Ruler – Master of the Mask

Synopsis:

It is a story during the Joseon era wherein one of the royal family member made a deal to become the King with Dae Mok, the head of Pyunsoo Hwe, a powerful organization that controls their subjects by making them addicted to poppy seeds. In return to being the King, he became a puppet of the organization to follow their orders when they want to manipulate a situation in the organization’s favor. When the King’s son, who will be a crown prince in the future was poisoned after he was born, the King against his better judgement went again to Dae Mok to save his child but in exchange Dae Mok wants his son be just like him whom they can control when he becomes the King. To protect his son and provide for him to have a better chance of becoming a better King in the future, he hid his identity by making him wear a mask as he grows up. No one is allowed to see Crown Prince Lee Sun’s face except the King, his mother and the King’s loyal main guard. Anyone who sees Crown Prince Lee Sun’s face will be executed. So, Crown Prince Lee Sun grew up sheltered and can’t understand his situation and why there’s a need for him to wear a mask at all times. One day, he secretly left the Palace and what should have been a day of joyous freedom for him turned out to be an eye opener of what is really going on in the palace and the people they rule. This started Crown Prince Lee Sun’s journey of founding love, friendship, betrayal and himself as he transforms to become a deserving King for his people.

Characters:

Yoo Seung-Ho as Crown Prince Lee Sun
Kim So-Hyun as Han Ga-Eun
Kim Myung-Soo as Commoner Lee Sun
Yoon So-Hee as Kim Hwa-Gun
Heo Joon-Ho as Kim Dae-Mok
Park Chul-Min as Woo Bo
Kim Byung-Cheol as Kim Woo-Jae
Kim Jong-Soo as Joo Jin-Myung
Do Yong-Goo as Choi Sung-Gi
Jung Kyu-Soo as Heo Yoo-Gun
Kim Young-Woong as Jo Tae-Ho
Kim Seo-Kyung as Gon
Park Ki-Ryung as Mr. Jang
Kim Ho-Jin
Lee Ki-Young
Um Hyo-Sup
Shin Hyun-Soo as Lee Chung-Woon
Bae Yoo-Ram as Park Moo-Ha
Lee Chae-Young as Mae Chang
Park Hyun-Suk as Yoo Sun-Daek
Jung Hae-Gyun as Commoner Lee Sun’s Father
Go Na-Hee as Kko-Mool
Kim Myung-Soo as King Lee Yoon
Kim Sun-Kyung as the Queen
Choi Ji-Na as Lady Lee Young-Bin
Jung Doo-Hong as Lee Bum-Woo
Song In-Guk as Hyun-Suk
Jung Ah-Mi as Court Lady Han
Lee Dae-Ro as Chief Eunuch
Jeon No-Min as Han Kyu-Ho
Jin Ki-Joo as Choi Kang-Seo
Gong Jung-Hwan
Min Pil-Joon as Park Cheon-Soo

My Review:

I didn’t have much expectation on this k-drama when I decided to watch it. In fact, in my head, I am decided ahead of time that if it bores me in the next 3 episodes, I intend to drop it like a hot potato because I don’t want the repeat experience like I had with the very popular Jewel In the Palace, where everyone is raving about it but it puts me to sleep every time I watch it. That k-drama is what shunned me from watching sageuk more often and just really watch those with a maximum of 25 episodes at the most. This one is 40 episodes, so, I know from the very start that if it puts me to sleep in the next 3 episodes, I’m determined not the waste my time nor effort. I’m totally happy to say that all my concerns are all for naught because in my book this is currently the best sageuk k-drama of all times I’ve ever watched. Totally no regrets.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) In reality the 40 episodes can be compressed into 20 episodes because it is a 30-minute per episode. Moreover, each episode is so exciting that you won’t notice the time. It was so engaging that by the end of each episode you want to go ahead and watch the next which what I did and do the marathon. It is a good thing I watched this after this k-drama ended its run in TV because it would have been totally frustrating for me if I have to wait for next week to know what will happen next.

(2) As I’ve mentioned, I consider this the best sageuk k-drama of all the sageuk I’ve watched. I can’t rave enough about how great it is and I feel too bad that it didn’t get a popularity it richly deserves. It is underrated in consideration to its excellence.

(3) The story was well written, there’s no unnecessary scenes even the secondary stories matters, the direction was excellent, all the actors have delivered their characters so well and the story wrapped up in the ideal ending, so, what more can I ask for?

(4) I love the consistency and development of the characters. They don’t change who they are just because. You can understand why they are the way they are and why they become the way they became to be.

(5) It is the first time that even if the conflict is partly politics, it didn’t get boring and stale. It was intricately done and unexpected revelations happen in almost every episode.

(6) All the actors are stellar in portraying their roles but I have to take note on Yoon So-Hee as Kim Hwa-Goon and Kim Myung-Soo as Commoner Lee Sun. Their stark similarities yet contrast in their characters on how they expressed their love is very apparent but ends to be both selflessly given. It was quite brilliantly done and one can understand where their motivations are coming from as to who and where they are coming from. Of course, Yoo Seung-Ho as the Crown Prince Lee Sun, is as usual exceptional as an actor in this K-Drama.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

This k-drama is flawless from beginning to end. If there’s probably I will comment but in no way affects its greatness is the wish that the kissing scenes were done more passionately and if it had provided more depth on why Kim Hwa-Gun fell so deeply in love with Crown Prince Lee Sun that she’s willing to sacrifice all with a brief initial encounter. This seems unrealistic in making that love at least viable in the real world even if it happens during 18th century. I still believe human nature never really change no matter what era it maybe.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? Strongly YES.

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars

OST:
01. The Man That Couldn’t – Yang Yo-Seob of Highlight
02. From The First Time You and Me – Bolbbalgan4
03. For A While – Hwang Chi-Yeul
04. Star And Sun – Kei of Lovelyz
05. Between Seasons – Kim Yeon-Ji
06. I’m OK – Kim Na-Young
07. The Tree – Yang Yo-Seob
08. The Person Who I Love – K.Will
09. Sparkling – Hwanhee
10. Flowing Down My Cheeks – Seo Young-eun
11. Affection – Gavy NJ
12. Even if I Want – ZIA
13. Only One Person – Kim Greem
14. It’s Okay Even If It’s Not Me – L of INFINITE
15. Water Orchid – Suran
16. Can’t You Hear My Heart – Kim So-Hyun

For Lyrics in English, Romanization and Hangul, CLICK HERE

Ruler – Master of the Mask

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