Very bad story line and draggy.
This has to be one of the worst dramas I’ve watched in recent years. The storyline is weak, full of holes, and at times just downright ridiculous. So many scenes lacked basic logic, and the decisions made by the main leads left me speechless — in a bad way. I honestly don’t know how the writers came up with such nonsense and thought it made sense.To be fair, the first few episodes actually started off decently. There was some potential in the beginning. The pacing was okay, the setup seemed promising, and I thought maybe this would be a hidden gem. But by episode 5 or 6, things started spiraling downhill — and fast. By episode 9, it felt like the entire drama had lost its direction. The plot became a mess, and the characters just got dumber and dumber. It was frustrating to watch the male lead and female lead act in ways that were completely out of character or simply idiotic. They kept making the same mistakes over and over again, and it was exhausting.
I only continued watching because my roommate was watching it too, and we decided to see it through together. But honestly, it turned into more of a hate-watch than anything else. From episode 9 onwards, we found ourselves yelling at the screen, complaining about nearly every scene. We were both constantly cursing at how bad the writing had become. Watching it turned into a bonding activity where we just roasted the drama nonstop.
Unless you enjoy being annoyed, I wouldn’t recommend this show to anyone. Total waste of time and potential. I finished it purely out of obligation — and regret.
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1Imugi and I deserved better.
I went in thinking I’d love it — and honestly, I kind of did. At least in the beginning. But by the end? I don’t even know where to start.There are five things I really like:
Strawberries.
Climbing walls ( I want to be like Janja Garnbret)
Playing in the sea all day like an overcaffeinated dolphin
Angel Fruity Fair by Mugler (smells like happy)
Ghost stories
This is how little I need to be happy.
I like romance movies. I love stupid and fluffy romance movies that make me have teary eyes or even bawling my eyes (The notebook) out and rom coms are also Okey.
So by all logic, I should’ve adored this series.
But… yeah. About that.
The Short Version:
Overall, it wasn’t bad — there’s definitely an interesting story here — but I’m still a bit disappointed. The pacing dragged. It felt boring — unnecessarily stretched — and could’ve wrapped up in 10 episodes without losing anything important. I sound like a hater but I was really enjoying it at first the premise was nice and I liked the ghost and shamanic aspect but the execution was a bit weak and sadly there was just something missing — maybe the pull that connects you with the world and characters.
The Long Version:
It watching like your typical run-of-the-mill romance, but with fantasy elements as Imugi and ghosts. Reading the summary, I honestly thought this was going to be fantasy adventure with a shaman, magic, dragons etc. And honestly? The series had me in a chokehold during the first half. I was completely captivated by the setting and the characters. It was imaginative, fun, and pulled me in right away. I loved how we got to learn their backstories — it gave the world more depth and made it feel alive. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between the two leads — it had that "reluctant allies to lovers" vibe, which I’m always a sucker for.
But then… the second half happened.
The pacing slowed a lot (like… snail-on-vacation levels of slow), and the events started to feel repetitive.
Unfortunately, encounters with ghosts—one of the story's selling points—didn’t live up to expectations. They lacked tension which made them feel like a chore to get through a trial began, I found myself wishing it would end quickly. It’s a shame because they had so much potential to bring excitement to the story. It wasn't scary, it wasn't exciting, and it wasn't worrying. Worse than that though, the plot took a predictable turn—the exact one I hoped it wouldn’t—which made the final twist feel underwhelming and, honestly, pretty eye roll worthy. Lots of eye rolling.
Okay.
That didn't work out as long as I wanted. Anyways.
I cannot deny that it is beautifully filmed, and this is perhaps why I stayed with it for as long as I did despite feeling a bored by it. I was seduced by the cinematography. I think if the plot had been tightened, and so wasn't quite so long, it could have really worked better for me.
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A huge disappointment for me...
I was really looking forward to this one — the cast is full of actors I love, and a fantasy storyline (which is rare and one of my favorite genres) had so much potential. But honestly, it ended up being a big miss for me. The plot just kept going in circles, only to focus on a romance I didn’t care about at all. Even the acting wasn’t that great most of the time. Overall, super disappointing — whether it was the story, the acting, or just the vibe. Maybe it’s just me, but yeah... big disappointment. The enemies-to-lovers was done really badly, like it already felt off from the start, and the main character didn’t work for me at all. I was looking forward the return of the real Yoon Gap and it was badly done for me so...Was this review helpful to you?
Kim Ji Hoon's best performance to date, but...
