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The Review Geek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace – K-drama Episode 14 Recap & Review
Episode 14 Episode 14 of The Haunted Palace begins with Yoon Gap reuniting with a delighted Mrs. Yoon and a wary Yeo-ri. On their way to work, Yeo-ri accepts Gap's apology as he confesses to tricking her. However, she flinches when he reaches for her and he gives her back Gangcheori's bracelet. The palace is pleasantly surprised by Gap's return. The King hugs him but the ghostbane stone hurts Yoon Gap. Yeo-ri and the King deduce that the stone is reacting to Gap's corpse. Pung-san is eavesdropping via Yoon Gap's soul and realises that the ghostbane stone is their secret weapon. The inner circle gets back to work on the anti-slave reforms. The King finds Gap's enthusiasm refreshing but he also recalls how Gangcheori had cheered him when he had doubted his role as a benevolent king. Gap realises that the King misses Gangcheori. Surprisingly, even Head Eunuch Kim misses Gangcheori's impudence. Suddenly, Gap is in pain and Pung-san 'helps' him. The shaman needs Gap to destroy the King's ghostbane stone, and then the body will be permanently his. All he needs to do is pour 'alcohol' over the stone. However, the loyal Gap refuses. Meanwhile, Yeo-ri and Ga-seop search for Gangcheori. She prays for him, upset that he broke his promise of not letting her go. Surprisingly, he wakes up in Gap's body as well. Chaos ensues as Gap and Gangcheori tussle over the body's dominance. Soon, we see that it is Pung-san helping Gap suppress Gangcheori. He keeps reminding Gap of all the things Gangcheori has taken from him. The next morning, Gap is gone early and Yeo-ri has a vision of him eyeing the ghostbane stone. She rushes after him. In the palace, the King constantly praises Gap and works on the reforms. The ghostbane stone is on his table and Gap decides to pour the 'alcohol' over it. Gangcheori screams no and he throws the liquor and slips. Gap is ejected and he runs off. Both Gangcheori and Yeo-ri find him and he is disappointed in himself. Gangcheori points out that it was Gap who threw away the liquor in the end. However, Gap is afraid of what he might become and begs Yeo-ri to help him cross over to the afterlife. They arrive home and Mrs. Yoon realises that Gangcheori has returned. She cries for Gap and is in shock when she learns that he is dead. The shamans perform the last rites and Gap bids farewell to his mother and Yeo-ri. The King cries as he holds his own ritual for Gap in the palace. Gangcheori knows Gap has feelings for Yeo-ri and wonders why he never confessed. Gap refuses to hurt her as she would never be able to accept his feelings. Gangcheori is impressed and as farewell, agrees to take care of Mrs. Yoon and Yeo-ri. With Gap gone, Pung-san convinces Minister Ahn to destroy the ghostbane stones by tempting him with the Chief State Councillor position. Gangcheori and Yeo-ri move out while Mrs. Yoon mourns Gap. They head to a tavern and are forced to share the only available room. Ah, the classic only-one-bed trope! As they turn in for the night, Yeo-ri is still determined to resolve the ghost conflict for the sake of the ghost, the villagers and her grandmother. She also teases Gangcheori who is awkward about sharing a room. He 'jokingly' makes a proposition but Mrs. Yoon interrupts. She has been searching for them all night and takes them home. It cuts to D-Day as the inner circle gets ready for the ghost's 100th death anniversary. Kwak's officer/assassin, Jung worms his way into the security detail. The King gives his ghostbane stone to his pregnant Queen. Yeo-ri remembers her grandmother mentioning how a shaman can die if the reaper method fails. The caragana finally blooms and Gangcheori drinks its tea as he realises it may be time to sacrifice himself. The ritual begins but the ghost possesses Assassin Jung. He easily fends everyone off, including Gangcheori, and smiles at the King. At the end of The Haunted Palace Episode 14, he stabs the Queen in the stomach. The Episode Review The penultimate week ends with a shocking cliffhanger and while we are surprised by the route they took with Yoon Gap's storyline, The Haunted Palace Episode 14 is still pretty satisfactory. We almost wish the K-drama hadn't included the teaser for the finale since it explains how the possessed Assassin Jung is able to stab the Queen, who has the ghostbane stone. Mrs. Yoon shines as she quickly understands the situation surrounding Gangcheori and accepts him back after mourning her son. And while we'd expected the typical love triangle trope where Yoon Gap goes evil to make Yeo-ri his, his sacrifice fits his backstory as the kind-hearted little boy who stood up for her when she was an outcast. However, the King is a confusing little fellow with the writers taking way too much liberty with his character. The beginning of the show barely gives him any screentime before they make it up by having him work with Yeo-ri and Gangcheori. But his overaffection and PDA for Yoon Gap feel odd, especially when he and his court constantly insist on decorum with Gangcheori. Sure, the hug is a plot device to reveal the ghostbane stone but the King has not shown his own wife or son that much affection as he does to a loyal and like-minded but mere court examiner. The K-drama does highlight that the King is an emotional person with the way he mourns his evil grandfather and cries for the wronged Yongdam villagers. But it is not enough to fall in line for his character to break hierarchy and decorum with the way he does with Yoon Gap. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Review Geek
