The Scandal Review: My Honest Take on a Twisted Romance Set in Joseon
The Binge Team- September 20, 2026
The Scandal (스캔들 ) officially premiered worldwide on Netflix on September 18, 2026, and I ended up spending my entire weekend watching it. This historical Korean drama brings the classic story of Dangerous Liaisons into the world of the Joseon Dynasty.
The story immediately pulls us into a world of aristocrats, beautiful embroidery, stunning palace gardens, and carefully hidden schemes. Lady Cho Yun (Son Ye-jin) is a woman who follows the strict social rules of her time, but behind that perfect image, she quietly controls the lives of the people around her. She makes a bet with Joseon's most notorious playboy, Cho Won (Ji Chang-wook), challenging him to seduce the kind and virtuous young widow An Hui-yeon (NANA).
For me, emotional manipulation is at the heart of the story. Here, love becomes a weapon. Lady Cho treats people's hearts like pieces on a chessboard, and she asks Cho Won to break the strong sense of loyalty An Hui-yeon still has toward her late husband. To a man who has always been confident in his ability to seduce women, it seems like a harmless bet. But every glance exchanged behind a silk screen carries a sense of danger. The tension keeps building because you know that even the kindest gesture was a part of a carefully planned game.
If you're a fan of Korean dramas with complicated characters, clever mind games, slow-burn love stories, and beautiful hanbok, this should definitely be on your watchlist.
What I Loved While Watching The Scandal
I loved Episode 1 from the very first scene! Lady Cho makes a grand entrance, immediately commanding the screen with just one sharp glance. She carries herself like the picture-perfect high-society noblewoman, always polished and in control.
The banter starts almost immediately, and things become even more entertaining when Cho Won enters the picture. Ji Chang-wook brings so much charisma and confidence to the role. He isn't just a typical Joseon playboy. He is the ultimate one, with his effortless smirks, playful attitude, and complete confidence in his ability to charm anyone.
Then Lady Cho throws out the bet, and suddenly there is an electric tension between the two that jumps right off the screen. You can tell they have a history together, even though neither of them says much about it. There are years of unspoken understanding between them, and I loved how the drama lets that tension speak for itself.
By Episodes 2 and 3, the trap is set. Cho Won begins his carefully planned approach to An Hui-yeon, and his calculated intentions are a complete contrast to her sincerity. That difference creates so much emotional tension.
The scene where Cho Won pretends to be interested in books just to get Hui-yeon's attention in Episode 2 was especially memorable to me. NANA's performance as the innocent young widow is graceful but also quietly vulnerable. Hui-yeon isn't foolish or completely naive. She simply has a genuinely good heart, which makes Cho Won's manipulation of her even more painful to watch.
Then the game goes completely off the rails in Episodes 4, 5, and 6. Cho Won gets closer and closer to An Hui-yeon and eventually manages to fulfill the conditions of the bet. But by then, there is no real victory for him to celebrate. He has already become emotionally involved with her, and the game he entered so confidently has turned into something much more complicated.
What Happens at the End of The Scandal?
Episode 8, the final episode of The Scandal, delivers a devastating conclusion.
By this point, Cho Won realizes that Lady Cho is never going to give up the comfortable life and social position she has built for herself, even for him. At the same time, his guilt over manipulating An Hui-yeon has become impossible for him to carry.
When Hui-yeon finally learns the truth about the cruel bet, she is heartbroken. But she doesn't allow the betrayal to completely destroy her. Instead, she walks away from Cho Won, leaving him behind with the consequences of what he has done.
By this stage, Hui-yeon has also begun building an independent life for herself. She joins a secret Christian community and makes a living by producing and selling paper. After everything she has been through, seeing her find a life outside Cho Won and Lady Cho's game felt especially meaningful to me.
Near the end of the K-drama, Cho Won tries to convince the King that he was responsible for the deception. He is willing to take the blame in the hope of protecting the people he loves. But the King soon realizes that Cho Won is lying to protect someone else.
With everything around him falling apart, Cho Won becomes completely overwhelmed. He eventually jumps from a ferry into the dark waters of the river and disappears.
What makes the ending even more haunting is that the drama never clearly confirms what happened to him. We never get definite confirmation of his body or his fate. Instead, his disappearance is left hanging in the air, turning his final destination into a chilling mystery.
The Scandal K-Drama Final Verdict
I have watched all 8 episodes of this K-drama back-to-back, and I found it to be a compelling watch. It’s a show with superb performances, beautifully framed visuals, and a sharp, ruthless script that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Son Ye-jin gives a fascinating performance as the villain, while Ji Chang-wook is a virtuoso at playing a rogue. Every line between the leads feels like a psychological duel.
Though the series had only 8 episodes, I wish it had spent more time exploring each character’s backstory and motivations. While Cho-won’s debauchery is explained through a simple backstory of betrayal, we never really understand why Lady Cho becomes as twisted as she is.
✦ Watch This If You Loved
I recommend The Scandal for fans of psychological historical romances, political intrigue, forbidden love, and Joseon court schemes.
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Drama Info
TitleThe Scandal (2026)
Total
Episodes8 (Complete)
Episodes8 (Complete)
Review8 Episodes
CountrySouth Korea
Genre
Historical · Romance · Melodrama
Release DateSept 18th · 2026 · Netflix Original
Stream
🎬 Netflix
Main Cast
Son Ye Jin
Lady Cho Yun
Ji Chang Wook
Cho Won
Nana (Im Jin-ah)
An Hui Yeon
MAB Score
7.5/10
Overall Rating
Story
Acting
Cinematography
Rewatch Value — 5/10
The drama was decent, the cast was stellar, but I don't see myself revisiting it for a second watch anytime soon.