life's a hoot

With that being said, I am at the end of episode 3 and my goodness, I am actively rooting for the King and Queen Dowager to die painful deaths. All they have done so far is cause chaos for everyone else and maintain a tenuous grip on the court, and less so their sanity. Like, the pond spirit was right to curse the royal family's bloodline to end.

They are compelling villains yes (I will put this down to the acting, more than the characterization), but I am very-hard pressed to be sympathetic to them. If the present succession line is dropping like flies, mayhap think back on your many transgressions? I realize royalty and the quest for the throne is a hell of drug but come on, come what may, in the end death spares no one, and there's no saying you won't die an ignominious death. Of course, contextually I know why they are this way, but let a bitch (me) rant.

At any rate, it will be interesting to see how their arcs progress, and if redemption is even on the cards for them. As of now I sincerely hope not, but we have 5 more episodes to tear through, so lettuce see.

I was wondering what kind of tone the horror would take, and it seems they have settled on a mix of ominous and serious, with some humor and levity to break up all the doom and gloom.

NJH is okay so far, but right before I started the drama, I was thinking of perfect it would be if Yoon Shi Yoon were casted in this role. He would have simply chewed it up and spitted it out, and not to mention, he would have done a heck of a job being insolent, brooding, abrasively kind, but also dashingly romantic, as his wont. But alas, it was not to be. NJH is perfectly serviceable, but also distressingly modern, in some ways. Oh well.

I did also enjoy the bickering dynamic that Gu Cheon and Saeng Gang have? At times it feels a little forced, but I can see the vision, and I do have an excellent imagination, so I can fill in the rest lmao. It's clear that they are set up as opposing foils, who will soon find similar goals, and maybe even romance, which was my dearest wish going into this. You know just know that if OCN had helmed something like this, they would have made sure the romantic beats were all there, come hell or high water and ghostly spirits be damned. (See OCN Possessed to know what I am talking about lol)

I am sad that if there's a romance, it would not be court-people adjacent, like I had previously surmised. The reveal of Saeng Gang's parentage was a surprise to me. At any rate, what I wish for her is to be free of the palace, and presumably set up family with Gu Cheon, but I am not holding my breath about that happening.

Also, Jang Young Nam is terrifying and commanding as only she can be. But that's no surprise. She can do roles like these in her sleep I feel.

It may read like I am damning this with faint praise, but my expectations were terrifically low going into this and probably once I get neck deep into, there will not be so many comparisons.

My main thing is, that I like the premise in that, it is two people who are not centre-stage royalty leading the story. I believe Nam Joo Hyuk is playing a commoner/outsider/ghost-slayer and Roh Yoon Seo is playing a court lady. My cursory research tells me that there are levels to court ladies, but unfortunately, I do not know enough about the hierarchy to figure out which rank of court lady she is. Point is, I think she is levels removed from royalty.

Now what I want is ROMANCE -- in all caps, lmao. Because when you are fighting the forces of evil, and are presumably saving each other's butts, and engaging in some adrenaline-inducing, pants-shitting shenanigans, there is bound to be some emotions running high, correct? Like emotions that would lead you straight into each other's arms.

But the trailer was determined not to show any romance, and instead it was all moody and rainy (which I enjoyed), ghostly, spirit-y, with split seconds of people dying, and Jang Young Nam looking possessed as hell (so I know I will be in for a hell of a performance, because I have never known her to not deliver). I am fine with all this, but I also want my romance danggit!