This review may contain spoilers
welcome back, Nam!
I really loved this drama! It's my first time watching a Korean horror-serise, and the cast's acting was solid all around. The CGI for the cute little Gumu following the male lead was great, and I really enjoyed his witty, comic-book-style inner thoughts.I also loved the dynamic between the leads—they didn't force an unrealistic romance amidst all the chaos, even though their subtle feelings and mutual care were clear.
The open ending definitely felt like the creators testing the waters for a potential second season if it hits big.
My only gripe was how chaotic the evil spirits became toward the end; new ones kept popping up out of nowhere, which was a bit confusing! But overall, it was a fun watch—welcome back, Nam!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Stranger Things But Make It Historical Joseon
I love love this drama until the last 1,5 eps.They set up so many things so well. The world-building and the lore is so good. The multilayered plot twist is just *chef's kiss* because they show you some parts of the story and make you assume things and then turn it all on its head. Best part: all of it make sense (and someone who watch many mystery stories would've probably saw it from miles away) because they actually plant them early on.
Then it's kinda fall apart when they introduce deus ex machina and they don't even bother to explain it or show it early on. There are also few things that they set up and complitely gloss over at the end;
1. Gu-cheon's eyes. It basically enchances his visions so he can see rain drops clearly(?). And ofc he can see spirits again. But they also make sure to point out how it affects him a few times but we don't actually know the side effect and what harms (if any) its caused to his body.
2. Primordial gwimae(?) and the chain. They suddenly appear in the last ep and we get no explaination whatsoever. Like what happeed after he defeat the crown prince? Where did he go? How did he come back? I thought the sword came with a price, but he's ok at the end? Why can he leave the palace if he still have the chain? So many many unanswered questions and things they decide to gloss over.
But it's pretty good horror, action, mystery drama. And to end this on a positive note: the baby ggeomeoksali is my favorite i love him so much.
Was this review helpful to you?
My type of K-Drama
This is the type of K-Drama that I absolutely love. Historical mixed with supernatural, I love this. It's a short drama, with only 8 episodes, but I couldn't stop watching. I loved the plot from the beginning and although it gets confusing here and there, I loved it. I want more dramas like this. And this is one of the few with no romance involved, which is something I hate.The music is amazing, the acting is amazing and I like the aspect of the spirit world interacting with ours... going as far as posessing them.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Joseon With Spooks
All of the previous reviewers covered this drama, The East Palace, very well. I will make other points. The Princess Saeng Gang (played by Roh Yoon Seo) always felt alone in this life, especially after her mother was murdered. No one understood her and thought she was a freak. Her father, the king, used to treat her like his loving daughter, when she was young; in truth, he despised her and even told her that she was just like her mother (he despised her too). The king wanted his strange daughter to live outside of the palace.Gu Cheon (played by Nam Joo Hyuk) was a man who did not want to do anything but sleep at the temple. He was dragged into the spirit problem at the palace. The king threatened him quite a bit.
Princess Saeng Gang and Nam Gu Cheon had a kind of small learning curve in how to deal with the spirits. After a while, she was glad that he was there. She could talk about things openly with him about spirits. The princess could see spirits only when she was a spirit in the spirit realm. A good example of this is when she chopped off her spirit brother's head, but he grew his head back.
I will talk about something else. Princess Saeng Gang started feeling very comfortable with Gu Cheon. She touched his hand, held his hand and even hugged him. He never pulled his hand away and even hugged her back. I believe she fell in love him and he developed a fondness for towards him. They became very protective of each other. The princess told asked her father, the king, not to hurt Gu Cheon. When the princess was missing or in trouble, Gu Cheon would go find her and rescue her. Oh yeah, Princess Saeng Gang had called Gu Cheon the most important person to her; when she walked to her grandmother after saying that, he thought she was talking about her grandmother being her most important person (she was referring to Gu Cheon). When he was thought to be dead by everyone, the princess believed he was alive, but missing his spirit. She went to the water and walked into the water, calling for him. After she got back to the palace, he woke up shortly after she got back. There was some more hugging.
The last episode (Episode 8) Gu Cheon was leaving the palace for the last time, Princess Saeng Gang made up her mind to go with him and stay with him. She had asked him, episodes before, about where he was going after the spirit problems was taken care of and he had mentioned about going back to the temple (you could tell she did not like that answer back then).
It was an interesting drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not a romance drama btw
The visuals are absolutely killer. I love how non-romance dramas somehow always have the best chemistry. The tension, the looks, the way they interact… like HELLO??? I was honestly so invested in them. And the cinematography??? Everything looked so beautiful and atmospheric. I loved every second of itWas this review helpful to you?
What Started as a Family Matter Soon Becomes Everyone’s Problem
Came for Roh Yoon-seo, but stayed for the story. I had no idea what the show was about at first, but I was hooked from Episode 1.The plot does get a little confusing in the middle, especially since some characters’ backstories aren’t fully explained. That said, it’s only 8 episodes long, so the pacing is pretty fast.
One thing that really stood out was the production quality. The budget clearly shows—none of the scenes looked fake, and I was completely immersed throughout.
