[Drama 2017] The Ruler: Master of the Mask /The Emperor: Owner of the Mask 군주:가면의 주인

[maryofbethany]

3 minutes ago, lilac95 said:

Okay, MBC already has 3 sageuks to air in the first half of 2017. This one, the one with Yoona and Im Siwan and Traitor Hong Gil Dong just finish casting. Traitor Hong Gil Dong will air first this Jan. HGD just finish casting and they will have their first script reading tomorrow but the comments are pretty negative T.T Fortunately, KSH and YSH is well loved by Koreans so they don't get any negative, nasty comments.

Tbvh, I guess the producing team has all the casts confirm already but they just don't reveal it yet. And if they start filming in Dec then the 1st script reading should happen very soon. I want a strong line-up for the supporting casts. No matter how good the leads are, if the supporting actors aren't up to par then it will break the flow and make it hard for viewers to concentrate on the plot. I want a drama with no acting hole. And last but not least, the PD, please do a good job at directing and editing, the music director too, please don't add music in EVERY scene and choose the right OSTs that fit historical drama, and the most important, the writer, hope her / his first project will receive a good result. Wish MBC don't hype it too much because I don't want them to betray me later  

@lilac95 ahahha. i was laughing loud, reading your "the music director too, please don't add music in EVERY scene and choose the right OSTs that fit historical drama, and the most important, the writer, hope her / his first project will receive a good result." esp the OST part. i found some drama no matter what must add a OST mixed with English words, i watch some saeguk actually do have OST with 1 or 2 eng words in chorus.... which is truly don't sit in well. the lyrics of OST does an important job to deliver feels when leads are in torment thinking of each other, and play that OST... the words will tell what they feels exactly or the struggle unique to that characters... so yes, OST must be wrote well with meaningful words, not just have beautiful musics alone.

[lilac95]

@maryofbethany @Berou Yes, I was referring to SH, actually I think the music director is the one that make the drama hard to focus, I can't image there's day that I can hear hiphop music with English words in a historical drama LOLs. (The other dramas with bad music director are The K2 and Entourage Korea). I hope the music director is someone like Signal / W's music director, and already had experience with sageuks.

MBC shouldn't waste money on journalist to write article. They should spend that money for more quality clothes, sets and make the working environment comfortable for the casts instead.

[evelynray]

On 11/11/2016 at 10:11 AM, maryofbethany said:

@evelynray hahaha. i take it that your blog will be recapping this right? am looking forward to read your posts.

I am still not sure, though! >< Will have to see how~

[maryofbethany]

46 minutes ago, evelynray said:

I am still not sure, though! >< Will have to see how~

@evelynray tis okay. at least hope you swoon together with us? or just watch only. no time nevermind to the 'demand' that you recap. by being here,, thank you.

[maryofbethany]

9 hours ago, Berou said:

 are you refering to the famous SH's case? haha. don't worry , usually sageuks don't have modern OSTs with english words. SH is an isolated case, the director tried something different ( which he thought it was innovative) but it ended up backfiring at him. 

now it seems more coherent, after what @lilac95 said. i was worrying for nothing, the cast must be already fixed but they are waiting for the right time to reveal it,  typical marketing tactics. it seems like MBC is hyping up this drama very much.  if they have already decided to begin filming in December, it must mean then that almost everything is sorted out: the location, cast, costumes, posters shooting, the schedule, etc. 

@Berou haha. actually i can't remember which drama i watch, its was something like an ancient drama with younger cast, and there you have OST with some English words mixed it as Part of chorus... so is it SH? hahaha. Just like when HS singing happy birthday song to all the princes .. huh. isnt that song like a little modern?.. but i just take it that she being a time traveller, should know no other than Kpop sentimental cooning songs. she is totally IU when singing to the princes.

you know me during Remember.. you should know that i loved to talk about OST.. OST itself is like the inner voice of LEADS talking voiceover to each other in music.

one add-on to my ranting about music and OST... sorry to Japanses drama fans first. the reason why i migrate from Japanese dramas to Kdrama is Kdrama plot and characters more natural and less dramatic,  another major reason is.. i can't stand some of them, keep using Music non stop as background,  .. evne when the scene called for a soleumn feels and a quiet moments of silent between leads , music is still playing sentimentally non stop backgrund, which kills every ounce of feels. Its not a matter of how many OST in quantity can a drama throw out, but to have at least two or three well written lyrics OST can bring out diff mood of sadness, danger,  joy, suspence. Esp the heart breaking scene must have a good OST to show emotions of leads when they are silent mourning. 

