Yangsze Choo’s bestselling debut novel, “The Ghost Bride,” has been adapted into a Netflix series. Although the show deviates from the book, it remains an intriguing experience. It captures the book’s paranormal eeriness and the young woman’s struggle to choose her path in life, whether driven by duty or her own heart.
Set in 1890s Malacca, the story revolves around 20-year-old Pan Li Lan (Huang Pei-jia), the daughter of a widowed spice trader facing financial decline. With limited marital prospects, the rich Lim family invites Li Lan and her family to a grand party, offering a potential match.
Li Lan’s childhood crush, Tian Bai (Ludi Lin), returns from medical school. He’s now the heir after his cousin Tian Ching’s death. The Lim family matriarch, Madame Lim, proposes a marriage between Li Lan and her deceased son, Tian Ching (Kuang Tian), making Li Lan a ghost bride. This marriage would provide financial security but at the cost of lifelong mourning.
Haunted by Tian Ching’s vivid dreams, Li Lan finds herself drawn into solving his murder to save her father from a mysterious coma. She has ten days to uncover the killer, or she must marry Tian Ching.
As Li Lan delves into the mystery, she enlists Tian Bai’s help and encounters Er Lang (Wu Kang-jen), a sarcastic and mysterious servant. Together, they venture into the afterlife, encountering ghosts, family secrets, exorcisms, and corruption. Boundaries blur as they navigate the living and the dead.
“The Ghost Bride” is a fast-paced six-episode series, blending creepiness, romance, and folklore into a dark fairy tale. Despite its liberties with the source material and modern touches in soundtrack and costumes, it remains enjoyable. The love quadrangle is engaging, with a well-acted cast and delightful banter.
The series concludes on a high note with a minor cliffhanger, hinting at a possible second season. While it contains brief horror elements, it’s generally a PG-13 level show.
You can watch “The Ghost Bride” on Netflix. Have you seen it? Share your thoughts on this paranormal romance series in the comments!