I’d definitely recommend binge-watching this instead of spreading it out over several days, as it’s much easier to follow that way. Overall, despite a few confusing moments, it’s a solid watch that I’d recommend.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Gorgeous special effects and design
The drama is succinct while giving twists and turns in the 8 eps. The creature designs and the fantasy design work all look really good. The leads are likable and builds believable bonds. I like the cute little yang (and endless snacks) eating Ggeomeoksali buddy too. Definitely leaves an opening for another season with Gu Cheon's soul shacked to the supreme spirit, but it concludes well if it doesn't with princess Saeng Gaeng along and the big little guy heading to off palace adventures or misadventures together. The drowning travel aspect is already a enough to suspend disbelief over, but getting sword stabbed in the stomach is like but getting a scratch.Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful, eerie and completely captivating
This was such a pleasant surprise! I absolutely loved its dark, eerie atmosphere, beautiful cinematography and the way it blends historical fantasy, folklore, supernatural mystery and palace intrigue.The story does get a little complicated at times, especially as more layers of the mythology and the different secrets are revealed, but honestly, that didn't take away from my enjoyment. If anything, it kept me curious and wanting to know what was really going on.
I also really enjoyed the two leads and their dynamic. Their relationship develops naturally alongside the mystery, and I loved watching them slowly uncover everything together.
It has a gorgeous atmosphere, an intriguing story and just the right amount of darkness and mystery to keep you hooked. It's the kind of drama that makes you want to keep watching just to find out what is hiding behind the next door. And by the end, I definitely found myself wanting to spend more time in this world.
Was this review helpful to you?
worth your time
everything abt this show was portrayed so good, I loved the cast + the acting. the story unfolded really smooth. defo watching nam joo hyuk edits after this 😛 my phase has started again. if you start this, see it to the end tho !! it really is worth your time if you see the whole picture. I usually have lower expectations for last eps but I feel like the ending was just perfect, it tied it all together so perfectly. would love to see season 2 in the future w a bit more romance between the leads bc they click really well imo.Was this review helpful to you?
It gets better as it went along ...
This series took awhile for me to get hooked on it. after the initial episode, everything seemed to get so complicated and crowded with sub plots & new antagonists. I found myself really having to work in following the story. Though episode 4 the direction of this horror series seemed to be a bit confusing ... and then, it was like a new series.The last three episodes were fantastic, the story became intense, and the acting matched it as well.
Joo Hyuk became the protagonist to root for. His character became much more likable toward the end rather than he was in the beginning. Even Yoon Seo's character of Saeng Gang had a turn around by the end. I really found her character annoying early on, but the two main protagonists blended well together, giving us a great finish.
I almost gave up on it a few times through the early episodes, but I'm glad I stuck with it. It turned out to be a pretty good series.
Was this review helpful to you?
THE VISUALS ??
East Palace is one of those dramas that quietly stays with you long after it ends. ❤️ It isn't just about the mysteries hidden within the palace walls or the supernatural events that unfold—it's about the people carrying invisible scars, learning to trust, and finding light even in the darkest moments. Every revelation felt meaningful, every emotional scene hit harder than I expected, and the bond between the leads grew so naturally that I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning. The hauntingly beautiful cinematography and soundtrack made every moment even more unforgettable. By the final episode, I wasn't just saying goodbye to a story—I was saying goodbye to characters who truly felt alive. A beautiful blend of mystery, emotion, and hope that I'll remember for a long time. 🤍✨Was this review helpful to you?
The Unwilling Ghostbuster
The story opens with the King’s crown princes dropping dead one by one, with his third (eh or was it the forth?) prince getting sick and behaving like a possessed kid. The King has no choice but to seek help from the temple, despite not believing in spirits. Kidnapped and later coerced into doing some ghost-busting in the Joseon Royal Palace, Gu-cheon, a freeloader who is recommended by the temple ghost-buster monk, found himself granted by the King with a witty and curious ghost-hearing assistant, court lady Saeng-gang. A ghost busting job that started as the hunt for a pond spirit turned into a battle against an ak-gwi, a spirit with powerful resentment who has killed souls, all while fending themselves against the King who is worried that they would unravel the royal family’s 30yo secret.This is totally giving off The Haunted Palace vibe, though I must say this is definitely better with the actors not trying too hard at the romance thingy. Exactly the way i like it, if it’s supposed to be horror then do your horror thing and not distract viewers with those cheesy romantic scenes, I aint here to see that. Anywayyy, there are considerable plotholes that left me thinking “huh?” along the way, like how did Gucheon turn into a swordmaster in the spirit world but look like a clutz in the real world, and how the heck did he survive a cut across the throat, but i try not to think too deeply on it. One thing for sure, I liked the main characters Gucheon and Saenggang, a duo that started off suspicious and disliking each other but ended up sticking together even in life and death.
The villains here are really vile with a special kind of class, the King doesnt care about his own kids’ life and death, the Dowager Queen of course cares even little since the King isn’t born from her, though i gotta say, the King’s mother is probably the vilest of all. These characters made me thought why the heck do people fight for the throne so badly just to end up with such dysfunctional family with crooked and unhappy life in the end. Anyway, the actors for villains play their role really well I wished for the cruelest death for each of those characters real bad.
Love the BGM and the CGI is really good here, didnt look cartoonish at all, and that ggeomoksali is too damn cute. Gotta say korean ghostbusters really had the worst occupational hazard of all ghost-busters i’ve seen, they literally had to die first to even start ghost-busting. Not to mention need a lot of first aid kit for those palm cuts and blood loss after each trip 😫 no wonder Gucheon never wanted to be a ghostbuster.
SPOILER BEYOND THIS LINE_________________
The ending gives off kinda mixed vibe. Although i love it cuz the main characters survived, i also hated it because NONE of the villains had the vile endings they shouldve received for all the vile things they had done. Like for real. NONE. Justice definitely doesnt prevail in this story. The powerful remains powerful with just a tiny slap on the wrists. Urggg 😫🙄 So that kinda made me take off some stars off the story.
Was this review helpful to you?
