The East Palace

The East Palace is a horror inflected, historical action/drama. The show follows Gu Cheon (Nam Joo Hyuk) and Saeng Gang (Roh Yoon Seo) as, having been instructed by the King (Cho Seung Woo), they move between the living world and the Gwi (ghost) realm in an attempt to solve a series of unexplained murders at the Royal Palace.    

 

Over its eight episodes, The East Palace successfully combines shamanism and traditional Korean folklore with palace politics and power grabs. I’ll admit, as a horror girlie, I came for the Gwi world and loved how it was brought to life.

 

Created via a stunning colour palate of reds, oranges and inky blacks, an atmospheric score and a hefty number of visual effects (some work better than others), the Gwi realm is a scary, shadowy place. There are many visually striking and unsettling images, and scenes (expect lots of blood and some injury detail).

 

However, The East Palace is a more about mystery and palace intrigue than horror. This story of generational trauma, which has some surprising twists and turns, largely focuses on the dynamic between the King, Gu Cheon and Saeng Gang. While it took me a few episodes to adjust to the show’s tone and invest in its characters, after ep four I was all in. 

 

In his first role post military service, Nam Joo Hyuk gives a powerful performance. Gu Cheon is such an interesting character – a man haunted by his past and uncertain about his future. His outward exasperation at Saeng Gang masks a deeply caring soul (who doesn’t love this trope?).

 

Nam Joo Hyuk had to go through extensive training to prepare for his action scenes. In an interview with The Korea Herald, he said that video games including God of War, Call of Duty, and The Last of Us helped him to “conceptualise the supernatural universe of The East Palace and develop his approach to the physical movement”.

 

Meanwhile, I enjoyed Roh Yoon Seo’s portrayal and particularly loved the way Saeng Gang’s relationship with Gu Cheon developed. I was, therefore, surprised to read that she had faced criticism (online) for her line delivery. I think this is unfair. Throughout and particularly in the drama’s final act, she brings heartfelt emotion to her character.

 

However, the standout performance for me was from Cho Seung Woo. He is superb in this complex role, playing a King who is vulnerable one minute and terrifying the next. In an article in The Korea Herald, Cho Seung Woo talked about the show’s imagery:

"There's a pond that appears throughout the series. On the surface, it looks calm, but beneath it lies tremendous tension and countless stories, almost like the eye of a storm. If viewers keep that in mind while watching, I think they'll enjoy the series even more."  

 

The drama’s supporting cast are not given much to do. Jang Young Nam gives a big performance and joins a long list of toxic Queen Dowagers (my favourite remains Kim Hae Sook in Under The Queen’s Umbrella). Meanwhile, Kwak Dong Yeon was really impressive in his pivotal role. 

 

I very much enjoyed my time at The East Palace and loved how the show incorporated its two worlds both visually and narratively. More horror shows please!