[Funcurve Review] "Bring It On, Ghost"
Published on
Fight or Flight
"Bring It On, Ghost" is a mystery romance drama about a reclusive university student and ghost exorcist, Park Bong-pal (Ok Taecyeon), who falls in love with a feisty ghost with lingering regrets, Kim Hyeon-ji (Kim So-hyun). Though their initial meeting is marked with hilarious savagery, they soon form an alliance, which leads to a budding romance.
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I'm impressed by the drama's ability to reconcile seemingly contradictory elements into one endearing and memorable story – tragic ghost scenes are undercut by slapstick humor, and sophisticated cinematography is juxtaposed with exaggerated, funny camera angles. It feels that combining these elements shouldn't make sense, yet they work together seamlessly. All contribute to unfolding Bong-pal and Hyeon-ji's background stories, which intertwine in unexpected ways.
If the supernatural plot line doesn't pique your interest, fear not – the cheeky romantic banter is definitely the most memorable aspect of the drama. Bong-pal and Hyeon-ji's interactions sizzle with chemistry and wit, making "Bring It On, Ghost" the perfect lighthearted and adorable watch on both your best and worst days.
"The cheeky romantic banter is the most memorable aspect of the drama".Episodes 1-3 Review 
The beginning of "Bring It On, Ghost", in short, is bizarre. The first episode features tacky ghost animations, odd characterizations, fragmented plot lines, and an oversaturation of dark lighting. Thankfully, the drama quickly finds its stride in the next episodes, establishing quality visuals and a more cohesive narrative.
Bong-pal is an introverted yet good-natured university student who has been friendless ever since his mother died in his youth. He exorcises ghosts on the side to earn money to, ironically, cure his eyes of seeing ghosts. Apart from fighting ghosts, Bong-pal leads a normal life – he eats with his father figure, Monk Myeong-cheol, harbors a crush on senior Im Seo-yeon, and attends a class taught by Professor Joo Hye-seong (Kwon Yul). So far, Ok Taecyeon's interpretation of Bong-pal has been somewhat awkward and stiff, but endearing nonetheless. I hope that he continues fleshing out Bong-pal's character as the drama progresses.
Hyeon-ji is an assertive and bubbly ghost with a penchant for food and violence. A wandering spirit for five years, Hyeon-ji has lost all recollection of the past. Yet when she meets (ahem, wrestles with) Bong-pal, flashes of detail surrounding her death surface to memory. She recalls enough to realize that she needs to take her university placement exam in order to move onto the afterlife, leading her to strike a deal with Bong-pal: if he helps her study, she will help him fight ghosts. Unlike Ok Taecyeon, Kim So-hyun's interpretation of Hyeon-ji is expressive and genuine – she definitely embodies Hyeon-ji's sass and determination.
Finally, we meet Choi Cheon-sang (Kang Ki-young) and Kim In-rang (Lee David), students who run an amateurish website called Ghostnet. Though their exaggerated slapstick was slightly annoying at first, I've grown to appreciate their antics and developing friendship with Bong-pal.
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