[syer_87]

@Berou @lilac95 what 'SH' you are referring too?? just curious..hihi

[maryofbethany]

1 hour ago, syer_87 said:

@Berou @lilac95 what 'SH' you are referring too?? just curious..hihi

@syer_87  huh.... do take no offend if its a drama you gals loved. SH = Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. its a Big budget production, its easy to have some flaws here there, while some hates some loved...  i watched all except the first few eps, no hate no love on my part. (but i seriously can't remember which dramas i was quoting about the Eng words one. but they verify is S.H.) huh.. (i was a Wook's silent defender until he really turned so bad... then writernim save him at the last eps make him repented. LJK was better in Iljimae and Time about Dog and Wolf and Joseon Gunman. there's always plus and minus points when you throw in a basket ball-team of hunks into a movie for more than 70% of screen time. Because it is the dramatic Lee Joon Gi, so he is able to control and still demand attention whenever So walked into a room full of pretty boys-princes, the other one that can threaten him is subtle Wook. But Ruler cannot have such power-balance or scene-times divided plot or parade of hunks scenes.... , thank God YSH not cast in S.H. else the very mild and cool him may just fade into background. Not that YSH no confidence of himself, but its just not him to squeeze among hunks-parade like the genre in Scarlet Heart or Sungkyunkwan S. or or Boys over Flowers or Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, Hwarang the Beginning (these 5 are perfect dramas for Kpop hunks who wanted to start going into light dramas). he will turned down even if offered because he don't play party. not condemning that 5, because i watch and enjoy for fun all 4 except Hwarang of cause. Just not for Yoo.

OST in saeguk: i remember there's a picturesque drama about Joseon dynasty era artists Shin Yun-bok , "Painter of the Wind". Music there was moving.

[Rian Aine]

37 minutes ago, maryofbethany said:

@syer_87  huh.... do take no offend if its a drama you gals loved. SH = Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. its a Big budget production, its easy to have some flaws here there, while some hates some loved...  i watched all except the first few eps, no hate no love on my part. (but i seriously can't remember which dramas i was quoting about the Eng words one. but they verify is S.H.) huh.. (i was a Wook's silent defender until he really turned so bad... then writernim save him at the last eps make him repented. LJK was better in Iljimae and Time about Dog and Wolf and Joseon Gunman. there's always plus and minus points when you throw in a basket ball-team of hunks into a movie for more than 70% of screen time. Because it is the dramatic Lee Joon Gi, so he is able to control and still demand attention whenever So walked into a room full of pretty boys-princes, the other one that can threaten him is subtle Wook. But Ruler cannot have such power-balance or scene-times divided plot or parade of hunks scenes.... , thank God YSH not cast in S.H. else the very mild and cool him may just fade into background. Not that YSH no confidence of himself, but its just not him to squeeze among hunks-parade like the genre in Scarlet Heart or Sungkyunkwan S. or or Boys over Flowers or Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, Hwarang the Beginning (these 5 are perfect dramas for Kpop hunks who wanted to start going into light dramas). he will turned down even if offered because he don't play party. not condemning that 5, because i watch and enjoy for fun all 4 except Hwarang of cause. Just not for Yoo.
 

 

Hi! I'm new here! I'm now very excited for Sohyun's new drama, plus the fact that she's with Seung Ho.

 

PS One of my wishes for the new year, that Ruler will be at par with Painter of the Wind.

[maryofbethany]

7 minutes ago, Rian Aine said:

 

Hi! I'm new here! I'm now very excited for Sohyun's new drama, plus the fact that she's with Seung Ho.

 

PS One of my wishes for the new year, that Ruler will be at par with Painter of the Wind.

@Rian Aine u know Painter of Wind? surprised! not many young ones know. Welcome to the Ruler's domain.
 

