‘Head Over Heels’ K-Drama Review – A Strong Start That Got Lost in Possession and Plot Twists
Head Over Heels tried to mix romance, fantasy, and tragedy… and dropped all three halfway through.
Korean Drama Name: 견우와 선녀 (Gyeon U and Fairy)
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime ← *Click for direct link*
Average Rating: 8.5/10 (Mydramalist)
My Rating: 5.5/10
One Sentence Description: A drama that promised heart and magic but delivered confusion, plot gaps, and an unearned time skip.
Trailer:
Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕
CONTENT WARNING:I hope you’ve already seen this show and know what the deal is. But in case you don’t, I felt like I should add in a little warning. This show has slight mentions of Suicide. And since this is a review, I do also talk about this (in relation to the show only). Please be aware of that before you continue and be mindful of it. Stay safe ❤️
Simple Description
Head Over Heels follows a girl who tries to save her first love from death while also figuring out how to send an evil spirit haunting him into the afterlife. Oh, and she’s a shaman.
⚠️Length Note: This post includes a detailed (and long) story breakdown. Want to skip straight to the review? Jump to the Review
The story opens with our female lead, Park Seong A, a high school student known as the Earth and Heaven Fairy Shaman, running out of a ceremony just to make it to her exams on time. Immediately, we meet her best friend, Ji Ho, who helps her sneak back into school so she won’t get caught. Back home, her spirit mother wants her to focus on her shamanic duties instead of school but Seong A dreams of going to university and living like a normal student.
That night, after helping a handful of clients, she meets Gyeon U and it’s love at first sight. He’s brought in by his grandmother, who says he’s been plagued with misfortune. After a strange dream involving an upside-down doll, Seong A sees Gyeon U literally walking upside down toward her. Translation: he’s near death. Naturally, Seong A decides she’s going to do whatever it takes to save her new crush’s life.
Back at school, Seong A tries to figure out how to get close to this mysterious boy… right before he shows up as a transfer student. Later that day, after saving him from an accident, she visits a powerful shaman called Flower Master who gives her some intense protection charms. The next day, she invites Gyeon U’s grandmother back, insisting he needs to visit her for the charms to work.
But Gyeon U—an unbeliever with a deep hatred for shamans—shows up and accuses Seong A of using people’s misfortunes to make money. While it looks like Seong A’s frozen by his words, she’s actually terrified… because now she sees a vision of Gyeon U drowning.
Turns out there’s a water ghost haunting the men’s bathroom. Seong A promises to help the spirit cross over, but when a group of boys (including Gyeon U) walks in, the ghost loses control and attacks him. Seong A starts splashing charm-water everywhere, accidentally soaking all the boys. Everyone gets stuck with cleaning duty, and Gyeon U becomes even more suspicious of her. Crisis averted? Not quite. There’s another ghost trapped in the school’s storeroom.
Before we get to that, Seong A and Ji Ho manage to get invited to Gyeon U’s house for dinner — a sneaky move so Seong A can hide more charms around his home. During dinner, we learn that Gyeon U grew up without his parents, and Seong A was adopted after being abandoned by hers. Emotional damage? Check.
The next day, rumors explode: turns out Gyeon U was a star archer involved in an arson case at his old school. Everyone starts talking, and he’s quickly isolated again. That night, his grandmother visits Seong A to share a quiet meal right before Gyeon U shows up and mistakes Seong A (in her shaman mask) for a con artist forcing his grandmother to work for her. And this time? He’s walking upside down in flames. This boy cannot catch a break.
The next day, Gyeon U heads to the storage room, where the ghost decides to start a fire and trap him inside. Seong A bursts in, finding him sitting in the flames, haunted by memories of the fire that started back at his old school—one that almost cost a friend’s life. He’s frozen in guilt and refuses to move. Thankfully, Ji Ho shows up with a fire extinguisher and helps them escape.
That night, Gyeon U’s grandmother visits Seong A and reveals the truth about his past and how he was abandoned and shunned by everyone, even his own parents, because of his bad luck. She begs Seong A to keep fighting for him. And it’s here we realize… Seong A’s been talking to her spirit this whole time. His grandmother’s gone. Now he’s truly alone.
Later, Seong A’s spirit mother, General Dongcheon, and a team of shamans perform a dangerous ritual to exorcise a powerful ghost haunting a nearby house. Things go horribly wrong. The ritual fails, the general is badly injured, and they end up sealing the house instead.
Later, Gyeon U, overwhelmed by grief and isolation, starts being followed by a suicide ghost. Seong A finds out and is determined to save him. She turns to the general, who gives her two options: Option 1 — Gyeon U has to want to live. Option 2 — Seong A can become a human amulet, repelling the ghost every time she touches him. She goes with option 2.
