The Haunted Palace Season 1 Review – A low fantasy K-drama that hits just right
Episode Guide
Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 8 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 9 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 10 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 11 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 12 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 13 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 14 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 15 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 16 -| Review Score – 4/5
It's been a while since K-dramaland gave us a good historical fantasy. Alchemy of Souls, Gyeongseong Creature, The Tale of Nine-Tailed 2 and Mr Queen are some of the very few that we can recall from this decade. Fortunately for fans of this genre, The Haunted Palace arrives just in time to fill that gap.
The Haunted Palace is another exciting K-drama from SBS which is known for exciting fantasy shows like Moon Lovers, Lovers of the Red Sky and The Legend of the Blue Sea. Said to be a low fantasy rom-com, The Haunted Palace Season 1 has everything from supernatural possession and ghosts to first love and body swaps.
The 16-episode K-drama stars Yook Sung-jae, Bona and Kim Ji-hoon among others. It is helmed by director Yoon Sung-shik who is known for iconic historical dramas like Hwarang and Mr Queen. Safe to say, we knew the show was in good hands before it even aired.
The K-drama follows three Joseon characters who come from different walks of life but are forced to work together to get rid of evil ghosts plaguing the capital and the royal family. Yoon Gap is a handsome and efficient official who gets possessed by Gangcheori (Kang Cheol), an Imugi who had once stalked a shaman family.
And guess who is brought in to exorcise spirits in the palace? Yeo-ri, the same shaman girl who was harassed by the Imugi and also happens to be Yoon Gap's first love. But they must put their differences aside and join hands with King Lee Sung to save the palace. A reformist who wants to create a strong nation, the king takes it upon himself to get rid of all corruption while refusing to believe that supernatural beings exist.
The Haunted Palace Season 1 has quick, short mini-subplots every few episodes which keep viewers entertained while weaving in the big picture. It spaces out the exposition instead of dumping it all at the beginning of the show while also slowly introducing all the characters and their traits.
Even then, the drama is packed with comedy, bromance, romance, angst, horror, action and every fun element and trope the show can think of. There is not a single dull moment over the 16 episodes. Even the minor characters like Gangcheori's brother, Yoon Gap's mother and Head Eunuch Kim get several moments to shine, whether as the comic relief or for some heartfelt bonding.
Not to be outdone, we have complex main characters who fit the complex story about a victim-turned-villain targeting an ignorant king, a supernatural bully and a self-martyring shaman. But they are more than their archetypes in a story where nothing is so black and white. The writers carefully redeem the anti-heroes while giving deserving closures to those wronged. The character development is extremely satisfying and falls in line with how the leads react and learn from the situations they find themselves in.
Yook Sung-jae is, without a doubt, the star of the show in his dual role as Yoon Gap and Gangcheori. One can identify which character he is playing even when there are no evident physical markers. Co-star Bona easily keeps pace as the multi-faceted Yeo-ri and has no issue getting down and dirty, literally, when the script asks for it.
Idol actors often face scathing criticism for acting too one-note and pretty in fear of ruining the statuesque visuals expected of them (No Cha Eun-woos were harmed by this statement). But Sung-jae and Bona have nothing to fear as they embody their characters to the fullest.
If anything, we are a little disappointed with Kim Ji-hoon's King Lee Sung who just flits around, mostly as a plot device. It is a shame as a particular sub-plot solidifies his position as an actor who excels in psychopathic roles and in the next breath, leaves viewers in stitches with his hilarious bromance with Sung-jae's Gangcheori.
Some of the conflicts are also quite hastily wrapped up, particularly the ones involving two corrupt ministers and the final supernatural showdown.
Despite these complaints, The Haunted Palace Season 1 hits all the right notes and makes us nostalgic for the good old 16-episode epic K-dramas of the 2010s. If anything, it proves that a show doesn't have to be perfect to be enjoyable, all it needs is heart, good actors and an entertaining story.
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