Review #267: The East Palace, a bizarre tale of the spirit world

| NBNTV = Reporter Jeong Dong-jin | The powerful performances of Gu-cheon (Nam Joo Hyuk), Saeng-gang (Roh Yoon-seo), the King (Cho Seung-woo), the Queen Dowager (Jang Young-nam), Sukbin Choi (Hwang Young-hee), and the Crown Prince (Kwak Dong-yeon) were unveiled as a Netflix original on the 17th.

The story of 'The East Palace' begins when the fate of Gu-cheon—a name meaning a wanderer in the afterlife—intersects with Saeng-gang, a palace maid who can hear the voices of ghosts.

From the first episode, the visual direction and the contrast between reality and the spirit world evoke the atmosphere of the film 'Constantine' and the Netflix original 'Stranger Things.' This sense of familiarity extends beyond the color palette to the narrative structure, where plot twists and the emergence of a mastermind strangely mirror those iconic works.

However, while the settings may feel familiar, the actors' performances bring a unique depth to the characters. In particular, Nam Joo Hyuk, making a long-awaited return, seamlessly inhabits the role of Gu-cheon, delivering a perfect blend of humor, action, and gravitas.

The character's very name, which implies a wanderer in the afterlife, serves as a central anchor for this fast-paced, 8-episode series.

The presence of the pond ghost acts as a recurring device to fuel curiosity regarding the identity of the ultimate villain. For instance, the Queen Dowager's desire to control the palace to protect the royal ancestral shrine, and Sukbin Choi's ambition to place her son on the throne, manifest as twisted desires masked by righteous causes.

Notably, the Princess can hear the voices of ghosts due to her royal blood, a trait shared by the Crown Prince. Gu-cheon views the King and Saeng-gang with disdain, well aware of the wicked nature of those who exploit others only to discard them once their objectives are met.

Cornered by the reality that he cannot leave the palace if he fails to save the Young-an Prince—and cannot leave alive even if he succeeds—Gu-cheon delivers a sharp rebuke to Saeng-gang.

His threat to become a vengeful spirit to hunt down the King if his own life is not spared is a completely plausible reaction. In the drama, Gu-cheon operates in the spirit world, acting much like a ghost hunter, mirroring a geomancer's role in the real world.

The progression feels almost like a game; while he begins as a novice exorcist relying on peach tree branches, his action sequences evolve significantly after he acquires a lightning-struck jujube tree, completing his "item farming.'

However, the action serves as seasoning rather than the main course. The power struggles between the King and the Queen Dowager, the Queen Dowager's detection of Sukbin Choi's schemes, and the emergence of Inha-gun and Ik-sang-gun as alternatives all converge on the King. This central conflict likely explains why the Crown Prince, the designated final villain, expresses such a desperate will for mortality by transforming into an even more malevolent vengeful spirit.

'The East Palace' utilizes the pond ghost's existence and origin as both a seed of conflict and a clue to unravel a complex web of intrigue. By blending vibrant fantasy with Eastern aesthetics and the concept of 'Han,' the series establishes itself as a successor to the Korean-style dark fantasy genre.

With 'The East Palace' finally arriving on Netflix, viewers may have differing opinions, but as an 8-episode binge-worthy series, it remains a compelling choice.

 

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