Season 1

The East Palace Episode 1 wastes very little time telling us that this is not going to be a normal historical drama. We begin with a mysterious death inside the royal palace, and before we can even get comfortable with the royal setting, the story introduces the supernatural problem that will drive the entire series. And honestly, after watching the first episode, my biggest question was: Why does everyone in this palace act like seeing a ghost is just another item on the royal to-do list? Because things get creepy very quickly.

If Episode 1 introduced the problem, The East Palace Episode 2 starts showing us just how complicated that problem really is. Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang continue pursuing the pond spirit, but things quickly become dangerous. And after a close encounter, the two are forced into a much closer partnership. Because apparently surviving one supernatural disaster together wasn’t enough. Now they need a pact.

The East Palace Episode 3 raises the stakes considerably. The king is no longer willing to wait. Gu-cheon is ordered to save the prince, and the consequences of failure are made brutally clear. Save the prince or die. So much for having a normal workday.

By The East Palace Episode 4, Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang are no longer dealing with a simple supernatural incident. They are now trying to understand the entire mystery behind the pond spirit and the royal family’s tragic history. And the more they discover, the less innocent the palace begins to look.

The East Palace Episode 5 takes the supernatural danger to another level. Gu-cheon finds himself in serious danger and Saeng-gang becomes crucial to his survival. Meanwhile, the king’s condition worsens, and the palace becomes increasingly unstable. And just when you think Gu-cheon has enough problems… Another spirit gets involved. Of course.

The East Palace Episode 6 is where the situation becomes genuinely desperate. Saeng-gang comes under threat while Gu-cheon continues fighting the supernatural forces surrounding the palace. But then something happens that changes the situation completely: Gu-cheon loses his sight. And if there is one thing you absolutely do not want while fighting supernatural creatures, it’s probably losing your vision.

By The East Palace Episode 7, there is no pretending that the palace can return to normal. The supernatural crisis is now completely out of control. The king and Queen Dowager clash over the tragedies that have destroyed the royal family, while resentful spirits move closer to their final objective. And Gu-cheon and Saeng-gang know that they are running out of time.

After seven episodes of ghosts, royal secrets, supernatural investigations and enough palace drama to make anyone question their career choices, The East Palace Episode 8 finally brings everything toward its conclusion. And yes, the palace is basically falling apart.