Kim Ji Hoon stole the show as the King. I enjoyed whenever he was on screen, and I believe it was one of his best performances ever. Shame it had to be in such a disappointment of a drama.The beginning was interesting and I was excited for a fantasy epic, but it quickly turned to be pretty boring and slow. It's more akin to a horror/spooky show than fantasy.
The romance... it's there... and that's it. The main characters were painfully boring and the chemistry was a bit lacking. The King and Queen, for what little screentime together they had, were much more interesting and charming as a romantic couple.
If you're a fan of more spooky type stuff and don't care about a lack of focus on the romance, it might be worth your time. As for me, like I said, boring.
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Supernatural with cute comedy and great bromance
I have said it before and I will say it again, this was a supernatural drama with hints of horror at times. The true chemistry was between the King (played by Kim Ji Hoon) and Yun Gap/Gang Cheol (played by Yook Sung Jae). Their comedic timing was perfection and their banter felt natural. Bo Na's Yeo Ri initially felt a little stiff to me, however as the show progressed and I understood the character's backstory, I came to realize that stiffness actually was the actress doing a good job playing Yeo Ri who has experienced profound grief and loneliness and therefore holds herself apart from others, even as she cares deeply.Kim Ji Hoon and Yook Sung Jae both completely took me by surprise. This is my first drama with Yook Sung Jae and I will keep an eye for future projects and try his older works. Kim Ji Hoon blew me away with his deep, heart rending portrayal of a man balancing his responsibilities as a king and as a father. The torment of this powerful man born into royalty, and has always been alone as a result, feeling helpless in the face of an enemy he cannot even see, trying to do his best for his people, only to realize his ancestor had abandoned them in the worst way, the guilt, the remorse and the wish to make amends were so masterfully played. I really, sincerely hope Kim Ji Hoon picks more such roles which give him a canvas for the talent we saw here. Out of all the characters, his was the one that resonated the most with me.
The story of a girl who denies her shaman roots and focuses on making eyeglasses (a good metaphor perhaps for shamanic talents - helping people see things more clearly) only to get swept into a tug of war between good and evil that exists in the palace was an entertaining show but had deeper tones to it. The nuanced plot, where good and evil cannot always be ascertained merely by identity, or even current actions was an interesting overlying message. Those who seem good, have committed vile acts and still attained high positions, while the good are left to suffer until the resentment burns so deep that their very anger at the injustice forces them to become evil. That people are not born evil, rather are created by their experiences and choices, yet once they step on that path, it is almost impossible to remain untainted.
The juxtaposition of two equal and opposing forces that was the focus of the show was exhibited throughout the drama using explicit imagery like the fire spirit vs. fresh water deity, the female and the male warding stones or the implicit like the imoogi ascending at the same time when the human king stoops low, saving his life by sending a whole village to its death. It eventually became so interesting how the Yin and Yang was woven throughout the story that I actively began to watch out for it exclusively.
The supporting cast comprises of veteran actors who were stellar in their work, and I applaud the whole team for the fabulous run for 8 weeks.
The drama fits the historical, comedy and fantasy or supernatural tags, however as a devotee to the romance genre I feel the romance tag is a bit of an overstatement. Yes there is romance and even a HE, however I wish for more scenes where the chemistry between the Imoogi and Yeo Ri could be deepened, it felt sudden and then not enough. Over all a good drama, I don't know if I would rewatch it. if I did rewatch bits of it, those would be the scenes where Imoogi and King banter back and forth and I guess that says it all.
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A snake demon joins forces with a girl to destroy evil ?
finished 9/10 🌟The Haunted Palace has been one of my favorite Kdramas so far in 2025
I know it's not a genre that everyone likes since it mixes fantasy, history and horror, but I personally loved many aspects of this story 💗
16 chapters that were mostly well-developed
Perhaps some filler moments that could have been avoided, but I'm not complaining.
I loved the protagonists, I warn you from now on that it is not a drama focused on romance but on action and suspense.
Sung Jae and Boah did a great job in terms of chemistry, maybe I would have liked to see more kisses but it's a great balance with everything else the kdrama has.
Sungjae, portraying both the snake demon Gangcheol and scholar Yun Gap, is a 10/10.
I want to highlight Kim Ji Hoon, who also did an incredible job portraying the king and the eight-bodied demon. 👏
He's been my favorite king in a historical kdrama so far. 🤭
I really liked the ending and I was satisfied.
I 100% recommend it.
It's worth giving it a try.