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace – K-drama Episode 12 Recap & Review
Episode 12 Episode 12 of The Haunted Palace begins with Gangcheori mourning his brother. Yeo-ri comforts him and blames herself for Bibi's death. Unfortunately, Kim Bong-in arrests them for trespassing. The King defends them and has them freed. Throughout the whole ordeal, Gangcheori is listless. It falls on Yeo-ri to tell the King about Kim being the mastermind. Shocked, the King gives Kim the benefit of the doubt and has Royal Guard Seo follow him. Kim confronts Pung-san for letting Gangcheori and Yeo-ri leave. However, Pung-san doesn't care as the 8-foot ghost has become much stronger after devouring Bibi's pearl. Yeo-ri brings Ga-seop to the palace to protect the Queen and Crown Prince while the gang travels to Yongdam Village to question Choi Won-u. However, everyone notices Gangcheori hurting and they worry for him. Even Head Eunuch Kim sends yugwa candy for him. As for Mrs. Yoon, she sneaks him snacks when Gangcheori has no appetite. He looks touched and promises to eat later. Back to the familial betrayal, the Queen Mother visits the King. From her own investigation, she has learned that Kim threatened Yeong-in's nanny into introducing Pung-san to the Queen Mother. She regrets everything and apologises for indirectly hurting the King's unborn child. On top of that, Seo confirms that Kim met with Pung-san's assistant, Se-wan. The King looks sad as he calls for Kim. After the previous king had died, a teary-eyed Kim had cleaned his bloody tonggae, his bow and arrow case, and offered it to the current king. The King believed it was a sign of Kim's protection. The King cries as he accuses Kim of treason. However, Kim smirks and claims the King is to blame with his absurd anti-slavery and anti-corruption reforms. Kim only backed him as long as he didn't change the 'natural order' of the nation. He is further gleeful that the King has no proof and he will have to arrest Yeo-ri, an illegal shaman should she procure one. However, the King has been hiding the court who all hear Kim's confession. Kim is exiled for treason but his assassins easily free him. He storms over to the shrine and threatens the ghost to kill the King. The ghost doesn't take kindly to threats and reveals he doesn't need the minister anymore. He possesses Pung-san and kills Kim. Gangcheori is back in commission as he assures Yeo-ri that he doesn't hate her. He only blames the ghost and is ready to destroy him. The gang arrive at Yongdam and so as not to spook Choi Won-u, they claim it is a retreat. Gangcheori wonders about In-seon's whereabouts and Yeo-ri is jealous. Head Eunuch Kim finds out that it has been 100 years since a king (King Yeon-jong) visited the village. While Choi hosts them, the gang share an inner joke as the King jests about Gangcheori's 'perfect manners.' Gangcheori finally tries the yugwa candy and even shares it with Head Eunuch Kim. The eunuch talks about how he too lost a sibling, hinting that he knows Gangcheori is mourning someone important to him. The King's plan is thwarted from the beginning when Choi Won-u shuts down on the mention of his 100-year-old ancestor, Choi Gil-sang. Then they are interrupted by In-seon who has again been possessed by the one-legged ghost. The King wants answers and Choi spins a tale that the ghost is Jang Eon-su, a book merchant who stole some important books 5 years ago. While punishing him, Choi accidentally killed Jang. Feeling guilty, he retired. Yeo-ri and Gangcheori exorcise the ghost and their usual antics follow. But this time, the ghost agrees to be captured, but with a condition. He wants a scandalous book about the Chois exposed; that has been his revenge plan all along. Yeo-ri tells Choi this, and also how Jang hid the book in the place where he died. Choi claims it is all lies. A flashback shows Choi Won-u actually selling all the books to Jang. It includes the scandalous 100-year-old book, The Anthology of Light and Darkness. It has royal state secrets and can ruin the reputation of the Chois. It also tells the story of King Yeon-jong and a military officer. Once Choi hears it, he offers to buy it back. Before the transaction, a greedy Jang hides it in