Move to Heaven
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Move to Heaven is a dramatic series from Korea (dubbed into English for the U.S.) that focuses on a family who clean up people's homes after they've died. The main character, Geu-ru, is a young man on the autism spectrum who works to clean up and solve the mysteries of people's lives. Themes of death, remorse, reconcilliation, abuse, and family ties ground the plot. Some stories and job sites have graphic moments (e.g., maggots eating the jellied remains of a person who died, congealed blood where a woman was murdured). A family member is in a fight club where he beats people up and is beaten in front of an audience. Domestic violence and abusive relationships are explored. A character smokes cigarettes in many scenes.
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Heartfelt and interesting stories and themes
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What's the Story?
In MOVE TO HEAVEN, a young man and his father run a trauma cleaning business. It's their job to go into homes after a person's death and make the space ready for the next tenant. They clean the space, gather the belongings, and create narratives for surviving family members that help them understand what the dead person wishes them to know. The main character, a young man named Geu-Ru, describes himself as having Asperger's Syndrome; his neighbor explains that he is "special" and needs to be respected. Geu-Ru faces tragedy of his own, and is asked to adjust to new circumstances. He perserveres in business, but relationships are complex. He tries to accomodate his family, but will his family be able to adjust to him?
Is It Any Good?
This poetic and haunting series from Korea asks moral questions about being valued; it flows at the pace of clouds drifting across a spring sky, until the storm gathers and sudden change arises. Each Move to Heaven episode shows Geu-Ru, a young man on the autism spectrum, approaching a new assignment. Every traumatic death holds a story, which Geu-Ru puts together like a puzzle, packing the momentos of a person's life into a single yellow, cardboard box. Because he has neurological differences, Geu-Ru processes the traumatic scenes differently than his peers and his family. But this difference gives the other characters a jumping point to explore their own challenges.
The male characters clearly enjoy a freedom of expression that their female counterparts aren't privvy to; women are narrowly portrayed as loudly opinionated, shrewish, obedient, or compassionate. But there is plenty of tenderness, devotion, and moral exploration in this series that's great for teens, especially those who already love K-dramas. Adults who enjoy a mystery will appreciate watching the characters discover their strengths as they come closer to their true natures in the face of death.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Geu-ru faces his challenges in Move to Heaven. How does his neurological difference work to his advantage? What lessons can Geu-ru teach his family about perseverance?
A character smokes freqeuently in this show. How can we prevent our friends and family from smoking?
Geu-ru's friends and family keep track of his whereabouts and his wellbeing by using technology. How does technology help his communication skills?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 14, 2021
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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