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Since the announcement that it would be coming to Netflix, « The East Palace »was definitely one of the K-dramas I was most looking forward to this year. Between the highly anticipated return of Nam Joo-hyuk After his military service, with a world inspired by Korean folklore and absolutely stunning opening scenes, everything seemed to be in place to make this series a must-see in the fantasy genre.
After watching all 8 episodes, my opinion is actually a little more nuanced. If « The East Palace «The Palace of the East» has an exceptional atmosphere and a very convincing cast, though the plot left me puzzled at times. Despite that, I came away with a positive impression and a rating of 8/10, even though I feel like the drama could have gone much further.
A fascinating world right from the very first episodes
If there's one thing I'll take away from *The East Palace*, it's the atmosphere.
The royal palace almost becomes a character in its own right. With its dimly lit corridors, ghosts that appear without warning, and the many transitions between the world of the living and the spirit world, the drama quickly establishes a dark and mysterious atmosphere.
I particularly appreciated the emphasis on Korean folklore. We encounter shamans, supernatural creatures, ancestral curses, and an entire spiritual universe rarely explored in such depth in a sageuk. Visually, the series is stunning: the sets, costumes, lighting, and special effects all contribute to making each spirit’s appearance as unsettling as it is fascinating (and lend it a slight Stranger Things vibe with the blue and red hues and the spirits’ shapes…).
During the first 4 or 5 episodes, I was completely swept up in this supernatural investigation, where every new discovery made me want to know more.
Nam Joo-hyuk and Roh Yoon-seo make a great pair
Another major success of this drama is its cast.
I was really looking forward to Nam Joo-hyuk's return, and I wasn't disappointed. His character, Gu-cheon, who is able to travel between the world of the living and the spirit world, is charismatic, funny, and sometimes more vulnerable than he lets on. Here, the actor takes on a role that suits him perfectly.
Facing him, Roh Yoon-seo brings a lot of warmth with her character of Saeng-gang. I really liked their chemistry. Their relationship evolves naturally over the course of the episodes, without ever overshadowing the main plot, but enough to make you want to see them share more scenes together.
The rest of the cast is also very strong. Cho Seung-woo, ...in particular, delivers a remarkable performance as the king and plays a major role in the tensions that run through the palace. And let's not forget Kwak Dong-yeon as the vengeful crown prince.
A plot that can sometimes be hard to follow
Unfortunately, it was the plot of «The East Palace» that frustrated me the most. The drama is packed with ghosts, curses, family secrets, conspiracies, and transitions between different worlds. On paper, it’s extremely ambitious. But on screen, this abundance sometimes ends up feeling a bit too dense.
On several occasions, I've wondered who the real antagonist actually is. Each new spirit seems to be presented as the main threat… only for another to take its place a few scenes later.
The frequent back-and-forth between the world of the living and the spirit world heightens this sense of confusion. At times, I felt like I was losing track of the investigation, even though the details were interesting. Fortunately, the last two episodes gradually put all the pieces of the puzzle back together. Many answers finally come to light, but I wish the script had taken more time to develop its various storylines.
That’s really the main flaw of *The East Palace*: it has a fascinating world, but one that would have benefited from a bit more in-depth development.
A soundtrack that lacks personality
Another thing that disappointed me a little was the soundtrack. For a K-drama that’s so visually immersive, I was expecting a much more memorable soundtrack. The music complements the scenes well enough, but none of it really swept me away.
It’s impossible not to think of *Dear Hongrang*, released in 2025, which is somewhat similar in terms of storytelling—its soundtrack constantly amplified the emotions and contributed greatly to the series« identity. Here, I felt that this aspect was somewhat lacking. It’s far from a deal-breaker, but it would have helped make certain scenes even more memorable.
Is a second season of «The East Palace» possible?
The drama’s ending clearly suggests that a sequel is possible. Without giving anything away, several plot points are left intentionally open-ended, particularly those involving Gu-cheon and his connection to the spirit world. The main story comes to a conclusion, but some mysteries remain and could easily serve as a starting point for a new season.
For now, however, Netflix has not announced a second season of «The East Palace.» Given the series’ conclusion and the richness of the world created by the writers, it would be a shame to end it there.
A second season could delve deeper into Korean folklore, further develop the supernatural creatures, and, above all, offer a plot that flows a little more smoothly than that of the first season.
My take on the series
All in all, «The East Palace» is a K-drama that I recommend despite its flaws.
Its atmosphere is undoubtedly one of the most successful in the fantasy genre in recent years. The work drawn from Korean folklore, the cinematography, the sets, and the casting truly make you want to explore this world. On the other hand, its sometimes overly complex plot may confuse some viewers, especially in the first half of the series. With a slightly better-structured plot and a more memorable soundtrack, «The East Palace» would likely have been one of my top favorites of the year.
So I give it a rating of 8/10. A really good fantasy K-drama available on Netflix, starring Nam Joo-hyuk and Roh Yoon-seo, that’s worth checking out despite a few flaws.
What do you think of this series? Were you able to keep track of all the palace intrigues, or did you sometimes feel a little lost? And most importantly, would you like to see Netflix confirm a Season 2?
I loved it so much that I binge-watched it twice. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything. You’re right about the confusion caused by the ups and downs. I think a series with 10 or 12 episodes would have been better than this one with just 8. Anyway, it’s an excellent K-drama with wonderful characters and actors.