After twelve episodes, Head Over Heels concludes its journey with a finale that is emotionally charged yet somewhat messy. Episodes 11 and 12 wrapped up Sung-ah and Kyun-woo’s relationships. The ending did not drag them—and us—through any kind of heartbreak. It brought us through a chaos of supernatural rituals and body possession.
About the Drama
TVN's Head Over Heels is a 2025 Romantic Fantasy Korean Drama, directed by Kim Wong Wan, starring Cho Yi Hyun, Choo Young Woo, Cha Kang Yoon, and Choo Ja Hoon as the lead cast. It is available on TVING and Prime Video globally.
Episode 11: A Goodbye That Hurts
The second-to-last episode kicks off in the aftermath of General Dongcheon’s death, which pushes Bong-soo over the edge and elevates him to his “evil deity” status. Sung-ah’s grief manifests in a bittersweet farewell date with Kyun-woo in his dream.
After that, Sung-ah vanishes with Bong-soo, leaving Kyun-woo with a promise that she’ll return before their graduation, which is a punch in the gut for me. Her actual absence from their graduation in the end feels a bit cruel to me, knowing that everybody—from Ku Do-yeon to Kim Jin-woong—cares so much about her presence.
The episode’s most powerful arc belongs to Kyun-woo. He was once a passive, ill-fated boy, but now he’s a determined young man searching tirelessly for her first love, Sung-ah. He even risks his safety with ghost-hunting missions. He even got caught by the police and was threatened with losing his archery license. Meanwhile, Yeom-hwa’s pursuit of Sung-ah adds another layer of tension, though her plan to kill Sung-ah to stop Bong-soo feels predictable.
Episode 12: Possession, Closure, and a Kiss (Finally)
The finale jumps a few years forward to where Kyun-woo is a star archer and Ji-ho has practically moved in with him. Sung-ah remains missing. Until Bong-soo—still inhabiting Sung-ah’s body—suddenly appears in front of Kyun-woo, and it throws everyone back into chaos. The early scenes are comedic.
Bong-soo’s antics, from bold fashion choices to an unexpected kiss with Ji-ho, are enough to make us laugh before the drama ramps up again. Eventually, we learn that Sung-ah’s body as a spirit vessel is cracking, and Bong-soo needs to leave her body ASAP, or she will slowly fade away.
Kyun-woo met her in her dream, leading to the long-awaited romantic reunion and a romantic kiss. However, the mechanics of Bong-soo’s transfer back to Kyun-woo’s body via a kiss feel unearned, especially in this show, which usually explains its spiritual elements.
The climax—Yeom-hwa and Kyun-woo’s self-sacrificial ritual—is emotionally charged yet messy. Sung-ah’s return to her shamanic powers—with the help of General Dongcheon—to stop the ritual and guide Bong-soo into the afterlife is undeniably satisfying. Though the solution (remembering Bong-soo’s real name) feels too convenient after three years of turmoil.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
1. The central relationships, particularly the warm dynamic between our trio, Kyun-woo, Ji-ho, and Sung-ah, and their classmates, are warm and grounding.
2. Bong-soo remains a fascinatingly contradictory character: a tragic victim, a villain, and sometimes, a comedic relief.
3. Ji-ho’s arc as the cool, loyal second lead earns him a spot as one of the genre’s best.
Weaknesses:
1. The ending feels rushed, with plot threads tied up too quickly for a proper emotional payoff.
2. Hui-na’s reveal is shockingly casual. After hiding her for 10 episodes and building her up as a terrifying presence, simply showing her face to the camera in a very casual way felt anticlimactic. I expected a grander or more dramatic reveal.
3. Yeom-hwa’s sudden redemption is unconvincing. She completely loses all her evil traits in the two final episodes. Yes, some characters grow, but this shift is too far—so are we meant to believe Yeom-hwa was “good” all along?
Several narrative shortcuts—like the kiss transfer and remembering Bong-soo’s real name—feel like an overly neat resolution.
Final Thoughts
Head Over Heels has been a vibrant, chaotic romcom with a supernatural twist. Its final episodes embody both its strengths and flaws. While the finale feels rushed, it still delivers the emotional closure craved by some types of fans.
The last scenes—Kyun-woo being a national archery athlete, Sung-ah embracing her calling as a shaman, and them sharing a kiss—offer a comforting sense of resolution. Still, I can’t help but wish the drama slowed down and gave time to explain the plethora of spiritual world rules.
Head Over Heels may not have a perfect ending, but it does leave behind memorable characters and heartfelt relationships.
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
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