The Scandal

THE STORY SO FAR

Set in Joseon-era Korea, a dangerous wager between the brilliant Lady Cho and notorious seducer Cho Won draws the widowed Hui-yeon into an increasingly tangled game of attraction, manipulation, power and forbidden desire.

Based on: The 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, itself inspired by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' Dangerous Liaisons

Production companies: MOVIEROCK / CINE FOREST Inc.

Featured in: New on Netflix · K-Drama · Netflix · Period Drama · Raaga Screen – What to Watch Now · Raaga Recommends

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Cast & crew

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW

Raaga’s rating: 3.5 / 5

The Scandal turns Dangerous Liaisons into an elegant Joseon-era battle of desire, manipulation and social power. Son Ye-jin commands the screen as Lady Cho, Ji Chang-wook brings charm and calculation to Cho Won, and Nana gives Hui-yeon the emotional vulnerability the story needs. The production is gorgeous and the tension often comes from glances and restraint rather than melodrama. Its eight-episode length, however, stretches some of the intrigue thinner than necessary. A patient, visually rich period drama that rewards viewers who enjoy morally complicated characters and slow-burn storytelling.

The most interesting thing about The Scandal is not the wager at the centre of its story, but the world surrounding it. Moving Dangerous Liaisons into Joseon society gives every flirtation, refusal and private desire additional risk. These characters are playing with attraction, but also with reputation, status and the rigid expectations imposed on them.

Son Ye-jin is perfectly suited to that kind of tension. Her Lady Cho rarely needs a large dramatic gesture to take control of a scene. Much of the performance is built through expression, silence and the feeling that she is calculating several moves ahead of everyone around her.

Ji Chang-wook matches her well as Cho Won. He has the charisma necessary for the character's reputation to make sense, but also allows uncertainty to creep through as the game becomes more complicated. Their scenes together are at their strongest when neither character is saying exactly what they mean.

Nana gives the drama its contrasting emotional texture. Hui-yeon enters a world built on manipulation without possessing the same armour as the people controlling the game, and that vulnerability gradually becomes important to the series rather than simply functioning as a plot device.

Visually, The Scandal knows exactly what kind of drama it wants to be. Costumes, interiors, colour and composition create a lush period atmosphere without overwhelming the performances. The restrained presentation also suits a story where a look across a room can matter as much as an argument.

Where the series becomes less convincing is its pacing. Expanding this material across eight episodes allows more room for character and social context, but it also means the central game occasionally loses urgency. There are stretches where the drama feels as though it is circling its characters rather than pushing them somewhere new.

That deliberate rhythm will divide viewers. Anyone expecting a fast romantic thriller may find it frustrating. But viewers who enjoy slow-burn period dramas, morally grey characters and performances driven by subtext will find plenty to appreciate.

The Scandal is not quite as intoxicating as its premise promises, but the performances and visual confidence keep drawing you back into its dangerous little game.

Verdict: Seductive, beautifully mounted and powered by three compelling performances, The Scandal makes desire feel dangerous — even if its slow-burn game occasionally takes too long to make its move.