Cue a montage of Seong A trying every excuse to touch him. Later, Gyeon U starts practicing archery again, encouraged by the archery coach and as he shoots, the suicide ghost begins to fade. Finally, Seong A and Gyeon U meet on the school rooftop. Gyeon U starts to feel a strange pull toward her, and just like that, the suicide ghost disappears completely. Hooray! Seong A celebrates by high-fiving him—but “accidentally” locks her hand with his. And in the most shocking twist yet? He holds her hand back. Cue collective jealousy from the entire audience.
Gyeon U only has eight more days left of needing Seong A’s protection, so she gives him a stand-in human amulet to keep him safe when she’s not around. It’s a lip balm. Meanwhile, Yeom Hwa—a shaman influencer who used to know the general—shows up. Turns out she also knows Gyeon U and was hired by his parents to protect themselves from him. She throws salt at him, calls him “newly deceased,” and walks off like she didn’t just say the meanest thing ever.
Time passes. Ji Ho confesses to Gyeon U that he likes Seong A, Seong A and Gyeon U share a hug at the park when the lights randomly go out — romantic chaos at its finest. Gyeon U decides to join the archery team and as a welcome gift, the coach makes him run endless laps between the school and the haunted house.
While he’s running, Seong A meets Yeom Hwa for the first time, and they perform a ritual together at the same haunted house. Unfortunately, Gyeon U shows up mid-ceremony and sees them dancing. That’s when he realizes the truth—Seong A’s a shaman. And he hates shamans.
Seong A tries to apologise, but Gyeon U shuts her down. Meanwhile, the general and a group of shamans seal off the haunted house after discovering someone’s trying to turn the evil spirit into a deity. That someone? Yeom Hwa. The spirit needs to have killed 100 people — and it’s dangerously close. Meanwhile, Gyeon U starts connecting the dots and realizes every time Seong A touched him, it was part of a spell. Now he’s even more furious.
Later, Ji Ho finds Gyeon U filled with guilt, talking to an old friend from his previous school — the same girl who was caught in the fire. She still blames him, and he promises to never be happy again. Emotional damage: unlocked.
A few days pass, and Gyeon U finally starts to believe that Seong A’s been genuinely trying to help him this whole time. He also learns about her heartbreaking backstory — her birth parents forced her into shamanism because it made them money, and she was bullied in middle school because of it.
One morning Seong A witnesses the school bully being abused by his father. The boy runs into the abandoned house, gets possessed by the evil spirit, and Seong A follows him in — with Gyeon U close behind. The spirit jumps into Gyeon U, and Seong A realizes Yeom Hwa chose him as the final offering. What is her deal with him?
The evil spirit then makes Seong A a deal: if she can find him before Yeom Hwa does, he’ll spare Gyeon U. So while she counts, the spirit runs off like it’s hide-and-seek.
The possessed Gyeon U wanders around the city aimlessly until Ji Ho — who has no clue what’s going on — finds him, and they go play arcade games together. But the fun doesn’t last long. When the sound of gunfire goes off in the game, the evil spirit inside Gyeon U gets hit with war trauma flashbacks. Seong A shows up, grabs him, and the two take off running. She starts confessing that he’s her first love and that’s when we find out it’s actually Gyeon U in control again. Apparently, every time she touches him, the spirit disappears and Gyeon U comes back. They try to perform an exorcism, but the spirit’s too strong.
Meanwhile, Yeom Hwa passes out from spiritual exhaustion and gets rescued by the general and the flower master. Turns out Yeom Hwa was actually the general’s spirit daughter, and she once performed a forbidden ritual to bring back her dead infant.
Back at school, Seong A gives the evil spirit a name — Bong Su — and tricks him into touching her, which brings Gyeon U back. Time passes, and because Bong Su’s spirit is still inside him, Gyeon U’s spiritual senses start to awaken — beginning with his hearing. The catch? Once all five senses open, especially when he starts to smell ghosts, he’ll merge with the spirit world completely. In other words, there’s no going back.
With an archery competition approaching, Bong Su actually helps Seong A find a way to let Gyeon U compete without needing her constant touch. He tells her about a powerful amulet she can draw on his body to keep Bong Su dormant for the day — and surprisingly, it works. For a while. But Yeom Hwa isn’t done. She begins a ritual to merge her own spirit with Bong Su’s, which starts working and even unlocks Gyeon U’s ability to see ghosts. Seong A realizes what’s happening and launches a counter-spell. It works but it curses her as well. While all that chaos unfolds, Gyeon U wins his competition. Small wins.
After realizing how much Seong A’s been affected, he asks another shaman to pray for her. The shaman agrees but gives him a chilling warning: stay away from evil spirits — and whatever he does, don’t shed blood in their presence. If he does, he’ll never come back.
Back at school, Seong A notices a suicide ghost following one of her classmates. She heads into the boys’ bathroom to help, and long story short — Gyeon U gets cut by a knife. He passes out, and his spiritual smell and taste awaken. When he wakes up in the infirmary, he sees Seong A is sick and takes her home to care for her. Sweet, right? But when she wakes up and convinces him to practice archery, she notices something off — he doesn’t do his signature finger taps before shooting. That’s when it hits her: this isn’t Gyeon U. It’s Bong Su.
