Rom-coms are cute, but I think mixed-genre romantic K-dramas are real gems—they keep you hooked from start to end. From the first two episodes, the teenage romance and the blend of folklore definitely caught our attention. There’s something really compelling about how Park Seong A’s character blends both strength and vulnerability. And despite the “fated to die” vibe hanging over the premise, as viewers, we can’t help but stay curious about how it will all unfold —let’s just hope the writers don’t mess up the ending.
Episode 3: When Humans Are Scarier Than Ghosts
I know the whole shaman, ghost-busting, and supernatural elements aren’t supposed to be that intense, but there were still some scenes that gave me chills. At the beginning of episode 3, we see Seong A’s spirit mother, General Dongcheon (played by Kim Mi-Kyung), entering a haunted house with a group of shamans to perform a cleansing ritual. During the ritual, she discovers a deadly curse that strikes her. She seals the house, claiming that the malicious spirit cannot be exorcised like other spirits. It’s revealed that a human had sacrificed herself to help the spirit grow stronger. For a second, I genuinely thought this was turning into a horror drama. I was caught off guard, as the eerie sound and unsettling visuals really set the mood.
On the other hand, while sitting outside Gyeon U’s grandmother’s funeral room, Seong A witnesses how his own family is casting him aside. It was honestly hard to watch Gyeon U’s so-called loved ones blame him for his grandmother’s death. But seeing Seong A stand up for him, and Pyo Ji-ho stepping in just in time to stop the uncle from treating Gyeon U like a punching bag, was so satisfying.
But that one line from Seong A in the funeral room, “I’d rather take down a ghost. People are much worse”, hits harder than any ghost scene. It’s a statement that exposes the hypocrisy of human society, where cruelty is disturbingly real and thrives not in the shadows, but in broad daylight. Sure, ghosts and demons are scary, but humans are terrifying on a whole other level.
While a few scenes in the drama did give me chills, the depth of supernatural knowledge in the show is unexpectedly enriching. I like how it explains concepts of dark entities and wraiths. Take the “suicide ghost,” for instance, the drama links its appearance to Gyeon U’s loneliness and suicidal thoughts following his grandmother’s death. That emotional vulnerability and hopelessness, as explained, are exactly what summons these evil entities. As always, Seong A is determined to save Gyeon U, and this time her spirit mother steps in to help. Through the Book of Thwarting Evil, she discovers she can become a human amulet for Gyeon U, and every time she touches him, it repels the suicide spirit. Her relentless chasing and trying to touch him was low-key funny and felt like a rom-com moment in the middle of the chaos.
While working on a group project, Seong A discovers a baby ghost attached to a classmate. She recalls how her mother told her to stay away from three kinds of ghosts: dancing ghosts, smiling ghosts, and baby ghosts. So, she creates another amulet to protect Gyeon U and hides it under the classmate’s desk.
As Gyeon U returns to the archery field, he reconnects with his passion, and the suicide ghost moves farther away. In the end, when he has a heartfelt conversation with Seong A on the rooftop, he feels drawn to her, and the suicide spirit finally retreats.
Episode 4: Teen Love and Terrifying Secrets
Episode 4 kicks off right where the last one ended — with Seong A going in for a casual high-five, only for Gyeon U to surprise her by locking hands instead. Honestly, oh my god, I felt butterflies. In this episode, we finally get a soft launch of the budding teenage romance. It’s in moments like their park meeting and that hug where the sparks of young love really fly.
Of course, no romantic K-drama is complete without a love triangle, and we’re starting to see the signs. I have to say, it was refreshing to see a different side of Ji-ho when he boldly confessed to Gyeon U that he has a crush on Seong A — rival mode officially activated. The bus scene, where both boys try to hold Seong A’s head as she falls asleep, was peak teen drama adorableness.
But just as things get cute, the horror element returns. Seong A heads back to the haunted house with her mother to prepare for a future ritual. There, they come across a pair of online streamers whom they try to chase away for their own safety. Once the shamans are gone, though, the boys sneak back in, only to be trapped inside. One of them becomes possessed and attempts to kill the other. Later, General Dongcheon learns about the incident and decides to perform a ritual to retrieve their souls, calling Seong A out of school to assist her.
At the haunted house, Seong A runs into Yeom-hwa, the internet celebrity shaman General Dongcheon has been trying to locate, after finding something that belongs to her. Mistaking her for one of her mother’s shamans, Seong A removes her mask and dances with her in a ritual.
Meanwhile, Gyeon U tells his coach he won’t quit archery and is then told to run 50 laps from school all the way to the haunted house. And that’s where things get unpredictable.
Unfortunately, he arrives just in time to see Seong A’s face. Given Gyeon U’s hatred for shamans, especially after the flashbacks showing how he was mistreated by them, including Yeom-hwa throwing salt at him, it’s hard to tell what this revelation will mean for their relationship. Episode 5 is bound to be intense.
The tension is high. So, while we wait for the next episode, stay tuned, and don’t forget to leave your comment below!
Written by Diksha Gangadeen
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