The Netflix series East Palace has reached its release D-Day.
East Palace is a Netflix series about Gucheon (Nam Joo-hyuk), who has the ability to cross into the world of ghosts, and the court lady Saenggang (Roh Yoon-seo), who keeps a secret, who answer King Cho Seung-woo's summons and unravel the curse that haunts the East Palace. Amid intense interest, it finally unveils itself today (17th) as it prepares to meet viewers around the world and has revealed viewing highlights.
#1 "global stars" Nam Joo-hyuk and Roh Yoon-seo and "trustworthy veteran" Cho Seung-woo, an overwhelming acting ensemble
First, the feast of overwhelming performances by the three characters who approach the East Palace's curse is a major viewing point. Nam Joo-hyuk plays the role of "Gucheon," promising a different side. He said, "I constantly imagined and acted with unseen ghosts and the unknown 'world of ghosts' in mind, and every moment I worked on set thinking about how to convey it vividly to viewers without feeling alien," he said. Also, because Gucheon, who crosses into the world of ghosts, is a character who uses a sword to directly cut down and kill ghosts, he is expected to show flashy action.
Roh Yoon-seo, who plays the inspection court lady "Saenggang," said, "I thought a lot about what kind of person the king is, what kind of person Gucheon is, and how Saenggang is different in front of each of them and what feelings she has toward them," she said. Her intense acting transformation different from before, as well as her chemistry with Nam Joo-hyuk, raises curiosity.
Actor Cho Seung-woo, who said, "It was not an easy task to put several layers of masks on so the king's thoughts cannot be known," plays the king who chases the abyssal ghosts. Known for bringing characters to life, curiosity grows about how he will portray a king with a complicated inner life. Joining them are solid actors including Kwak Dong-yeon, Jang Young-nam, Tae In-ho, Hwang Young-hee, Hong Seo-joon, and Lee Hongnae, who will complete the narratives and mysteries each character holds more densely and are expected to inject tension into the drama.
#2 director Choi Jung-gyu of The Devil Judge X writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won of "The Guest," the production team that built a distinctive artistic world unite
The second viewing point is the combination of a production team optimized for genre works. Director Choi Jung-gyu, who showed delicate directing in The Devil Judge and Moonlit Night (literal translation of 붉은 달 푸른 해), and writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, who revealed distinct colors in works such as Bulgasal: Immortal Souls and The Guest, have united to unfold a new world. In particular, the unique concept depicting two worlds that are the same yet completely different — the "world of ghosts" that Gucheon crosses and the "real world" where mysterious events occur — arouses curiosity.
Relatedly, director Choi Jung-gyu said, "We differentiated color and background to emphasize the contrast between the two worlds," raising expectations for the visual contrast between the cool, bluish atmosphere of the real world and the red, desolate aura of the world of ghosts filled with dead souls. In addition, special beings in the world of ghosts such as ghost sellers and vengeful spirits will be vividly realized, promising immersive engagement.
Also, writers Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won said, "There are numerous ghost sellers in Korea's folklore and folk traditions, and we selected ghost sellers who have abilities that help the story progress and modified some settings to suit the drama," stimulating curiosity about the characteristics and abilities each ghost seller will show. In this way, East Palace's worldview and fantasy elements lend power to the mysteries woven throughout the drama and intricately tie characters' relationships together to heighten viewer immersion.
#3 from detailed production design that completed the "world of ghosts" to vivid VFX and intense action
The final viewing point is the detailed production that completed East Palace's worldview and narrative. East Palace preserves Korea's unique aesthetics while naturally adding fantasy elements to give viewers a new experience. As you encounter the restrained beauty of the palace and the contrasting images in the world of ghosts and enjoy the visual fun, spectacular action sequences soon deliver a thrill.
Moreover, from scenes that focus on the partnership between Gucheon and Saenggang to scenes that offer a fresh delight through VFX use, camera moving, and editing variations, a variety of action scenes that put emphasis on the narrative and provide catharsis for viewers await. Lighting, music, and costumes that maximize the actors' energy are also points to watch. The production and direction, which three-dimensionally realize the worldview, are expected to maximize the genre pleasure that blends mystery, fantasy, and action.
Meanwhile, East Palace is released today (17th) on Netflix.<
[Photo] Netflix
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