Bong Su casually tells her that he’s “devoured” Gyeon U and that the real Gyeon U’s never coming back. (Rude.)
Over the next few days, Seong A tries to treat Bong Su kindly in hopes of helping him cross over peacefully, but it’s not exactly easy. Eventually, she figures out she can reach Gyeon U during the “Ox Hour” — between 1 and 3 a.m. Bong Su wants to know Seong A’s true feelings one night and uses an amulet to stop Gyeon U from coming during that time. He listens and, realizing no matter how well he fits in Seong A still only wants Gyeon U, gets hurt.
In a surprisingly emotional move, he takes Seong A and Ji Ho to his friend’s memorial stone. He explains that before his death, his friend had asked him to deliver a ring to his mother but Bong Su died before he could. That’s why he’s still here. He finally buries the ring, and they leave.
After that, Bong Su insists Gyeon U is gone for good and starts pulling away from Seong A and Ji Ho. Ji Ho, desperate, works with Yeom Hwa and gives her Bong Su’s ring, hoping it’ll send him away. But of course, she lies. She wants to summon the Grim Reaper. Even though Seong A’s spirit mother stripped Yeom Hwa of her powers, the ring gives her just enough to pull it off.
Seong A and the crew scramble to keep the Grim Reaper away from Bong Su. Furious, Bong Su starts counter-cursing Yeom Hwa, and the Grim Reaper begins heading her way. But in a heartbreaking twist, Seong A’s spirit mother sacrifices herself as a human amulet, causing the Grim Reaper to take her instead. Everyone’s devastated.
A few days later — or what feels like it — Seong A and Gyeon U are on a date. Bong Su is gone, and they’re finally happy (idk either). Seong A kisses Gyeon U, throws salt on him, and promises to be back before graduation. Gyeon U passes out, and she walks away with Bong Su. When he wakes up, she’s gone.
Months pass. Seong A’s still missing, and Gyeon U struggles to keep himself together. He tries to stay busy, but the longing gets heavier by the day. He misses her. Then, in a twist, his old friend from the fire is finally discharged from the hospital. Turns out she was the one who started the fire all along, and Gyeon U took the blame for it. They part ways on good terms — a bittersweet closure to his pain.
Graduation rolls around, and Seong A is still nowhere to be found. The only silver lining? She’s not dead. Because if she were, she would’ve at least popped up in someone’s dream to say goodbye. (Small victories.)
Yeom Hwa offers to help Gyeon U find her and even gives him an amulet for protection. Over the next few months — maybe longer — he searches all over Korea for Seong A. Unfortunately, Yeom Hwa’s “help” comes with a catch: she actually plans to kill Seong A to permanently erase Bong Su, who’s now turned into an evil deity. Classic Yeom Hwa move.
Eventually, Gyeon U finds Seong A on a mountain and helps her escape from Yeom Hwa. But two more years pass, and she’s still missing. Gyeon U becomes a star archer, Ji Ho moves in with him, and everyone tries to move on. Gyeon U starts having dreams of being back in high school only to realize he’s actually inside Seong A’s dream. She hides herself to protect him. Fortunately, Gyeon U remembers a drawing on the classroom board and realizes it’s the house of the Flower Master. He rushes over and finds Seong A! Sort of. It’s actually Bong Su. (At this point, everyone in this drama needs name tags.)
Gyeon U brings Bong Su back to his house, and Ji Ho plus all their high school friends come to visit. Bong Su realizes Seong A should be there instead of him and finally tells Gyeon U how to help him cross over. The catch? Gyeon U has to die. Bong Su can’t cross over because he doesn’t know his name, and Seong A’s spirit vessel is cracking — she’ll die soon if Bong Su doesn’t leave her body. It’s a lot.
In a last attempt, Gyeon U enters Seong A’s consciousness and kisses her, successfully switching Bong Su back to his body. Seong A wakes up, and the trio share one last meal together. But the peace doesn’t last long.
Later, while Seong A’s in a deep sleep, Gyeon U secretly contacts Yeom Hwa, who agrees to perform an exorcism — one that will kill them both. The ritual begins, and as Seong A wakes, she reads Yeom Hwa’s letter about what’s happening. With all the deities gone, she begs for them to return so she can save them. Miraculously, her spirit mother and patron deity reappear and lend her their strength.
She rushes to the abandoned house where the exorcism is underway, bursts through the door (again), and helps take Yeom Hwa out. Inside Bong Su’s subconscious, Gyeon U discovers that the ring we saw earlier was actually Bong Su’s own ring, and the memorial stone we saw? It was his. His regret had always been not having anyone to deliver that ring to his mother. With that realisation, they finally learn Bong Su’s true name.