[evelynray]

10 hours ago, maryofbethany said:

@evelynray tis okay. at least hope you swoon together with us? or just watch only. no time nevermind to the 'demand' that you recap. by being here,, thank you.

Definitely, I will be here to swoon with you all  

[maryofbethany]

http://www.asiastarz.com/articles/15255/20161114/kim-hyun-star-ga-eun-ruler-master-mask-video.htm

Kim So Hyun to star as Ga-Eun in ‘Ruler: Master of the Mask’ [VIDEO]

It is confirmed that MBC's leading lady for the historical drama "Ruler: Master of the Mask" will be Kim So Hyun. The pretty actress will co-star the 'little brother' of Korea, Yoo Seung Ho.

 

This is not the first time that Kim So Hyun and Yoo Seung Ho will be working together. As a matter of fact, the two of them starred in "I Miss You" way back in 2012. Following the acting on the melodrama, Yoo Seung Ho got enlisted into the mandatory service for the military. Considerably, this is Yoo Seung Ho's TV's historical drama comeback, KMusic reported.

"Ruler: Master of the Mask" synopsis happened in 1700's where the Crown Prince Lee Sun (Yoo Seung Ho) is fighting against Pyunsoo hwe. It is a group that acquired power and wealth by privatizing water all over the region of Joseon. People look to the Crown Prince to ease their sufferings. Ga-Eun (Kim So Hyun) is Crown Prince Lee Sun's love interest and will help him become a better ruler.

 According to dramabeans, the story of "Ruler: Master of the Mask" is based on true occurrence of monopolizing the water supply. Kim So-hyun is cast as a virtuous, knowledgeable young woman whose father has been dispatched under the orders of Crown Prince Lee Sun's (Yoo Seung Ho). This makes Ga-Eun (Kim So Hyun) to plot revenge for his father's death but fell in love with him at the end.

Both actor and actresses had a lineup of TV series under their belts. Kim So-hyun played the role of the bad jealous rival in "The Moon That Embraces the Sun" and followed with another role of being an evil jealous sister in "Rooftop Prince". Yoo Seung-ho, on the other hand, is used to taking roles of royalty where he played young kings in "Legend", "King and I", and "Queen Seon-deok".  

"Ruler: Master of the Mask" filming will start next month and is planned to be a Wednesday and Thursday drama in MBC that will air in the second quarter of 2017.

[maryofbethany]

http://officiallykmusic.com/kim-hyun-confirmed-yoo-seung-hos-leading-lady-ruler-master-mask/

Kim So Hyun Confirmed as Yoo Seung Ho’s Leading Lady in ‘Ruler: Master of the Mask’

Kim So Hyun is confirmed as the leading lady for MBC’s historical drama ‘Ruler: Master of the Mask.’ The actress will star alongside Korea’s “little brother” Yoo Seung Ho.

The drama’s premise is described as, “In the 1700’s, Crown Prince Lee Sun (Yoo Seung Ho) fights against Pyunsoo hwe. Pyunsoo hwe is an organization that has accumulated power and wealth through privatizing water all over Joseon. Crown Prince Lee Sun becomes a hope for the people who suffers. Ga-Eun is the woman Crown Prince Lee Sun loves and she helps grow as a ruler.”

This will not be the first time that two have worked together. They both starred in the melodrama, ‘I Miss You’ back in 2012. After that, the actor enlisted into the military for his mandatory service. This will be Yoo Seung Ho’s small screen comeback for the historical drama.

Filming will begin in December of this year, and is set to be released in January of next year.

