This review may contain spoilers
Don't judge a book by its cover
Viewers have expressed great disappointment in this drama for a number of different reasons. The first and foremost one is that it is not a detective style story. So if you are looking for a detective who hunts literal ghosts, this is not it. If you are a Park Eun Bin fan, try Ghost Detective for that style of drama.
However, if you are looking for a comedic, beautiful, mature, wholesome, intelligently written romance with a splash of horror, get ready for a wild ride of corporate and family drama, spooky ghosts (both literal and figurative), and a heart warming romance.
Summary: After a failed marriage attempt which would have solidified her position as CEO of the luxurious Reina Hotel and Siena wedding venue, CEO Cheon Yeo Ri fights to keep her position and inheritance from her aunt and cousins. Yeo Ri's fatal flaw, after nearly drowning in a yachting accident, she can see ghosts and even make others see them. Because of her condition, Yeo Ri decides to live alone in her family's isolated home outside the city. And after working hours, she takes up the hobby of tipping off the police on where they can find dead bodies. One night while confirming a ghost's story, she runs into Prosecutor Ma Gang uk, and her isolated life and world are turned upside down as the two buck the living and the dead for a final show down as to who and what will rule Yeo Ri's life and love.
While a stand alone drama, it is based on the movie, Spellbound, a romantic horror comedy found on Tubi. For those who have watched the movie, the screenwriter, Choi Jung Mi, expertly fleshes out the characters, themes, spirit, and essence of the movie while still paying attention to the tiny details to create a masterful parody of opposites to the movie (both literal and figuratively). For those who haven't watched the movie, this drama is an intelligent parody that plays on all the traditional and modern definitions, idioms, images, and symbols pertaining to death, spooky, ghosts, and love while poking fun at all kdrama tropes. The drama is an homage to one of the characters found in the movie who writes romcom dramas.
Story pitfalls: While for me the story stayed strong to the end, many viewers expressed their disappoint over it not being a detective style story, that the ghosts disappeared, and that they were using all the kdrama tropes. This was part of the parody as realism was not a factor in this drama. Even the over abundance of product placement became comical, but they illustrated the theme of the drama. However, for me, where the story fell apart was episode 12 with our second male lead. Despite all the build up for a true, don't judge a book cover theme, he falls victim to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Sorry, Choi Jung Mi, you should have written an illusion for him to keep with the theme of the movie and drama.
Praise to the editors and cinematographer on giving us a visually stunning drama that enhanced the "spookiness" with its meaningful ghostly illusions through the use of filters, mirrors, water, and split screens. It helped bring out the experience of watching a spooky magic show which is the main theme of the movie. Loved the bats that flew up and down in the closing scenes, an homage to a scene in the movie and a symbol of the main theme.
Praise also to the props people for researching and incorporating easter eggs from the movie as well as new ones to keep the motif of the movie running through every episode of the drama. Loved the owls in the Singapore arc and lions in the CL hotel. The costume department also went above and beyond in helping to maintain the theme of traditional vs. modern, especially with Park Eun Bin's clothing. Her clothing, while giving a modern look, symbolizes the traditional meaning of Korean colors but also her character's growing sense of self and happiness. On one of her white outfits, the buttons look like targets, and she is wearing it during the time when she is most targeted.
The music supports the drama really well, especially the music for the couple. One particular song, Love and Ghost, summarizes the main theme of the drama. The background music also provides the right amount of emotion for the scene.
In order to catch all of the easter eggs from the movie and new ones, I have watched this drama at least three times, so rewatch value very high.
Despite its slapstick comedy, this is a mature, witty drama. The play on words, idioms, and superstitions is hilarious. They even managed to poke fun at many of the dramas that Park Eun Bin has been in. I'm not sure about the dramas that Se Jong has been in as this is my first time watching him. Even the bathroom humor, which is a Korean trope in itself, is very mature.
So, don't judge this drama by its cover, take time to look underneath to find the beauty in what it means to be "spooky in love."
Happy drama watching.
However, if you are looking for a comedic, beautiful, mature, wholesome, intelligently written romance with a splash of horror, get ready for a wild ride of corporate and family drama, spooky ghosts (both literal and figurative), and a heart warming romance.
Summary: After a failed marriage attempt which would have solidified her position as CEO of the luxurious Reina Hotel and Siena wedding venue, CEO Cheon Yeo Ri fights to keep her position and inheritance from her aunt and cousins. Yeo Ri's fatal flaw, after nearly drowning in a yachting accident, she can see ghosts and even make others see them. Because of her condition, Yeo Ri decides to live alone in her family's isolated home outside the city. And after working hours, she takes up the hobby of tipping off the police on where they can find dead bodies. One night while confirming a ghost's story, she runs into Prosecutor Ma Gang uk, and her isolated life and world are turned upside down as the two buck the living and the dead for a final show down as to who and what will rule Yeo Ri's life and love.
While a stand alone drama, it is based on the movie, Spellbound, a romantic horror comedy found on Tubi. For those who have watched the movie, the screenwriter, Choi Jung Mi, expertly fleshes out the characters, themes, spirit, and essence of the movie while still paying attention to the tiny details to create a masterful parody of opposites to the movie (both literal and figuratively). For those who haven't watched the movie, this drama is an intelligent parody that plays on all the traditional and modern definitions, idioms, images, and symbols pertaining to death, spooky, ghosts, and love while poking fun at all kdrama tropes. The drama is an homage to one of the characters found in the movie who writes romcom dramas.
Story pitfalls: While for me the story stayed strong to the end, many viewers expressed their disappoint over it not being a detective style story, that the ghosts disappeared, and that they were using all the kdrama tropes. This was part of the parody as realism was not a factor in this drama. Even the over abundance of product placement became comical, but they illustrated the theme of the drama. However, for me, where the story fell apart was episode 12 with our second male lead. Despite all the build up for a true, don't judge a book cover theme, he falls victim to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Sorry, Choi Jung Mi, you should have written an illusion for him to keep with the theme of the movie and drama.
Praise to the editors and cinematographer on giving us a visually stunning drama that enhanced the "spookiness" with its meaningful ghostly illusions through the use of filters, mirrors, water, and split screens. It helped bring out the experience of watching a spooky magic show which is the main theme of the movie. Loved the bats that flew up and down in the closing scenes, an homage to a scene in the movie and a symbol of the main theme.
Praise also to the props people for researching and incorporating easter eggs from the movie as well as new ones to keep the motif of the movie running through every episode of the drama. Loved the owls in the Singapore arc and lions in the CL hotel. The costume department also went above and beyond in helping to maintain the theme of traditional vs. modern, especially with Park Eun Bin's clothing. Her clothing, while giving a modern look, symbolizes the traditional meaning of Korean colors but also her character's growing sense of self and happiness. On one of her white outfits, the buttons look like targets, and she is wearing it during the time when she is most targeted.
The music supports the drama really well, especially the music for the couple. One particular song, Love and Ghost, summarizes the main theme of the drama. The background music also provides the right amount of emotion for the scene.
In order to catch all of the easter eggs from the movie and new ones, I have watched this drama at least three times, so rewatch value very high.
Despite its slapstick comedy, this is a mature, witty drama. The play on words, idioms, and superstitions is hilarious. They even managed to poke fun at many of the dramas that Park Eun Bin has been in. I'm not sure about the dramas that Se Jong has been in as this is my first time watching him. Even the bathroom humor, which is a Korean trope in itself, is very mature.
So, don't judge this drama by its cover, take time to look underneath to find the beauty in what it means to be "spooky in love."
Happy drama watching.
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