Choi's granary and asks for more money. Enraged, Choi attacks Jang who falls on a rake, slicing up his leg. Choi hesitates before killing Jang. At present, he finds the book and is about to burn it when Gangcheori saves it. He tells the King that the book has the origin story of the ghost. At the end of The Haunted Palace Episode 12, the ghost seethes over the King's words. He expels Yoon Gap's soul and Pung-san laughs. The Episode Review With The Hauned Palace having such a strong run so far, it seems that Episode 12 has decided to mess things up a bit. It is primarily Kim Bong-in's character who is portrayed as this manipulative, scheming grandfather who has not an ounce of love or loyalty for his grandson. While we had grand ideas of why he may choose to betray his only family, the reality is quite disappointing. Had it been any other K-drama, we would have chalked off Kim as a secondary, flat character whose only purpose is to be the villain. But The Haunted Palace is abundant with three-dimensional grey characters such as Gangcheori, Yoon Gap, Bibi, the Queen Mother, Choi Won-u and the 8-foot ghost himself. Yep, even the main antagonist has a tragic backstory that hints that circumstances out of his control turned him into a malevolent spirit. Yet, here we have Kim Bong-in laughing while his grandson cries at his betrayal. It undermines Kim Ji-hoon's heartbreaking portrayal of the King in what is supposed to be a bitter reality check. It doesn't help that Kim decides to betray him and summon the ghost when the King is just a teenager and has yet to voice his 'unconventional' political ideals. The timeline doesn't back Kim's loathing for his own family. And like his weak characterization, he simply gets an unsatisfying off-screen death. This storyline overshadows an integral character development for Gangcheori in this chapter, as he bonds with humans, other than Yeo-ri, while mourning his brother. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Review Geek
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace – K-drama Episode 9 Recap & Review
Episode 9 Episode 9 of The Haunted Palace begins with a flashback. King Lee Sung is a princely teen and is witnessing his grandfather, Minister Kim Bong-in punishing Pung-san for illegal shamanic rituals. The shaman sees the 8-foot ghost follow the prince and warns Kim. However, Kim wants him to summon the ghost. At present, Pung-san tells Kim how Yeo-ri is behind their recent failures and that she is protected by an Imugi. We also learn that on Kim's order, Pung-san helped the 8-foot ghost kill and devour Neop-deok. The King tells Yeo-ri how Neop-deok helped his possessed father temporarily regain control. He has been in denial for too long and asks Yeo-ri's help in dealing with the ghost. She is still in shock by the truth of her grandmother's death. Meanwhile, Gangcheori confesses to Bibi that he wanted to warn Neop-deok when the 8-foot ghost arrived in Yongdam Village. However, he was bitter about Yeo-ri rejecting him which is why he kept quiet. He now regrets it. He runs into Yeo-ri and she confronts him. He lied to her as he didn't want her to go after the 8-foot ghost. Surprised by his concern, she starts crying. He is worried for her and enlists Bibi to babysit her. The younger Imugi agrees only so he can try and turn Yeo-ri against Gangcheori. However, Yeo-ri cannot stop thinking about him. She confesses to Ok-im that she doesn't know how to feel, as she spent years hating Gangcheori for a murder he didn't commit. Ok-im teases her that she has fallen for the Imugi. Bibi overhears and is annoyed as he wants his brother to focus on ascending. Onto the court politics, we learn that the previous king planned to implement anti-slavery reforms with Choi Won-u. King Lee Sung begs Choi to help fulfil his father's wishes and the former minister gives in. The King confides in his grandfather about it and declares that he is making Choi the Left State Councillor. Minister Kim is clearly against it and claims it is a bad idea. However, the King is adamant and Kim pretends to acquiesce. As he leaves, he notes Gangcheori barging in to rant about Yeo-ri. Alone, the Imugi berates the King for revealing the truth of Neop-deok's murder. The King points out that Yeo-ri figured it out. Gangcheori rambles and the King teases him that he cares for her. Gangcheori claims he simply doesn't know how to handle a crying woman and the King advises him to offer hugs and a listening ear. At home, Gangcheori is awkward around Yeo-ri and both Bibi and Mrs. Yoon notice. Bibi tries to enact his scheme of separating them but Yeo-ri sees through it. Annoyed, he heads out to devour someone and notices the anti-Imugi talismans. He tells Gangcheori how all noblemen over age 60 have it. Meanwhile, Minister Kim and Kwak meet and we learn they led a rebellion against the previous king to stop the anti-slave reforms. Kwak is obsessed with Yoon Gap and Kim hints that his weakness is