[gerrytan8063]

@maryofbethany

" "Ruler: Master of the Mask" synopsis happened in 1700's where the Crown Prince Lee Sun (Yoo Seung Ho) is fighting against Pyunsoo hwe. It is a group that acquired power and wealth by privatizing water all over the region of Joseon. People look to the Crown Prince to ease their sufferings. Ga-Eun (Kim So Hyun) is Crown Prince Lee Sun's love interest and will help him become a better ruler. "

Pyunsoo Hwe could be a powerful guild that control the water carriers  who are paid premium price to bring water from many mountain stream outside to the homes in the cities & towns

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2016/09/362_94876.html

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2016/10/317_212649.html

This is an article of water management for drinking & culinary in Joseon Dynasty, this may be an insight to the monopoly private enterprise to control water sources

[maryofbethany]

40 minutes ago, gerrytan8063 said:

@maryofbethany

" "Ruler: Master of the Mask" synopsis happened in 1700's where the Crown Prince Lee Sun (Yoo Seung Ho) is fighting against Pyunsoo hwe. It is a group that acquired power and wealth by privatizing water all over the region of Joseon. People look to the Crown Prince to ease their sufferings. Ga-Eun (Kim So Hyun) is Crown Prince Lee Sun's love interest and will help him become a better ruler. "

Pyunsoo Hwe could be a powerful guild that control the water carriers  who are paid premium price to bring water from many mountain stream outside to the homes in the cities & towns

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2016/09/362_94876.html

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2016/10/317_212649.html

This is an article of water management for drinking & culinary in Joseon Dynasty, this may be an insight to the monopoly private enterprise to control water sources

@gerrytan8063 amazed by your wealth of resources on Saeguk era (Joseon dynasty culture and history). read your two articles, hahah. this is an easier read. just roughly guess, the Noron Faction which is more powerful than the Soron Faction, since Noron backed by the hypocritically  Queen Jeongsun must be the masterminds using those greedy private venders running the selling and delivery of waters. since Sun will opposed, it just matter of time Venders go to Noron, and Noron go to Queen Jeongsun to plot overthrowing and framing Lee Sun. i guess whole saving water plan does not succeed upon his rice box death. its take King Jeongjo to fulfill that?  i wonder who is acting as Queen Jeongsun, it must be someone who looks very gracious but is scheming within. ( i suggest Go Hyun-jung  or Song YoonAh, .. hahaha. these two are No. 1 most mesmerizing Nemesis antagonist). it is Queen Jeongsun that contributed the fatal blow to Sun's death. Noron and Soron fights proceed even to Sado's son's era, and Queen Jeongsun still plot many attempts on Jeongjo's life.
Writernim, pls make Sado and Queen Jeongsun (with Noron) 'wit-sparring' be not just nail-biting, but witty.

[rossy5]

Hi there!

I want to know where can I find info about the Joseon King that Yoo Seung-ho is going to bring back to life. Anybody can past a link or something?

 

On 10/12/2016 at 3:17 AM, maryofbethany said:

@Go Seung Ji i read your post dramabeans, Girlfriday wrote "Those were comedies while this drama’s approach seems serious—the prince is said to become a hero because of love, and his war is described as lonely and righteous. Broody and badass Yoo Seung-ho fighting for his people? " wow... he's be completely in his elements taking up the "lonely and righteous" role. isn't the real Yoo lonely, and guarded his loneliness and privacy like crazy. and Boy is he righteous, you just got to read his army stories, he went extra miles and do as much as others even if he's celebrities, and take care of senior camp-mates.  Broody? haha. no other actors brood so naturally and convincing like him, and break your heart that he really cares.

Hancinema said "In addition, Yoo's experience is several historical dramas allowed him to make it to the top of the list and the production is confident that he will be able to pull it off. Yoo Seung-ho said he chose to be in the drama because he fell in love with the character." yes, he must feel identified and love his role first, understand the historical figure first, then he can own that role. Since the same king are always acted by so many different actors in diff dramas, how to make this King Lee Sun his own, first he has to love the person, feel for the plight.  (mmm... have to go read up Joseon King history again.)

@Zaileigh @kipzizz @EvelynL. @chelleshawol @trust71 @ranbir32 @evelynray  @tessieroo   Yoopies, Recappers, Bloggers, Chingus,  Let's be inspired.

 

 

[rossy5]

I almost read it as ViAGra!

Hehehehehe

On 11/11/2016 at 10:17 PM, lilac95 said:

Another article about the casting of Ruler and the comments are so positive and nice. They are all looking forward to Seungho's first ever younger female lead and a lot say that just put these 2 photos together and you can see their chemistry explodes already. And they call them ViGang couple lols (aka Visuals Gangster couple)

Ppl say Seungho doesn't have an eye for drama? But isn't all his drama are rating success?

