The premiere of "Head Over Heels" kicks off with the enchanting introduction of Park Seong-ah, a high school student moonlighting as a shaman. As she hastily exits a ritual-laden ceremony, her sole mission is to race against time and make it to her exams. With the aid of her loyal friend Ji-ho, who aids her in sneaking into the school undetected, Seong-ah finds herself grappling with a daunting challenge: focusing amidst the chaos of her examinations.
Struggling to concentrate amidst the buzz of academic pressure and her responsibilities as a full-time shaman, Seong-ah makes a spontaneous decision to camp out at school overnight, hoping to immerse herself in studying without distractions. Upon returning to the warmth of her home, she encounters her spirit mother, who insistently urges her to prioritize her shamanic duties over her schoolwork. However, Seong-ah harbors dreams of attending university and living a seemingly ordinary life, a yearning that conflicts with her spiritual obligations.
Her shamanic practice soon commences, attracting an eclectic mix of clients seeking solace from life's hurdles. Among this diverse group strides Gyeon-woo, a man beset by a litany of misfortunes and reluctantly escorted by his grandmother. Recalling a bizarre dream that haunted her subconscious, Seong-ah beholds Gyeon-woo walking upside down—a chilling omen in the shamanic realm, signaling his proximity to death. Mesmerized by his rugged charm, she resolves to defy fate on his behalf, determined to steer him away from the jaws of doom.
Through a poignant flashback, we delve into Seong-ah's tumultuous past, where she had once embarked on a perilous quest to save a similarly doomed soul. Despite her valiant efforts, he perished in a tragic accident, an occurrence that nearly claimed her own life in the process. This harrowing memory serves as a stark reminder of the stakes involved—her benevolent act of defiance could very well cost her everything.
At school, Seong-ah often finds herself enveloped in a chilling solitude, yet she masks this isolation with a forced smile, as her classmates remain indifferent. Ji-ho stands as her solitary beacon of friendship in this sea of coldness. Little did she anticipate the unexpected twist when Gyeon-woo arrived as a new transfer student in her class.
Later that fateful day, while traversing the path home, Seong-ah's heart skipped a beat as she witnessed Gyeon-woo teetering on the brink of disaster. Instinctively, she leapt into action, her determination to shield him from harm burning brightly. Driven by this newfound resolve, she sought the aid of a renowned shaman, seeking potent protective charms to safeguard Gyeon-woo.
The following day, Seong-ah's exhaustion caught up with her, her eyelids growing heavy until she succumbed to faintness in class. The rest of the day was spent in the tranquil confines of the infirmary, her plans to bestow the charms upon Gyeon-woo thwarted. Undeterred, she donned a disguise, transforming herself into a mysterious shaman. With a voice imbued with urgency, she contacted Gyeon-woo's grandmother, insisting that he visit her for the charms to unlock their power.
However, Gyeon-woo, a skeptic of spiritual matters, saw through her disguise, accusing Seong-ah of using spiritual beliefs to prey upon the vulnerable for monetary gain. As he departed with his grandmother, Seong-ah's mind was engulfed by another haunting vision – Gyeon-woo struggling and drowning in a watery grave. The harrowing realization struck her like a thunderbolt; this could very well be the fate awaiting him.
In the meantime, another pupil encounters a watery apparition in the lavatory, ultimately requiring hospitalization after a harrowing second encounter. Observing damp stains creeping up the bathroom walls, Seong-ah ventures into the gentlemen's restroom, confronting the specter with stern yet compassionate words, pledging to guide her spirit to peaceful rest. Just as she makes this solemn vow, a crowd of boys bursts in, Gyeon-woo among them, causing the already unstable ghost to lose all semblance of control and lunge at him. In an instinctive move to shield him, Seong-ah dashes blessed water at the ghost, yet instead of gratitude, Gyeon-woo's frustration intensifies, leaving the scene on a tense note as the episode draws to a close.
