimpse of the workings behind the scenes that take place in each case. I like that GR has gained the interest and attention of the lady Prosecutor and I wish she had more than a cameo. I’d have liked her to turn up again to offer GR a chance to use his amazing talents of observation and retention of every detail, in another investigation.
I continue to love how NM is intrepid and resourceful as she tries to suss out what Sang Gu is up to. And how she’s managing to join in with MTH while getting away from the control of her scary mother with some help. It’s so cute that she may have her own little love-line as well.
Just tell me how you want this to work out for you all. 🙂
If there are 10 episodes, I can split it up to 2 threads, to avoid spoilers.
Hi @pkml3, Thanks for the offer. I’m OK with anything. Since you’ve mentioned it, it might be a good idea to have Episodes 1-5 on 1 thread and 6-10 on another.
@packmule3, and @Growing Beautifully, I think that split is a great solution. Many thanks.
I am loving the aerial photography in this. I liked the drone view of GR trying to find the tailor shop and his route being traced like a map. It really does seem that the Heavens are looking out for him.
To all, is thrre some waybto know who all the cameos are? I am guessing that our families have famous Korean actors. I hope there’s a list. Am ,oving this drama. There are so many scenes thatbtug the heart. I finished watching this morning and can say, no spoilers from me, that it ended well. I also am sure there’ll be another season. Waiting for everyone to catch up. And I love the kid-he is very authentic. The depiction of ASD, to this dramas credit is not sensational. Bravo
@OAL Well, they may not be cameos per se, but they make an appearance for only 1 or 2 episodes. The actors named after the main cast in AsianWiki or Wikepedia, and where the number of episodes are mentioned after their names, will tell us which will make more than one appearance.
https://asianwiki.com/Move_To_Heaven
In wikipedia, the ‘Guest Appearance’ section lists them as well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_to_Heaven
@GB, Thanks so much. This drama is a real pleasure.
Hey my lovely @GB!
I am glad that you like Episode 5 that much like I did! I understand that is a story that it is not an easy subject, as far as I know in Korea. They handle it with so much care.
Also, I really like how we get to learn more about Sang-Gu’s background story.
As Geu-Ru said he is a good guy but with a perplexing way.
I am anxious to see Episodes 7-10, but at the same time, I needed to cool off from that emotional rollercoaster.
Hi @Cleo, I’m doing my cool off by re-watching Healer. All the great feels just come flowing back as I watch, and there’s so much that I’m only now noticing. I believe I’ll only continue again with MTH after the weekend. I’ll be overloaded with the HP Rewatch as well!
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@GB,
I was watching TKEM for the same reason! I have also to watch The Taxi Driver’s Episodes 13+14 and we are waiting for some angst!
So, I will try to cool off for now and then I will watch MTH!
See ya in HP rewatch party!
Ep1 was a very good start, it outlines the characters and also gives a template on what they do as trauma cleaners. I am touched that they take time to “listen” to what the dead person is conveying by the things/stuff they gathered and possible “unfinished business” that may have occurred given the timing of death is always unknown. It’s more than a business or service but a calling.
I wonder how and why they started with trauma cleaning. The dad is very compassionate and kind and has taught his son well. GR has the right skill set for piecing together these “stuff” and make sense of it. He is highly intelligent and intuitive, is also stubborn to make sure everything is close-looped and No loose ends. I liken him to his favorite manta ray, it is said to be more intelligent that the dolphin!
Ep2 then weaves the story of the lady with dementia who stashed cash under her mat. The cleaning part is ep2 but the “closure” is ep 3 and so I cannot help but move to the next episode to find out what happened. I did not even notice I was binging as they have done this from ep2 onwards.
Great sleuthing on Ep3/4 with the school teacher and obsessive bf. For ep5, what heartbreaking regret for the lovers. We can also see how the uncle is changing his mindset about GR and MTH and how it’s changing him. It is preparing him to deal with his “demons” in the succeeding eps.
I was curious about the yellow box and how small it is to contain the important items for the deceased. It seemed small but if carefully curated, it can have the most meaningful items that tell a story. I love the care that GR and MTH put in to the yellow box.
I wonder what my yellow box would contain?
@Janey same here. What would my Yellow box contain? I feel like I need to Marie Kondo my life to get there. 😂
@nrllee, I’d need Marie Kondo and more. I’ve been trying to purge since lockdown.
I started Move to Heaven as a break from The Tale of Nokdu, as that Kdrama was frustrating me. (I’ll finish it, and will likely be glad to have done so because I’ve already invested so much time in it, but I’d only grade TToN as average.) I was so sucked into Move to Heaven that I finished it in a couple of days. I can see that MtH could be extended by becoming something like a procedural drama, but the uncle’s story arc was dealt with well in just ten episodes.
