The East Palace (2026) Netflix Review

Movie Review: The East Palace

A bunch of people have been recommending Netflix’s The East Palace to me. While I am late to the party, this might satisfy an itch for those of us who are still waiting for more of the South Korean horror series Kingdom. A king tasks a ghost slayer and a woman cursed to hear ghosts with uncovering a sinister presence plaguing the crown prince’s palace, leading them into a dark realm.

This is an eight-episode limited series that takes place almost entirely in a palace under a supposed curse that threatens the royal bloodline. If you’ve enjoyed Kingdom, as I mentioned before, or Hellbound, Game of Thrones, or maybe even Stranger Things, this is a wild ride of a supernatural horror series that combines influences of all those while maintaining originality in its storytelling.

Characters and Political Intrigue

We follow this guy, Gu-cheon and I think that’s how you pronounce his name. He comes across as kind of a slacker, but is said to have powers to not only see spirits and demons but also to fight and destroy them. He’s summoned by the king to rid the palace of a pond spirit that is causing members of the royal bloodline to stop existing. His laid-back demeanor, combined with a dismissive, even lackadaisical attitude, makes him a little charming and silly, but also someone who clearly has honor and integrity, no matter how much he tries to hide it.

The story is twisty and convoluted, but not in a bad way. Each time it appears that answers or revelations are provided by Gu-cheon, doubt is cast thanks to additional plot complexities being piled on. There’s also a ton of political and familial scheming going on that makes even the most dysfunctional family seem like well-adjusted members of a household. There’s backstabbing, plotting, and death, along with some gaslighting and straight-up treachery. All that builds out a cast of characters where you’re simply not sure who can be trusted.

I know that can make it sound a bit like this gets too complicated for no good reason other than to distract from streamlined storytelling. However, because a mystery is interwoven throughout the narrative, all the layers work to make the plot more compelling. That being said, I think the eight episodes might just be a bit too much. Some of what takes place could have been condensed to create more efficiency and less repetitive back and forth within the story arc.

Stunning Visuals and Nightmare Fuel

This pacing isn’t a major issue, though, because the show is energetic and darkly exciting. I think where the series excels most is through its visuals. We get to see both the real world and the spirit world, sometimes shifting perspectives seamlessly and often placing us on both sides to see how the interactions in one are affecting the other. While the real world is beautiful, filled with elegant palatial settings and lush bamboo forests, the spirit world is kind of an upside-down version where dark mists swirl through a red-hued environment.

It’s also where we get to see some gnarly and freaky creature creations. There’s a point when one of the creatures looks like it was inspired by either Akira or Tetsuo: The Iron Man, utilizing an amalgamation of nasty elements to build something grotesque and dreadful. The CGI looks great, too. There are a ton of different creatures and beings showcased that are pure nightmare fuel whether they have worm like tentacles spewing from their mouths or they are unnaturally tall, ghostly figures that remain extremely threatening even while misplacing their dentures.

Immersive Action and Organic Romance

And then there’s the swordplay and martial arts. The action is exciting and filmed in an immersive manner that puts us right in the middle of the battles. The camera swings around the subjects and floats through the center of the fray, creating a fluid, flying sensation that still allows us to see all the action without losing any story tension. When these fights happen, they’re not quick. We get to enjoy the clashes, and neither combatant appears to be overpowered, creating peril and doubt as to who is going to overcome.

To round out the action and visuals, there’s a very small romance angle that weaves its way into the story. It doesn’t overshadow the main aim of the plot, nor does it become cheesy or forced. There’s a semi flirty dynamic between Gu-cheon and the woman assigned by the king to keep tabs on him. They have visible chemistry, and their banter is both cute and strange. Thanks to the slow building of their camaraderie, when feelings do begin to emerge, they’re organic and believable. This also adds more weight to the plot; when one has a connection to the other, it heightens the threat of peril and changes how they might approach a deadly foe.

A Few Minor Hiccups

I mentioned before how the series could have been a bit more efficient with the plot to avoid repetitive elements adding extra time. Another small drawback is the execution of flashback sequences. It’s often really difficult to immediately tell if what we are watching is just another scene or if we jumped back in time to get context on something happening in the present.

This is made more noticeable by portions of the flow that feel almost like forced commercial breaks, where a scene cuts abruptly and then reappears in some other area with the same characters. It’s a bit jumpy and clumsy when this happens, standing out because it contrasts heavily with the normally seamless transitions between sequences. Again, these issues aren’t enough to push the show into unwatchable territory or ruin the momentum. They just create hiccups in the storytelling that could have been avoided.

The Final Verdict

This was an easy binge. The story is captivating, and the visuals build out a world that is both foreboding and creepy. While some of the action feels like it comes straight from a video game, this isn’t a negative; instead, it adds creativity and energy to already awesome sword battles. The CGI is surprisingly effective, especially given how heavily the show relies on it for the majority of the ghostly areas.

While the show could have been a little more condensed with less repetition, the complex and intricate lore mixed with duplicitous actions makes for an engaging thriller filled with cheer-worthy heroes and nightmare villains.

I give The East Palace 4.5 out of 5 couches. If you’re looking for your next binge, you might want to give this one a go.

what have you been binging lately? I would love to get some recommendations in the comments below!