Slowed part way through.
Aug 2026.Started strong and I was hooked, but the story did lose momentum just after half-way, with a pick-up at the close.
It wasn't spooky enough for me, because as the story began to centre more on Yeo-ri's past and its impact on the present, with the usual Chaebol shenanigans, the ghosts took a real back seat.
Some of the supporting plot arcs were quite emotional, and I was brough to tears a couple of times.
Some character's reactions to certain things/events I found very odd, and Gang-uk's grandma actually drove me nuts with how intrusive and controlling she was allowed to be.
A bit slow at times, lacked 'punch', nice cast though and a neat ending. I don't regret watching thus drama, but won't revisit.
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A total fun ride, but maybe don't expect a masterpiece! ?❤️
Okay, so I just finished binging Spooky in Love and I honestly have so many mixed feelings, but in the best way possible. Let's be real, is it the best K-drama of 2026? Probably not. Did I still stay up until 3 AM watching "just one more episode"? Absolutely.The chemistry between the leads was honestly so precious. Like, my cheeks actually hurt from smiling during some of their scenes. The whole ghost-meets-human dynamic gave us some hilarious moments, and the comedy definitely landed for the most part. Plus, the ghost effects weren't totally terrible, which is always a gamble with these types of shows!
That being said, the plot kinda lost its way in the second half. It felt like the writers had this awesome concept but didn't really know how to stretch it into a full series, so we got some unnecessary miscommunications and a few filler episodes that made me hit the 2x speed button. And don't get me started on the second lead syndrome... my poor heart.
Overall, it’s a super cute, easy watch. Perfect for a weekend when you just want to turn your brain off and enjoy some spooky, fluffy romance. Not a masterpiece, but definitely worth a watch if you love the genre.
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Script is not perfect but the chemistry is!
I had a ton of fun watching this. K-rom-coms have generally been a bit hit-or-miss for me since the shift to the compressed 12-episode format, but this one still worked... for the most part until ep 8 or so. I love both leads, and their chemistry was so convincing (IMO) that it made it easy to overlook some of the weaker aspects of the show.I am biased, though, since I've watched almost all of Yang Se-jong's previous work. He consistently nails every role he takes on, but because he usually plays more serious characters, it was such a treat to see him in a comedic role. His facial expressions were absolutely hilarious. That escalator suitcase scene I just died 5x over!
Reasons to watch this:
1. The leads are charming and carry the show on their backs
2. It's a fun, fluffy rom-com that doesn't demand much brainpower. In fact, the writers would probably prefer if you asked fewer questions.
3. Great OSTs
Skip through: those lame characters (no fault to the actors but just at the script level)
1. Ha-ri - girl has NOTHING to do all day every day
2. ML 2nd's - began as wallpaper and evolved into creepy
3. After ep 8 too much power struggle instead of solving ghost murders.
4. Prolonged stares .... ok I love a good slow burn romance but at some point it gets excessive
5. Product placement and added lines
6. Lazy writing in the end.
Overall this has been one of the stronger 2026 K Rom Coms but doesn't make any less frustrating when you see it goes down hill.
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Park Eunbin did very well in portraying a young heiress who, aside from being saddled with the responsibility of managing a huge conglomerate... she also had to deal with the unfortunate ability of being able to see ghost. I love how Eunbin was able to bring out the cold image of a CEO who needs to act strong in the face of many opponents in the business world, but also showing the vulnerability and loneliness that Cheon Yeori had to face due to her supernatural ability. Yang Sejong also did well in portraying the steadfast and goofy prosecutor who ended up falling in love with such a remarkable moment.
Something that I feel needs to be pointed out, as much as the writing may seem quite simplistic at first glance... when you try to delve deeper into the details, you can't help noticing the foreshadows that may seem trivial at first but then turn out to make a lot of sense. Like how there were several times Gang-uk was shown trying to do something cool to maybe 'impress' Yeori or to show his reliability, only to end up failing and making him look silly. While at first it may look like the silly scenes with Sejong were only written just for laughs, it turned out later that there's an explanation to why Gang-uk seemed to end up behaving that way. And it's quite impressive that, despite this being a short drama... the narrative progression between the supernatural plot, the everyday plot, as well as romance was done in a way that wasn't too heavy-handed. The characters were written in a way that's quite believable, and not too shallow or 2D just to fit the narrative.
While I haven't yet watched Spellbound, from which this drama was loosely based on... it's still quite impressive that the drama managed to squeeze out 12-episode worth of a story. Honestly, it's best not to have very high expectations and what to expect from this drama. I mean, from the beginning I already peg this drama as a light-hearted romcom with a touch of supernatural, and the drama delivered exactly that.
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Entertaining at First but It Lost Its Spooky Spark
Spooky in Love starts with an exciting hook and plenty of charm. The initial episodes set up a fresh dynamic with a supernatural ability, lighthearted comedy, and fun mystery-solving. Park Eun-bin and Yang Se-jong deliver strong performances, and their screen chemistry carries the early part of the story very well. The soundtrack is also catchy and fits the atmosphere nicely.However, the drama quickly loses sight of what made it special in the first place. Around the halfway point, the supernatural cases and spooky elements take a backseat. Instead of focusing on the ghost premise, the plot shifts heavily toward tired corporate politics, boardroom meetings, and repetitive family power struggles. The unique tone gets replaced by standard K-drama cliches that feel slow and uninspired.
The pacing also becomes uneven in the second half, with predictable conflicts and a rushed resolution. The villains are quite generic, and several interesting plot threads are dropped too quickly without getting enough development.
