The Heavenly Idol (2023) poster
7.5
Your Rating: 0/10
Ratings: 7.5/10 from 10,306 users
# of Watchers: 31,762
Reviews: 69 users
Ranked #5720
Popularity #424
Watchers 10,306

Pontifex Rembrary, a character known for his divine powers, gets transported to a new world while fighting a devil. He possesses the body of Woo Yeon Woo, a member of an unpopular idol group, and helps turn the group's fortunes around after a disastrous live performance. With his charisma and divine powers, he becomes popular among fans but faces challenges from his past, contending with strange religious groups and the devil. (Source: CK Warrior at MyDramaList) ~~ Adapted from the web novel "Holy Idol" (성스러운 아이돌) by Sin Hwa Jin (신화진). Edit Translation

  • English
  • ภาษาไทย
  • Arabic
  • Українська
  • Country: South Korea
  • Type: Drama
  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Feb 15, 2023 - Mar 23, 2023
  • Aired On: Wednesday, Thursday
  • Original Network: TVING tvN
  • Duration: 1 hr. 10 min.
  • Score: 7.5 (scored by 10,306 users)
  • Ranked: #5720
  • Popularity: #424
  • Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older

Where to Watch The Heavenly Idol

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Cast & Credits

Reviews

Completed
yohanstrix
60 people found this review helpful
Apr 1, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

I have absolutely no idea why there are so many negative reviews about this drama

Listen.

I'd like to begin with the fact that yes, many people have different tastes and this might not suit some but it truly wasn't THAT bad as the majority comments say.

I, for one, enjoyed it IMMENSELY. In fact I came out, feeling sad that it ended.

Let's start with the storyline, shall we? There's not much spoilers in this little review but i tagged it just in case.

So it begins in a fantasy realm where our mc Rembrary is a very powerful healing figure. Then he transports to the actual human realm & switches places with a washed up idol Yeonwoo. Min gue did that drastic change in plot really well. You could FEEL Rembrary's confusion and anguish so really kudos to him.

I liked the corny parts too, the comedic bits didn't seem too overwhelming & out of place. It made me laugh out loud many times.

What I don't get is how people expected an aspect of realism when it's purely fictional, even a fantasy genre at that.

It started off good, the premise was promising and with only minor hits in between, it generally delivered well.

For one: i liked that the romance component was kept lowkey so we could focus on Rembrary AND the gigantic pile of tasks he had to accomplish to go back to his own realm. It also gave time and room for better development. Had the romance been early on, I really don't think I'd buy into it. Esp in the later episodes, where they have to MEAN alot to each other in order to take steps that they did to protect each other. Yall will know when you watch it. I think the transition from fan to friend to helper to lover was just fine.

So yes, a slow romance is better than a shallow one.

If I talk about the characters, I liked the mc, i could see him struggle and learn and care and bond. So yes. That made me root for him. Mingue really did the double roles well, i could distinguish between the two just by the look in their eyes.

FL, tho started off a bit shady (that saesang bit i got irked a little but they explain it later so idk but it gets better i promise), and i do feel like her backstory needed more weight perhaps? But she was actually smart and added to the resolution of conflicts rather than just being there as a place holder in the series. She's a capable woman who knows how to utilize her resources for the benefit of the team she manages. If not for her, Rembrary wouldn't have solved half the shit xD

The band members were enjoyable to watch. I wanted more depth to their stories but then again I realized it wasn't their story to tell and we had to focus on our mc. Still I would've liked to see more of them.

One complain i have is: NOT ONCE DID WE GET TO SEE WILD ANIMAL PERFORM IN THOSE GORGEOUS FITS PLS I WAS CRYING AND SCREAMING EVERYTIME THEY GOT INTERRUPTED JFKSKDKSKS

Anyways, the supporting characters were alright. Samjae was so cute and comedic, that man had nothing up there in the head except vibes and air.

Moving onto quite a few important topics that were talked about in the series which I haven't seen anyone acknowledge yet: the talks about mental health, the overall toxic environment that goes in the showbiz, how unpopular ppl are treated, how idols are reduced to nothing but dirt if they don't bring anything to the table, how hard it is to stay steaddfast when chances don't work in your favor, how taxing it is to keep hoping despite knowing it's going nowhere. Plus, there were a few discussions about human nature, selfishness, desires, greediness and goodness. The balance between the two.

So yeah. That was something to watch and think about.

I would say overall it wrapped everything up nicely. I did want the Evil One to actually do something, you know, evil but he was just a man desperate to be loved back.

The last few eps get slightlyyyy draggy what with the Redrin wind up and I thought her reasons didn't add up but like. meh. I didn't care enough about her. I just wanted my boy Rem to unite with the people he's come to care about.

The few plot twists that it DID have left me SHOOK. I did not see those coming at ALL. So kudos to the writer for getting some OOOOs and gasps out of me. That was something.