Seong A says a heartfelt goodbye, and Bong Su finally crosses over on his own. Gyeon U returns, and all is right in the world.
In the final scenes, Gyeon U competes for a spot in the Olympics while Seong A comforts a crying ghost boy. Gyeon U’s spiritual senses fade meaning he can finally live a normal life, while Seong A fully embraces her shamanism. The show closes on a sweet scene of Gyeon U kissing Seong A, both of them alive, happy, and together.
The End.
The Review
The Good
First Half = Chef’s Kiss
The first half of the show (up to around episode 8) was incredible. I genuinely thought this was going to be one of my new favourites. Usually, I juggle 2–3 shows at a time, but this one had me hitting pause on everything else. Watching Seong A try to save Gyeon U while hiding her identity? Pure entertainment. And the little sequences showing all the ways he could die each time he appeared? Brilliant. I thought we were getting a format where each episode would be her trying to prevent a new death while slowly revealing why she always knows what’s coming. The first part of the show delivered exactly what was promised, and I was here for all of it.
Bong Su Was Comedy Gold
Bong Su was an absolute delight. He was hilarious, unpredictable, and kind of stole the show the second he appeared. Even though he popped up out of nowhere, I loved seeing the drastic personality shift between him and Gyeon U. It felt like Gyeon U’s inner thoughts had a full-on life of their own. Random? Sure. But his personality more than made up for it.
New Celebrity Crush Alert
Choo Young Woo, why has no one told me about you?? Everyone is a fake friend (not really), and we have beef now (but I’ll forgive you in a few 😉)…
I forgive you.
He’s adorable in the absolute best way—gentle, quiet, with puppy dog eyes that hit different. Even though Bong Su had the humour, I’m way more obsessed with the soft, attractive Gyeon U moments. He’s officially on my elite celebrity crush list.
The Bad
Buckle up, this one’s going to be long. Let’s dive in.
Plot? What Plot?
One of my biggest issues with Head Over Heels is how we completely lost the original plot after episode 8. At first, it was about Seong A falling for a boy destined to die, trying to hide her shaman life from him (because he hates shamans), and helping him survive misfortune. All it needed was a dash of comedy with her running around, changing clothes, and explaining herself in ridiculous situations and it would’ve been perfection. And at first, that’s exactly what we got. He slowly opened up to her, she kept saving him from near-death situations, and it was fun watching her scramble to keep her secret.
Then episode 8 hits, Bong Su enters the chat, and everything shifts. Now don’t get me wrong, I meant it when I said I liked Bong Su. He was funny, and his lack of filter added a lot. But he came out of nowhere, had nothing to do with the original premise, and I still don’t understand where he came from or why the show pivoted so hard.
After Bong Su’s arrival, everyone’s problems outside of him just… vanished. The show became all about him. Which is ironic, because the characters kept saying they wanted him gone but after the hand-holding twist, they basically stopped trying. He was a fun addition, but this wasn’t what I signed up for, and the switch-up didn’t really work.
What Happened to Everyone’s Issues?
Another reason the second half was such a letdown? Everyone’s issues and traumas just disappeared once Bong Su entered the picture. Gyeon U’s abandonment, misfortune, and loneliness? Gone. Seong A started off as an outcast who smiled through everything, clearly masking her pain and then that thread vanished too. Her parents left her, but the show never really explored how that impacted her. In her flashbacks, she promised to stop seeing ghosts so they wouldn’t abandon her but wasn’t shamanism how her parents made money? Why would they want her to stop doing the very thing that funded their lifestyle? Why did they leave her behind? So many questions. So few answers.
Honestly, every character had deep emotional wounds that the show introduced and then promptly ignored. Even Bong Su had layers — PTSD, a desire to grow up, a longing for friendship and belonging — but none of it was really addressed. These issues were used to carry the plot instead of being woven into it. The show could’ve focused on Seong A helping Gyeon U learn to trust and be happy, while Gyeon U could’ve helped her to realise that it’s okay to be sad. She said she liked to brush her problems under the rug, so he could’ve helped her see that just because something’s painful doesn’t mean it has to define her.
The original plot had so much potential. They just needed to think a little harder and stick with it.
Bong Su: The Haunted House Trailer vs. The Sitcom Reality
Bong Su was fun, but a little disappointing compared to his haunted-house self. He’s technically a mass-murdering, curse-wielding, evil ghost, yet he’s about fourteen years old, giggling while running down a mountain, smiling, and wanting friends. It was cute, sure, but the disconnect was too obvious to ignore. I expected an older, genuinely evil spirit — not a lonely kid who just wanted friends.
And they never explained why a fourteen-year-old ghost had so much rage and power in the first place. He said he became a ghost because he couldn’t return the ring, so how does that become “evil ghost with 90+ bodies”? Honestly, the worst thing he did was talk casually to his elders. Even though, technically, he was older than them. Yes, he killed the general, but his real target was Yeom Hwa and we can’t pretend he didn’t have a motive.
