TVReview | This Siti Never Sleeps At Night

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

🔢 Seasons/Episodes Covered

Season 1, Episode 1-8

✨ Quick Spark

A community’s outlier, Eun Chae Ni, was dealing with a severe heart condition. Being aware that she was not going to have much time to live, she wanted to leave Haeseong City to see the world. But with no money, she planned to trick her rich grandmother, Kim Jeon-Bok, by pretending to be kidnapped, with the help of her two friends, Kang Ro Bin and Son Gyeong Hun. Unfortunately, things took a turn and she died. In panic, her friends were about to dump her into a secluded area but was found by Lee Un Jeong, a civil servant at the local city hall. Her body was accidentally thrown into a toxic chemical water. Un Jeong called the police and was reporting about the kidnap and murder when Chae Ni appeared behind them – alive. It turned out that the three friends gained superpowers. It led Un Jeong to investigate the mysterious incident. But it turned out that he, too, had supernatural abilities. Reluctantly, Un Jeong began to help the three friends navigate their newfound abilities and fight against a villain who threatened their city.

🪝 The Hook

Okay, I have to be honest: I stopped at Episode 1 and watched some other shows. It was quite boring in the beginning but what made me come back was Cha Eun Woo. Other than the fact that the man has an insane face card, his character is mysterious enough for me to want to know what is up with him. And I like that he took on this role. My image of him had always been the pretty boy taking on roles that are of popular high school guy that every girl fell in love with. Taking on this role which has a mysterious undertone fit him quite well. I almost forgot he is an idol.

Another thing that got me to stay and continue watching was how it reminded me of some true crime stories in Korea. One was Brothers Home and another was the cult – Shincheonji Church of Jesus. So, when watching, I was constantly reminded of these two stories. I’m not sure whether the writer of the show took these cases as inspiration but it’s uncanny.

🧪 Character Chemistry

All four characters actually make a really quirky group. You have the three outliers and then you have this supposedly clumsy, innocent young good-looking guy in the mix. I mean, it is a comedy so the idea itself is already hilarious to think about.

Aside from that, while I’ve seen other female leads with Cha Eun Woo, I think Park Eun Bin actually matched up well with him aside from Moon Ga Young (True Beauty). I still think Ga Young is his best but Eun Bin came in close second.

🚶🏽‍➡️ Pacing Check

I mentioned it before: It was slow and quite boring to begin with. So it took me quite a bit of time to get into it and continue till I finished it.

💤 Final Sleepy Rating

🥱 – For me. It could have been shorter than 8 episodes. Some felt a little bit draggy. I still managed to finish it because it is a funny show so you can watch it if you need some laughs though it does get a little bit dark/heavy at some moments. It is not to say that it is a bad show.

🧐 Status

Completed

✍🏼 Notable Mention

When watching it, you may be reminded of another show by Disney+ called Moving. Some people will undoubtedly compare these two shows. Personally? I like Moving.

Stay awake with me,
Siti