Return to the Palace

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 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.

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.

The story is great, and the cast stellar. I didnt expect it to be that good at all. But it was and many times I was so gripped by all the ghosts Gangcheori and Yeo-ri were fighting. They make such a good pair and were so hilarious at times.

Throughout the drama all I worried about the most was Gangcheori eventually dying in his bid to always protect Yeo-ri.

Touching, funny, and so so nice to watch - this ranks one of the very top kdramas in my heart after DOTS, CLOY, GOBLIN, and the Alchemy of Souls.

The King himself is very endearing...very solid and committed to his people, with a dry sense of humor. Never would I have expected such great acting... in a random ghost drama I happened to chance upon!