Return to the Palace

A real gem. Great action . Magic . Shamanism, humor, romance, this is what makes the korean story telling tradition the best on earth. It is a timeless and deep story. Each scene as beautiful as a painting. With good music. I will have to watch it again to savor it further. Excellent attention to joseon era, each charachter was very enjoyable. It is not often that authentic rituals are shown but these were pretty close. And beautiful. It is sure to become a classic . Viki did a pretty fair job with the subtitles too. I hope they make a sequel . And another . And another and and and another ........

The plot is about evil spirits and a haunted palace in ancient Korean history and the main message is that spirits do not become evil on their own and it is humans and ambitious people who create evil and negative energies by destroying their own kind.

The story started out very interesting. In this drama Yook Sung-Jae has a very likable and funny character and his acting is acceptable, in contrary to Bona, who has a very boring and predictable character. Even her facial expressions are very cold and except for the end of the series when she cries at times, no emotion can be recognized on her cold and robot-like face. The emotional relationship between them is very fake and even the kiss that is exchanged is very, very unreal.

This show has its shortcoming, but it is a sweet series that the viewer does not get tired of watching. However, the last episode also ends very, very stupidly and we even see an apology from the spirit who intentionally or unintentionally caused the death of innocent characters in this story.

I give this series a 7 out of 10 points.

Interesting plot but i felt it was dragged for too long. Supporting cast did really well especially the King, Queen Dowager, ML's mom, blind villain and even the queen. Leads have no chemistry imo.

Ok let's talk about the leads both perform ok but most of their scenes the ML actually stands out. I find the FL a bore... like no personality whatsoever I even think she could've used some ad-libs in some of the scenes. She has like 5 expressions. I am not trying to be mean just being critical. The ML was ok but the character is way too weak and no end goal.

The supporting cast was amazing the King & Queens chemistry is top notched. Everybody else act so well.

There are dramas that entertain, some that move us-and then there are those rare, majestic few that capture the soul and never let go. Return to the Palace is one of them. A tour de force in storytelling, performance, and cinematic craft, this drama doesn't just deserve your attention; it commands it. From the first scene to the final frame. Return to the Palace exuded excellence. The story is Impeccably layered. Set against a backdrop of dark palace secrets, a haunting fight for justice, ancestral sins and their deadly consequences, forbidden emotions, and the burdens of legacy, the narrative strikes the perfect balance between traditional grandeur and emotional vulnerability. Every plot twist is earned, every moment purposeful The pacing is flawless, keeping you at the edge of your seat without ever feeling rushed. And let's talk about that cast. God, each actor delivered a performance that's not just believable but transcendent They didn't just play their characters; they became them The chemistry was electric, the emotional beats were raw and resonant, and every expression, pause, and tear felt agonizingly real. This is the kind of acting that silences a room. Visually, the drama was nothing short of stunning. Rich costumes, haunting scores, and breathtaking cinematography elevated the palace setting into something mythic and timeless. But more than aesthetics, it's the emotional truth that grips you, royalty or not, the characters are achingly human. Return to the Palace was not just a drama, it's an experience, one that lingers long even after the final episode.

I watch a lot of Kdramas, comedies and adventure shows and this is one of the best I have seen. I also have a weakness for supernatural shows, period pieces and light romances, so if you like that mix, this one may also hit all your buttons. Most Korean 16 episode shows have weaknesses about 2/3rds of the way through, but this one kept up the pacing while ratcheting up the storyline. What's not to love about a type of lower level dragon in a human body who mouths off to a Joseon king? The leads were excellent and I felt had real chemistry, with Bona being more affecting than I remembered from other shows. Cha-Chung Hwa, a supporting member of the cast is someone I always like to see in these shows-the perfect mother worrywort type who just never gets mentioned despite her skills. Highly recommended.