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Dragged at times, But I don't regret watching
This drama started off strong. Episode 1 pulled me in with an intriguing setup, Yeori, a reluctant shaman and glass craftswoman, and Kang Cheol, an Imugi who needs her body to ascend. The tension was there, the atmosphere was moody but engaging, and the characters actually had charisma. Young Kwang as the original Kang Cheol had presence, and even though we lost him early, Sungjae stepped in as Kang Cheol/Yun Gap with such smooth synchronization that I didn’t even mind the transition.The first few episodes really had me. There was just enough emotional pull with Yeori’s desperation to save Yun Gap, the painful irony of being stuck with someone who looks like the man she loves but isn’t, and the layered tension between her and the Imugi. I loved that Yeori wasn’t written as some superhuman fighter, but she also wasn’t weak. She held her own. The scenes with her helping spirits, especially the rape victim, were emotional and gave her some moral grounding that made her compelling. And the scene where Kang Cheol possessed Yun Gap’s body, leaving behind a ghost version? The acting was so on point I was genuinely impressed.
Let’s talk Bibi. Absolutely hilarious, unhinged, chaotic sibling energy to Kang Cheol. No DNA test needed. I knew the moment he appeared that he was going to die. Side characters with that much personality and power never last. But at least his death made sense. It wasn’t some weak “sacrificing for the leads” moment. It was him trying to prevent Kang Cheol from sacrificing himself, trying to play smart, and still falling into the trap. A tragic death, but fitting for his character. Though his death could've been prevented if any of the three were a bit smarter or faster.
The romance. Usually I hate the whole “immortal loves mortal he’s watched grow up” angle. But here? It made sense. Kang Cheol didn’t start out feeling anything, it wasn’t until he possessed a human body that he started feeling at all. Watching him fall in love like some goofy teenager was honestly adorable. His excitement over Yeori’s confession, buying her shoes she once looked at years ago, giving Yun Gap’s mom a hairpin, it was giving dumb in love Imugi energy and I wasn’t mad about it.
The King. Honestly was a standout. He actually ruled. He wasn’t some cardboard noble with no agency. He fought. He bled. He made decisions. He loved his wife. He had his moments of failure, but he owned them. His scenes with Kang Cheol were often some of the best, especially once he knew who he really was. And the bromance? Legendary. That man hugged, protected, and actually talked sense. More of that in dramas, please.
Now, about the pacing. Around episode 8, I started feeling it. The drag. There were filler moments, scenes that felt like recycled dialogue or slow-motion glances stretched way too long. The writing dipped, the tension started unraveling, and I began questioning if they were just making it up as they went.
Yun Gap comes back and for a hot second, I thought they were going to ruin him. But no, he stayed true to himself and got a proper send-off. The drama made the right choice there.
And then close to the end was a mess. Every character suddenly turned into a brainless statue. Evil right in front of their faces and no one moves. No urgency, no logic, just standing around as if they’re all reading the script together. Queen Park’s death? Unnecessary and frustrating. She deserved better. We all agreed this show could’ve been wrapped up in 10-12 episodes max. Dragged out way too long.
The finale, though? Surprisingly satisfying. Kang Cheol sacrifices himself to defeat the Eight-Foot Spirit, meets the Jade Emperor, and gets a second chance. Not mad at that. Yeori and Kang Cheol get married, have a daughter, and continue their ghost-hunting and glass-making life together with Yun Gap’s mom still being the funniest person around. The tone shifted into a light epilogue and honestly, it worked. It felt like a reward for sitting through the messier middle arcs.
So yeah. This show didn’t need 16 episodes. The writing faltered, the pacing dipped, and there were moments where I was just watching out of obligation. But the characters, the emotional arcs, the Imugi lore, the bond between leads, and that surprisingly good bromance, there was something here. Not perfect, but not bad either.
Started out as a 9. Dropped to a 7.5. Worth a watch if you're in the mood for chaotic romance, spirits, glass art, and a lizard god learning to love.
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Enjoyable except for the ending
I did enjoy the show overall especially towards the beginning but I didn't enjoy the finale. It felt a bit lacklustre to me. It is also predictable.But if I stick to everything other than the last 2 episodes, I actually loved it quite a bit. I do miss the guest actor but the male lead performed the double roles well. The female lead was also good as well as the supporting characters. The comedy wasn't bad despite it not being what I usually enjoy. The fantasy historical genre was a good mix. I would have rated it higher if there were more impressive fight scenes.
The best thing about the show is the chemistry between the leads. But you won't see much romance in this. I also loved the ghost of the well. She was my favourite side character till the end.
