Gwi-gong

Bona plays Yeo-ri a shaman who believes her grandmother was killed by an Inugami spirit played by Yook Sung-jae, he also plays Yoon Gap who has his body possessed by the inugami. It has an interesting plot as Yeo-ri has feelings for Yoon Gap but once he is possessed she becomes confused. The story is mainly about a demon called the colossal shadow who lives in the palace and is trying to murder the king and all his descendants. The shaman and Inugami unite to try and stop the monster but also have to fight many minor demons on the way to the final showdown. I am not a big fan of this genre but I can understand if you are this is a good series. Overall ok with excellent acting but a little too much shamanism for me with little character development.

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.

The first half of the series consists of a very good mixture of historical suspense and love story. Yeo-ri is a likeable, warm-hearted character, observant and smart enough to be believable as a young woman with a complicated past and the ability to see ghosts. Gang Cheol, on the other hand, is arrogant but he brings a lot of fun into the series, and, of course, he has a soft side as well. I enjoyed some of the supporting characters, too.

As it happens with lots of Kdramas, the second half falls a bit flat. There is much more room for character development, but instead of deepening the stories of the more important ones, the plot of the main villain - a gruesome spirit tormenting the royal court - takes all the room to a point where some character decisions don't make that much sense anymore. It's a lot of revenge and hatred, the emotions are just way too obvious and simple, and simplified stories like that always bore me a bit.

The world building is superficial in the fantasy area as well. Without going into detail to avoid spoilers, I feel like some things only happen for plot twists and drama although they don't make much sense. Even fantasy needs rules and logic. E.g. Gang Cheol and his friend are deities, not humans, their perception of the world is supposed to be totally different. Based on that, their behaviour and decisions should be a bit more complex, but apart from their powers and the funny things like court etiquette, I don't believe them to be some kind of superior being. But then, there are written by humans, which shows most of the time in this kind of series and movies.

I still enjoyed some characters and character dynamics until the end, and overall, it was a good series with an interesting story.

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.

After a long time a kdrama to get me hooked. 1000/10. Everything was perfect (plot, characters, visuals, costumes, acting, music). I eagerly awaited to see Kim Young Kwang, but I realized he won't appear again. However Yook Sung Jae managed to portray Gangcheori well. I can't even compare any of the characters, because they all were so good at performing their roles including the ghosts. Thank you for the best ending.. I can't wait to see S2 with same actors and actresses (at least some special episodes with sweet moments of Yeori and Kang Chul). Also, the music was great too. The best OST for 2025 so far. I guarantee you will giggle and cry at the same time. Truly amazing!!