Sep 28, 2026 10:00pm IST
Analysing ‘The Scandal’: Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook and Nana Turn Joseon Desire Into a Dangerous Game
Set during the Joseon dynasty, Netflix’s latest period romance drama, “The Scandal,” brings three formidable performers to the screen: Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook and Nana. The series is inspired by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ French novel “Les Liaisons dangereuses” and the 2023 Korean film “Untold Scandal,” directed by E J Yong.
The Plot
“The Scandal” introduces Lady Cho Yun (Son Ye Jin), a woman far ahead of her time. Well-versed in Confucian values but fiercely independent in her thinking, she lives in an era when women are expected to embody chastity and virtue. Her cousin, Cho Won (Ji Chang Wook), is a wealthy nobleman with a reputation for effortlessly charming women.
When Lady Cho wagers that Cho Won cannot seduce and impregnate her husband’s new concubine, she offers him a bargain: if he succeeds, she will finally give in to their long-simmering desire. But their game takes an unexpected turn when they encounter their widowed neighbour, Ahn Hui Yeon (Nana). What begins as a calculated game of seduction soon draws all three into a dangerous web of desire, deception and emotional manipulation.
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History at the Forefront
“The Scandal” uses the rigid social conventions of Joseon society as a backdrop for characters who refuse to fit neatly into conventional ideas of morality. Rather than dividing its characters into heroes and villains, the series operates in shades of grey, constantly testing their desires, loyalties and boundaries.
The use of contemporary Korean alongside more traditional tones makes the dialogue accessible while retaining the period setting. Towards the end of the series, the introduction of a pansori artist, performing Korea’s traditional musical storytelling, adds another layer to the narrative and connects the story more deeply to its cultural roots.
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Impressive Acting Chops at Work
As Cho Won attempts to seduce Nana’s Ahn Hui Yeon, Ji Chang Wook initially embraces the role of the confident playboy, only to find himself losing control of the emotions he intended to keep at bay. The actor handles this internal conflict with considerable nuance, drawing on two decades of experience to make Cho Won’s emotional unraveling convincing. As his carefully constructed ruse begins to fall apart, the series leaves viewers wondering whether he has genuinely fallen for the woman he set out to deceive.
Son Ye Jin brings her A-game to the series. Her character’s sensuality feels deliberate rather than performative, allowing her to command attention without overpowering the scenes around her. She projects seduction through her presence and performance, maintaining Lady Cho’s calculated persona until the very end.
Nana, meanwhile, approaches Hui Yeon as a woman gradually pulled into a game she never intended to play. Her restrained performance allows her eyes to do much of the emotional heavy lifting, with subtle expressions conveying more than overt reactions could.
“The Scandal” may take its time revealing its hand, but it remains an intriguing and visually seductive exploration of desire, deception and the consequences of playing with both.
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