- Cast: Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook, Nana,
- Genre: Historical, Romance, Drama, Melodrama
- Platform: Netflix
- Episodes: 8
- Aired on: 18th September
K-drama The Scandal premiered on Netflix September 18, and two days in, the reactions are already split in that very specific way that means people are actually talking about it, and not just watching and moving on. Which is what pretty much expected to happen considering the source material, and the cast. So let’s get into what critics, fans, and the internet at large think so far.
Quick refresher: what’s the story
Lady Cho (Son Ye Jin) is a woman whose intelligence has nowhere to go in Joseon society, so she makes a bet: she dares Cho Won (Ji Chang Wook), Joseon’s most notorious seducer and playboy, to corrupt a virtuous young widow, Hui-yeon (Nana), on her behalf. He counters with his own wager. From there, it’s a slow, deliberate unraveling of everyone involved. The drama is somewhat based on the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, which in itself is an adaptation of the 18th-century French novel Dangerous Liaisons.
What are the critics and fans saying
The consensus so far is: gorgeous, well-acted, and a little slow to get where it’s going. One review called it a slow-burning love game that tests your patience but rewards those who stick with it. It is visually stunning, well-performed, but occasionally taking its time between emotional beats.
Where the show is getting near-universal praise is the central trio’s chemistry. Multiple reviewers have singled out Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook, and Nana’s dynamic as the thing making the whole premise work, with several noting that none of the three characters get flattened into a simple hero or villain. The moral ambiguity is doing real work here, not just decoration.
The show also leans into a distinct visual identity. You get watercolor-style visuals and elements of pansori (traditional Korean narrative singing) woven through the more provocative scenes, which really adds to the storytelling.
Meanwhile, the fans’ reaction so far has been very mixed and to some extent polarized. They are warmer on the performances than on the pacing. Some viewers have also expressed discontentment with the wide-angle cinematography used throughout early episodes, finding it distracting rather than stylish. There’s also been some good natured chatter about Ji Chang Wook’s mustache, a noticeable amount of praise for Nana’s performance, and of course the intimate scenes and what they’re actually trying to say about the characters.
So—is it worth watching?
If you go in expecting a moody, deliberate character study dressed up in gorgeous Joseon era production design rather than a fast-paced romance, this is landing well. If you’re hoping for something zippier, the early pacing might test you. Either way, it’s clearly become one of the more discussed K-dramas of the month even before it aired.
Share your thoughts in the comments — did you like it or not? Was there anything you were especially looking forward to, and did it meet your expectations? We’d love to hear what you think.
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