The East Palace Review: Episodes 1-8 (Spoiler-Free)
The Binge Team- July 18, 2026
Officially screaming because Nam Joo-hyuk is finally back from the military! I was so excited for his big comeback role, and The East Palace (동궁) did not disappoint. On July 17, 2026, Netflix absolutely blessed us by releasing all eight episodes at once, and I immediately ran to my room to binge-watch the entire series.
This show has everything I wanted: ghost hunting, creepy supernatural creatures, and plenty of shady royal politics. I was completely hooked from the start. At the heart of the story is a terrifying curse that has haunted the kingdom for 30 years, killing every crown prince one after another. With the royal bloodline on the verge of extinction, the desperate king recruits a rogue exorcist and a cursed court lady to hunt down a murderous pond spirit before it's too late.
I highly recommend this series if you loved the historical horror of Kingdom or the chilling shamanistic folklore of The Guest. It delivers the same pulse-pounding suspense while adding a parallel spirit world filled with monster hunting that occasionally reminded me of Stranger Things. The atmosphere is wonderfully creepy, and I was entertained from the very first minute until the very end.
The East Palace Starts Strong (Episodes 1-4)
The series throws me straight into the deep end in Episode 1 with an unexpected royal funeral. The Crown Prince suddenly dies from a mysterious poisoning, sending the entire palace into panic. That's when the king reveals the terrifying legend of the cursed pond spirit that has haunted the royal family for the past 30 years, and I was instantly hooked.
Episode 2 focuses on my favorite character, the wild antihero Gu-cheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), as he begins taking the king's mission more seriously and starts investigating the palace's supernatural mystery. He's arrogant, sarcastic, lazy, and completely unpredictable, and I fell in love with him almost immediately (as if I hadn't already in Episode 1!) He's also one of the few people who can cross into the orange-tinted spirit world known as the Realm of Gwi, where ghosts and terrifying monsters roam.
Gu-cheon is reluctantly forced into the king's service under threat of execution. In Episode 3, King Yi Yeon (Cho Seung-woo) tries to keep him on a tight leash by pairing him with Saeng-gang (Roh Yoon-seo), a quiet, observant court lady who can hear the voices of the dead. I absolutely loved her vibe from the moment she appeared.
By Episode 4, their constantly bickering partnership had completely won me over. Watching them investigate the haunted prince's chambers, uncover hidden talismans, face terrifying spirits, and stumble into dangerous political conspiracies around every corner was easily one of my favorite parts of the series.
The Best Parts of The East Palace (And Where It Falls Short)
I absolutely loved the visual effects in this show, and I'm obsessed with its production style. The director brings so much energy to the ghost-fighting scenes, making them feel fast, exciting, and almost anime-like. The makeup department deserves a huge raise because the humanoid spirits look genuinely creepy and unsettling. I also completely fell in love with the little furry spirit companion that follows Gu-cheon around and somehow manages to save his life at just the right moment every single time. It's the perfect amount of comic relief without taking away from the horror.
For me, the biggest win is the partnership between Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang. I love that the series never forces a romance between them. Instead, they have more of an older brother and younger sister dynamic, filled with hilarious bickering and genuinely protective moments. Saeng-gang is an incredible female lead. She's smart, fearless, and refuses to bow down, even in front of royalty. I honestly wanted to stand up and applaud during her confrontation with the steely Queen Dowager, played by Jang Young-nam.
That said, I have to admit the series loses some momentum in the middle. Episodes 5 and 6 start to stumble as the story becomes more ambitious. The rules surrounding spiritual yang energy and the different types of ghosts become so complicated that they sometimes distract from the urgency of the main plot. The series also relies a little too much on back-to-back plot twists that don't always feel earned. Some characters suddenly make confessions that completely contradict their earlier motivations, and I was left scratching my head… thinking, "Wait... what?"
From a technical standpoint, I also have one major complaint. Like many modern shows, some of the nighttime scenes are just too dark. There were moments when I could barely see what was happening, whether it was the beautifully choreographed sword fights or even Nam Joo-hyuk's handsome face.
The East Palace Ending Explained (Episodes 7–8)
By the second half of Episode 7 and throughout Episode 8, the real horror is no longer supernatural. It's human greed. I loved how the mystery unfolded into a tangled web of royal secrets that completely exceeded my expectations. What started as a ghost-hunting story became something much darker and far more emotional.
In the final battle, Gu-cheon faces the Crown Prince's spirit in the ruined courtyard of the Realm of Gwi in an incredible, gravity-defying duel with serious wuxia vibes. To save Saeng-gang's life, he makes a devastating bargain with the primordial Gwi-mae, who gives him a weapon powerful enough to destroy an ak-gwi in exchange for his eternal servitude in the spirit world.
The king survives, but his punishment is far worse than death. Instead of losing his throne, he is left to live with the thousands of angry spirits created by his family's greed. Meanwhile, Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang walk out of the palace together, but the final shot reveals a black spiritual chain wrapped around Gu-cheon's hand, stretching into the spirit world and reminding us that he is now bound to his bargain forever.
The finale delivers a jaw-dropping ending. Gu-cheon is forced to make an incredible personal sacrifice to save Saeng-gang, and the final battle inside the Realm of Gwi is both visually stunning and emotionally heartbreaking. It brings the central mystery to a satisfying conclusion while leaving the royal family forever changed by the consequences of their own actions. At the same time, it leaves just enough unanswered questions to make me excited for what could come next.
Nam Joo-hyuk's return to K-dramas is an absolute triumph. I loved his performance, and the entire cast brought so much emotion to their characters. If I could overlook the overly dark nighttime scenes, which honestly wasn't always easy, this drama would be an even bigger winner for me. I also loved the addition of the parallel spirit world that mirrors the palace. It gave the supernatural story a fresh twist that made it stand out from other ghost and paranormal dramas I've watched.
Will There Be a Season 2?
Since Netflix has only just released all eight episodes, there's no official word on a second season yet.
That said, the ending definitely leaves the door wide open for another chapter. While the mystery surrounding the pond spirit is fully resolved, Gu-cheon's fate is anything but. His bargain with Gwi-mae raises plenty of questions about what his future in the spirit world will look like, making him the biggest reason I want another season.
The writers also spent a lot of time building the mythology of the Realm of Gwi, and it feels like there's still so much more to explore. Considering the excitement surrounding Nam Joo-hyuk's long-awaited return, I wouldn't be surprised if The East Palace earns a second season if it performs well for Netflix.
My fingers are definitely crossed because I'm not ready to say goodbye to Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang just yet.
✦ Watch This If You Loved
Highly recommended for fantasy fans who love intense ghost action, dark historical settings, and a strong non-romantic partnership between the leads.
Drama Info
TitleThe East Palace (2026)
Total
Episodes8 (Complete)
Episodes8 (Complete)
Review8 Episodes
CountrySouth Korea
GenreFantasy
· Action · Horror
Release DateJuly 17th · 2026 · Netflix Original
Stream
🎬 Netflix
Main Cast
Nam Joo-hyuk
Gu-cheon
Roh Yoon-seo
Saeng-gang
MAB Score
8.5/10
Overall Rating
Story
Acting
Cinematography
Rewatch Value — 6.9/10
Mainly for the stunning orange-hued action sequences in the Realm of Gwi and the hilarious, heartfelt banter between the main duo.