The Heavenly Idol (2023) poster
7.5
Your Rating: 0/10
Ratings: 7.5/10 from 10,035 users
# of Watchers: 31,118
Reviews: 68 users
Ranked #5626
Popularity #423
Watchers 10,035

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 10,035 users)
  • Ranked: #5626
  • Popularity: #423
  • Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older

Where to Watch The Heavenly Idol

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Cast & Credits

Reviews

Completed
yohanstrix
58 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
Unnursvana
22 people found this review helpful
Mar 23, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
The title of the drama says pretty much everything that needs to be said about this drama before you start it and perhaps the mood this story carries with it. But then you read the description and it just gets even weirder. And the experience of watching it truly is out of this world. It’s mindless fun. It’s bonkers. It’s like some kind of fanfiction written by some kpop fan about their favorite kpop idol, but in a good way. I’m very glad I got to experience this.

I’ve been going through a bit of a long dry spell when it comes to kdramas for the last year or so, and I don’t exactly want to say that The Heavenly Idol cured it, but even as stupid and silly as this drama was I was always excited to watch the next episode. I looked forward to Wednesdays and Thursdays, because that meant the next episodes of The Heavenly Idol were about to come out, and I was going to have a lot of fun with it. And I have to give the drama some points for that. That’s how tv should be, in a way.

The Heavenly Idol doesn’t shy away from its ridiculous premise. In fact, it seems to just drive straight into the ridiculousness at full speed. It’s so silly and it knows it. And more importantly the drama seems to enjoy it, and I enjoyed that, even if it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense sometimes. But it will make you laugh and smile and feel for the characters. And that’s something.

There’s a certain simplicity and softness and gentleness to the male lead that we don’t get to see in a lot of kdramas, which I found refreshing and really charming. There seems to be a genuine friendship between some of the characters throughout this bumbling, odd plot that is just full of plot-holes and it’s almost like this story has just no sense of time. Things just happen, there is a different variety shows that the main character is on every other episode and things are not explained well enough, and you just have to take it as it is. It doesn’t really have a pacing issue, just a direction issue almost.

But then there is also this sincere attempt at theme with it’s critique of the kpop idol industry as a certain idol worship of these idols by fans with like gifts and such that the main character gains his powers from these odd tributes to him and other idols around him. It’s all a bit hastily done and I would have love to see it go deeper, but still does the job that it’s meant to do.

I do always appreciate sincerity in stories, and I love stories that even if they are not the best they feel like they, or the people behind them, are aware that they’re not that good but there is just a lot of heart put into it to bring people entertainment. I actually find it very charming, but I also love the silly but sincere stories. They are fun, if done right.

This drama is small, it’s low-key and doesn’t feel like it has a lot of money behind it. It’s not trying to be anything other than it is; a fanfiction on steroids. The characters are fun and sincere, but also so incredibly exaggerated. The plot makes no sense; things just happen that way because things have to work out somehow for whatever plot reasons there is. It just takes you on a mindless spectacle every week, which is just good entertainment if you are in the mood for that.

There’s a lot going on in this little drama, and I’m not so sure it managed to really do all the random narratives it threw at us justice, or built up the romance that wasn’t needed in this drama, but also why it feels like a self-insert fanfiction. But this was still something that was just pure entertainment. It was serving fun. At least in my livingroom. And sometimes that’s just enough. Sometimes that’s all you need. Something brainless and fun.

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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 10,035 users)
  • Ranked: #5626
  • Popularity: #423
  • Watchers: 31,118

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