It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it was a noticeable letdown. The haunted house version of Bong Su and the schoolyard version felt like two completely different characters.
A Rushed Ending That Needed More Time
I usually find 16+ episode K-dramas can drag a bit, but here? We actually needed more. Instead of skipping two years and conveniently disappearing, they should’ve fleshed out Bong Su’s issues and motivations. It felt rushed. Especially when Seong A is missing for two years, only to be found in a dream, and willingly goes back to Gyeon U’s house. You can tell they planned for a 16-episode run and then scrambled when it got cut to 12.
What made it worse was that neither Seong A nor Ji Ho got a proper happy ending. I wish we’d gotten an epilogue of her graduating or even a staged graduation with all their friends so she could pretend to be part of it. What’s her life now? No degree, no real closure, no spirit mother, just vibes. And Ji Ho? He faded into the background in the final episodes, moved out of Gyeon U’s house, and then… what? He said he missed Seong A, and that was it. He’s single, third-wheeling, and they couldn’t even throw him a love interest? Meanwhile, that random extra was in a relationship with the water spirit. What was that?
High School Trauma That Made Me Want to Scream
I never thought a little side story could make me this mad but the whole high school fire thing? I had to sit in silence and recalibrate my soul. The way my eye twitched… people would’ve started Googling psychiatric facilities nearby.
Tell me why — and I’m getting irritated just typing this — she bullied him, hated him, wished he was dead… for something she did. Gyeon U was wracked with guilt, promised to be unhappy forever, and he didn’t even do anything. Somebody help me. Why did they make it seem like his misfortune caused the fire, and she hated him for it, when she started the fire?
He took the blame. She stayed in the hospital and kept texting him things like “I wish you were dead.” And the show just let that happen. They could’ve easily made it his fault if they wanted drama but they didn’t. So why did she say she’d hate him forever? Why was he feeling guilty? Why did he keep taking her abuse when he was literally innocent?
We didn’t even get a full explanation of why she started the fire. It felt like the writers planned to unpack this in a 16-episode arc and then had to cut it short. If you can’t explain it properly, just leave it out. It didn’t add anything to the story anyway except rage.
Yeom Hwa: From Interesting to Annoying
Yeom Hwa started off strong as a solid antagonist who bullied Gyeon U and stirred up drama. But she quickly became repetitive and exhausting. How many times can you do something evil, fail, and still come back with just enough energy to cause more chaos? What was her actual goal? And why was Gyeon U and his grandmother always the target? What did she have against him? Her baby died, so I assumed everything was for the baby, but that was never clearly stated. She hated the spirit mother for her own problems, and her obsession with Bong Su was never explained either. Like girl, you’ve been cursed, you’re near death — maybe take a nap?
And then the ending really threw me. After the spirit mother died, Yeom Hwa’s evil streak just… vanished. I get the whole “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” theme, but she cursed the spirit mother and hated her from the beginning. Suddenly she’s working in the spirit mother’s house like nothing happened? Why did the shaman helper start working for her? Why did everyone act like she hadn’t caused a mountain of problems?
Also, for someone so heartbroken over her baby’s death, she had no issue watching a kid die in the beginning or torturing Gyeon U since he was little. The disconnection was real.
The 21-Day Mystery
Another thing I still don’t understand: the whole “21 days of death prevention” storyline. Why did it start right when Seong A met Gyeon U? He’d been plagued by misfortune his whole life so why did the 21-day countdown suddenly begin? Was it a death window? A curse expiration date? Did his misfortune just magically end after that? And why did all the spirits become evil the second they saw him? Why did his misfortune go away in the end?
Seong A made it sound like everything would be fine after 21 days, but the show never explained why. How did she even know about it? Just more plot holes in an already chaotic story.
Two Years in the Wilderness… With What Budget?
Small point, but kind of major: Why did Seong A leave for two whole years? And how was she not able to at least negotiate with Bong Su to show back up at the graduation? She seemed to let him have full control over her body and she didn’t seem to fight it once. Did she know two years of her life had gone by? Before he got caught, what was Bong Su’s plan? To stay gone forever? Would Seong A have let him do whatever he wanted with her body until she died? Was she really okay with staying trapped in that high school classroom for the next 60+ years while Bong Su lived? Like helloooo??
And how did Seong A even survive in the wilderness for two whole years? She lived a pretty average life before — maybe slightly above average — so how did she manage to go full off-the-grid survivalist? Bugs and berries? And how did Bong Su buy her a whole new wardrobe while she was out there foraging? She left with nothing, had nothing, and somehow came back glowing, with all new clothes and a smokey eye. Make it make sense.
The Final Two Episodes Were a Fever Dream
Then we get to the last two episodes, and it’s like the writers hit fast-forward and hoped we wouldn’t notice. The pacing was rushed, the logic was missing, and the two-year time jump made zero sense. How did everyone — Ji Ho included — just accept Seong A’s disappearance and move on?
