It’s been a while, isn’t it? To know why yours truly was on a hiatus, go here.

🔢 Seasons/Episodes Covered

Season 1, Episode 1-8

✨ Quick Spark

Gu Cheon was an orphan who lived in a temple up in the mountains. He, who had the ability to see spirits, was kidnapped by the King and was forced to resolve the supernatural issue that plagued The East Palace – The King’s son was haunted by the pond’s spirit. Gu Cheon, who also had the ability to travel to the spirit’s realm, and with the help of the hidden princess, Saeng-gang, who had the ability to hear spirits, defeated the pond’s spirit. But they found out that there were more secrets within the palace’s walls than just the pond’s spirit.

🪝 The Hook

I was really excited for this drama when I first saw the trailer. This may also be the fastest I’ve ever reviewed a show. It was just released on 17 July. And I was not disappointed. The show is quite similar to The Haunted Palace, if you have ever watched the show. But this is more epic. The spirit realm created reminds me so much of a video game and you know what? They should really think about creating a video game out of this. The world that the creators had created is so cinematically epic, I feel it would be such a waste to keep it only in the drama.

I also have to say this as a non-horror fan: While Netflix tags it as horror, which may make non-horror fans avoid it at all cost, it’s not as scary as I thought and I watched this at night. And that made me realize what made horror shows or movies horror – the sound effect and jump scares. This one has little to no jump scares because you know the spirits would appear anyway – you’ll get a clue in whenever the spirits whispered into Saeng-gang’s ears.

And one other plus? The ggeomeoksali. That little cutie patootie of a spirit the internetz is now calling Joseon era labubu. You would think the spirit is bad/negative but it is the one spirit that helped Gu Cheon everytime that guy was on the brink of death. Release this as a merch, Netflix! I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Look at it! It’s just a baby 🥹

🧪 Character Chemistry

The show is non-romance; it’s dark fantasy so I don’t expect romance for this. While there’s a bond between Gu Cheon and Saeng-gang, I’m not sure whether I want to call it as romance or call it as a bond created due to everything that they both experienced together. The romance, if any, is so thin, it’s as thin as a tissue paper. So thin it’s almost non-existent and it’s not the center of the plot. But that does not mean the two characters have no chemistry, they do. Very much. They knew they needed each other to survive and they were also willing to sacrifice to save the other. I’m excited to see more of them hopefully in Season 2. Yes, it looks like there may be one with that ending.

🚶🏽‍➡️ Pacing Check

It’s 8 episodes so it goes fast even with plot twists every time. You would think it goes one way and then it goes the other, it makes you pull an all-nighter on this show.

💤 Final Sleepy Rating

⚡ – I kept going “Next episode” that Netflix asked if I was still watching.

🧐 Status

Completed

✍🏼 Notable Mention

Two notable mentions: First would be that this is the first show for Nam Joo Hyuk after a long time since he finished his military enlistment two years ago. And what a role it is 👏🏼

Second notable mention: The soundtrack. The soundtrack is as epic as the show itself and how it has some Korean traditional instruments at play as well. So so good! If you’ve ever watched The Day After Tomorrow and you’ve heard the music and felt how it helped to create the apocalyptic world in the movie, the same here as well.

Stay awake with me,
Siti