Watch The Ghost Bride

The Ghost Bride is a Netflix Original series that premiered in January 2020. It is a Taiwanese-Malaysian production that melds together elements of supernatural fantasy, mystery, and romance in a story that takes place in late 19th century Malacca. The show is based on a popular novel of the same name by Yangsze Choo. It tells the story of a young woman named Li Lan (played by Peijia Huang), who lives in a colonial-era Malacca, a city of cultural melting pot in Southeast Asia. She is a girl of modest means, living with her father and Amah (nanny) in a townhouse in Malacca. Although she aspires for higher education, her future is not her own to claim, instead to be determined by her father's wishes. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her family receives a marriage proposal from the Lim family - a wealthy family with a reputation for having ghosts in their house - intending to marry Li Lan off to their deceased son, Lim Tian Ching (played by Kuang Tian).

Li Lan's father initially declines, but after getting threatened by the Taekwondo boyfriends of the corpse-bride, ends up agreeing to the proposal, thinking it will bring their family fortune. It is an important and peculiar custom within the Chinese community to arrange such "ghost marriages," thinking it will help the dead find peace and not haunt the living. But when Li Lan begins experiencing ghostly visitations and terrifying dreams, she realizes there is more to the Lim family and her new status as a "ghost bride" than meets the eye.

The show's central conflict revolves around Li Lan's investigation and eventual alliance with the young heir of the Lim family, Lim Tian Bok (played by Ludi Lin), to unravel the secrets surrounding the Lim residence and her would-be husband's death. Along the way, they face many obstacles, including the unscrupulous chieftain of the Chinese secret society, played by Wu Kang Ren. He is a menacing and powerful figure, who wields his influence for his own gain and will do whatever it takes to maintain his power.

The Ghost Bride is notable for its visual richness and attention to detail in creating a vivid representation of Malacca during late colonial era. The showrunners captured the period's multi-cultural society, its architecture, the food, the clothing, and the mystical beliefs that shape the characters' lives, making the show immersive and appealing.

Moreover, it is a show with a fantastic cast who breathe life into the central characters, focusing especially on Li Lan's coming of age story. Peijia Huang's performance is flawless, her portrayal of Li Lan's mixture of vulnerability, curiousness and bravery making Li Lan feel relatable and likable. Ludi Lin brings charm and sincere emotions to his role, and even though his character has some predictability in the plot, the actor's talents lend humanity to the character.

One of the show's standout qualities is its unique blend of multiple genres, taking the audience on a journey that is both fun yet emotional, suspenseful yet lighthearted, and satisfying yet leaves wanting more. The show has its fair share of thrilling and spooky moments, but it finds balance in injecting humor and romance into the story, ensuring the plot is engaging from start to finish.

It also carries a message about the pivotal role of choices with themes around gender, society, culture and justice. Li Lan's story is her own, and her persistent effort to create her destiny makes her shine as a strong and independent character.

Overall, The Ghost Bride is an excellent supernatural thriller that blends horror, drama and romance elements seamlessly, crafting a package that keeps the audience hooked with its intriguing plot, stunning visuals, and incredible performances. While it ends with a satisfying conclusion, the show has enough room to expand into a possible second season, which would be great to see.

The Ghost Bride is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between January 23, 2020 and on Netflix