I get that the classmates weren’t super close to her, but Ji Ho? He knew her way longer than Gyeon U. He liked her. And yet he said he missed her and then… nothing. I saw a comment that said Ji Ho became a background character after episode 10, and I can’t help but agree. What was everyone doing during those two years? How was she missing for that long and then found so easily? It felt like even Gyeon U gave up and moved on. And on one hand, I get it — life goes on. But on the other hand, why two years? And how did she survive?
There’s nothing more disappointing than a show that starts strong and then collapses under its own lack of proper development. In this case, it wasn’t just the ending, it was the entire second half.
Bong Su’s Anticlimactic Exit
Bong Su’s departure was another letdown. First, he said he needed to give the ring to his friend’s mother. Turns out there was no friend and the ring was his. Then he said he needed to know his name to move on. Turns out he already knew it. Then they made it seem like only an exorcism could send him off. Turns out he could’ve left on his own the whole time.
He ran away for two years to avoid being caught, and then just… left? Willingly? Some might say it’s because he loved Seong A more than he wanted to live, but what kind of love keeps her away from her friends and stops her from graduating? Since his arrival, he never wanted to leave and yet once he was back in Gyeon U’s body, he seemed to be ready to suffer through an exorcism and cease to exist forever. Why? Seong A was no longer in harm’s way so it didn’t make sense. Especially given his personality the whole time he’s been in the show.
Also, why did he write on the dream paper that he wanted to be an adult and then never mention it again? Why didn’t he talk about wanting to know his name or the ring thing? It felt like they added those details just to remind us he was a kid, but they didn’t follow through. Another subplot left hanging.
Foreshadowing? Never Heard of Her
Nothing hits better than a good foreshadowing moment that comes full circle. Like when Seong A said her dream was to graduate, I was hoping we’d see her achieve that. Or when Gyeon U’s grandmother said she sometimes apologises to him because he always assumes everything’s his fault, I thought we’d see Seong A do that later in the show.
But nope. This show had so many chances to bring things back in a meaningful way, and it didn’t. I don’t know if it’s because the second half changed direction, but all those early seeds were left to rot. It’s such a simple way to show character growth by remembering something small and acting on it later. But this show missed every opportunity.
The Small Things
Here are a few more issues I had that didn’t need its own section but I didn’t want to leave out.
Where Was the Misfortune?
Everyone treated Gyeon U like a walking disaster, calling him a jinx and blaming him for misfortune but where was the evidence? Sure, he didn’t start the fire, and we saw him get salt thrown on him occasionally, but that’s it. His family hated him… why? Flashbacks? Explanations? Anything?
If you’re going to build a character around being cursed, you have to show us the curse. Otherwise, it’s just empty drama.
Gyeon U & Bong Su’s Deal
What even happened with their whole deal? Gyeon U says he’ll let Bong Su use his body at school, then… he never actually lets him? Bong Su only gets out for like an hour a day during school. And somehow, he’s okay with that? His character felt all over the place. Sometimes threatening. Sometimes cute. Sometimes completely passive. Pick a lane, show.
What was with Kim Jin Ung’s 180?
The entire first half, in not most of the show, Jin Ung was the school bully. He picked on everyone and even kicked Gyeon U around that one time. So how did he just suddenly, decide to become besties with everyone? And why did he start dating a girl who looked like his dead dog? It was supposed to be cute but it was just weird. Then by the end he’s back at Gyeon U’s house laughing with everyone as if he wasn’t making all their lives difficult at the beginning of the show.
On top of everything else, we also have his random abuse subplot that led nowhere. Sigh, again.
Ji Ho Going Rogue
Ji Ho going to Yeom Hwa instead of talking to Seong A? Huh?? Totally forced. His best friend (and crush!) was literally a shaman, yet he didn’t even bother asking her about the ring situation? Why did he assume Yeom Hwa could handle it better? Especially when Yeom Hwa had always been out to get Gyeon U? This made zero sense and felt like lazy plot pushing.
Spirit Mother’s Questionable Favouritism
Why did the Spirit Mother go so easy on Yeom Hwa? She spent the whole time letting her schemes go unchecked, often at the cost of Seong A’s safety and happiness. Yeom Hwa even claims Seong A is her “replacement.” At first, I thought it was just manipulation, but now I’m wondering if Seong A literally was a stand-in for the child the Spirit Mother really wanted. It didn’t make sense, and it made the whole power dynamic feel off.
Seong A and Gyeon U’s date
How did Seong A and Gyeon U go on a date? The shaman woman told him that once he got cut, he was gone for good and yet we started episode 11 with him perfectly fine. I assumed she went into his mind or whatever but it doesn’t stand when Gyeon U’s been in a forest the whole time. It really felt like they just gave up at that point.
What I Would Do
Let’s make this quick because the fixes are obvious.
