The Scandal Review: This Joseon-era romance is a tense and thrilling watch that tests the boundaries of the time. Built around manipulation, forbidden desire and a dangerous wager, the series is set within the constraints of Confucian social order and showcases the wager between Lady Cho and her cousin Cho Won, who, despite loving one another desperately, were seperated by circumstances in their youth. In the present, a frustrated Lady Cho calls Won to her home to find mirth after her husband decides to take in a concubine, destroying themselves and a virtuous widow in their wake.
The series has some interesting questions to ask, as it focuses on what happens when rigid social customs strip people of their identities, forcing them to lash out in dangerous ways. As Lady Cho and Won turn desire into a game, what are the consequences of their actions? The 8-episode series is a stylish and sensual drama that sometimes falters in being as emotionally resonant as one would expect.
The series (스캔들) stars Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook, and NANA, and is directed by Jung Ji-woo. The series is inspired by the French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.
The Scandal Review
A Love Game With Dangerous Rules
There’s something inherently naughty and distasteful about watching Yun and Won wagering on corrupting Hui-yeon, a virtuous woman who lost her husband before they were even married. Dutiful and pitiable, it’s almost heartbreaking watching them merrily play with her life as they try to find entertainment in their own. Won, who is desperate to have Yun, agrees to this undertaking to finally have her, while Yun, with no control of her own life, decides to make a game out of others’ misfortune.
With no rules, the game slowly trickles through all the inahbitants of the home and corrupts everyone in sight, destroying relationships in ways that cannot be spoken of. The Scandal is a bold story about love, heartbreak and desire, painting a vivid picture of people taking advantage of someone’s feelings for their own benefit. While Won played with Hui-yeon, the same happened to him thanks to Yun – a cycle that you see repeated throughout the runtime.
Even as viewers will be able to see the outcome, the journey to the end is fraught with revelations and deep feelings that will leave anyone heartbroken. You know that Won is about to break this young woman’s heart, but there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it other than watching it unfold. Then again, there are layers to the story, even to Won courting Hui-yeon and how that impacted her life, that showcases how complicated relationships can be.
A Dangerous Game That Works Best When It Stops Being a Game
The Scandal works beyond being a steamy Joseon romance. While the mind games and provocative scenes will catch your eye, the series does a good job of balancing these moments with genuine emotions that add depth to the story. The gradual collapse of boundaries between pretending and feeling, manipulation and affection and freedom and control draws you into the complexities of human emotions. While the story starts with a game, it’s the general feeling of helplessness that shines brightly in the story. Everyone simply wants to be in control of the situation that they find themselves in, but they never do. As a result, people are constantly lashing out for an ounce of control.
The French story is adapted well to a Korean historical setting, making the characters’ choices more complex. Expanding on the 2003 film Untold Scandal‘s main premise, the story goes beyond basic desire and sexual situations and digs deeper into the thought processes in these situations.
The Chemistry Is Complicated — And That’s the Point
The chemistry between Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and Nana is phenomenal, a reason why the series works so well. All three of them are great actors, and the scenes between Won and Yun are some of the most memorable. Harbouring taboo feelings from their childhood, the series does a great job of showcasing what happens when social restrictions and uncontrollable feelings clash with each other. On the other hand, Won’s interactions with Hui-yeon are oddly pitiful but, at some moments, viewers will feel the responsibility on Won’s shoulders well.
The series does a good job of expanding Yun’s character as more than the person who came up with the bet. Everything is centred around her, which makes the series all the more moving. Understanding her perspective and her relationship with Won makes this all the more enticing and adds a thrilling element to their push and pull that will leave anyone on edge.
The relationships at the heart of the story, and even beyond that, are made more complicated because the characters aren’t allowed to truly be themselves. No one enters any situation with honest intentions, and as the intentions change, so do the consequences of those choices. It’s absolutely thrilling to watch the secrets that these characters hide and how they lie to one another abashedly.
The Joseon Setting Adds More Than Pretty Costumes
The entire series is built on the restrictive society that it is based in. When society doesn’t let people be themselves and express themselves freely, people end up keeping secrets as a twisted form of power. As the characters rebel, it makes everything even more impactful thanks to the setting. Kudos to the cinematographer and the director for turning this thrilling drama into a dream-like experience; while the subject matter is desperately sad, the experience is so gorgeous that it’s hard to not keeping moving to the next episode.
Where The Scandal Stumbles
The one major fault of this series is its pacing. The series takes forever to get to the point and meanders around far more than necessary. As a result, several episodes lose their impact because the series forgets to get to the point rather than dilly-dally. Moreover, some character decisions feel convenient to the plot rather than based on logic.
Final Verdict
The Scandal is arresting. Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook share an electrifying chemistry that carries most of the series. However, it’s the heartbreaking emotions in the middle of all the manipulation that tugs at your heartstrings in the end. This one’s definitely a must-watch in my book.
Watch The Scandal on Netflix. Let us know your thoughts about the new K-drama in the comments below!
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