Heavenly Ever After finale recap and ending explained: Kim Hye Ja and Son Suk Ku get their happy ending but fans are disappointed

Time of India

26-05-2025

Heavenly Ever After ending explained: JTBC's fantasy romance Heavenly Ever After wrapped up its 12-episode run with an emotional finale that brought closure, tears, and a bit of peace to longtime viewers. Directed by Kim Sok Yun (The Light in Your Eyes, Behind Your Touch) and written by Lee Nam Kyu and Kim Su Jin, the drama starred Kim Hye Ja, Son Suk Ku, and Han Ji Min in a story that explored love after death, reincarnation, and the grief that lingers through lifetimes. While the show opened strong with a unique concept and heartfelt moments, it struggled midway with pacing issues and underdeveloped side plots. Still, the final two episodes delivered the emotional weight many fans had been waiting for.
Heavenly Ever After episode 12 recap
In episode 12, Ko Nak Joon (Son Suk Ku) completes his final earthly duties and returns to the afterlife, where Hae Sook (Kim Hye Ja) prepares to visit Lee Young Ae (Lee Jung Eun) in a dream to give her lottery numbers. Wearing wings, as Nak Joon had suggested, she ensures Young Ae remembers them clearly. But just as Young Ae heads out to play them, she spots Jang Gi Hwan, who still owes her money, and decides to chase him down instead. Though she misses her lottery chance, her encounter with Gi Hwan hints at a new romantic beginning—he even buys her shoes to help her run more comfortably next time. Back in the afterlife, Nak Joon and Hae Sook meet with a reincarnation consultant to discuss living another life together. While Nak Joon initially pretends to go along with it, he eventually reveals he's unwilling to risk putting her through more pain. They've met 23 times in previous lives, and each time, he's hurt her. He wants her to live freely this time. He carries her to the edge of the reincarnation gate, and with one final goodbye, she steps into a new life—alone.
Heavenly Ever After ending explained
The final scenes flash forward about 70–80 years. In her new life, Hae Sook lies in a hospital bed surrounded by her family, quietly passing away. As her spirit prepares to cross over, she finds Nak Joon waiting for her. She asks him if she lived a good life, and he simply replies, 'You did.' They embrace, and in that moment, it's clear: he waited for her. He never reincarnated. Som-I, played by Han Ji Min, was not a literal person but a reflection of Hae Sook's grief over her son's death. She was never meant to reincarnate. Lee Young Ae didn't get rich off the lottery because she got distracted by chasing Gi Hwan instead. Ko Nak Joon's choice not to reincarnate was intentional—he wanted to allow Hae Sook a life free from suffering caused by their past.
Fans react to Heavenly Ever After's ending: 'Happy this is over'
Fans took to the r/Kdrama subreddit to share their thoughts on the finale, with many expressing disappointment over the overall execution. While Son Suk Ku and Kim Hye Ja were praised for their heartfelt performances, viewers felt the drama dragged at times and criticised the extended focus on Han Ji Min's character Somi, calling it unnecessary and drawn out.
One user expressed their frustration writing, "Not as mad at this drama as I was a couple of episodes ago, but I do feel like it was a missed opportunity. The overall plot is interesting, but the execution left a lot to be desired (even with such a great cast, who gave us some really good performances), and I found the writing lacking at times. But anyways, happy this is over."
"This drama is a wasted opportunity. I wish the writers had taken their time creating a concept that could possibly influence many people to live better and to know that their loved ones are waiting for them in the afterlife. As what Hell Master said, heaven looks boring. They dragged that Somi storyline longer than it should. There are so many plot holes, and the ending isn't satisfying. It started well but ended flat," another user mentioned.
A third fan penned, "The center director goes down to earth and runs into Nak-Joon. The two share drinks, and he reveals he and his wife knew each other in many past lives, too. This deeply upsets Nak Joon because of what he sees. The couple meets with a program that follows people who reincarnate. Nak-Joon keeps lying, saying he's on board with the idea. Eventually, the two prepare for their reincarnation and exit heaven. On the way, Nak-Joon carries Hae-Sook right to the end and explains he won't be reincarnating this time with her too. He reveals that they've actually met 23 times already, and he's given her a hard time in all of them. Thus, he wants her to live happily and better without him down there," a third user wrote.
A fourth user noted, "I just want to take a moment to appreciate Son Sukku and Kim Hyeja's incredible acting. Even with a significant age difference, they portrayed a married couple so naturally and with such genuine chemistry that it never felt awkward for a second. Their connection felt real and effortless. Honestly, I wish we had seen more of them together—I kept wanting more scenes of their relationship. The fact that no one, not even knetizens, seemed uncomfortable with the age gap says so much about the strength of their performances. It's a true testament to their talent."
Check out more comments in the Reddit thread below:
Will Heavenly Ever After return for season 2?
As of now, JTBC has not announced any plans for a second season. Given how the story wrapped up—with Hae Sook and Nak Joon reuniting after decades and finding closure—the drama feels complete. The ending didn't leave major cliffhangers or unresolved plotlines, which suggests the series was intended as a one-season story.
All 12 episodes of Heavenly Ever After are now streaming on Netflix!
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