All in all, it was a good watch and i will definitely rewatch it. It's that light kdrama you search for after you're done watching something heavy. Shits and giggles, a bit plot, fun characters, cute dynamics, weird squads that no one saw coming AND REMBRARY HAVING GAY SCANDALS LMAOOO

I REQUEST you not to go in searching for something mind boggling or life changing (that I've seen ppl expect in the reviews here) bcs it's not. It's a simple plot, simple characters trying to navigate plot conflicts to the best of their capabilities. The good thing is it doesn't get boring. Atleast it didn't to me. It kept things dynamic and that made me not drop it and mind yall, im a very notorious dropper. If I don't like it, I drop it. So extra accolades to this series for that.

I would recommend everyone to atleast give the first 3 eps a chance. If it's up your alley, you'll have a blast and if it's not, well there's plenty of fish to pick from.

That's all I could write bcs i couldn't just watch it get absolutely shit on. It really isn't THAT bad. Kudos to the whole staff for pulling it off.

Hope this hot mess of a review helps someone discover their new fav drama. Happy watching everyone!!!

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Completed
ryoato
55 people found this review helpful
Feb 17, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 5
Overall 5.5
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 4.0

the dumbest kdrama I have ever watched

I’ve anticipated this drama since I heard Kim Min Gue would be playing the male lead. So far this drama is very funny and I’m enjoying it.

The fish out of water story can either go right or wrong for me. And with the approach being more of a comedy than anything else I’m really enjoying that. I need a good feel good drama that isn’t taking itself too seriously and with the first two episodes it does that. This drama isn’t anything too spectacular, not saying it can’t though.

The thing I don’t like is the female leads character Kim Dal. She is kind of a sasaeng with the following of this male idol. I don’t really buy into the romance if there is one between the two. It’s sort of hinted but I don’t think I’d like it and it wouldn’t make sense since this guy is completely different than the idol she’s been well.. idolizing. Hopefully she’s more of a helper than a lover. This guy so far is the least interested in the world he’s put in so I really hope they don’t get together like that.
The whole backstory of her character is iffy for me.. hopefully they don’t make it offensive but there is only so much I can say. I don’t buy into the whole idea of a romance forming, that makes this show more dumb. I don’t like how she hinders his success by telling him what to do, it’s her image of the perfect idol. Instead I wish the show would do more of the fish out of water, but in all honesty I think that mind wear itself thin. I like the content of him going about idol life but doing it in his own unaware way. Kim Dal sucks the fun out of that, and overall sucks the fun from this drama. That’s how it is for me at least.

I haven’t read the webtoon so this is coming from that sort of perspective.

Kim Min Gue does a really good job with his role(s). The concept of him being some heavenly figure being put into the real world is working now because of the reactions of other people. It’s hilarious this guy Rembrary working his way around not only being a guy in the real world but an idol that is expected to be someone he just isn’t. I like his nonchalant attitude and how he doesn’t at all know the concept of the idol and also many things about the human world. And that’s the most interesting part for me. So if this drama keeps up with these funny scenarios I’d really like it all the way through.

The whole plot is so out there so I wish that the writing went all the way with that. Sometimes it takes itself too seriously and that’s when I start to get really bored. I REALLY don’t want a romance from this drama with the two leads but I guess I’m expecting it. The plot with the devil is so boring. Shows can be engaging in all parts of it, this show isn’t engaging with its subplots. I want more of the idol doing promotions, etc. and the reactions of other characters to that. I don’t need devil plot being shown as much as it is because I don’t understand it nor care because I do not understand it. It’s one dimensional villian and I’m not watching this show for that much cheap tension. I’m watching because of the over the top plot.. maybe I should watch Welcome to Waikiki instead ..

Let me emphasize. That if the plot is stupid, at least be funny. It is a funny show without the whole ‘other world’ plot. The female lead kills the fun, it’s just getting old after each episode with her draining and draining.

The whole plot threads about self hate and suicide or so wrongly interpreted. Especially when you have the ‘devil’ giving a character depression.. the representation there is used as a plot device and I find it offensive how it’s done. I hate the Rizzle sub plot, I hate the devil sun plot, I hate the other world sub plot, the cult, I only like the idol fun happy things going on because that’s why I started the show in the first place. The mental illnesses aren’t treated like that
, they are to move the plot along and are cheap ways to try and get sympathy.

Down to the whole idol life it gets dull. The interesting one was the singing competition and after that it became unbelievably unrealistic yet so cheap and unoriginal. Especially the awards show, there was hardly any build up and it just seemed to happen all at once.

I’m really impressed by the other idol characters and the writing there with them. The dorm life scenes are fun and his members also play off this new character really well. I can put myself in their perspective because the writing is done with me knowing that they all were a group with the real Woo Yeon Woo.

Each episode takes more and more years off my life. This drama is just plain stupid. I can’t :(

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Details

  • Drama: The Heavenly Idol
  • Country: South Korea
  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Feb 15, 2023 - Mar 23, 2023
  • Aired On: Wednesday, Thursday
  • Original Network: TVING, tvN
  • Duration: 1 hr. 10 min.
  • Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older

Statistics

  • Score: 7.5 (scored by 10,306 users)
  • Ranked: #5720
  • Popularity: #424
  • Watchers: 31,762

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