 

[maryofbethany]

http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3010313

@gerrytan8063 @AuroraM @junghana2104 @jongski (edit add-on: which means we can confirm and finally conclude YSH's crown Prince is not this article's Prince Sado?)
i am quite mad why MBC never mentioned WHO AND WHICH PRINCE is YSH acting as. as at today 10 Apr) have feeling that if he is Sado, and YSH can carry that role, i am 99% sure he can easily get a Daeksang for acting Sado.

The ever-changing history of Prince Sado

History is often written by the victors.

 Hanjungrok,’ one of the most cited records of Crown Prince Sado remaining today, was written by his wife, Lady Hyegyeong. That is why many interpretations, some of which are contradictory, emerge and cause dispute over the more vague chapters of history.

Crown Prince Sado (1735-62), the protagonist of Lee Joon-ik’s latest costume drama “The Throne,” which just surpassed the six million ticket admissions mark in Korean theaters, is a prime example.

Remembered as the most tragic royal heir in the history of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the dramatic story of Crown Prince Sado - who was put to death by being locked in a wooden rice chest by his own father, King Yeongjo (1694-1776) - has been resurrected numerous times in films and TV dramas since the mid-1990s.

But the portrayal has varied with the emergence of new historical theories. The oldest theory describes Sado as a complete maniac who couldn’t control his anger without bloodshed, while the more recent theory presents him as a tragic prodigy who fell victim to dirty political struggles at the royal court.

Mentally-ill psychopath

The original take on Crown Prince Sado is as a complete lunatic. The theory is mostly based on “Hanjungrok” (also known as “Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong”), written by Sado’s wife, which says his death was an inevitable result of his violent, uncontrollable behavior.

These pictures known to have been drawn by Crown Prince Sado show that he had more talent for art rather than studying.

His lunacy is described as deriving from his father’s high expectations of his behavior and studies.

King Yeongjo, who was born of the lowest social strata and whose legitimacy as king was questioned, was highly interested in raising his son as a perfect candidate to be the next ruler.

However, when Sado starts to deviate from the orthodox path, showing more interest in martial arts and artistic pursuits, Yeongjo showed his disappointment by neglecting him and even mocking him in front of vassals.

Under this pressure, Sado started to behave abnormally.

One of the representative symptoms was his sensitivity about his wardrobe. According to “Hanjungrok,” he would change his clothes as many as 30 times when his symptoms peaked.

Records show Sado committed his first murder in 1757 when he killed Kim Han-che, who was helping Sado put on his clothes. After that, it is said that more than 100 people died by his hand.

When the prince turned 21, records also show he attempted suicide. He tried again two more times, even trying to drown himself in a well.

Such portrayals of Sado, which depict his death as a necessary result of his actions, can be found in the early interpretations of the story on both the small and big screens.

A 1956 film, “The Tragic Prince,” directed by Ahn Jong-hwan, was the first depiction of Crown Prince Sado on to the big screen. It shows Sado as a maniacal character who gave Yeongjo no choice but to kill him. Im Kwon-taek’s “Mangbuseok” (1963) had a similar plot.

A 1972 historical drama series, “500 Years of Joseon Dynasty ? Hanjungrok,” honed in on the murderous and psychopathic side of the unloved son, as depicted in Lady Hyegyeong’s memoirs.

Political victim

However, some of the more recent works tells a different story.

Historian Lee Deok-il, head of the Hangaram Institute of History and Culture Studies, published a book titled “The World Dreamed by Prince Sado” in 2011 which reinterprets Sado as a failed prodigy who fell victim to fierce political battles. Writer and a literary critic Yi In-hwa’s 1993 book “Eternal Empire,” which was later adapted into an eponymous film, also argued that the prince was more than a mere psychopath.

Lee asserted in his book that Sado “was not crazy but just faced an unfortunate death due to his revolutionary thinking.”

He also explained the political intention behind Lady Hyegyeong’s account, which is that she attempted to hide her family’s misdeed of standing by while Sado died before their eyes.