Mrs. Yoon. Kim knows that Gangcheori cares for Yeo-ri and will try to rescue Mrs. Yoon for her sake. While he is busy, Kim's men will kidnap Yeo-ri. As for Choi Won-u, Kim has Pung-san spin a tale to Queen Mother that the King will become invincible with Choi at his side. And then she won't be able to avenge Prince Yeong-in's death. Turns out, Choi is her uncle and she threatens him to stay away from the King. Afraid for his family, he gives in and rejects the King's offer via a note. The next day is quite tumultuous. Mrs. Yoon is kidnapped. In-seon shows up with sweets to bid Gangcheori farewell and is rude to Yeo-ri. Yeo-ri gets jealous and ignores Gangcheori. He gets annoyed and pretends to indulge In-seon. Right then, Minister Kim asks for Yeo-ri's optician services and she leaves. Assassins show up and try to kidnap her. Bibi hesitates but gives in and helps her run. Back home, Gangcheori gets a note about Mrs. Yoon's kidnapping. He reasons that he would miss her cooking and decides to rescue her. In-seon tries to shoot her shot but he bluntly rejects her and calls her out for being rude to Yeo-ri. Onto the rescue, Gangcheori is tired of Kwak's games and is about to introduce himself as the infamous Imugi. On seeing Mrs. Yoon crying for him, he stops and gets to rescuing her. However, Kwak's talisman weakens him and he is unable to call his wind power. Mrs. Yoon tries to help but Kwak knocks her out. Bibi shows up in his Imugi glory and Kwak runs off. Unfortunately, the assassins catch up with Yeo-ri. The King is on his way back from trying to find Choi Won-u when he spots her. He jumps into the fray and saves her. Yeo-ri comes home to find a beaten-up Gangcheori and Mrs. Yoon. She is flustered as he retrieves her lost optician kit and tries to nurse her injuries. Confused by his kindness, she lashes out. She should be worried about her grandma. Instead, she feels relieved that she doesn't have to feel guilty about liking him. He wipes her tears and kisses her at the end of The Haunted Palace Episode 9. The Episode Review The Haunted Palace Episode 9 is a strong start to the second half of the K-drama. Secrets are out, feelings are confessed and backstories are revealed. The comedy is still spot-on as Gangcheori would rather claim he saved Mrs. Yoon for her cooking instead of the fact that he has started liking her. The King and Ok-im teasing our couple is pretty hilarious as well. The build-up is been sweet and funny and it is about time Yeo-ri and Gangcheori confessed their feelings. After binge-watching the historical K-drama, Dear Hongrang, The Haunted Palace feels like a breath of fresh air with its slower pace and longer duration. The 8-12 episode format truly is affecting epic stories by cramming in way too many subplots and plot twists for sensationalism. What used to be the usual style of 16 to 20 episodes, allowing a slow but steady plot development, has now become quite rare, and we wonder why. The Haunted Palace is doing well (so far) because it has the time to flesh out characters, chart out different acts, and thoroughly unravel convoluted subplots. There are no plot holes or hasty conclusions or speedy showdowns. OTTs are anyway ruining the TVsphere with short seasons, large time gaps between seasons, cancellations and oversaturation. Let K-dramas stay in their little bubble, with the standardised formula, meant for K-drama fans, please! Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Review Geek
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Haunted Palace – K-drama Episode 8 Recap & Review
Episode 8 Episode 8 of The Haunted Palace begins with Yeo-ri and the eunuchs working on breaking the curse. Head Eunuch Kim lets it slip that Gangcheori has been worried about Yeo-ri and she is surprised. At the riverbank, the drowned ghost goes after the King as ordered by Pung-san. Next, he curses Gangcheori. But together, Gangcheori and the King trap the ghost. Yeo-ri arrives in time as Gangcheori faints. She breaks the curse and hugs him when he finally wakes up. Pung-san learns of the curse breaking and blames it on Yeo-ri being from Yongdam village. Something happened there and a flashback shows Pung-san watching while Neop-deok dies. Back at the riverbank, Bibi watches the hug and has a bad feeling. However, the King and the inner circle are amused by Gangcheori's confusion at Yeo-ri's hug. The King and Gangcheori agree to a truce and the former rushes to his wife who has recovered. Meanwhile, Gangcheori and Yeo-ri question the male drowned ghost. It is his skull that was put in the pillow so he would target the Queen. He agrees to speak when Yeo-ri offers to return his remains to his daughter. When she updates the King, he is overly affectionate with her. Gangcheori is jealous and we learn that the King did it to mess with him. As for the family reunion, the ghost possesses Yeo-ri and comforts his daughter. He finally reveals that a blind yapper has been using him. Yeo-ri recalls