Fix the Story
Since the story switch in the second half was one of the biggest problems (along with, well, a lot of other things), that’s the first thing I’d fix. The first story could’ve easily stood on its own, so here’s how I’d do it:
The original setup had so much potential and could’ve filled all twelve episodes without needing a plot twist halfway through. In my version, Seong A and Gyeon U would actually help each other overcome their issues and traumas.
At the start, Seong A comes off as the cheerful outcast who smiles her way through every uncomfortable moment and pretends things don’t hurt when they clearly do. We’d see that continue throughout the beginning of the show. Whenever something embarrassing or painful happens, she’d laugh it off, and Gyeon U would slowly start to catch on. Maybe we’d even get a scene where she starts crying while laughing, trying to pass her tears off as laughter.
Gyeon U would be trapped in his “jinx” label, constantly blamed for things going wrong. We’d get flashbacks of him causing accidental chaos — bumping a bottle that sets off a domino disaster. His family would avoid him, and we’d finally see why. Maybe he overhears them talking about how he ruins everything. So when he pushes people away, it’s not just because they hurt him, but because he’s terrified of hurting them back or learning they secretly resent him.
And yes, in this version, he’d be the one who started the fire. Not out of malice, but as part of his misfortune arc.
Together, they’d help each other grow. Seong A would tell him he’s not cursed, just misunderstood (Or maybe he is cursed but we’ll get into that below). She’d show him that bad things happen, but not everything is his fault. They’d visit places where bad things happen without him being involved, proving that life is messy and unpredictable.
He’d help her confront her pain and learn that it’s okay to be sad. To deepen the arc, I’d add a subplot where Seong A gets cursed and her inner feelings start spilling out uncontrollably. Like Bong Su was Gyeon U’s inner voice, this curse would force Seong A to stop pretending. Maybe Gyeon U starts seeing a suicide ghost following her, and he becomes determined to help her the way she helped him. He’d stop caring that she’s a shaman and help her embrace it.
By the end, they’d both learn that pain doesn’t define them. Gyeon U would overcome his misfortune, and Seong A would learn to accept both the good and the bad in her life.
The Story with Bong Su
If Bong Su had to be included, here’s how I’d fix his arc.
Soft Bong Su
In this version, Bong Su wouldn’t be a super evil ghost — just very old (still fourteen) and stuck. Instead of being a chaotic ghost who’s just… there, he’d be a lost spirit tied to the ring like he originally claimed. The ring would actually belong to him, meant for his sister that he left behind, and his unfinished business would be clear.
He wouldn’t be a villain, just a lonely, restless soul. He’d possess Gyeon U and still bring his funny moments, but we’d also get depth — flashbacks showing his little sister, the war, and his guilt for never returning home. As Gyeon U learns more by talking to Bong Su’s “army self”, he’d start to see glimpses of Bong Su’s memories and piece together what he really wants. Eventually, Bong Su would find out his sister’s spirit is still waiting by his grave. In the end, he’d bury the ring, let go of his regrets, and reunite with her in the afterlife.
Evil Bong Su
If we wanted to go darker, the “evil Bong Su” path could’ve worked too. Instead of being a mischievous kid ghost, he’d be a man in his twenties who’s angry, jaded, and shaped by suffering. Maybe he grew up poor, exploited, and died alone at war, convinced that the world was cruel. Now as a ghost, he targets people he believes are symbols of that cruelty — rich snobs, bullies, fake influencers — because in his mind, it’s his way to ease his anger. When he does kill innocent people, it’s his belief that he’s saving them from the cruel world.
Then he meets Seong A and she’s the exact opposite of everything he knows. He sees her kindness, her optimism, her ability to smile even when hurt, and it frustrates him. Why isn’t she angry? Why isn’t she bitter? She’d help him see that not everyone is malicious. She’d tell him that yes, people can be cruel, but most of them are just hurt and trying their best to survive pain they don’t know how to handle. She’d explain that “hurt people, hurt people,” and use the school bully as an example; not to excuse the behaviour, but to show that pain often hides behind cruelty.
She’d also show him kindness. Real, genuine kindness. He’d learn that not everyone is out to hurt him. And while we all assume he can’t move on because of anger and revenge, what would actually stop him from moving on is his fear of facing his parents. He promised them he’d return and save them from poverty, but he died. He’d be terrified they’d hate him for failing. It was never anger, it was pain.
He’d eventually visit their graves and their souls would still be waiting — not angry, just relieved to see him again. In the end, he’d leave Gyeon U’s body, forgive the world, and walk into the afterlife with his family.
His Misfortune Deserved a Real Explanation
This was mentioned earlier, but let’s dig in a little deeper. Having Gyeon U’s bad luck just disappear out of nowhere didn’t make any sense and honestly left us hanging. Where did the misfortune even come from? And why did it magically vanish the second he got possessed? It felt like the whole “jinx” concept existed purely to make his backstory sound sad — nothing more. The writers clearly knew they were pivoting halfway through and just… dropped it.