Historians have also begun to focus more on pointing out how Noron, one of the leading political parties, to which Lady Hyegyeong’s family belonged, helped to undermine the relationship between Sado and his father.

This account goes on to say that when Sado attempted to distribute the compiled power of Noron to other political parties, Noron members expressed their outrage to King Yeongjo, asking him to eliminate his son. Yeongjo, who owed a great debt to Noron for helping him obtain the throne, had no choice but to comply.

The 2014 SBS drama series “Secret Doors,” which starred Lee Je-hoon as the fallen hero and Han Suk-kyu as the power-hungry king, is one example of a portrayal based on the latest interpretation. The drama “Warrior Baek Dong Soo” (2011) also depicts Sado as an ambitious leader who is killed by assassins sent by Noron.

Ongoing controversy

While the latest version of history has gained considerable support, the controversy over who Crown Prince Sado really was continues.

Historical documentary producer Jang Young-joo pointed out in a column that even if Sado was really the victim of political strife, that doesn’t account for his murderous acts.

“We are strangely generous about Crown Prince Sado’s homicidal acts,” he wrote. “But the truth is that he is a murderer. None of the scholars dispute to this fact because it is clearly written out in many historical records such as ‘Annals of the Joseon Dynasty’ and the ‘Diaries of the Royal Secretariat.’ Those acts were serious, and the ways he killed people were extremely ruthless.”

The most recent portrayal of Sado in “The Throne” is seen by many as a return to the earlier interpretation, with a focus on the fierce conflict between father and son. Although Yeongjo’s close ties with Noron are slightly alluded to in some scenes, it is clearly laid out that it was Sado’s psychopathic acts that lead to his death.

“‘The Throne’ makes it clear that Sado killed innocent people and that it was his attempt to kill his own father which enrages Yeongjo, leading him to lock up his son in the wooden chest and leave him to die,” said culture critic Hwang Jin-mi.

“It returns to the ‘Hanjungrok’ and focuses on the troubles that come from the father-son relationship. In the end, it gets rid of the political aspect and solely concentrates on depicting the familial problems” she added.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]
 

Spoiler

Learning about Sado, make one sadden, while at the same times mesmerized you like a magnetic force, knowing this is a mud puddles you may not want to thread, in case you get melo all over. But since  you've started reading, you just couldn't do other wise.
No wonder, how the drama/movies loved this prince, whether they loves to defend him, or just to go by stereotype history textbooks, at least all know dramas related to this prince seems to be a guarantee of Awards winning....
regarding YSH, now i know why he took on this role after a long consideration, given that even when this role is like tailor made for him. because he know above all, he must allow his heart to be wrung hard in order to defend Sado sincerely. Or else he wont do it, you see how he did Remember War of the Son, he know how much he will give to Sado.
Be prepared.

 

[Rian Aine]

5 hours ago, maryofbethany said:

@Rian Aine u know Painter of Wind? surprised! not many young ones know. Welcome to the Ruler's domain.
 

@maryofbethany I googled 'the throne', got introduced to the actors. I'm familiar with MGY from autumn in my heart, but I was amazed that she's the youngest recipient of Daesang bec of her role in PITW. That drama was so far got the most praise on all aspects for a historical genre. 

Cross fingers that this will be the same for Ruler

[Rian Aine]

Wow! So many info.. Thanks everyone!

[maryofbethany]

8 hours ago, rossy5 said:

Hi there!

I want to know where can I find info about the Joseon King that Yoo Seung-ho is going to bring back to life. Anybody can past a link or something?

 

 

 

@rossy5  hi rossy5. Crown Prince Sado, did not take the throne and become King. He was executed by been asked to climb into a rice box by none other than King Yeongjo his father. Reason for death sentence are still in speculations, with many theories. but i have strong hunch that Yoo will take the theory that he was a victim of factional power struggles between the Noron and Soron and his Step-Queen-Mother, and approved by the cowardice of his father. which means Yoo is going to bring back his death, not to life... (hahah, joking). i just googling a lot and not truly excel in Joseon History, i know there are lots of history experts lurking here. hoping they could kindly emerges to help the discussion regarding truth surrounding Sado's demise? or you can ask @gerrytan8063 or @AuroraM.