Overall, Spooky in Love is an easy and watchable drama thanks to its talented lead cast, but it suffers from messy writing and an identity crisis. It is worth checking out for the actors and the fun early episodes, but it ultimately falls short of its promising start.
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This review may contain spoilers
Heh?!
Im sorry but why the hell does Truck-kun keep appearing in K-dramas and trying to isekai people !!!??? Also slow motion while hitting her.... WHAT IS WRONG WITH KOREAN WRITER ???!! I suffered enough from DTY and now Spooky in Love too ??? Anyway Thought it was a ghost story but ending become something elseWas this review helpful to you?
Two dramas in one!
It was like the first and second half were two different dramas :pThe first half was genuinely so entertaining, it was hilarious, it was (actually) spooky, the chemistry was super cute. Then the second half did a full genre shift, the ghosts completely stopped showing up, it turned into a corporate drama (!!), the ML's grandmother became the most annoying old lady I've ever seen, and the spookiness was completely erased.
Also, the way they got together was so confusing, the pacing of their relationship was really odd to me. Neither of them had a scene where they actually realized what they feel for the other person, so the confession was just like?? oh?? fr?? and her reaction made no sense too, I didn't know what to make of it.
7/10 for the fact that I absolutely loved the first half.
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Watched it for the actors
I can’t believe that all the good actors picked this project. The story was unbelievable, so their acting is the drama’a great saviour.YSJ’s cute awkward character was so unlike his previous drama. He managed to pull it off while still being suave-at-times.
It was lightweight, with a ‘promise’ of romance and unreal it could only happen in k drama land.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the Most Entertaining Shows in 2026!!
I wasn’t expecting great things when I first started with this mystery romance. I experienced many firsts with this show. This was my first time watching Yang Se Jong in action. It was also my first time watching Ong Seong Wu in a negative role. I’m mostly used to seeing them in chocolate boy roles. Must say, he left me surprised. Our main leads have quite unique personalities though. Cheon Yeo Ri has been stuck with the misfortune of seeing ghosts for almost ten years. Ma Gang Uk is a righteous prosecutor, who works tirelessly against evil suspects & brings them to justice. They have an unexpected encounter when they accidentally discover a corpse together. From there, things spiral out of control because, initially, Gang Uk is suspicious of Yeo Ri’s intentions. Since they are strangers, she can’t exactly confide in him, that she can see ghosts or communicate with them. Hilarious circumstances bring them together when Gang Uk holds hands with her, and he begins to see ghosts as well.Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2026/08/24/spooky-in-love-series-review/#more-2555
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Fun, charming with a little bit of thrill
This was fun, charming and thrilling to watch.Like seeing Park Eun Bin acting and doing different roles. The leads chemistry was good and none of them was acting shy or annoying.
There a lot of funny scenes and I will always remember when he spit out the garlic 🤣🤣🤣🤣
You should see my face when Min Hwan pulled out 2 rings from the drawer…he is so delulu
What I didn’t like was that she was careful at every crime scene and decided to pick up the metal and to make herself look suspicious.
After that, she had 5 business days to move before the truck hit her.
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I'd say it's shallow, but charming
I'd say it's shallow, but charming.The first half was absolutely top-notch—the plot dealing with ghosts and the main characters' developing relationships. But the second half, with its corporate showdowns and investigations, was a bit dull. The creators failed to maintain the plot's momentum.
Nevertheless, the drama's atmosphere and the characters' interactions were very enjoyable, making it hard to put down.
I really enjoyed the actors' portrayals of the main characters—both Yang Se Jong and Park Eun Bin: occasionally touching and awkward, yet strong and responsible.
The drama is good for light viewing, although the writers did give us a bit of a thrill at the end of some episodes.
As for the visuals, I liked everything. Overall, I enjoyed watching it, and I don't regret the time spent.
I think this series will appeal to rom-com fans, even though the director didn't include a lot of kissing.
Rating: 7 out of 10.
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The Ghost of a Good Premise: Why Spooky in Love Loses Its Way
If the trailers sold you a full-on urban fantasy akin to Hotel Del Luna, or Sell Your Haunted House, prepare for some serious bait-and-switch. Spooky in Love opens with a hook that promises a charming blend of spectral shenanigans and high-stakes romance, but the supernatural vibe vanishes astonishingly fast.The story follows Yeo-ri, an eccentric heiress who uses her connection to the spiritual realm to do good, alongside Kang-wook, a brave, straight-laced prosecutor. Park Eun-bin gives it her absolute all, projecting a natural, stylish elegance reminiscent of IU in Hotel Del Luna, just with a slightly more realistic touch. Yet, even her captivating performance cannot save the show from its core problem: the supernatural elements lose steam long before the actual drama does.
Despite marketing itself as a paranormal romance, the ghost-centric premise disappears almost completely after the first few episodes. Rather than leaning into its unique premise, the plot quickly strays into tired corporate intrigue and predictable family drama.
The writing relies far too heavily on convenient script mechanics instead of genuine character choices, making emotional shifts, especially in the main love story, feel forced and unconvincing. To make matters worse, the addition of a tedious, boring second-male-lead trope only drags the pacing down further.
Spooky in Love remains a sweet, harmless watch, but it ultimately squanders the very feature that made it stand out, trading genre bending potential for safe, repetitive clichés.
The Good: Park Eun-bin's performance, great wardrobe, promising initial setup.
The Bad: Misleading marketing, abandoned supernatural plot, contrived romance, boring love triangle.
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