Editorials 
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Palace Intrigue with Ghosts and Monsters
#Halloween Watches
The East Palace was drenched with the blood of maidservants, princes, concubines, and anyone else foolish enough to capture attention. Gu Cheon was brought into the palace, very much against his will, to exorcise the spirits who caused such death and despair.
The Good:
• Nam Joo Hyuk has returned from his military service with a more mature edge. I'm glad to see him evolve from parts as a college student into an action hero role. He played Gu Cheon perfectly: a man who'd been traumatized and ostracized and whose daily existence was one of bare survival. He wasn't the classical charming hero: he was sullen, hostile, and standoffish with his unkempt clothing and uncombed hair. All the poor man wanted was to be left alone, but neither the supernatural nor the humans would let him be.
• Roh Yoon Seo played Princess Saeng Gang with strength and intelligence. She'd suffered trauma and could empathize with Gu Cheon, even when he was being sarcastic and difficult. Her interactions with Gu Cheon, though they were terse and combative, were more interesting than most romance couples.
• There were some visually magnificent scenes.
• The music enhanced the action.
• The drama was dark and deadly with twists and revelations. I appreciate a story that can keep me guessing.
The Bad:
• Some CGI monsters were more comical looking than scary. One was supposed to be cute, and it was in that I'll-eat-your-face-off kind of way. The little ggeomeoksali provided the only light moments in the drama. I know it's a monster, but I'd probably end up taking it home with me.
So far, The East Palace was the spookiest of my October watches. It was drenched in supernatural atmosphere, kept the tension ratcheted, and told a compelling story (which only proved to strengthen my opinion that 99.9% of all palaces in K- and C-dramas should be nuked from space). I'm not admitting to being a wimpy scaredy-cat, but if I could handle this, Gentle Viewer, I think most people could.
The East Palace was drenched with the blood of maidservants, princes, concubines, and anyone else foolish enough to capture attention. Gu Cheon was brought into the palace, very much against his will, to exorcise the spirits who caused such death and despair.
The Good:
• Nam Joo Hyuk has returned from his military service with a more mature edge. I'm glad to see him evolve from parts as a college student into an action hero role. He played Gu Cheon perfectly: a man who'd been traumatized and ostracized and whose daily existence was one of bare survival. He wasn't the classical charming hero: he was sullen, hostile, and standoffish with his unkempt clothing and uncombed hair. All the poor man wanted was to be left alone, but neither the supernatural nor the humans would let him be.
• Roh Yoon Seo played Princess Saeng Gang with strength and intelligence. She'd suffered trauma and could empathize with Gu Cheon, even when he was being sarcastic and difficult. Her interactions with Gu Cheon, though they were terse and combative, were more interesting than most romance couples.
• There were some visually magnificent scenes.
• The music enhanced the action.
• The drama was dark and deadly with twists and revelations. I appreciate a story that can keep me guessing.
The Bad:
• Some CGI monsters were more comical looking than scary. One was supposed to be cute, and it was in that I'll-eat-your-face-off kind of way. The little ggeomeoksali provided the only light moments in the drama. I know it's a monster, but I'd probably end up taking it home with me.
So far, The East Palace was the spookiest of my October watches. It was drenched in supernatural atmosphere, kept the tension ratcheted, and told a compelling story (which only proved to strengthen my opinion that 99.9% of all palaces in K- and C-dramas should be nuked from space). I'm not admitting to being a wimpy scaredy-cat, but if I could handle this, Gentle Viewer, I think most people could.
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