The Devastating Conclusion of Netflix's 'The Scandal' Explained

Netflix's K-drama "The Scandal" offers a compelling adaptation of the 1782 French epistolary novel "Les Liaisons dangereuses." Transposing the story from Western settings to 18th-century Joseon, the series explores the intricate and often destructive games played by aristocrats.

Directed by Jung Ji-woo, the drama centers on Lady Cho Yun, a woman whose intelligence is constrained by societal expectations. Frustrated by these limitations, she engages her cousin, the libertine writer Cho-won, in a dangerous wager. The terms stipulate that if Cho-won can successfully seduce An Hui-yeon, a widow committed to chastity, he will be granted intimacy with Lady Cho. Should he fail, he must impregnate So-ok, an aspiring concubine to Lady Cho's husband, Lord Yoo.

As the plot unfolds, the game escalates with devastating consequences, leading to an inevitable and tragic conclusion.

"The Scandal" draws from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's 1782 novel, "Les Liaisons dangereuses." This seminal work has seen numerous adaptations, including the 1988 film starring Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer, and the 1999 teen drama "Cruel Intentions." In 2003, Korean filmmaker E J-Yong directed "Untold Scandal," an adaptation set in 18th-century Korea, which shares thematic and plot similarities with the recent Netflix series.

The Climax and Its Aftermath

In the series' final act, Lady Cho's elaborate scheme unravels. Cho-won's attempt to seduce Hui-yeon leads to her agreeing to elope with him. The assumption of her suicide, intended to preserve her honor, leads Lady Cho's mother-in-law to petition the King for a memorial gate in Hui-yeon's honor. However, Hui-yeon, having embraced Catholic teachings, decides against suicide and falls in love with Cho-won, who reciprocates her feelings.

Cho-won, tasked by the King with locating Hui-yeon's body, faces a dilemma. While Lady Cho advises him to convince Hui-yeon to end her life to resolve the situation cleanly, Cho-won's growing affection for Hui-yeon prompts him to plan an escape with her.

This echoes a past attempt by Cho-won and Lady Cho to elope, thwarted by Lady Cho's father's lament over her limited potential due to her gender. This event led Lady Cho to remain and marry Lord Yoo, while Cho-won was left waiting at the ferry port, ultimately leading him to a life of hedonism.

Fearing repercussions for deceiving the King, Hui-yeon seeks refuge with Lady Cho, unaware of her complicity. When Cho-won arrives, Lady Cho forces him to choose between her and Hui-yeon. Cho-won chooses Lady Cho, betraying Hui-yeon, who flees heartbroken.

Although Cho-won later gives Hui-yeon his disguise and reveals the truth, she resolves to live with her resentment. Lady Cho, realizing Cho-won has gone to Hui-yeon, is consumed by anger.

Cho-won submits a falsified report of Hui-yeon's death, penned by Lady Cho, to the King. The King, however, sees through the fabrication, leading to Cho-won's banishment from court. He spares Lady Cho the full extent of this news in a letter, allowing her to believe her plan succeeded, though her relationship with Cho-won is irrevocably damaged.

The Fate of the Characters

Cho-won ultimately dies by suicide, jumping from a ferry into the water after realizing both Yun's rejection and his inability to be with Hui-yeon. His gat is found floating, signifying his demise.

"The Scandal" does not offer a happy ending. Lady Cho achieves her goal of maintaining her status but loses Cho-won and the connection they shared. She is left alone, longing for a life and a love she can no longer have.

Hui-yeon survives, committed to her faith, but lives a life in the margins. She encounters former acquaintances but must remain hidden to protect her identity.

So-ok, having become a concubine to Lord Yoo, continues an affair with In-ho and becomes pregnant. While seemingly happy in the short term, her future is uncertain due to societal constraints.

The series incorporates traditional Korean pansori storytelling, revealing at the end that the narrative heard throughout the series is diegetic, performed for the characters themselves. This serves as a nod to "Les Liaisons dangereuses" as a roman à clef, a story that mirrors real life.

Social Commentary

Similar to its source material, which predated the French Revolution and critiqued the aristocracy, "The Scandal" examines the corruption within the ruling class. The final lines spoken by the ferryman lament the difficulty of being born a nobleman, highlighting the self-serving nature of characters like Cho-won and Lady Cho.

In contrast, the series presents Chil-seong and Eun-sil, former servants who gain their freedom and find happiness together with a child and stable income. They represent a life untainted by the moral compromises of nobility. Their existence contrasts with the potential that Cho-won and Hui-yeon, or Cho-won and Yun, might have had if unburdened by their social standing. Ultimately, the drama argues that the nobles' self-absorbed superiority is intrinsically linked to their characters, a point underscored by the vibrant working-class life depicted alongside the aristocracy.