Set during a fictionalized version of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, The East Palace is a new Netflix Original K-drama looking to make a splash amongst the platform’s extensive international programming. Part period drama, part dark fantasy horror, with a dash of romance and comedy, this limited series follows an irreverent spirit slayer (Nam Joo-hyuk) as he is forced to hunt the vengeful spirit that’s eradicating the ruling dynasty. With the help of a court lady (Roh Yoon-seo) who can hear the dead, this unlikely duo will have to put themselves in danger on behalf of the King (Cho Seung-woo). If you’re a fan of Korean dramas, this just might be the next title you’ll want to add to your queue.
Opening Shot: From a point of inky darkness underwater, we zoom out until we see a royal palace and its surroundings, doused by heaving rain at night. An injured man staggers through the downpour and seems to cut himself down with a sword.
The Gist: His Highness the Crown Prince is found dead at dawn, making him the third East Palace Crown Prince to die at the hands of a lingering, wrathful “pond spirit.” The Queen dowager is distraught over the loss, imploring the stoic King (Cho Seung-woo) to recall a similar instance 30 years ago that killed all of the Crown Princes but him. While the King publicly rejects the existence of spirits and judges the Queen dowager’s reliance on a man who is supposedly the capital’s best shaman (Lee Hong Nae), he is privately shaken up. Determined to stop the pond spirit from killing his last son, young Prince Yeongan (Jo Dan), and wiping out the royal line, the King turns to the monk who helped solve the original issue 30 years ago. While this monk is now too old and frail to assist, he offers up his protege, lowborn Buddhist monk Gu-cheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), who has the unique ability to see and slay spirits.
Gu-cheon has no respect for anyone, including the crown. He’s lazy, rude, and stingy with his unique gift. He refuses to help the King, leading him to get kidnapped, brought to the East Palace, and forced to either get rid of the spirit and save Prince Yeongan or die. From there, Gu-cheon drags his feet to lift the curse from the royal bloodline, causing the King to send his estranged illegitimate daughter, Saeng-gang (Roh Yoon-seo), to spy on Gu-cheon and keep him in line. Distant from her father and not considered a member of the royal family, Saeng-gang is a court lady who is haunted by mysterious past events and an ability to hear the dead. She and Gu-cheon immediately get off on the wrong foot, his impertinence and callousness clashing with Saeng-gang’s propriety and sense of duty. She genuinely wants to help save the Crown Prince, but with the boy on death’s door, Saeng-gang must push Gu-cheon to act if there’s any hope of stopping the pond spirit.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? The East Palace may remind you of other historical fantasy K-dramas like Alchemy of Souls, Arang and the Magistrate, and The Haunted Palace. Certain parts of the series, namely the eerie parallel “other world,” killer curses, and vengeful spirits in need of exorcising, could also recall Stranger Things, Mononoke, and the 2004 horror movie The Grudge.
Our Take: Based on the first episode alone, The East Palace is off to a promising start. The show is immediately elevated by cinematography so good that I honestly thought my vision had improved, it was that crisp. Gorgeous landscapes flank the remote royal palace, helping to construct a unique universe within the series that pulls you in, transporting you to another place and time, somewhere between fantasy and reality. The sets are well-made, and the period typical costumes are similarly impressive, adding to the richness and legitimacy of the overall world.
The horror was mild enough that a scaredy cat like me could handle it, but still full of enough eerie imagery and dark tales that it feels different from your average K-drama. I liked the supernatural elements and how they’re anchored in human struggles, misdeeds, and emotions. The bits of humor were a little goofy compared to the serious and grim moments in the show, so people might have mixed feelings about that, but generally, the comedy is more of a break from the tension than a detractor from the drama. The pacing felt quick, throwing you into the action and not dragging too much (which hopefully will continue to be a theme throughout the eight episodes and their 46 and 59-minute runtimes).
As for the characters and their relationships, I do have some mixed feelings. Based on the pilot, none of the characters feel super fleshed out, though I did like what I was seeing from Saeng-gang. I found Gu-cheon’s brattiness to be a bit tiresome, which is perhaps the point of the character, so we can see his growth by the end of the series, but it’s occasionally hard to root for or feel connected to him. Additionally, I can’t quite tell if Nam Joo-hyuk and Roh Yoon-seo have good chemistry or if their characters just argue enough to manufacture the illusion of it. Either way, this is me nitpicking (it’s only Episode 1!), because I generally enjoyed watching The East Palace and found the pilot’s cliffhanger leaving me eager for more.
Performance Worth Watching: Roh Yoon-seo stands out as Saeng-gang. Not only is Saeng-gang the most likable character in the pilot, but she is also more than meets the eye, with intriguing depth that Yoon-seo portrays with vulnerability, strength, and easy charm.
Sex And Skin: None in the first episode.
Parting Shot: Gu-cheon gets some hits in on the evil pond spirit, but it’s unfortunately not enough. As Gu-cheon’s sword breaks apart in his hands, the spirit rises while regrowing its head until it looms frighteningly, looking like the vengeful ghost girl from The Ring. Gu-cheon asks the spirit who it is and what grudge is making it kill the royal bloodline, but instead of answering, the spirit resumes its ruthless attack.
Sleeper Star: I personally was impressed and entertained by child actor Jo Dan in his commitment to convulsing, nearly dying, and getting possessed by an evil spirit. I hope we get to see more of him in this series (preferably alive).
Most Pilot-y Line: Fiction’s foolish monarchs love to think they’re untouchable, and the King of the East Palace seems to be no different: “Mere spirits cannot lay a hand on the royal bloodline. No one can threaten the royal authority… be it human or spirit.”
Our Call: The East Palace has enough intrigue, stunning cinematography, and committed worldbuilding to hook viewers on the first episode and immerse you in its twisting tale. If you’re a fan of K-dramas, historical fantasy, and dark supernatural stories, then you should STREAM IT!
Maddy Casale is a Chicago-based writer and comedian who covers everything from animated series to Hallmark movies. Follow her on Duolingo @MCasale.