In my version, his misfortune would actually have a reason behind it. Maybe it’s a curse. Maybe Bong Su was the one who cursed him, and that’s how he was able to possess him in the first place. Or maybe the rich man Bong Su worked for (in my version above) was connected to Gyeon U’s family line and swore revenge on every third generation and Gyeon U just happened to be that unlucky descendant. Then, when Bong Su leaves his body, he also lifts the curse, giving both of them closure. That would’ve tied everything together: why Yeom Hwa targeted Gyeon U, why he was so vulnerable to possession, and why his misfortune was so intense.
Yeom Hwa Would Actually Matter
Yeom Hwa was a mess. She was always losing, always on the verge of death, and always causing chaos for no real reason. In my version, she’d still be obsessed with her child and bitter toward the other deities, but there’d actually be depth behind it. Maybe she could only see her baby in dreams through dark spells, and she blames the other deities for never saving her child. Her revenge would be driven by grief, not just villainy.
She’d still manipulate Gyeon U because of Bong Su’s connection to him, but this time she’d be more than a one-note antagonist. She’d cause real conflict, win occasionally, and actually push the plot forward. In the end, she could either sacrifice herself to free Gyeon U (lifting the curse in the process) or get taken out by Bong Su after crossing a line one too many times. Either way, her story would end with impact, not confusion.
Epilogue Options That Actually Deliver
Option 1: She Makes It
Before she left, Seong A promised to be back for graduation, and this time she’d keep that promise. To avoid too many “how did she even show up” questions, Bong Su would still be inside her body. He’d care enough about her to let her attend one last important moment before moving on. In return, she’d promise to help him find his family and not stop until he could rest peacefully. There would be no two-year gap. Instead, Gyeon U and Ji Ho would help her while dealing with Yeom Hwa, who wouldn’t suddenly turn good in the end. She’d remain an obstacle until the second-to-last episode, when she finally dies. The point is, Seong A’s dream would come true.
Option 2: They Fake It
If she couldn’t make it to the real graduation, her friends would stage one for her. They’d show up in uniforms, bring flowers, and give her the ceremony she always wanted. It’s sweet, simple, and the perfect way to end the show. Everyone’s dreams come true. Including Seong A’s.
P.S. Ji Ho Deserves Love Too
Ji Ho would absolutely get a girlfriend or something. He’s earned it.
Final Thoughts
In the end, this whole show felt like the writers finished each page and never looked back to make sure the story actually worked. Plot threads were dropped, arcs were abandoned, and the pacing went off the rails.
I noticed that most of “The Bad” section included more questions than statements and that says a lot. The first half was forgotten, and the second half felt rushed and unnecessary. With only 12 episodes, there was no room to pivot from one massive plot to another with just four episodes left. The original storyline had so much potential that it could’ve easily carried a full 16-episode run alone.
And while I did enjoy Bong Su’s personality and yes, I’ve added a new celebrity crush to my list, that wasn’t enough to save the show from its missed opportunities. Honestly, I could’ve kept going with “What I Would Do” if I wasn’t already nearing the 20-page mark.
The moment they decided to add Bong Su and end it with a two-year wilderness gap — where Seong A survives off of Lord knows what while everyone else just moves on — was the moment it lost me. If you want my advice? Watch until episode 10 and make up the ending yourself. Sometimes, the only way to save a drama is to rewrite the ending in your head and pretend the last few episodes never happened.
And that’s a wrap! I was SO excited to write this one because, as you can see, I had lots to say.
Also, this officially is a new record for longest review yet! 18 pages! that’s like a child’s book size! I love having lots to say for my reviews so I hope you read the whole way through and enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed reading it!
Next week, we are righting a review on a show with the most disappointing ending I’ve ever seen yet! Spoilers? The male lead has played this kind of character before in an extremely popular Netflix drama!
That’s it from me and I’ll see you next week! 💕
Find Your Next Watch!
Main Cast
Cho Yi Hyun as Park Seong A
Choo Young Woo as Bae Gyeon U
Cha Kang Yoon as Pyo Ji Ho
Choo Ja Hyun as Yeom Hwa
Kim Mi Kyung as General Dongcheon
Yoon Byung Hee as “Flower Master”
Themes/ Genres
Fate vs. Free will, Shamanism and spiritual healing, First love and emotional baggage, Identity and dual lives, Misfortune and karmic balance, Secrets, destiny, and transformation
Romantic Fantasy, Supernatural drama, Coming-of-age,Mystery
Comments (2)
chelsea
August 18, 2026 at 4:35 pm
I’m currently watching this show and omg, I agree with you!! I watched it when it came out last year and I didn’t bother finishing it then because from around episode 8, the drama became a fever dream. I was really disappointed because it had such a strong start
Aya
August 19, 2026 at 5:53 pm
Literally! It was going so good. I don’t know why they pivoted so much 😪. I thought this was gonna be one of my favourites 🤧