The Haunted Palace | Recommended Kdrama

The Haunted Palace starring Yook Sung Jae, Kim Ji Yeon (Bona) and Kim Ji Hoon ended Saturday last week and your guess is right... my mind still thinks of it. It's a romcom fantasy period drama that revolves around an Imoogi and a Shaman's adventure, taking on and sending off resentful spirits inside the palace. 

There were a few resentful spirits that haunts the daily living of the royal family. Queen Dowager's son, Prince Yeong In, was resented by a female ghost in a well because of foul treatment towards her while she was living. He's disgusting so somewhat, he deserves what happened to him in the end. Other that that, there were more but the biggest villain in the story was none other than the Eight-ft Spirit. This resentful spirit was very powerful as it also carry the souls from the village that got massacred because of the coward King 100 years ago. Eight-ft Spirit got summoned by Pung San backed by Kim Bong In, the betrayer among the few trusted people of the King. Together they aim to take down the King and his family. Actually the Eight-ft Spirit wanted more, his grudge towards the Royal family was immense that he wanted to continue taking down the Royal family for eternity. But despite all that, it's still a happy ending as Gangcheori and Yeori won in the end. Yaaaass! 

Gangcheori/ Kang Chul was the name of a dragon that was bound to ascend 100 years ago. But it did not became successful as someone from the Yeongdam Village saw him while the massacre was on-going. Years later, he has found a way to ascend and it's through Yeori. Gangcheori took form into human figure and pursue Yeori but failed. They all thought Gangcheori was the root cause of the unfortunate happenings including the death of Yeori's grandma, so they try to stay away from him. Then one day, the Royal Scribe Yoon Gap appeared and deceived Yeori to take her to the Palace and solve the mystery behind the resentful spirits. However, as they were on their way, Yoon Gap got killed and that's when Gangcheori possessed his body. Since then, Gangcheori was not able to come out from Yoon Gap's body. 

Yeori wanted to find Yoon Gap's soul and bring him back to his body so she continue on with her journey to the palace despite Gangcheori's opposition. Once they were in the palace, they meet the King and the rest is history. 

That's just a teaser for y'all, if you haven't watched the drama then I'll say you should. It's a recommended drama from me. 

This is Yook Sungjae's drama series since Golden Spoon (2022). Tbh, I didn't like that drama and was not able to finish it.. it felt like it's a drag watching it so dropped it along the way. But this one, The Haunted Palace, was really something. There were no boring episodes, I enjoyed every bits of it. The characters were lovely and they grew on me. Love them. 

Goodbye Twenty-Five, Twenty-One (Truly One Of The Best Kdrama) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I just finished Twenty Five, Twenty One kdrama and I still cannot move on from it! You know, I'll be very honest... I've never been moved by a Kdrama for a long time now and I was thinking of throwing this hobby of watching Kdrama because it's taking so much of my time when there's not much that strike to my heart anymore. But this drama.. Twenty-Five, Twenty-One is proving me wrong.. there is still a good written Kdrama that will shake my world such as this one. Gosh... It's so good! From the story-line, the development of characters as well as the growth of each actors/actresses in this drama. Ugh. I am taking back when I said that Nam Joo Hyuk is not that good in acting! God knows now how amazed I am by him. Wow! It's remarkable how, as the story progressed, I've become tuned in with Nam Joo Hyuk's character Baek Yi Jin. I grew attached to him and I don't want to say goodbye to him yet! No!

Nam Joo Hyuk Is Starting To Have Feelings For Kim Tae Ri In Twenty-Five, Twenty-One Episode 4

As the story progresses with Baek Yi Jin (Nam Joo Hyuk) struggling yet adjusting to his new lifestyle, it's actually becoming evident how he's being dependent on Na Hee Do (Kim Tae Ri) with regards to being his anchor. To be honest, if I were to compare it with reality, it's really good to have that someone you can open up fully about your problems without any inhibitions. I actually have an experience of being so closed off with my struggles and feelings that it's eating me wholly and it's something that's not really good for my mental health. So when that someone came to my life and served as my anchor, someone that has no malice nor judgment, someone that's actually genuine to help me with my life, it felt like my life struggles lightened up. And it felt like I really have that someone that will stay by my side through it all for the rest of my life. That is why I really am grateful and also trying my best to return the favor, not because he asked for it but because I want to make him feel the way he makes me feel when he's helping me out. Uhhh.. nope we're not lovers or anything... we're just really true friends that care for each other. That's the difference between me and Baek Yi Jin. 

WJSN's Bona Is Kim Tae Ri's Internet Buddy In Twenty-Five, Twenty-One Episode 3

This episode 3 of Twenty-Five, Twenty-One really tugged my heartstrings. So many scenes really hit close to home. 

First, the part where Na Hee Do (Kim Tae Ri) goes all out and dangerously for Baek Yi Jin (Nam Joo Hyuk) to meet his father. I get it that she made a wrong assumption about the old man looking for Yi Jin and regretted it. But the fact that she did that only because she wanted to protect him and corrected her wrong doings later just proved how much she treasures him and her promise to be happy together. Yi Jin also feels the same way about her, it's evident to how he treats her too.  Although the last part where he failed to comfort Hee Do, he just did that because she knew how pure-hearted Hee Do is that she wouldn't say anything wrong to anyone in her right mind so he just couldn't obliged to her request to say. He just knew that she was in an emotional state that even though they're important to each other, he wouldn't pamper her nor lie to her just so she could comfort her hurt feelings. However, I wouldn't lie that I got really hurt at that part for Hee Do. There really are times when we need to feel that there is someone by our side during the hard times and despite Yi Jin failing to do so.... there is Hee Do's 'internet friend' to comfort her. 

Kim Tae Ri Cheers Up Nam Joo Hyuk After Witnessing Him At His Lowest Point In Twenty-Five, Twenty-One Episode 2

Somehow this drama gives off a vibe just like Police University wherein the female lead is the one comforting/supporting the male lead and then later on their relationship would evolve in which the female lead would also start relying on the male lead after he regains some confidence and strength. Then this give and take relationship would then bloom into a couple relationship with them relying on each other. Hmmm... I could already sense it, yep yep.. but who knows what might happen along the way, I'm still here for surprises. Police University is all about realizing and achieving one's dreams too which is why I find the two male lead characters from Police University and Twenty-Five, Twenty-One similar on that matter, they just differ in their life circumstances or situation.

Nam Joo Hyuk Encourages Kim Tae Ri To Continue Protecting Her Dreams In Twenty Five, Twenty One Episode 1

It's been a while since I've hooked myself to some Korean drama series since Jirisan so I'm glad to tell everyone that I finally found a new interesting one again to watch and react to every week, it's none other than Twenty-Five Twenty-One starring Nam Joo Hyuk and Kim Tae Ri.

I watched first the pilot episode before reading the synopsis of the drama from asianwiki, so unconsciously wanting the story to incline more to two friends finding each other in the midst of their own difficulties and thrive rather than them developing romantic feelings as the story develops. I think it's rare to see such story but I guess people aren't attracted to such dramas if it won't involve romance between the leads and writers, production in totality, wouldn't want their work to flop at all. But wouldn't it be fulfilling to create such without making their viewers bored, by using their creativity efficiently to add to their project.