In Head Over Heels Episode 12, there’s a lot to unpack. Things moved fast. Too fast, in some cases. It tried to wrap up multiple stories, but didn’t give them all enough space. The emotions were real. The cast gave everything. But the pacing didn’t let those emotions land the way they should have.
It all begins with Yeom-hwa. She placed an amulet inside a human-shaped figure, the same one Seong-ah gifted to Gyeon-u. That kicked off the final ritual. Meanwhile, Gyeon-u brought the possessed Seong-ah (currently held by Bong-su’s spirit) to Ji-ho. Yes, this possession twist has been building for a while.
Bong-su, a lingering child ghost with deep trauma, clung to Seong-ah’s body not out of malice, but fear of disappearing. The show used spiritual metaphors for abandonment and identity—but crammed them too quickly here. Ji-ho didn’t realize it wasn’t Seong-ah. Bong-su kissed him. It didn’t work. Seong-ah’s spirit didn’t return.
Bong-su’s Identity Crisis
Then, we see a small fashion show of Bon-su —this time wearing flashy animal print clothes. The kind that makes you stop and stare. He was clearly trying hard, but the moment just confused everyone. Around that time, Ji-ung came back from military service. When he found out Seong-ah had “returned,” it spread quickly. Their whole friend group came to see her.
There was a moment of joy. Everyone cried. Everyone except Bong-su. He looked lost. Still in Seong-ah’s body, he acted like her but didn’t feel like he belonged. He saw their love was for Seong-ah. That hit hard. He broke down. The celebration ended, and Gyeon-u asked how he could talk to Seong-ah.
That’s when Bong-su mentioned the “Hour of the Ox”—between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m.—a time when spirits can appear. Gyeon-u waited. Seong-ah appeared. He rushed to hug her, but once again, it was Bong-su teasing him. The teasing didn’t stop there. Bong-su kept annoying him throughout the day.
Ji-ho had to explain. Bong-su isn’t just a prankster. He’s still a kid, and he cares about Seong-ah too. He’s struggling like everyone else. That softened Gyeon-u. He returned home and apologized. But Bong-su made a strange request—he asked Gyeon-u to die in Seong-ah’s place. Gyeon-u agreed without much hesitation.
Here’s where things got more confusing. Bong-su said to him in her dreams, Seong-ah wouldn’t come out unless she thought Bong-su was inside the dream. Since they share the same body, they also share dreams. Gyeon-u pretended to be Bong-su inside the dream world. Seong-ah appeared in a classroom setting. But she quickly realized the truth—it was Gyeon-u, not Bong-su.
They hugged. She tried to leave. She was scared of hurting him. Gyeon-u reminded her of the dreams he had from her perspective, based on height and view. They admitted they both lied about doing fine during the time apart. They weren’t okay & they had missed each other; they kissed.
Entering Shared Dreams and a Bittersweet Reunion
At that moment, Seong-ah woke up. But now, the twist—Bong-su had moved into Gyeon-u’s body. Ji-ho figured out Seong-ah had returned just by the way she walked and smiled. Quietly, he left Gyeon-u’s place. He knew her heart had chosen Gyeon-u.
Seong-ah fell asleep. Gyeon-u (with Bong-su inside) kissed her cheek and took the silver ring. Yeom-hwa arrived, did a healing ritual, and left a letter. She then went deep into the forest to finish the final ritual. Bong-su’s spirit came out. But something was off. Yeom-hwa had wired money to everyone. It made people nervous—was this her final act?
She tied her fate to Bong-su’s. If they die, they die together. The flower master tried to stop her. He banged on the door of the abandoned mansion, but it was too late. The ritual started. Both Yeom-hwa and Bong-su vomited blood. The pain was heavy. In the middle of this, Gyeon-u saw a young soldier again in a memory.
The Ending Tries to Do Too Much
Seong-ah woke up from a vision. She realized she wasn’t just an ordinary girl. Seong-ah was a gifted shaman. She read Yeom-hwa’s letter, which said Gyeon-u might leave her heartbroken—but only because he wanted to protect her.
Seong-ah ran to the shrine. Her deities were gone. She and the flower master began a counter-ritual to stop the sacrifice. That’s when a powerful scene happened. The godmothers who had passed came back. They helped Seong-ah in a spiritual form. She returned to the abandoned house with them. Her powers now felt complete.
Seong-ah saved Yeom-hwa. But first, she asked Bong-su for his real name. At the same time, Gyeon-u had an emotional dream. He asked two soldier boys their names. One was imaginary. The other—Yoon-bu—was Bong-su’s real name. Seong-ah and Bong-su both felt it in their shared soul.
Bong-su cried. His spirit let go. His journey ended. One haunting gap here? Bong-su’s actual backstory. Why did his soul become an evil spirit? We never saw his regrets, or even his death, explained clearly. For such a central spirit, his farewell lacked the emotional history needed to make his goodbye feel complete.
Gyeon-u woke up, back in his own body. The soul of Yoon-bu finally left in peace. Later, Gyeon-u passed his Olympic trials. He lost all ghost powers. He could no longer hear, see, or smell spirits. But he was free. Seong-ah stayed a shaman. She had finally accepted who she was.
The drama ended with them laughing, kissing, and living simply. She was now treating people with spiritual problems. Gyeon-u was just happy being by her side.
A Bittersweet End That Needed More Time
Looking back, the final episode was rich but chaotic. The “21-day death countdown” for Gyeon-u disappeared too fast. The soul-swapping scenes were hard to follow. Every scene had impact, but the pacing made it hard to connect all the dots.
There was barely any backstory for Hui-na and Gyeon-u. Yoon-bu’s past also remained blurry. Yeom-hwa’s redemption was touching, but it came a little suddenly. Still, it was a happy ending. That’s rare in stories filled with death, ghosts, and lost time. The show had heart. It just needed more space to breathe.
Looking for more K-dramas with supernatural themes done right? If Head Over Heels left you curious but unsatisfied, check out Hi Bye, Mama, Hotel del Luna, or The Ghost Detective. These shows balance ghosts, grief, and closure with more consistent pacing.
Is Head Over Heels worth starting now that it’s complete? If you love fantasy dramas with emotional centerpieces and can overlook some pacing flaws, yes. It’s best watched with patience, knowing the ending rushes but doesn’t ruin what came before. Fans of bittersweet storytelling may even love the imperfections.
Which part of Head Over Heels finale hit you the hardest?
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Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
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