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Beautiful story
Historical dramas aren’t really my thing, I doubt I’ve even watched up to 10 of them! But I Loved it, I probably won’t rewatch because of the length, but it’s definitely earned a special spot in my historical Kdrama collection. Every character was amazing, even the evil spirits!The story, pace was beautifully done! The comic blended so beautifully too!!
The standout performances come from Yeo-ri, Imugi, and the King, who carry the show with their compelling character arcs.
The King’s growth, the tragic backstory of the spirits, and the dynamic between the leads make this drama emotionally gripping. Even the supernatural elements feel deeply personal, making the ghosts more than just horror props, they had stories, regrets, and unfinished business to settle!
This drama is more than just a ghost story, it’s a story about betrayal, family, redemption, and the weight of history. Is it supernatural, comic or historical tale you’re interested in THP haas everything in stock for you.
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Underwhelming
At the beginning, the story had great potential, but sadly it never reached it. The storytelling was flat and lackluster when it had the makings to be gripping. The female lead had mostly one expression. This mostly made me want to go in through the screen and rearrange her features as I taught her "This is being sad" or This is angry". I have watched the male lead before and while I liked him in Mystic Pop-Up Bar, I was not particularly impressed by his dual portrayal here. However, he was not as insufferable as the female lead. It would have helped if their couple scenes had an ounce of chemistry, but the only sparks flying in this drama came from lightning. Initially, I also enjoyed the interactions between the king and the imugi, but even this got old soon.The show was underdeveloped which led to an underwhelming result. Luckily, Kim Ji Hoon was there to carry the show on his back and show us how it's supposed to be done. This show did not need 16 episodes.
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Could have been way better as a 12 episodes show.
End was satisfying (in spite of one BIG inconsistency which I won't mention to maintain this review spoiler-free)... Don't regret watching... But not worth 16 episodes. Final rating dropped from a 9 to a 7 (Suggested rating 6). Not a bad watch per say but could have been way better.Main issue was additional drama for the sake of drama and not either for plot progression or character development or both, which led to the story getting stuck at a stand still for a good chunk of episodes for no good reason except lengthening its episodes count.
There was absolutely no need to kill a certain character in episode 15... That removed all the empathy that I had for the main antagonist... and that's too bad... But again, they wanted 16 episodes no matter if it ended up ruining the show, so here.
In the end would not recommend. It's mid-good. Not bad enough for me to regret watching it, but not good enough to tune in if I had known beforehand what to expect.
The music was average... No unforgettable track anywhere... though the ending song for the first episodes was pretty horrendous in my opinion. Acting was great from the whole cast, especially Kim Ji Hoon, but I gladly admit I'm completely utterly biased.
From episode 8 and on, each week it felt like I was watching the show for the sake of completion and nothing else... a sure sign the show was getting nowhere. The romance was average good at the beginning... But then, instead of using all the extra unnecessary dramatic plot points that didn't make the plot progress anywhere as a good way of showing our main leads feelings getting deeper... the show didn't capitalize on it. Both leads had close to no chemistry... but it wasn't such a big deal since the romance was never given the time it deserved to properly develop ( Seriously SK... Look at what the Chinese do!).
Still waiting for Kim Ji Hoon to finally get a lead role.
Side note: They plastered the voice of a newborn baby on a 2/3 old boy... Got me confused the whole series because the voice was a baby, body looked small as a baby... but the face was that of a 2/3 year old which... was creepy. It's only at the end that you realize they smoke some weed and gave a baby's voice to an older kid hence why it felt so uncanny.
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It just keeps getting BETTER AND BETTER!
This is such a great series! I'm so glad its 16 eps and not the usual 8 eps. The storyline, back story of all characters, ghosts, everyone is soooo well done! Perfection!Yeo-ri, Imugi and the King! These three stars carry the show! Amazing acting! Amazing dialogues, osts, amazing character arcs! Character growth of the King, and the tragic past story of the villain! Perfect!
Its true that nobody is born a villain. Villains are made by the situations and choices that they make. The writers really saved the best for the last 4 eps! Don't miss this gem! ITS A MUST WATCH!
We are at ep 14 and only 2 eps remaining, but I still don't know who's gonna win this battle with the Colossal Shadow and if there will be a happy ending or sad ending 😜
today's episode really made me panic for real!
And damn that cliff hanger!! How am I supposed to wait for another week???
The way ep 14 ended OMG! I wish next week could come faster!!
Rewatch value: 10/10
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