the 8-foot ghost mentioning a blind yapper as well. Said yapper is with one of Kwak's ministers, making him a talisman to ward off Bibi. We learn that the nobles go to him for talismans, hexes and shamanic cures for their enemies and lovers and family members. Kwak doesn't believe in all this but begrudgingly takes one talisman. In the market, Choi Won-u frantically searches for a book that some scoundrel touched. He is pretty vague but pays handsomely to the seller to look for it. The one-legged ghost attacks again. Ga-seop and Noh are nearby, searching for Gangcheori and save Choi. Ga-seop ends up advising a confused Choi to repent for the sin against the one-legged ghost. Elsewhere, Gangcheori frets over Yeo-ri, who is tired after the possession. He calls the drowned ghost foolish for worrying about his daughter who will barely live a couple of decades. Yeo-ri calls him out for being heartless. As for Pung-san, he burns all evidence, guessing that the ghost must have blabbed. He is right as royal guards barge into the Association of the Blind Fortune Tellers and arrest everyone. The King questions Pung-san as he is known to visit the Queen Mother. The shaman claims that he has been consoling her after her husband died in the Year of the Water Rabbit. That night, Yeo-ri and Gangcheori stop by an inn for dinner. They bicker as he wants to eat more while she wants to leave. He surreptitiously makes it rain so they are stuck at the inn. He watches her doze off and she catches him. She has noticed his affection for her and he blames it on Yoon Gap's body. In a moment of weakness, he adds that he isn't sure. He then asks if her smiles at him are meant for Yoon Gap or Gangcheori. She is flustered and changes the topic. In prison, the blind shamans scold Pung-san for getting involved with the wrong people. But he is cocky that things go his way as he has dirt on the nobles. Right on cue, all his clients vouch for him. Even Kwak points out the absurdity of the Queen Mother using a blind man to curse the Queen. Even Minister Kim agrees with Kwak. He explains that if the Queen Mother is involved, the King has to be careful so as not to rile her people. The King gives in and frees all the shamans. However, he orders his inner circle to secretly look for the Blind Yapper. While discussing with Yeo-ri, the King is sad to learn that Neop-deok died in the Year of the Water Rabbit. As for Yeo-ri, she realises that she has been cosying up to her grandmother's killer and feels guilty. She is suddenly cold to Gangcheori who is confused by her mood swing. Having taken a liking to Yeo-ri, the kid ghost reveals the truth. He was there when Neop-deok was hired to exorcise the 8-foot ghost 13 years ago. Did the 8-foot ghost kill Neop-deok as revenge? Shocked, Yeo-ri runs out. Gangcheori is busy ranting about Yeo-ri's sudden coldness to Bibi. Bibi asks if he regrets lying that he killed Neop-deok. It cuts to Yeo-ri asking the King what happened 13 years ago, in the Year of the Water Rabbit. The 8-foot ghost possessed his father. Neop-deok was brought in to exorcise him. He died. Lee Sung married and became the King. Neop-deok died a month later by accidentally being set on fire and falling into the sea. They realise that the 8-foot ghost's master is behind the deaths of the previous king and Neop-deok. At the end of The Haunted Palace Episode 8, Minister Kim kills the 8-foot ghost's fire and beats up Pung-san, calling him a yapper. He is the one who hired the shaman to kill the Crown Prince. Pung-san promises to keep the deal and also reveals that Yeo-ri is related to Neop-deok. The 8-foot ghost has a plan and his fire burns brighter. The Episode Review The Haunted Palace Episode 8 finally connects everything that seemed random and ends the first half of the K-drama on a high and satisfying note. Most of the mystery is resolved, allowing viewers some sense of satisfaction as the questions kept piling up. Yeo-ri is no ordinary shaman and being related to Neop-deok adds to her power. Neop-deok was brought in to exorcise the 8-foot ghost possessing the late king. And in retaliation, Pung-san used the ghost to kill her. Minister Kim is the big bad baddie despite being the King's maternal grandfather. We can probably guess that he wants revenge on the previous King for replacing his daughter with the Queen Mother. Meanwhile, Choi Won-u just seems to be a red herring. He comes off cranky and spiteful but it looks like whatever his storyline is, it belongs to the slave reform conflict. As for Gangcheori, he gets a huge redemption arc, which honestly was needed. As evident with Yeo-ri's reality check, we doubt she would have ever been able to get together with her grandmother's killer. It also felt out of character for Gangcheori to kill Neop-deok when he feels protective of her granddaughter. All in all, a strong mid-season finale that sets up for an exciting second half as well. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
