Official Trailer
Rating: 8.8/10 | Genre: Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Seasons: 1 | Episodes: 14 | Status: Returning Series
Starring: Lim Ji-yeon, Heo Nam-jun, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Se-hee, Chae Seo-an
Okay, I just finished “My Royal Nemesis” and I need to talk about it because this show is absolutely bonkers in the best way possible. It’s been a while since I watched something that made me laugh out loud one second and actually care about the characters the next. The 8.8 rating is honestly deserved. This isn’t just a fun time killer. It’s actually really good.
Going in, I was skeptical. The premise sounds like it could be a total mess: a Joseon villain gets reincarnated as a modern actress and falls for a cold chaebol heir. It should be terrible. It should be trying too hard. But somehow the show finds this perfect balance where it doesn’t take itself seriously but also genuinely earns the emotional moments. That’s harder to do than it sounds.
Season 1
The first episode grabs you immediately. Royal Concubine Kang Dan-sim is about to be executed by poison when suddenly she wakes up in 2026 Seoul inside the body of an actress named Shin Seo-ri. The confusion and chaos that follows is gold. Lim Ji-yeon plays both versions of this character and the whiplash between them is hilarious. Dan-sim doesn’t understand phones, cars, or basic modern etiquette. She’s just trying to survive in a world that makes no sense to her.
Then we meet Se-gye, the chaebol heir played by Heo Nam-jun. He’s exactly what you’d expect: cold, arrogant, dismissive. But there’s this spark between him and Dan-sim that the show builds really well. Their first interactions are awkward and antagonistic. He has no patience for her weird behavior. She has no respect for his money or status. It’s the classic setup, but the execution keeps it fresh.
What surprised me most was how the show actually uses the time travel element instead of just ignoring it. Dan-sim’s knowledge of the past and her desperation to change her fate becomes central to the plot. She’s not just a fish out of water for comic relief. Her arc matters. By the end of the season, you’re genuinely wondering if she can escape the curse that killed her the first time.
The supporting cast is solid too. Lee Se-hee and Chae Seo-an have good chemistry with the leads. There’s a best friend character who actually gets scenes that make you care about her. Even the smaller roles feel lived in. No one’s phoning it in.
The romantic tension between Dan-sim and Se-gye builds steadily across the 14 episodes. They go from hating each other to reluctantly working together to actually developing feelings. The show doesn’t rush it or drag it out. Each episode feels like it moves the relationship forward in a real way. By the finale, their relationship feels earned.
There are some slower episodes in the middle where the pacing dips a bit. A few subplots feel like filler. But nothing is so bad that it made me want to stop watching. The show bounces back pretty quickly with moments that land emotionally or are just plain funny.
I will say the ending of season one leaves things pretty open, which is good because a second season got greenlit and I’m already counting down until I can watch it. The cliffhanger isn’t cheap. It actually makes sense given everything we’ve learned about Dan-sim’s curse and the complications in her relationship with Se-gye.
If you like fantasy romance mixed with comedy and don’t mind a show that’s a little silly sometimes, you should really give this a shot. It’s the kind of thing that’s perfect for a weekend binge. Have you watched it yet, and if so, what did you think about the ending?
Episode Guide
Season 1 (14 Episodes)
Episode 1: The Vixen and the Beast (9/10)
Royal Concubine Kang Dan-sim is sentenced to death by poison. But when she wakes, she finds herself in a very different place: modern-day Korea.
Episode 2: A Guide to Optimizing Your Fate (9/10)
As Dan-sim tries to adapt to the new world, her strange ways attract the attention of chaebol heir Cha Se-gye — who approaches her with a proposal.
Episode 3: A Whole New Reality (9/10)
Se-gye finds he can't stop thinking about Shin Seo-ri — especially after a weird dream sparks some foreign emotions within him.
Episode 4: Beyond Understanding
Dan-sim learns more about Seo-ri's past. As Se-gye and Seo-ri spend more time together, mixed signals push them to put their feelings to the test.
Episode 5: Episode 5
Episode 6: Episode 6
Episode 7: Episode 7
Episode 8: Episode 8
Episode 9: Episode 9
Episode 10: Episode 10
Episode 11: Episode 11
Episode 12: Episode 12
Episode 13: Episode 13
Episode 14: Episode 14
Where to Watch
Stream on: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads