Netflix captures the attention of global viewers with a new original series featuring unique character narratives and sophisticated mise-en-scène.
The Netflix series 'Scandal' (Director: Jung Ji-woo│Production: Netflix) unfolds a multifaceted story of Lady Jo, a woman of exceptional talent confined by the limitations and regulations of the Joseon era, and Jo Won, known as Joseon's greatest romantic, as they engage in a bold and dangerous love bet, along with the tale of Hee-yeon, a woman caught in the midst of this provocative wager.
#1 Characters who break free from the mold imposed by the times and pursue their own desires!
Modern characters who resist the taboos of Joseon and choose their own lives!
'Scandal' features a host of multidimensional characters who break away from the strict regulations and frameworks that dominated the era, actively carving out their own lives and identities. Though set against the backdrop of the Joseon dynasty, the characters who move with firm inner desires transcend the conventions of traditional historical dramas and deliver something fresh.
Lady Jo (played by Son Ye-jin) faces an oppressive era where women cannot take center stage, yet she demonstrates a multifaceted nature as a strategist who cleverly utilizes her given circumstances and environment, along with hidden aspirations. Jo Won (played by Ji Chang-wook) may appear on the surface to be a carefree playboy pursuing only pleasure and entertainment, but he carries a fundamental thirst deep in his heart that can never be satisfied. Meanwhile, Hee-yeon (played by Nana), who had to abandon her own life within the social constraints of chastity and virtue, finally confronts the burning desires for life that she had long suppressed and ignored as she becomes entangled in the dangerous bet orchestrated by the two.
Director Jung Ji-woo, who directed the series, reveals his intention to meticulously construct the narrative centered on protagonists who have established modern selfhood, heightening expectations for the story of protagonists who directly confront the taboos of the era and lay bare their desires without filter.
#2 Letters that allow glimpses of honest emotions and voice-over that maximizes feelings!
A sensory narrative method that draws viewers into the story of the three characters!
The letter as a medium through which one can peer into the secret inner thoughts of characters, and the voice-over direction that visualizes and acoustically realizes this, similarly convey a distinctive sensibility. In 'Scandal,' letters are frequently employed as a crucial tool through which Lady Jo, Jo Won, and Hee-yeon reveal their most honest and truthful emotions. Letters that capture the inner thoughts of characters who covet forbidden things and attempt to challenge the era delicately convey the subtle psychological fluctuations and changes of the three characters, drawing viewers into deeper immersion.
Director Jung Ji-woo explains that along with the essence of one-to-one communication, the tension of letters being overheard or peeped at by others is an important characteristic of correspondence. Furthermore, rather than merely presenting these letters through simple screen direction, he actively connects voice-over formats featuring the actors' captivating voices, maximizing the density of emotional lines felt by the characters.
#3 Pansori and Korean folk paintings that make the story within the work even more engaging to follow!
Fresh direction unique to 'Scandal' that captivates both eyes and ears!
A differentiated directorial approach that strategically combines the traditional arts of pansori and Korean folk paintings is an essential point to watch. Pansori woven throughout the narrative not only intuitively and effectively conveys the unique situations and events the characters face, but also richly orchestrates the overall atmosphere of the drama. Director Jung Ji-woo also mentions that it was highly appealing to incorporate pansori elements from the planning stage into the original work's inherent charm, and foreshadows a direction that leads the development of events and psychological states more rhythmically.
Added to this is a Korean folk painting directorial technique that visualizes characters coming to life with vitality within the brushwork and painting style unique to the Joseon dynasty, completing a spectacular visual feast that satisfies both eyes and ears simultaneously.
Thus, the Netflix series 'Scandal,' receiving heightened anticipation with a storyline reinterpreted three-dimensionally from a contemporary perspective, deepened mise-en-scène, and powerful acting synergy among the cast, will be released globally exclusively on Netflix on September 18.