By focusing on the puzzle of the deceased’s lives, this drama is able to introduce and comment on problems in South Korean society. Episode 1 delves into uncaring, exploitive employers. Episodes 2 & 3 look at family estrangement, greed, and a mother’s unconditional love. Episode 4 shows a woman’s vulnerability in a toxic relationship. Episode 5 depicts an unconventional love by South Korean standards and the difficulties staying in such a relationship in that society. I’ll save the summary of the other episodes’ themes for the MtH Eps. 6-10 thread.
This series is not only respectful in how the possessions of the deceased are handled, but respects the struggles and triumphs of their lives. Father and son centered their business on sussing out the most important points in the lives of the departed, not focusing on the ugliness of their deaths. When Han Geu Ru rattles off the technicalities of a decomposing body, I can imagine all the thorough, carefully delivered explanations he received from his father as they worked together over the years.
I find this show’s depiction of Autism Spectrum Disorder closer to my experiences raising a daughter with Asperger’s Syndrome than the character we saw in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. I ask my daughter for permission before I hug her, so seeing that in the drama rang very true. Han Geu Ru’s discomfort during his father’s hug despite his granting permission also rang true. (Personal story: During the year-plus since the pandemic began, I’ve only seen my daughter in person from six feet away while both of us were masked. Once my husband, daughter, and I all received our COVID-19 immunizations, we recently spent a day together, without masks, talking and sharing meals. When she was leaving to go home, my daughter asked ME permission to give a hug. That was a big deal, and one of the best hugs I’ve had in my life.)
I appreciated that Cho Sang Gu, the uncle, was presented as a complex character. He’s not all good, and not all bad. It’s a bit funny, and a bit sad to see how Han Geu Ru makes him toe the line in the home and at work, but heartening to see the uncle not push back cruelly. He’s willing to let Han Geu Ru be his ASD self, and in return Geu Ru comes to care for his uncle despite Sang Gu’s filthy habits. The nose picking…hah! Can you imagine the discussions about that between actor Lee Je Hoon and director Kim Sung Ho? “How deep do you want my finger to go?”
Shallow Islanders will appreciate all the scenes we get of a buff Lee Je Hoon with his shirt off, although for me the scenes inspired more pity than drool since Cho Sang Gu was forced into fights he didn’t want to be part of. But one scene I found entirely drool worthy was when Uncle and Na Mu discussed making a bet, and Sang Gu suggested a finger flick as the prize to the winner and punishment to the loser. When he mimicked giving a finger flick to Na Mu’s forehead and the well-defined muscles on his arm activated…wow!
I’m sorry to once again see the abusive & dominating mother trope in this drama, but I’m glad Na Mu’s dad has her back.
GeuRu mentioned his name means “tree”? I thought NaMu was tree. 😂. I guess they both are. When Uncle asked him why he was given such a ridiculous name, he said dad wanted him to contribute to the world as a tree does because it gives us oxygen, fruits and wood and a stump to sit on to rest. He told Uncle it was the second best thing in the world. And Uncle asked, “second?”. GR then replied, “The best living thing in this world is Han JeongU’s son, Han GR – dad said that.” ❤️❤️
I agree @Welmaris I love this depiction of ASD more. Probably because it shows us that they are able to contribute to society too? They are very unique human beings and we have so much to learn from them. We just need the eyes to see them. That hug from your daughter must’ve meant so much more knowing how touch sensitive they are. 😍
This is really a lively series.
I deal with death and grieving families quite a lot in my job, and really appreciate how the business Move to Heaven portrays it frankly but respectfully. I also like how the show portrays that death and the reactions of those around the deceased can vary wildly.
But episode 5 definitely turned on the waterworks for me. It was so beautiful and sad.
@Nrllee – MTH yellow box process is very special, maybe because they are 3rd party vs family and will be more objective? I would probably cull more special items for a person close to me. It’s tough to do a Marie Kondo even for my own stuff (excuses, excuses…) 😉
This may be in the later eps, Na Mu’s dad said to the mom, Na Mu as “tree” and Geu Ru as “one tree”, it’s fate and there’s no stopping the inevitable. I like that NM likes GR not just as a friend but also in a romantic sense – and the uncle picked this up, too!
Thanks @Welmaris for sharing your experience with your daughter and that special hug. ❤️
Ep5 is a bit different because the death did not happen at the home of the doctor. Despite that, the same respect and attention was given. I’m glad GR listens to the deceased and not the living relatives. Turns out that the rightful recipient of the yellow box is not the parents but his lover.